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Senior Technical Editor Martin Rowe covers topics relating to general-purpose instrumentation, compliance, communications test, and anything else that comes along.



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Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Those electronic gadgets

Oct 24 2006 11:31AM | Permalink |Comments (3) |


Although I often see the latest test tools before they're introduced, I tend to lag when it comes to personal electronics. I don't need the latest computer, phone, camera, video player, etc. Instead, I prefer to see how long I can keep my old gadgets running. Here's are some examples:
• My TV is 20 years old. I use VCRs to record shows. I have a DVD player but given the choice of renting a VHS tape or a DVD, I choose VHS every time.
• I have a Windows 98 PC that's running better than the day I bought it. (OK, I have an XP machine too).
• I bought my first digital camera in 2005.
• I just replaced my six-year-old cell phone. Why? Because Cingular is shutting down its TDMA network. My wife recently replaced her six-year-old phone because of a mechanical failure.
* I've used a PDA for years, but finally had to replace my Psion Series 3a, designed in 1993. I had three of them, all hand-me-downs. Why? The case on the third unit broke.

Last week, I caved an bought a PDA, an HP iPAQ rx1955. Prior to buying, I discussed the purchase with Brian Dipert, technical editor at TMW's sister publication, EDN, and EDN editor-in-chief Maury Wright, both of whom I consider gadget gurus. Maury asked "why bother, your PDA should also be your phone." I decided on the separate PDA and phone because I wanted a really small, easy-to-use phone and I don't need to carry the PDA all the time.

As always, getting a new gadget running is a chore. I'll skip the review of the rx1955. You can read it here. Good thing I had Brian and Maury to query, because they helped me get the iPAQ working. For example, I installed the Microsoft ActiveSync Software that came with the iPAQ and I connected the iPAQ to my XP machine's USB port. But, connecting was intermittent at best and synchonizing them was almost impossible. Brian and Maury suggested disabling my personal firewall. After then, synchronizing  was easy.

More problems. I was unable to read my work or personal e-mail through the wireless connection. Oh, the WiFi worked, but the compact version of Internet Explorer doesn't support multiple windows, which is how I must read mail. The solution: download the Opera browser, which does support multiple windows.I've used the full version of Opera for years, going back to Windows 3.1. The downside to Opera that I'll have to pay $29 for a registration in the next 24 days.

So, the iPAQ is running and both new cell phones are running. But, doing anything on the phones besides entering names in the address book isn't worth the time to figure out.

Tell me your gadget stories and your efforts to keep old technology running. Post a comment.



Reader Comments



at 10/24/2006 5:00:19 PM, mindy said:
My comment is how are people who don't have all of these connections and in house geeks supposed to get anywhere in this world these days? I am like you. I do not buy anything new until I am forced, because it takes up all my time learning how to use the new gadget. Then, by the time I'm up and running--and so is it--the newest, hottest version of my thingamabob rolls out and my friends, neighbors, and relatives might run and get it, but I wonder, where do they have time to learn how to use it? Doesn't anyone eat, sleep, and play with their kids anymore??
mpf



at 10/26/2006 3:20:15 PM, ALLEN said:
tHEPROBLEM WITH THE NEW GADGETS,
CAMERAS AND COMPUTERS IS THAT
THEY TRY TO DO TOO MANY FUNCTIONS OR METHODS THAT ITS TOO CONFUSING
TO OPERATE. AZ



at 8/31/2009 5:04:40 AM, Peter said:
Not unlike the iTablet, Apple's September 9th iPod event is currently unconfirmed, but widely accepted as an imminent reality. While there's been no hard confirmation of the iTablet rumors, we do have some pretty solid reasons to believe in new iPods this September. According to Ars Technica, the old ones are running out. Visit www.i4u.com/article26648.html for more details.

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