ZDNet UK / News and Analysis / Mobile IT / Mobile Working

Getting to the mobile office

By Matt Loney, ZDNet.co.uk, 29 August, 2003 18:15

Daily Newsletters

Sign up to ZDNet UK's daily newsletter.

Topics

Notebook, PDA

Getting to the mobile office
Matt Loney
Page Three: The latest kit for faster, longer and cheaper mobile working

Notebook for speed
Dell Inspiron 8500
This completely redesigned desktop replacement system has plenty more in store as well, including the fastest Mobile Pentium 4-M processors, integrated dual-band antennae for 802.11b and 802.11g wireless and excellent performance. All of these features are wrapped in a silver case that you can customise with QuickSnap lid covers in a variety of colours. For all that it offers, the Inspiron 8500 range's £1,256 (ex. VAT) starting price is reasonable. Any way you look at it, you'd be hard-pressed to come up with a cooler, faster desktop-replacement notebook than the Inspiron 8500 series.
Notebook for big screen
Acer Aspire 1705 SCi
Acer was the first PC manufacturer to announce a notebook with a 17in. screen. Since then a number of others, including Toshiba, have followed suit, but the Aspire 1705 SCi is the first system we've had in for review. Can any computer with an integrated 17in. display really be called a notebook? Perhaps it can. However, any use of the term "portable" with reference to this 7.1kg monster will certainly raise eyebrows.
Apple PowerBook G4 (17in)
Apple's high-profile 17in. PowerBook G4 took on legendary status as would-be owners waited for this portable giant to start shipping. We can't deny that this is a rock-star's notebook, what with its hot new design, built-in DVD burning as standard, wireless networking and awesome backlit keyboard. But the £2,211.91 (ex. VAT; £2,598.99 inc. VAT) 17in. PowerBook performs about the same as its 15in. predecessor, and it's extremely awkward to carry. If you want an attractive, not-very-portable Mac with a 17in. LCD and a DVD burner, an iMac is more than £1,000 cheaper. If you're after a slick-looking G4-based Apple notebook, the original Titanium PowerBook remains our top choice.
Notebook for price
Dell Latitude D400
Dell's Latitude D400 series is one of the best-looking and most affordable Pentium M ultraportables on the market. We have tested an entry-level 1.3GHz version with 128MB of RAM, which predictably isn’t a great performer; also, its 2 hour 41 minute battery life trails the scores posted by most competing Pentium M/Centrino notebooks. Nevertheless, the D400 offers an impressive array of wireless options, ranging from standard 802.11b (which can make this a true Centrino system), to various combinations of 802.11a, b and g. Businesses will also like the built-in smart-card reader, and everyone should appreciate the low starting price.
PDA's
Sony Clie PEG-UX50
Sony has experimented with mini notebooks in the past, but the new CLIE PEG-UX50 takes miniaturisation down to a whole new level. The screen swivels a full 180 degrees so that you can also use the device as a traditional handheld. The UX50 measures just 10.4cm by 8.6cm by 1.9cm, and at 176g, it weighs about the same as other handhelds with integrated Wi-Fi.
HP iPAQ H5550
The H5550 comes with integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and includes a healthy 128MB of RAM and the latest Pocket PC operating system. Although it may be a bit much for the average consumer, corporate buyers will find it to be a powerful jack-of-all-trades. It's the Pocket PC equivalent of Palm's Tungsten C, minus the integrated keyboard.<
Palm Tungsten T2
The Tungsten T2 succeeds the Tungsten T, which was the first handheld to ship with version 5 of Palm OS. Palm has since announced new devices at both ends of the market, including the camera-equipped Zire 71 for consumers and the Wi-Fi-enabled Tungsten C for business users. The Tungsten T2 is very much an evolutionary development, offering only a smattering of changes over the Tungsten T. The T2 also comes with Bluetooth.
Mobile Phone
Sony-Ericsson P800
The P800 delivers a great deal, both in terms of features and accessories. Included in the box are a 16MB Memory Stick Duo card, an adapter for older Memory Stick cards, a hand strap and a pouch, as well as three styluses. Packing in all these parts also eliminates a problem that some users have cited -- a dearth of Sony Ericsson accessories on the market.

Previous page

Related stories

O2 reveals updated EU data-roaming bundle

MasterCard aims to stuff rival cards into its digital wallet

BYOD is no money-saver, says council's IT chief

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your ZDNet UK account below

  • Login

Will not be displayed with your comment

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy. Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Community FAQ

Get ZDNet UK's daily newsletter

Enter your email address to sign up

ZDNet UK Live

itsajob

2. Bad idea. Making up patch cables loses you your commission from the cable supplier. 3. If you tidy up, other people can understand where the...

28 minutes ago by itsajob on Ten IT jobs to save up for those rare lulls
Roberto_Store

Now On Sale, Unlocked iPhone 4S / Galaxy Note In Factory Box. Roberto-Techie(UK) ”Now on Sales” Smartphone, Android,Tablets,Gadget &...

4 hours ago by Roberto_Store on Samsung Galaxy S III lined up for sale
Paul Smyth

Is this classic FUD? One thing I would definitely have notice is a Mozilla threat to stop supporting GNU/Linux.

6 hours ago by Paul Smyth via Facebook on Firefox rapid release improves Fedora Linux
UnderINK

I agree with the previous commenter wholeheartedly. I couldn't say it better myself. This is very 'Big Brother'. And while I agree with protecting...

10 hours ago by UnderINK on European e-identity plan to be unveiled this month
Simon Bisson and Mary Branscombe

Nice to see that Turing's idea of a general purpose computer doing once-hardware-powered tasks in software is now universal ;-) Mary

16 hours ago by Simon Bisson and Mary Branscombe on Software with everything
Jason Burchell

seriously now. I've only bothered to read a small bit of the comments. do me and the rest of the world a favour. stop saying it does not work or...

19 hours ago by Jason Burchell via Facebook on Music industry negotiating over 24-bit downloads
Philip Charles Cohen

Read about it and weep, John Donahoe ... In addition to Visa’s V.me, there is now MasterCard’s PayPass digital wallet soon to arrive; another...

24 hours ago by Philip Charles Cohen via Facebook on PayPal takes phone-based payments to the high street
apexwm

Leslie Satenstein : Where have you ever seen Mozilla even mention this? Firefox is the most popular browser in the GNU/Linux OS, so I don't see...

1 day ago by apexwm on Firefox rapid release improves Fedora Linux
songmaster

SHleG: Do you remember building a clockwork scorpion kit (I'm pretty sure I have a photo of it somewhere) — I think it was called something like...

1 day ago by songmaster on Software with everything
Chris Wortman

Good I love Yahoo! Their search engine is getting better than Google as of late. I find more of what I want on the first page, and usually within...

1 day ago by Chris Wortman via Facebook on Linux Mint 13 ramps up for KDE release
PatrickG

openhgs has made the point for Windows 8 multiple monitors without realising it! With Windows 7 you have to switch the mouse and so your focus...

1 day ago by PatrickG on Windows 8 could speed multi-monitor uptake
Leslie Satenstein

Mozilla has threatened to stop supporting Linux. I guess that UBUNTU is going with another browser. I indicated that if Mozilla stops supporting...

1 day ago by Leslie Satenstein via Facebook on Firefox rapid release improves Fedora Linux
Andy Bolstridge

Much as I abhor Microsoft's licensing practices, this is almost certainly down to purchasing IT equipment via 3rd party consultants - you get the...

1 day ago by Andy Bolstridge via Facebook on 6 million wasted licences and £1,200 PCs: welcome to government IT
Jack Schofield

@openhgs Windows users have had multiple desktops since Linus started writing Linux. They just haven't shipped as standard because not enough...

2 days ago by Jack Schofield on Windows 8 could speed multi-monitor uptake
Jack Schofield

@Phil at Cloud4 What, Microsoft gets £1,200 per PC and £1,622 per server? Gosh, I'm amazed....

2 days ago by Jack Schofield on 6 million wasted licences and £1,200 PCs: welcome to government IT
craigsc

You guys have no idea what is going on at Autonomy. Autonomy could have been a much more profitable organization. The sales operations at Autonomy...

2 days ago by craigsc on HP cuts 27,000 staff as Autonomy chief Lynch leaves
Moley

How does this impact on dual or multi booting? Seems to me to more or less prohibit this, from Windows 8 anyway. Will Grub 2 recognise Windows 8,...

2 days ago by Moley on Windows 8 start-up speed forces USB boot workaround
apexwm

I don't understand why there cannot be a slight pause during the boot process so the user can press a key. Many operating systems do this, even if...

2 days ago by apexwm on Windows 8 start-up speed forces USB boot workaround
Gavin Goodman

You can now buy the Xi3 modular computer in the UK at http://www.ocdistribution.com . This can be bought with the Tand3m software, pricing and...

2 days ago by Gavin Goodman on CES 2012: Xi3 microSERV3R
Phil at Cloud4

I agree: Mike Lynch can clearly build a business and manage strategy. I suspect the exit of Mike is more likely the end of a planned handover...

2 days ago by Phil at Cloud4 on HP cuts 27,000 staff as Autonomy chief Lynch leaves

Latest in Mobile Working

O2 reveals updated EU data-roaming bundle

MasterCard aims to stuff rival cards into its digital wallet

BYOD is no money-saver, says council's IT chief

Featured white papers

BYOD costs: Balancing savings and risk

Research In Motion

BYOD costs: Balancing savings and risk

BYOD and consumerisation are changing the way we do IT, and we need to change the way we manage IT as a result. This RIM white paper looks at how to balance cost savings with the costs associated with increased... Read more

CIO survey: The effect of consumer-led IT

Research In Motion

CIO survey: The effect of consumer-led IT

From mobility to cloud computing to social networking, how has the consumer-led IT revolution changed how CIOs approach the IT... Read more

Adapting BYOD security strategies to protect data

Research In Motion

Adapting BYOD security strategies to protect data

With employees using personal devices at work, social networks and more, IT security managers face a major headache in engineering a protective security... Read more

Inside ZDNet UK

Indoor navigation coming to a mobile near you soon

Indoor navigation coming to a mobile near you soon

Software with everything

Software with everything

Asus Transformer Pad TF300T

Asus Transformer Pad TF300T

How IT is ganging up on organised cybercrime

How IT is ganging up on organised cybercrime

HTC One V: First take

HTC One V: First take

SharePoint deployment: The final chapter

SharePoint deployment: The final chapter

Ten IT jobs to save up for those rare lulls

Ten IT jobs to save up for those rare lulls