With the number of Wi-Fi hotspots poised to explode across North America, a Wi-Fi equipped Pocket PC is starting to make a lot of sense. HP and Toshiba make a couple of models with built-in Wi-Fi capability, but those of us who don't own one of these models need to add it to our Pocket PCs.
The article that precedes this one reviews the SDIO version of SanDisk's new Connect Low-Power Wi-Fi Card, which is one of the few Wi-Fi solutions available for the growing number of Pocket PCs whose only expansion slot is a single SDIO card slot. However, if your Pocket PC has a CompactFlash (CF) slot, you'll definitely want to take a look at SanDisk's new ConnectPlus line. I was lucky enough to try out SanDisk's new ConnectPlus Low-Power 128MB + Wi-Fi CF Card and I was impressed with what I found.
SanDisk ConnectPlus: Wi-Fi and file storage in one card
Most Pocket PCs equipped with a CF slot also have an SD card slot. The ConnectPlus card lets you make the CF slot do double duty by combining Wi-Fi functionality and file storage memory in a single CF card. This leaves your Pocket PC's SD card slot free to add even more storage memory. And as everyone familiar with computers knows, you can never have enough storage memory. You access the file storage memory on the card as you would any other storage card, via the File Explorer application on the Pocket PC. You can even install third-party applications on the card. With the proliferation of PDA-friendly Web sites and Wi-Fi hotspots, you'll be downloading more Web content, e-mail, and instant messages. The extra memory will come in handy.
SanDisk plans to follow up with an SDIO version of the Wi-Fi/storage card later this year or early next. Since many of the newer Pocket PCs have only a single SDIO slot, the SDIO version of ConnectPlus is eagerly awaited.
The ConnectPlus card has the following features:
- Transmit and receive speeds up to 11 Mbps.
- Reception range (from nearest Wi-Fi access point) up to 300 feet.
- Supports ad hoc mode: communication between Wi-Fi equipped Pocket PCs and other clients without the use of an access point (no info on reception range).
- LED on antenna portion of the card indicates status of Wi-Fi: Blinking light indicates that the card is receiving a signal from a Wi-Fi access point but cannot make a connection. Steady light indicates that you are connected to an access point.
- Designed to minimize power consumption.
- Initial file storage capacity of the ConnectPlus CF card is 128 MB, but a 256 MB version is in the works. No release date is available for the 256 MB version.
- The Secure Digital version of the ConnectPlus card will have a file storage capacity of 256 MB.
- The CF ConnectPlus card ships with a PC Card adapter that allows it to be inserted into the larger card slots.
- The package includes a mini-CD with necessary software drivers and Wi-Fi settings applications for Pocket PC and desktop PC systems.
Easy to install; easy to use!
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