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Cool wireless stuff

30.05.2006
Sure, mobile devices make us more productive and offer help in emergencies. And using them beats being tethered to an outlet. But the best wireless devices are also fun. Maybe it's because they're cool to look at, or perhaps it's that they're enjoyable to use. But practical isn't enough for the road warrior/gadgeteer. Here are some favorite wireless products (and services) nominated by Computerworld's staff. If you've got recommendations of your own, send them to editor@computerworld.com.

T-Mobile Sidekick II

What it is: Net access device/PDA/sub-sub-subnotebook/alarm clock/game machine/ emergency phone

Vendor: T-Mobile USA Inc., www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones

Why we like it: What doesn't my Sidekick do? The alarm function goes off, and I glance at the weather and Google News while I'm waking up (not sad little mobile-phone versions of the sites, either; the Sidekick's browser can handle almost any regular page you throw at it). I can also use it to log onto AIM and check two e-mail accounts.

During the day, I'm checking its address book for contacts and adding and subtracting items from my to-do and shopping lists. At night, I'm probably playing a game or updating my list of the books I've read over the past five years, which I imported from my last PDA through the Web interface. I've used it in stores to do Web research about stuff I was thinking of buying. And once or twice I've used it as a phone when I was in a pinch.