Customer Reviews

Socket Communications CF Ruggedized LP-E for harsh environments (10BaseT)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't see the value of taking a mobile device and then tethering it for internet/network access. I'd spend the bucks on a wireless option. I am waiting for a bluetooth module or homeRF module for low cost local wireless access to the internet via an already connected laptop or desktop. I think the 802.11 stuff is still way expensive but it seems like prices are falling. However, 802.11 consumes far more power than the above wireless options. Also, wireless will also serve to synch up painlessly.

Wow, you can hook up to the school networks! Wow, you can download stuff whereever you are!

Well, guess what... all of these great ideas that pop in your head of what you can do with this card... toss them out the window. The product is so inpractical, that I can honestly say that I've only used it ONCE. Not only do you need to carry around a cat 5 cable around whereever you go, but you also have to lug around that tether thing that's attached to the card. Ugh. It turned my sleek and sexy jornada into a clunker.

I can't actually think of a real-world situation where I would use my jornada instead of a real computer that I had at my disposal (i'm assuming that where there is an ethernet port there are also computers available).

Just maybe, if this were priced around 20-30 bucks, i'd get it, but that probably isn't going to happen anytime in the near future.

As an ending note, I usually never write negative reviews, but this is one of those that I had to write because I didn't want people to get suckered in like I did.

The toshiba has it's built in WiFi, but that is only good when an access point is available. A few changes to the 'connections' settings and the Ethernet CompactFlash card is up and running. The provided driver adds extra functionality, and installation was easy. The documentation is a little 'thin' but told me what I needed to know to get the card working on the work network. Wireless is the way to go, but when there are no access points around, this card fills the need.

I'm in the military, and they won't let me sync my PocketPC to a computer since it wasn't issued to me. My only option to download books and software is to actually login with my user account. Wireless access would be bad for opsec, so being tethered to a cat5 cable is the only real way to get access.

I spend about 100 nights a year in Marriott hotels. They all have DSL. This card lets me download ebooks and stuff in my hotel room, as well as via my cable modem at home.

I feel this is a smart add-on to any pocket pc since you can get into the net at full speed.

It is fast, easy to use and reliable.

Of course you need access to network :=)