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David Morgenstern
Mobile computing: You examine the pros and cons

David Morgenstern
Contributing Editor, AnchorDesk
Thursday, March 28, 2002
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The poster child of mobile computing has been the dot-com professional, sitting in a coffee shop with the laptop, imbibing $5 cups of java (the drinking kind), while polishing the business plan. Nowadays, WiFi broadband access is an integral part of the picture (and it tags along when the scene moves into the hotel room). So it seems almost heretical that some would argue with this glorious vision of computing on the go.

"I've taken advantage of free WiFi several times in offices with an 'open' network. I'm hoping this form of hospitality will increase as more corporate IT departments set up networks for their visitors to use," my colleague David Coursey wrote in a recent column for AnchorDesk's Road Warrior Week.

"Such access doesn't have to be available throughout entire buildings--a lobby or some other designated location would be just fine. Or maybe the wireless hardware companies will start selling access points that support simultaneous closed and open networks--that would be a real win," Coursey wrote.

MANY OF YOU took issue with one or more parts of the mobile computing dream. For some of you, WiFi has a dark side, especially for the security conscious. Others of you fomented trouble over the shape and size of the mobile computing platform.

"The network leadership here has stood firmly in the way of wireless [access] in any corporate buildings. Even with VPN and NT Security, they are paranoid of intrusion onto the corporate network. The conversation goes usually like this: 'Anybody could sit in our parking lot with a laptop, and suck out valuable data from our network.' No way will they allow 802.11 in any form," Tom Kelley wrote. "This of course, makes [the network managers] into disablers instead of enablers, but they have an understandable position. It's my hope they will worry about the internal threats a little more, and the external ones a little less. Anyway, aren't 90 percent of hacks from employees or former employees with specific knowledge?"

Burt Janz opined that different applications will have different needs for broadband's speed. He also pointed to his recent experience with the Palm i705. "Is the problem the lack of connectivity for e-mail? For Web access? For VPN access? Each of these requirements will necessitate a different connection at increasing speed requirements. [For example,]...VPN may require a hard link, and may not work properly on an anonymous hookup (like an Internet cafe)."

"The i705 was CHEAPER than a new notebook, and gave me both e-mail and the Web clippings that I need to keep me up on things. I can use it while I'm using my cell phone without burning cell phone time. It works in my truck, my briefcase, my belt pack--it solves my  connectivity problem," Janz continued. "BTW, the monthly unlimited network access charge isn't that much more than the 'new improved' monthly charges for AOL or EarthLink."

Sandy Heer agreed, adding, "Funny how folks can complain endlessly about toting around all that hardware and dealing with all the resulting hassles, when today there's the PDA world at hand, complete with the necessary technology to do most anything on the road you can do with a laptop."

AT THE SAME TIME, a number of you ignored the rants brewing in the big-picture discussion, and instead offered welcome additions to Coursey's list of roadworthy broadband tips.

While AOL received much attention in the article, Daniel Antion gave a plug for AT&T's business dial-up services. "It can be set up for traveling users, centrally administered, paid by one monthly bill and has local dial-up numbers almost anywhere in the world! It's a few dollars more than AOL (about $25 per month), but it's been a problem-free solution for our road warriors for quite some time."

George Marshall pointed to Geektools's list of hotels with broadband access, including some with WiFi support.

Here in San Francisco, taxicab drivers can be a good source of info on the location of free WiFi coverage. When they pull over to the curb to pick up a customer, they check for a signal on their laptops at the same time.

The numbers from the Geektools list are interesting. Most countries have but one or two listings for a broadband-savvy hotel. Canada places in the No. 2 spot with 80 sites. No surprise here: The U.S. count is in another league--2,039 hotels and heading higher.

David Morgenstern, past editor of eMediaweekly and MacWEEK, is a freelance editor and branding consultant based in San Francisco.

Are wireless networks a godsend or a nightmare? Why? How do you keep in touch when you're on the go? TalkBack to me!

Be our guest!  Have something important to say about technology? Here's your chance to share an in-depth essay with the AnchorDesk audience. Right now, we're looking for pieces on mobile technologies, such as PDAs, laptops, cell phones, or wireless networking and standards. Submit a piece of 500 to 1,000 words, and we might feature you as an AnchorDesk guest columnist in an upcoming edition. Click here to send us a submission. (Read the terms and conditions for your submission.)

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