Wi-fi vs blue tooth
- Thread starter Kekky
- Start date
koolkid1095
New member
I'm new to this myself . . . .
First of all make sure your cellphone company didn't HOSE YOU like Verizon did me . . . my "Bluetooth" Motorola v710 is "Bluetooth" only with MOtorola stuff - other communication has been disabled, such as Palm.
Second, since you mentioned Starbucks, they've had the neat idea of charging $39/month for T-Mobile access to "Wifi away" over your $6 white mocha breve . . . that could be circumvented with the bluetooth/phone connection to the web.
Many places have FREE WiFi, and in that case I'd probably go with WiFi. My personal plans are to get a laptop and WiFi it - just seems easier. The BT through a cellphone would almost HAVE TO BE cheaper than the $39 wifi fee, especially if you're surfing for 10-20 minutes a day to check email, etc. - Cellular companies out here in California run around (all B.S. excluded) $20 for 500-1,000 minutes a month "brackets" of airtime pricing - and free on weekends or after 9PM depending on carrier/plan. For Starbucks, that would definitely save you money.
As for speed I'm only GUESSING that WiFi is faster - someone else could comment better on that - be sure you have the latest protocol (believe there's "b" and "g" and "G' is faster?). HOpe this helps at least a little.
First of all make sure your cellphone company didn't HOSE YOU like Verizon did me . . . my "Bluetooth" Motorola v710 is "Bluetooth" only with MOtorola stuff - other communication has been disabled, such as Palm.
Second, since you mentioned Starbucks, they've had the neat idea of charging $39/month for T-Mobile access to "Wifi away" over your $6 white mocha breve . . . that could be circumvented with the bluetooth/phone connection to the web.
Many places have FREE WiFi, and in that case I'd probably go with WiFi. My personal plans are to get a laptop and WiFi it - just seems easier. The BT through a cellphone would almost HAVE TO BE cheaper than the $39 wifi fee, especially if you're surfing for 10-20 minutes a day to check email, etc. - Cellular companies out here in California run around (all B.S. excluded) $20 for 500-1,000 minutes a month "brackets" of airtime pricing - and free on weekends or after 9PM depending on carrier/plan. For Starbucks, that would definitely save you money.
As for speed I'm only GUESSING that WiFi is faster - someone else could comment better on that - be sure you have the latest protocol (believe there's "b" and "g" and "G' is faster?). HOpe this helps at least a little.
bi-polar-itical
New member
i am looking for free as in I don't want to pay anything. I can't see going through my phone as, that would be way to much in minutes and expense. If Starbucks and others are going to charge to use their facilities I won't be buying coffee there.
thanks
thanks
crazy_benny101
New member
Depending on where you live, (U.S.?) - many states are now WiFi-ing state parks - California will be done by year's end. Many hotels, airports and independent coffee Shops (Diedrichs, Kelly's, other smaller chains and mom-n-pops) are also offering FREE WiFi hookups.
I think free sites will continue to flourish and eventually S/B will be forced to stop being greedy.
I think free sites will continue to flourish and eventually S/B will be forced to stop being greedy.
Sciontcbby!
New member
In answer to your original question, bluetooth and wi-fi are not the same and do different things. Bluetooth allows you to wirelessesly connect to toher devices with a bluetooth receiver, like a cell phone or a laptop PC that has bluetooth. Wi-fi is a way to connect to a wireless router and then use that connection to get on the net. Both are useful but you need wi-fi to connect to wi-fi hotspots at places like Starbucks. I will warn you that free wi-fi connections are getting more and more rare. San Francisco Airport, for example, was free until earlier this year but now charges a dollar a minute.
Last Man Standing
New member
Thanks Jim. You have answered my question. Now how do they know how long you have been on the internet to charge you? And is it worth it with a PDA?
RebelQueen
New member
Hey dermguy,
Speaking from experience, browsing the web with a PDA is painful at best. It's OK for very light web browsing or checking a POP email acct. but web based like yahoomail is a pain. You're much better off getting a laptop.
Wifi and bluetooth are OK for hotsyncing your PDA with your computer. Like Jim said, free hotspots are less common than they were last year but some cities and states are rolling out free wifi in public places. Texas has free wifi at all rest stops and my city has free wifi in all public places such as libraries and parks.
Anyway, I use my PDA to get online about once every other month. Usually to get a map, movie listings or weather report. Really, it's nothing more than you can get with a cell phone.
To answer your question, for internet access, I'd take wifi. The only argument for bluetooth and the internet is if you absolutely need to get online when out in the middle of nowhere. As long as you are in range of a cellular tower you could use your phone. Unless, of course, you have Verizon like Paul.
Speaking from experience, browsing the web with a PDA is painful at best. It's OK for very light web browsing or checking a POP email acct. but web based like yahoomail is a pain. You're much better off getting a laptop.
Wifi and bluetooth are OK for hotsyncing your PDA with your computer. Like Jim said, free hotspots are less common than they were last year but some cities and states are rolling out free wifi in public places. Texas has free wifi at all rest stops and my city has free wifi in all public places such as libraries and parks.
Anyway, I use my PDA to get online about once every other month. Usually to get a map, movie listings or weather report. Really, it's nothing more than you can get with a cell phone.
To answer your question, for internet access, I'd take wifi. The only argument for bluetooth and the internet is if you absolutely need to get online when out in the middle of nowhere. As long as you are in range of a cellular tower you could use your phone. Unless, of course, you have Verizon like Paul.
.::haylee::.
New member
They know how long you've been on-line because you have to give them a credit card number when you log on. When you log off, it just simple match to calculate who long you were on and charge your credit card.
As egarc wrote, web bowsing with a PDA is not something I like doing for fun. It's great for getting your e-mail or going to your airline's site and rebooking if your flight gets cancelled instead of standing in line with the rest of the irate passengers.
Assuming I really needed to be on the net and pay some the prices you'll get charged, I'd use a laptop.
As egarc wrote, web bowsing with a PDA is not something I like doing for fun. It's great for getting your e-mail or going to your airline's site and rebooking if your flight gets cancelled instead of standing in line with the rest of the irate passengers.
Assuming I really needed to be on the net and pay some the prices you'll get charged, I'd use a laptop.belizegyal87
New member
Thanks guys, you answered my questions. I was only going to use it for e-mail and sporadically at best. I do all the heavy work from my home based comp.