BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE : NOVEMBER 13, 2000 ISSUE
TECH BUYING GUIDE The New Wireless Wonders We've all seen them, sitting in the airport staring at the cell phone in their lap. While you're standing sullenly in the Starbucks ( SBUX) line, they're on the Internet keeping their e-mail up to the minute. Or rejiggering their portfolio to compensate for the latest drop in the Nasdaq. Guess what. They're working, you're not. On-the-go execs are going wireless, cutting the cord that ties them to the office or hotel-room desk. It's a brave new untethered world. Not to worry, though. In our annual computer buyer's guide, we'll help you sort through the hype to find everything from the best handhelds for fetching e-mail to the best phones for surfing the Web. Not for you, you say? We know the excuses: The phones are glitchy, service is spotty, la de da. You might consider one anyway. They cost little more than Web-less phones, and basic data services are free at AT&T ( T) and Nextel Communications Inc. ( NXTL) You could fall in love with the anytime convenience of news and e-mail. O.K., we occasionally succumb to the hype, too. For a wireless fad that didn't last, log on to Business Week Online to see our obit on Modo, a trendy city guide that mesmerized us. Turns out the six-week-wonder folded before the presses rolled. Prefer something more traditional? We pecked our way across a dozen new laptops. And check out our unconventional recommendation for your next desktop. The unvarnished truth is, there's little to distinguish one PC from the next. But at some point they all crash. So we based our picks on PC makers' customer service. Here's another cord to cut: Since PC makers charge for service, we found some nifty low-cost options. Read on. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BACK TO TOP					RELATED ITEMS The New Wireless Wonders Desktops What If It Breaks? TABLE: Desktops: Best of Breed TABLE: How the Warranties Stack Up Cool Tools: iFeel MouseMan Help Is Just an E-Mail Away TABLE: How to Hook Up with a Nerd If Web Surfing Is All You're Into... Artistic Apples Notebooks Take It with You TABLE: The Lowdown on the Latest Laptops Cool Tools: Computer Safe Test Drive: Cutting the Cord at Last ONLINE EXTRA: Staying Connected on the Road Handhelds Pocket Rockets TABLE: Wireless Acts Cool Tools: Slimpoint Stylus ONLINE EXTRA: Modo's Mojo Falling Web Phones A Long Way to Go TABLE: Getting on the Wireless Web Cool Tools: M130 Headset Test Drive: ``Turn Off That Coat!'' ONLINE EXTRA: Part PDA, Part Phone, and Pretty Tricky Net Services It's Not Just News TABLE: Who Offers What Cool Tools: Palm Portable Keyboard E-Mail with No Wires Attached Vortal Combat: The Early Years TABLE: Let Your Voice Do the Browsing INTERACT E-Mail to Business Week Online

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