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February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
May 19, 2006
/ 21 Iyar, 5766
Symbol's enterprising handheld
By
Mark Kellner
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
The MC50, an "enterprise digital assistant" from Symbol Technologies,
Inc., is not your father's handheld - or your roommate's, either. This
device, for which "street" prices range between $735 and $950 at various
online vendors, is as much as three times the cost of similar, but hardly
comparable, models from Dell Computer Corp. and Hewlett Packard. The
price, and extra heft, of the unit, means the MC50 is designed for
business, not for show.
The unit is meant, the firm says, to blend "an enhanced PDA-style form
factor with optimal performance to operate enterprise-level applications."
Translation: you can check your appointments, but also scan barcodes,
wirelessly send data to the host computer system and make Voice-over-IP
calls using your company's in-house network.
I didn't have the chance to test the voice capabilities of the MC50, but
as a handheld this is a rather nice performer, limited only, as shall be
seen, by the Windows Mobile operating system. As a handheld, it's a rather
impressive device.
Out of the box, the MC50 has the full suite of Windows Mobile
applications: stripped down versions of Microsoft's Word, Excel and
Outlook components such as e-mail, contacts and a calendar. So far, so
good: hook the device up to a PC running the main Microsoft Office
applications, and you can sync quickly and be on your way.
The model I tested included a small built-in keyboard, call it "thumb
capable," which can be used to enter information, compose messages and
similar tasks. Both numeric keypad and "caps lock" modes can be invoked,
making it easy, in the former case, to do a string of calculations.
A wireless 802.11b radio is built into the unit; Bluetooth
communications is an option via a SecureDigital form-factor slot. Also
built-in is a 1.1 megapixel camera, which can also be configured to work
as a scanner. There's 64 Mbytes of user memory, which could also be
expanded through the SD card slot.
The device is "sturdy," and while some may call it "rugged," it's not
"ruggedized" in the sense that military and other high-demand users would
call it. It is far more durable than your average PDA. I didn't bat it
around during testing, and I suspect the LCD screen would be as sensitive
to gravity as would any other, which is also why optional screen
protectors are available.
If you're walking the factory floor, or a regional distribution warehouse,
this might be the product for you. For the sales floor in a large store,
it might also work very well, especially if the VoIP (stet) communications
are enabled. Having that feature would allow your office phone to follow
you, and that's rather neat. The VoIP feature is limited to certain
industrial-strength phone systems, however, so setting it up at home or in
a small office seems out of the question.
But there are problems with the Windows Mobile operating system, and
they're not inconsequential. One of the greatest is with Microsoft's
Internet Explorer as installed on the device. There's no way to switch
from "portrait" to "landscape" mode, the latter being far more suited to
Web surfing. I tried, several times, to download Opera's mini-browser for
Windows Mobile 5.0, and the Opera server didn't comply, leaving me stuck
with IE.
The other Microsoft applications are fine as far as they go, though I wish
there was a handheld PowerPoint version that would let me tote, and show,
presentations. More consumer-style applications such as Windows Media
Player are not pre-installed, again owing to the all-work orientation of
the device.
Should you buy this for your company? Perhaps, but probably only if you
have the resources to customize and outfit this device for your workers'
specific needs. It's a good product, but it's not for everyone.
Information can be found at http://www.symbol.com/mc50/.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JWR contributor Mark Kellner has reported on technology for industry newspapers and magazines since 1983, and has been the computer columnist for The Washington Times since 1991.Comment by clicking here.
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© 2006, News World Communications, Inc. Reprinted with permission of The Washington Times. Visit the paper at http://www.washingtontimes.com
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