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Mike Antoniak is a freelance journalist, who writes frequently on technology.
| | Unplug that printer
Warning for HP Printers
PDAs are more colorful; laptops are faster.
REPORTED BY MICHAEL ANTONIAK
If you’re one of the many real state professionals who purchased an HP inkjet printer over the last year, you may be in for a shock—literally.
The company issued a warning last week that the Longwell brand printer cable shipped with several popular models in its line between April 30, 2001, and January 2002 poses an electrical hazard. The plugs on these cables may crack, leading to a shock. Models affected include all DeskJet 800 and 900 series printers as well as the PhotoSmart 1000, 1100, 1200, and 1315 series printers. Only gray cords (not the black ones) with Longwell stamped between the prongs of the plug are affected by the recall.
HP advises its customers with these models to unplug the printer immediately and to contact the company or check the HP Web site for information on how they can get a replacement cord. Or call the HP Power Cord Replacement Hotline at (877) 917-4378.
More Colorful PDAs
If you ever plan to let buyers preview homes on your handheld, you need a color screen. Although a color display can drain PDA batteries much more quickly than gray-scale models, you really need one if you want your listings to look their best.
In recent weeks, Sony and Palm both have added new color models to their lines. All new units run on the Palm OS. For the budget-minded, Palm has added the m130, an entry-level color PDA with a suggested retail of $279. The unit features a backlit screen, 8MB RAM, a secure digital (SD) flash memory card expansion slot, and a built-in rechargeable battery.
Palm’s second, new color model, the Palm m515, debuts as a replacement for the popular Palm 505 launched last year. This improved model features a brighter, higher resolution color screen than the m505, with a control that lets you reduce the screen’s illumination to conserve battery power. Other features include 8MB of RAM, an SD card expansion slot, and the DataViz Documents To Go software, which lets you retrieve, read, and edit Microsoft Office and Word documents on your PDA. The m515 retails for $399.
Sony’s latest color entry, first announced in January, is the $400 Clie-PEG T615C. It features 16MB RAM, Documents To Go software, and an expansion slot compatible with Sony’s MemoryStick media.
The Palm OS camp isn’t the only one with new models in the handheld arena, however. Research in Motion, maker of the BlackBerry, has finally unveiled its version of a voice communications handheld--the new BlackBerry 5810. In addition to the “always on” e-mail features found in previous BlackBerry models, the new unit offers cellular calling. The 5810 includes a plug-in earpiece and a mike that lets users make phone calls and even respond to an e-mail with a phone call, using phone numbers stored in the system. The unit is expected to sell in the $500 range.
The company says wireless e-mail and calling services will be available through AT&T Wireless and VoiceStream Wireless for a monthly service charge. Check the BlackBerry Web site for service availability in your area; at rollout, coverage won’t be universal.
A note of warning: If you’re considering any PDA for its wireless Web capabilities, take the time to read the fine print in company ads and contracts before buying hardware. The Federal Trade Commission recently announced a settlement with Palm over charges that the company had misled consumers with some of the claims it made about its wireless PDAs. From now on, the company will be required to fully disclose that consumers will need to purchase optional hardware, such as a modem, or software, and to pay monthly service charges to have wireless access. It’s also important to remember that wireless e-mail services aren’t available in every area.
Speedier Laptops
If you’ve stuck with your desktop computer because it was much faster than any laptop you could find, it may be almost time to reconsider, especially if you have a big technology budget.
In the coming months, several vendors plan to incorporate the latest mobile processor from Pentium, the Pentium M-4, into their next generation of products. This addition will give these laptops processor speeds of between 1.6GHz and 1.7GHz, matching the current standard in full-featured desktop systems.
Compaq, Dell, Hewlett Packard, and Toshiba have all announced plans for high-end models based on the Pentium M-4, and all vendors are sure to follow.
HP will incorporate the new chip in three models, two version of the Omnibook 6200 starting around $1,800, and a Pavilion 1000 retailing for around $2,300. Compaq has announced a Presario with the new chip, a 15-inch display, and 60GB hard drive for around $2,000. Dell will offer the Pentium M-4 in its Inspiron 8200 ($1,800), and Toshiba plans to feature the new processor in versions of its Satellite, Satellite Por, and Tecra notebooks at prices ranging from $2,400 to $3,000.
These prices may seem a little high compared with the power available in desktop systems costing as little as $1,000. But for the many real estate professionals who need power and performance for listing presentations or checking the latest MLS additions while in the field, these new systems make the laptop an increasingly attractive option. | |
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