Want a wireless Pocket PC for under $200? PDA Alive says Meritline Wireless is now offering a Compact Flash WiFi Adapter for $31.

The Meritline MWL-672 can be used with Pocket PC with CF type I or type II slot. It has one LED that indicates RF link activity and ceramic antenna (2db gain). Typical power consumption is 250mA, while the maximum is 320mA.

Then get a 300 MHz Dell X-5 for $159. Bingo. (I just bought a “new” refurbished one for $129, and added a $30 WiFi card and a $15 128 Meg SD memory - after $25 rebate).

Add a $30 128 MB SD memory card and load it up with dozens of free e-books along with free PocketPC applications like A/V players, voice recorders, ebook readers, pocket translators, games, musical instruments, image viewers, html editors and messaging, aerial photos and city directories.

With the savings you might buy an SD camera ($100) or a CompactFlash camera with an SD WiFi card. E-mail photos and audio clips for narrated slide shows.

Next year, $200 Wireless handhelds are likely to be common.

Why not buy fifty ($10K), for your school, library, community center or homeless shelter. Put field trips on-line. One person snaps photos, one records interviews, one takes notes. Wi-Fi handhelds can send material back to an editor at the school. Post it on the web and readerboard. Everyone gets a CD to show mom.

Add video. All you really need is a $200 SD-chip camcorder from Gateway (right). Multi-media devices [should be] standard issue for every reporter (and built into cell phones).

Content-enhanced community “clouds” might use Software Access Points and 802.11x Roaming Clients - along with Free Voice over IP and Networked Games.

Weblogs can be hosted by a commercial organization or run from your own server at home or work (like Dailywireless). Hosting via TypePad Pro costs $14.95/month and features an unlimited number of weblogs, the ability of multiple authors to contribute to your site, archived entries in multiple formats, and the ability to upload photo albums and sounds. PortlandOnline is nice - but weblogs are for the people, by the people. They run themselves.

Check with Syndic8.com or Feedster.com and create your own neighborhood news - on the spot. PocketFeed is an RSS/RDF news aggregator for the Pocket PC enabling you to read the latest gossip on WiFi-equipped PDAs.

Homeless people live at Transition Projects and Outside In. Their stories are interesting. Same deal with HAP. Why subsidize a PhD whose main talent is grant writing? Take it to the street.

Tony has the right idea. Get Real.

Posted by Sam Churchill on Wednesday, October 29th, 2003 at 5:50 am.