Macworld: Have a new macbook core2duo

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11 Replies Last post: Mar 3, 2008 10:57 AM by Typhoon14

dzkimmi

3 posts since
Jun 16, 2007

Jun 16, 2007 2:56 PM

Have a new macbook core2duo - which pda to get?

I am a new mac user. Just got a macbook core2duo. Love it

I am definitely still in the learning curve portion of ownership, but so far its great.

I need some help from someone who uses their bluetooth phone/pda to connect the macbook to the internet.

I need to get a pda/smartphone for connectivity on the road. I am currently a verizon customer, but my cell phone does not have bluetooth. My contract is up, so I can go to any provider.

Which bluetooth pda do you guys recommend for easy use with the macbook? I am very confused at all the choices, some have wifi (is that needed?). Some say it can be used as a modem, but thats not really what I want, is it?

If I buy an unlimited data plan through one of the cell phone companies, can I just use the bluetooth phone and connect?

Thanks for any advice you can share!

pradeep

162 posts since
Mar 24, 2001

1. Jun 18, 2007 10:33 AM

in response to: dzkimmi

Re: Have a new macbook core2duo - which pda to get?

I have found that the Sony Ericsson phones work the best with Macs. But I believe that the P990 is not compatible with Macs. Any of the candybar phones should work fine but they will not be full fledged PDA's for you. The Windows mobiles need Missing Sync, else you will not be able to sync or use them with your Mac. The Nokias are probably your best bet nowadays other than the regular Sony Ericsson phones. Most Symbian phones should work fine.

Using the phone as a modem includes using bluetooth to connect to the internet from you Macbook.

Pradeep

oaktownman

114 posts since
May 1, 2007

2. Jun 18, 2007 11:34 AM

in response to: dzkimmi

Re: Have a new macbook core2duo - which pda to get?

Hmm. What about iPhone?

Tom_Diola

2,017 posts since
Oct 19, 2001

3. Jun 18, 2007 3:58 PM

in response to: oaktownman

Re: Have a new macbook core2duo - which pda to get?

I don't see anyone mentioning the vererable Palm Treo...

dzkimmi

3 posts since
Jun 16, 2007

4. Jun 18, 2007 7:25 PM

in response to: oaktownman

Re: Have a new macbook core2duo - which pda to get

Let me clarify. I dont necessarily NEED a pda, it can be a regular phone. I was hoping to get an iphone, but from what I hear they are going to be hard to get for a while. I need something within the next month.

Give me all your ideas, please

And include how easy it will be to set up and start using. Im a mac newbie.

Thank you very much!

d00d

12,136 posts since
Apr 24, 2001

5. Jun 18, 2007 9:42 PM

in response to: Tom_Diola

Re: Have a new macbook core2duo - which pda to get

Personally, I love my Palm Treo 680.

MacCheetah3

6,635 posts since
Apr 2, 2001

6. Jun 19, 2007 2:18 AM

in response to: dzkimmi

Re: Have a new macbook core2duo - which pda to get

Hi
You'll first want to see which carriers have significant enough coverage in your regular areas. Why get a nice phone if you can't call anyone?

Next you'll want to think about what's important to you and the features you'd actually use and those that aren't just going to be a perk. i.e. email, browsing ( Internet ), camera, music, ... This will not only determine the phone you choose but also the services you will need to subscribe to use those features ( your monthly bill cost ).

A huge amount of phones come with BT nowadays. You can check to see if they are natively supported by iSync. If not, there are still definite ways of having your phone ( device ) work in harmony with your Mac.

I was going to get the iPhone but I already have a 5G ( video ) iPod and I don't have the $$$ or extreme interest / need to surf the "web" and check my email every second of the day. So, I decided to get something that will stay strong -- technology wise -- for the next couple years but still won't "break the bank" or be completely wasteful to me. Plus, good reception. I've been with Cingular / AT&T Wireless -- when it was before Cingular -- and enjoy their service(s). So, I renewed my contract with them and used the discount to purchase the Samsung Sync ( SGH-A707 ) in the nice blue color.

Apple MacBook (Black) 2.16GHz C2D, 4GB, 200GB (7.2K), DL-SD + 16GB iPod touch - Debug Computer Services http://www.click2debug.com

Tom_Diola

2,017 posts since
Oct 19, 2001

7. Jun 19, 2007 3:46 AM

in response to: MacCheetah3

Re: Have a new macbook core2duo - which pda to get

I use the Palm TX and Love the thing. It's not a phone but then again I use a RAZR for that. I bought a little cradle (USB) for the Palm - stick it in the cradle push the button and it sync's both ways (you know about that right , stuff you do on the road with the palm gets synced to the palm desktop software and stuff that you do on the desktop software gets sync'd to the palm. The graffitti is much improved since the early days and it does that thing of switching the display like the iPhone but you have to manually push a button. Of course everyone likes the iPhone but I just got my RAZR in January so I'm not going to get an iPhone immediately. The Palm TX has WiFi and an abbreviated browser but it works just fine. It also has bluetooth and a place to put an extra sim card up to 2GB. Everyone thinks Palm will be sold soon but who knows?

dzkimmi

3 posts since
Jun 16, 2007

8. Jun 20, 2007 12:28 PM

in response to: Tom_Diola

Re: Have a new macbook core2duo - which pda to get

Maybe I am really dense here, but I still dont understand how using the phone as a modem works.

OK, lets say I go and get a phone from AT&T (which is probably the provider I am going with, had enough with Verizon). I will probably buy a regular BT phone, and maybe not a pda.

They have a few different data plans, unlimited looks to be $70/mo. Probably go with that. I think this is in addition to the calling plan. I will have to see if they have any other options, or packages when I call them.

When I want to go online on my macbook: If I buy a regular phone & not a pda I wont need the data plan for the phone itself, can that plan be used for the macbook, if I connect with the BT phone? Or does it just use minutes?

Do I just put the phone next to the macbook and it becomes like a router or something? Do I have to dial something? How does it work?

I am really not as stupid as I must sound right now.

I just dont want to spend a ton on all this stuff from AT&T that I wont need. I plan on using the macbook quite a bit & will need internet access anytime I am not at work/home. I have used hotspots with my dell laptop & that's easy enough - but if I want to use the phone instead of relying on hotspots - thats where my confusion lies.

Thank you so much for all the help!

Tom_Diola

2,017 posts since
Oct 19, 2001

9. Jun 20, 2007 1:00 PM

in response to: dzkimmi

Re: Have a new macbook core2duo - which pda to get

I guess the concern is how the phone you get connects to the internet - there are different technologies that the cell companies use. It won't be super speedy and you'll most likely use bluetooth from the computer to the phone and then the phone connects to the internet. Ask the cell provider which technology they use to connect to the internet.

walsh1996

1 posts since
Mar 2, 2008

10. Mar 2, 2008 2:39 PM

in response to: Tom_Diola

Re: Have a new macbook core2duo - which pda to get

Shove your dick in a pussy!

Typhoon14

2,156 posts since
Feb 2, 2001

11. Mar 3, 2008 10:59 AM

in response to: dzkimmi

Re: Have a new macbook core2duo - which pda to get

Well, you can setup the phone via USB or Bluetooth. Either way, it will appear to the Mac OS as a modem-capable device, and gives you all the configuration options of a dialup modem. You need to know the phone number and login information for your cell provider in order to connect. I used to have a Verizon phone with no data plan, and connecting to the internet over bluetooth simply used minutes.

I've heard quite a bit of talk about the iPhone here, However, the iPhone can NOT be used as a modem to allow your computer to connect to the internet, so that is no good in your case.

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Jun 16, 2007 2:56 PM

Have a new macbook core2duo - which pda to get?

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