Mobile Computing: Wireless E-Mail

NOTEBOOKS & ACCESSORIES

News: Centrino Users Get the VPN Blues

A conflict between Intel's Centrino notebooks and Nortel Networks' virtual private network client software has been known to cause a "blue-screen crash" in Windows XP. The crash apparently results from problems with the Network Driver Interface Specification within Intel's PROSet software, according to a Nortel software engineer. Nortel has developed a workaround for the problem, however.

Soon after the Nortel-Centrino news broke, Intel announced it had turned off adaptive-switching functionality (which lets users seemlessly change from a wired connection to a wireless one) in its Centrino chip set because it could cause some Centrino-powered notebooks to crash when running a VPN client. Intel said most Centrino systems currently shipping have the functionality turned off.

News: Take Off, Boot Up, Surf On

Lufthansa Airlines will be offering the Connexion by Boeing wireless Internet system on all its long-haul aircraft, beginning early next year. Lufthansa and Boeing haven't disclosed pricing for the new service, though they allowed that passengers will pay a small fee or pay with their Lufthansa frequent-flier miles. Lufthansa offered the service for free during trial flights between Frankfurt and Washington, D.C.

News: Notebook Thieves, Beware

A new BIOS-level application called TheftGuard, from Phoenix Technologies, promises protection and control over a stolen computer. When a filched notebook is connected to the Internet, TheftGuard can disable the machine, clear its hard drive, or send back information about its physical location. Phoenix Technologies is including TheftGuard in a new chip, and the company expects notebook manufacturers to offer the security system as an option.