Mobile Computing News, Reviews, & Tips

Notebook News: Dell's Low-Priced Multimedia Portable

Speaking of notebook prices, Dell recently added a new low-price model to its premium XPS line. The XPS M140 costs only $999, has a 14.1-inch wide-screen display, weighs 5.5 pounds, runs on Intel's Pentium M 740 processor, includes 512MB of DDR2 memory, and has a 40GB hard drive.

iPod Accessory Review: Coverage for Your Nano

As you may have heard, Apple's iPod Nano can be easily scratched. Fortunately, protective cases and covers are beginning to trickle out. WaterField's new $22 iPod Nano case fits snugly, is available in five colors, and has a strap to secure your earbuds.

WaterField also makes a compact, all-purpose iPod Gear Pouch with four well-cushioned inside pockets for cables, earbuds, arm bands, power supplies, and such. The pouch comes in two sizes, small ($29) or large ($35).

Smart Phone Reviews: New Treo and BlackBerry Clones

The Palm Treo and Research In Motion BlackBerry aren't the only keyboard-enabled PDA/phone hybrids around. New competitors have arrived or are on the way from HP, Motorola, and Nokia. PC World "Dialed In" columnist Grace Aquino got her digits on the new contenders.

Nokia's E61 earned kudos for the ability to handle Voice over IP and global roaming, with support for GSM networks in Asia, Europe, and South America. The E61 will be available in the first quarter of 2006. Read Grace's review for details on all three smart phones.

Suggestion Box

Is there a particularly cool mobile computing product or service I've missed? Got a spare story idea in your back pocket? Tell me about it. However, I regret that I'm unable to respond to tech-support questions, due to the volume of e-mail I receive.

Sign up to have the Mobile Computing Newsletter e-mailed to you each week.