Palm P10952U Wi-Fi Card

• Adds 802.11b wireless network connectivity to the Tungsten T3 and Zire 72 handhelds
• Conserves battery life with low-power standby mode
• Includes PPTP VPN client for secure access to corporate networks
• Supports WEP encryption with 64 or 128 bit key length
• Works with Palm Tungsten E2, Palm Treo 700w, Palm Zire 72, Palm Tungsten T3, Palm Tungsten T5

This works fine and I was happy with the speed at which I was able to do a Google search with the bundled software WebPro. Downloading email using the IMAP server was a little slower than using the web, but it worked out quite well using the T3's VersaMail email software.

There are two minor downsides though:

1) The range is about half that of a laptops WiFi card. But it's still good enough that if you're inside a Cafe or on the sidewalk outside a WiFi hotspot, you'll have no problems.

2) It uses a lot of juice... But that's to be expected for something like this. Realistically though, you probably won't spend as much time surfing the web with this device as you would with a laptop. You'd do the occasional quick surfing, as well as downloading email, so battery life is probably acceptable for a majority of users.

If you do need WiFi on your PDA, then you'll be very happy with this.

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Installation was trivial, worked first time. From reading earlier reviews, I was aware that this thing uses a lot of power -not a big deal for my situation.

Minor quibble: It would be nice to have a plastic container for the card, to protect it when not in use. It's larger than a "normal" SD card, and needs a custom container.

I plan eventually to get a hiptop (Oqo, Flybook, or the like), once they settle out, probably a year or two. In the meantime, the Zire 72 with WiFi and a big memory card fills the bill.

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Overall, I'm very happy with the money I spent on getting a WiFi card for my Zire 72s. Prior to getting the card, I got very little use out of web-pro and had no "on the go" access to the files that folks emailed to me. If you use your web access for emails, stocks, maps, and to check the weather; then getting this WiFi card may be for you. The best thing about this capability is that I can browse the web while lying down on my couch or getting ready to drift off to sleep. Browser can be a bit slow, but is adequate for most applications. While I recommend this card to anyone who has a Zire 72, it does have some unique features that you should be prepared for:

SIMPLE TO INSTALL: OK, this is a good feature. The included CD-Rom is great. It answered all my questions during set-up. I was able to pull the PDA right into my encrypted, "invisible" WiFi network at home. Have not personally used the remote "synch" function or the VPN, but the instructions on the CD-Rom seem great.

FATAL EXCEPTION ERROR: It does happen from time-to-time when using the WiFi card or switching back forth with a normal memory card. Not a show-stopper. Tap the reset button in the back and everything goes back to normal. I only lost data once, a quick resynch when I got home restored the data effortlessly.

DRINKS ELECTRICITY LIKE WATER: After about 20 45 minutes, your battery will be dead. However, I only use it for convenience around the house or to check email while at the local coffee shop, so I can live with that problem. When I go on travel, I intend to take a travel cord so I can use the PDA vice a laptop to check my email while on the road, especially if I can get one of those hotel rooms with built in WiFi access.

UNUSUALLY LARGE CARD: There is just no way around this. I agree with the other reviewer who recommended that PALM make a special plastic case for this. Otherwise, when you switch to your normal memory card, you don't have a convenient or comfortable place to put your WiFi card.

In summary, this card will increase your productivity and make it easier to keep in touch when you travel without lugging around a laptop or spending the cash for a higher end PDA or wireless solution like a Blackberry or TREO.

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In terms of installation and function, this card is great. Unfortunately, the battery in my T3 was in the critical zone after playing with it for about 45 minutes. Looks like any extended use will require that the unit be plugged in while you are surfing.

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I set up a Wi-Fi hotspot in my home. Now I can pull up the Internet from my PDA anywhere inside and outside the house. For example, I was putting up a tree swing and needed to know how to tie a knot. I pulled out my PDA with the Wi-Fi card and Googled a site on knots. I followed the directions without having to go inside and look it up.

The card is a battery hog, but it does have a feature to shut itself off after a period of time.

Unfortunately, the card malfunctioned just past its warranty date. As usual, I couldn't get a response from Palm. I think my next PDA will not be Palm. They may have grown too big too fast and have forgotten customer service.