[Web4lib] Wireless Device for providing roving service?

[Thomas Bennett]

According to the apple store iPod Touch does do 802.11 b/g.  And we have a 
secure wireless vlan on campus only for the iPod Touch.  
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/dkstore.woa/wa/RSLID?nnmm=browse&mco=7B723641&node=home/shop_ipod/family/ipod_touch

Each of our staff and faculty can be issued a Palm, we always try to get the 
newest and not keep more than one or two in stock.

As far as laptops we have for check out Dell d430s and older models, and MAC 
Books.  About fifty laptops total and getting ready to put out 25 more.  We 
started with IBM ThinkPads in Spring of 2000.

We have just ordered a couple of tablet PCs for staff/faculty use.

Personally, I like my Nokia 810, with 802.11 b/g or you can connect with your 
cell phone and bluetooth.  It has gps, camera, zoom/full screen, web browser, 
chat, media players, image viewer, RSS feed reader, file manager, pdf reader,  
sketch pad, terminal, remote desktop, Skype and Gizmo, and of course would 
not be complete without Mahjong ;-).  It can set to automatically check 
Google mail and Google Calendars look great.  The screen slides up to reveal 
a larger than most PSAs keyboard.  And you can download and install dozens of 
other programs.  But then it is Linux what else would you expect.  I really 
think this is the best value for a PDA that does just about all of it, theres 
no bar code reader but I bet you could plug one in the USB port and it would 
work.

The Nokia 700 and 800 are below the price of a Palm and I think give you a 
better value.  The 810 is priced competitively with the palm and will 
probably go down when the 820 or 900 come out, I bet they are working on one 
of those now.

Thomas

On Monday 11 February 2008 09:48, Pennington, Buddy D. wrote:
> I would put the iPod Touch in the PDA with wireless category.  It is a
> wonderful device but the small screen could pose a challenge to library
> service delivery.
>
> Also, it does not support 802.1x, which is used on many campus wireless
> networks (ones that ask students to log in for wireless access).
> Probably not an issue for public libraries but it is a problem for many
> academics.
>
> Buddy Pennington
> Serial Acquisitions Librarian
> University of Missouri - Kansas City
> University Libraries
> 800 E. 51st Street
> Kansas City, MO  64110
> 816-235-1548
>
> UMKC University Libraries: Discovery. Knowledge. Empowerment.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
> [mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Mark Gooch
> Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 8:33 PM
> To: PSchoenberg at EPL.CA; web4lib at webjunction.org
> Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Wireless Device for providing roving service?
>
> What about the iPod Touch?
>
> Thanks
> Mark
>
> Mark D. Gooch
> Technology & Government Information Librarian
> The College of Wooster Libraries
> 1140 Beall Avenue
> Wooster, Ohio 44691
> Phone: 330/263-2522
> FAX: 330/263-2253
> mgooch at wooster.edu
> AIM: mgooch90
> Yahoo! IM: mgooch1
>
> >>> "Peter Schoenberg" <PSchoenberg at EPL.CA> 02/07/08 3:06 PM >>>
>
> I would love to hear what devices are being used to provide roving
> (within library) service to customers.
>
> Now that wireless is in place within our locations for public use, we
> are considering options for letting staff provide service wirelessly.
> 	(Wireless network security and separation of staff vs public
> traffic will be taken care of, my question is about the physical
> devices)
>
> Simply having a browser to navigate the website and catalogue would be
> one key functionality.
>
> Some options that have been discussed in our preliminary conversations:
>
> 1) PDA with wireless 		- certainly portable, but small screen
> size is a challenge
> 2) Tablet PC 			- good for screen size
> 3) Laptop 			- getting heavier, but full
> functionality and keyboard
> 4) Vendor software / device	 - e.g. SIRSI's PocketCirc application,
> which has full circ functions
>
> Would like to hear what your experiences have been or what your
> investigations are leading you towards.
>
> We are a 16 location public library, with a large range of building,
> collection and staffing sizes.
>
> Thanks
> Peter
> __________________________________________________
> Peter Schoenberg                  (780) 496 1855
> Director - eServices - Edmonton Public Library
>                            www.epl.ca
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-- 
====================================================================
Thomas McMillan Grant Bennett		Appalachian State University
Operations & Systems Analyst		P O Box 32026
University Library			Boone, North Carolina 28608
(828) 262 6587

"... using OpenOffice.org, and save them back to disk automatically,
in MS Word format.  They surf the Web, check e-mail, do instant 
messsaging, view YouTube videos, visit their Facebook pages, learn 
touch-typing skills and lots more.  Our public library has been 
offering these Linux public stations for the past three years."
 - Phil Shapiro Linux Journal January 2008

Library Systems Help Desk: https://www.library.appstate.edu/help/
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