What's the NB ultimate add-on?

[PlutoPants]

What is the best (non-software) add-on you have bought for your Netbook/MBook/7Book? The answer would be different I am sure for each of Series5, 3 and Revo users. It would be useful to balance cost with actual value.
Personally however, I have found that some add-ons lead to having to buy other add-ons (like my excellent Buffalo Airstation WLI-PCM-L11GP WiFi PCMCIA card (phew!) meaning I had to get all the gubbins for ADSL and a WiFi router etc.
Are screen protectors really useful?
Is an extra mains lead worth the charge?
Does that funky diamond-encrusted stylus make your life sparkle?
Is the case you bought a case in point?
Does the VGA card present you in a different light?
Does your CF memory serve you well?
Did the GPS system really get you where you are today?
You get the idea....;)

[donkeyontheedge]

Buffalo WiFi card. It has transformed my usage of my Psion without a doubt, although like you say, I did have to get a WiFi AP too.

Buffalo AirCard - £33
Buffalo AP - £76
Transformation of 7Book - Priceless ;) :D

I'm getting my GPS card soon (I hope, been almost 2 weeks now) and that will transform my usage of my netBook when I am away from home.

Other than that, the other major accessory is my MBook - I got a spare stylus, battery, charger, PsiWin cable for almost the price of the individual parts, and oh yes, got a spare machine thrown in for free!

As for screen protectors, don't buy them - just cut a piece of presentation acetate to size (slightly bigger than the screen) and slip it between the screen and the front casing. I've been using this for about 6 months now without a hitch or any loss of touch screen sensitivity/screen clarity etc. When it gets scratched, I throw it away and put another in. Cost is a few pence per sheet.

Cheers
John

[MartinMaxwell]

Originally posted by PlutoPants
[B]What is the best (non-software) add-on you have bought for your Netbook/MBook/7Book?

Another nB perhaps...:-)

[andyahern]

My best purchase was the Netbook personality module (although its not strictly an add on to a full Netbook).

Before: Slow processor, Web, and Dial Up Modem :(

After: Fast processor, Opera , Cable Ethernet, Wifi etc :D

[dave99]

...probably a Nokia 6510 (GPRS via infa-red). Usable internet/email anywhere (including Greece when on my holidays) At £2.70 a megabyte it don't come cheap!!!!!!

[cangiante]

Ciao all!

the netBook really changed many things in my life (ehm... I did not actually mean all of them, but surely quite a lot of them;) ) especially with the arrival of a wi-fi PCMCIA card and an access point at home.

other useful add-ons have been the following ones:

colourgrafic VGA PCMCIA CARD for my PDF presentation with my netBook (laptops? never again...)

Vodafone Connect Card (a.k.a rebranded Option Globetrotter GPRS/GSM PCMCIA card) for wireless GPRS connections when on the move (and wireless lan out of signal...)

http://www.tucano.it/ITA/wcProductCard.asp?WCI=product_card&CardCode=GEN_ITA&ProductCode=BTREND

the future?

perhaps a C-PEN 800c (or similar) to be used in conjunction with the netBook

or a bluetooth adaptor (Martin, I hope that you are reading this;) ) in order to try using my bluetooth Chatpen with the netBook.

[netBookBabe]

Good thread George! :cool:

For me, sharing first prize for best add-on would be my Buffalo Wi-Fi card and my GPRS cellphone (originally Ericsson R520m, now SE P800).

As for the diamond-encrusted stylus, it may interest some of you to know that I originally acquired my netBook as a gift on a special occasion, and chose it (much to the shock and horror of most of my female friends) in preference to a piece of expensive jewellery. :eek:

The diamond stylus I can live without. Girl's best friend? Definitely the netBook! (This girl wants another one ;) )

Julie

[donkeyontheedge]

Originally posted by netBookBabe
Girl's best friend? Definitely the netBook! (This girl wants another one ;) )

Get yerself on eBay girl!

The legendary David Lowe is now selling latest spec netBooks on there (hi-current GPRS capable PCMCIA slot) for around £300!

John

[Beakynet]

Ultimate netBook addon? A very good question PlutoPants!

I think that would have to be the most used add-on, thinking differently here. That means two things - my 512MB CF card and my 32MBSIM ram upgrade!

Other than that, my Buffalo WiFi card has proved very liberating - having a new baby doesn't leave much time and that just fits the bill!

I also have the Voyager VGA card - great add-on but my least used as I don't have too much call to do presentations - I bought it because it was there!!

I also have a 4-in-1 pen! Very handy! And my Sony t68i is also very handy when out and about and need to send e-mails.

Hay, the list goes on! My CF to USB adaptor so I can back up files to MY PC.

And last and somewhat least, my PC! It helps me develope thoes apps and edit all the nice graphics - mainly the graphics as I write in OPL on the machine!

That about covers it - that reminds me! The PalmTec semi ridgid case is well used too!

Then there's the Series 7.....

:D :p ;)

[netBookBabe]

Originally posted by donkeyontheedge
Get yerself on eBay girl! There are some on this forum who think I spend too much time over there already, John! :p

{nBB peers around anxiously to see if Mike is looking} ;)

Julie

[MikeMcC]

nBB peers around anxiously to see if Mike is lookingYes, but there really is no answer to that or, to put it another way, "I'm lost for words" :p

[netBookBabe]

Originally posted by MikeMcC
"I'm lost for words" :p Well, that would be a first! ;)

Julie

[alfaloco]

Hi Pluto!!

My greatest add on thus far is my RAMupgrade. Having that extra 32 MB of RAM has been very liberating! Next would probably be my
my Wifi card which has been a revelation.

Anyway here's my list of must have upgrades:-

1. RAM upgrade
2. Cisco Aironet 340 WIFI (due to be replaced with an Orinoco)
3. Voyager VGA card - must have for presentations. I now no longer use my Laptop for presentations.. period!
4. Gold Card

I'll should probably put a high capacity CF card somewhere
but still can survive on my 256MBCF.

[netBookBabe]

Originally posted by alfaloco
2. Cisco Aironet 340 WIFI (due to be replaced with an Orinoco)
If you're not totally fixed on the Orinoco card, it might be an idea also to consider the Buffalo which has been much mentioned in this thread. It's basically the same as the Orinoco, except that the antenna is slimmer and doesn't obstruct the netBook's stylus slot.

I found it was quite a bit cheaper too, at the time I got mine! :cool:

Julie

[alfaloco]

Thanks Julie,

I don't know whether I could get the Buffalo card here in Malaysia, but I'll have a look see for it. Thanks again!!!

[MartinMaxwell]

I don't know whether I could get the Buffalo card here in Malaysia, but I'll have a look see for it. Thanks again!!!

I believe, based on descriptions given in this forum, that the Buffalo card *is* available in SE Asia under the brand name 'RfNet' and product name 'PCM-01'. Apart from colour and brandname, the two seem identical.

The 'RfNet' card is sold by Sita in Mont' Kiara among others.

- It does not block the stylo,
- It consumers much less power than the Cisco cards.

cheers
Martin

[tomas]

The most worth upgrade for netbook ?

All these upgrades served well:

- 64 MB RAM
- 1GB Microdrive CF
- Reliable IR GPRS cell phone (immortal durable Ericsson T39m :-)
- Gold Card PCMCIA Ethernet/Faxmodem
- Docking station for easier recharging and PC synchronization
- Extra battery pack (16 hours on-the-fly !)
- VGA Voyager card for presentations
- Canon BJC-55 lightweight portable battery IR printer
- CF Reader for PC

[PlutoPants]

Thanks for all the responses!
Here are my ultimate add-ons:
- 32MB Memory upgrade (it really means you can use Opera and othe progs without that kern3 error!)
- CF Card (extra storage as a D Drive) I have a collection - my most used is a 64MB Fuji, but combined with FastBackup, it means I can swap to my 5MX easily and make backups
- WiFi (Buffalo) PCMCIA - allows me to use FTP to and from my Mac and surf wirelessly (er, obviously this add-on, to be really useful involved the purchase of an iMac and a WiFi router!)
- Proporta Semi-rigid case - After having a small hard case for the 5MX from them (worth every penny!) I got their netbook one. It is different but VERY effective at protecting the Netbook. (I have recently seen very cheap cushioned slip cases that are mini-notebook sized in PCWorld which might be better than nothing!). However, the Proporta case gives very, very good protection and I can often use the NB in situ, rather than take it out. For me, it is easier to carry this around than a naked Netbook (the handle and strap make a difference when you have other things to carry!)
- Voyager VGA Card - Once you've used it, you see the point! You could, if needed, do without any PC at all if you had to.
These software 'add ons' have each embellished my use of the Netbook.
- The mulitude of ER5 freeware and reasonably priced shareware that allows me to:
- be compatible (nConvert/ PDFReader/ Imaging/ MBMView/ Opera)
- work anywhere (Company/ PDF Printer/ PsiDat
- connect (nFTP)
- prevent loss (FastBackup)

HOWEVER...
If we look at the things people are saying, then we can see a pattern emerging that the PC product line does not take...
The Netbook is like a basic central 'core' of functionality that you can add modules to to your hearts desire. Rather than have everything all bundled in (as PCs do with modem, VGA output, WiFi, Ethernet etc) you choose what you want.
This has a distinct advantage that 1) Netbook/mBook/7book users probably use more of their machines' features because they chose them personally
2) Rather than a mulitude of different maked add-ons that all use different drivers and may or may not be plug and pray, and have been so mass-produced that quality is often lacking in the components; instead we have a small range of specialist add-ons that have been made to work with out beloved devices.

This second notion is one which is against the current trend of cramming as many acronyms onto a computer box as possible - just to kid people into thinking they are getting more value for money.

It's testament to the product that so many people still consider the big Psions such good companions.
For Psion users, less is more - and we are able to use other add-ons (well, other devices) to satisfy our needs for aural and visual pleasure. It is probably unrealistic and unwise to rely on just one central device for all your technological needs.
Thankyou people!:cool:

[Colin Messer]

I have found this an interesting question and would have initially given my mobile, a Nokia 6510 (GPRS), but I don't think that a mobile counts as an add-on as I would have the mobile regardless of the PDA.

I used a LAN Gold Card for a while but I don't really need the connectivity at the moment and it has fallen into temporary disuse. I discovered that I required an ftp server to be running on my company PC to access the file servers. OK when I’m in the office, but the ancient laptop had to be locked away when I was out of the office; so no ftp server.

I think the two main contenders that come in equal first are the Buffalo WiFi card and the Voyager VGA card.

I use WiFi most days but mostly through laziness, I could just as easily walk upstairs and use the desktop PC. The big advantage is that while my partner is working on her laptop (connected by WiFi) I can work next to her.

The Voyager VGA card has made travelling to other company sites so much pleasanter, and the excitement from giving training and presentations gets bound-up with the VGA card, so even though I don’t use the card that much it’s high on my list.

Colin

[donkeyontheedge]

Originally posted by Colin Messer
I ... would have initially given my mobile, a Nokia 6510 (GPRS), but I don't think that a mobile counts as an add-on as I would have the mobile regardless of the PDA.

Perhaps, but you raise a very good point. Any IR-enabled mobile (GPRS or not) is really a must-have with a Psion.

John

[Lewis]

Hey, Guys!

A nice thread, George, which I've followed with interest, while pondering my own nominations; certainly to include my 32MB RAM upgrade, Compact Flash GPS unit, super-slim Buffalo WiFi card, 4-in-1 PCMCIA memory card adapter and Sony Ericsson T-610...

But, I then thought about the question a little more laterally and actually considered putting in the number one spot Psion Place, itself!!! Forgive the mutual 'back-slapping' but, really, without The Street I would get nowhere near the functionality or satisfaction out of my Psions (principally, these days, my beloved netBook) that I do now - apart from all the questions & problems I've had solved here, these forums have highlighted all sorts of useful/crucial ER5 software and pointed me towards some other very valuable independent Psion websites. Besides which, being able to just share in a common experience and, occasionally, help others out, is a pleasure in itself.

OK, so that was how I was thinking... until today!

Forget all the above and I'm sorry to blow everybody's carefully considered suggestions 'clean out of the water', but a friend has just e-mailed me. this...

Truly, the ultimate netBook add-on! :D :D

Lewis

...er, except for the slippers, perhaps! ;)

[Colin Messer]

If this was a competition, I think you just won.

[Lewis]

Cheers, Colin, but if she ain't the first prize, something of a hollow victory, eh! ;)

L

Hmmm, wonder if it's a Series 7 or nB...

[PlutoPants]

OK, ok, I was young and I needed the money!

George:D

[Beakynet]

Originally posted by Lewis

Hmmm, wonder if it's a Series 7 or nB...

NO, it's a girl!

[Lewis]

Oh! So, that's what they look like!

...they'll never catch on!

Unless they run Symbian OS, of course - stable, efficient, intuitive, user-friendly, does-everything-you-could-ever-want-without-unecessary-fripperies... have I missed anything out, Julie? ;)

[netBookBabe]

Originally posted by Lewis
... have I missed anything out, Julie? ;) Fast charging and long lasting? ;)

Julie

[MartinMaxwell]

Fast charging and long lasting? ;)

Is that a netBook-add-on or husband-add-on?

[netBookBabe]

Anyway, Lewis, you're not thinking straight! Have you not considered the possibility that "perfect girlfriend" may very likely requisition your netBook, run up a HUGE bill on your GPRS account, and generally take total control of your life??

I mean, you can tell that poor brown bear has had a tough time - just look at his face! :D

Julie

[Lewis]

Have you not considered the possibility that "perfect girlfriend" may very likely requisition your netBook, run up a HUGE bill on your GPRS account...
...erm, well if it was you, she certainly would! ;)

Anyway, Lewis, you're not thinking straight!
Is it any wonder? !!! :D

[netBookBabe]

A series of posts relating to the technicalities of setting up a WiFi connection for netBook with Buffalo Airstation have been moved from this thread to a separate discussion in the WiFi forum:

http://www.pdastreet.com/forums//showthread.php?s=&threadid=40419

Julie