It's been a while since my last posts here, I've still not decided on whether to buy a 3100 or get a Treo 650. I know I can use the Z as a PC far more than a Treo, but I really like the Treo's integrated EDGE support and its ability to function as a phone.

Has anyone managed to do either of these things on a Z?

Not sure if that's what you are looking for, but I use my C1K to connect to the net via bluetooth link to Nokia 6230b phone that is a class 10 edge device. I have a usb cable too, but still prefer the flexibility of bluetooth wireless connections.
-albertr

How hard was it to set up like that? Do you ever find it inconvenient to have to carry both devices around? What about using them on the go? Could I stick the phone in a pocket and use the Z in my hand?

I always carry a phone, anyway. So it's no different to me. Bluetooth part could be a little tricky to setup, but once it's done, it works. And yes, my phone is in the pocket most of the time.

If you don't like carring the phone, I haven't heard of any edge-capable extention cards available in CF form-factor, you might only be able to find GRPS ones.
-albertr

It seems to me that the Zaurus and the Treo are VERY different machines with different strengths and weaknesses, and I think you really need to decide what you need from a PDA and then choose the one that comes closest to that. If you primarily need PIM functions and a phone, then I think the Treo would be the better choice. If you want something closer to a mini-PC, get the Zaurus.

its not too hard to do... i have been using it that way for the last 6 months.
more info at http://www.neoresearch.org/gilbert/zaurus.html

I have been using my c3000 with my Treo650 successfuly for the last five months. Edge service really does speed up the page loads and the mail pops!

The trick is to get the proper modem init string in your blue tooth dialup section of the network setup.
For Rogers Canada, you would use AT+CGDCONT=1,"ip","INTERNET.COM"
and of course the proper username and password.

You will of course need to install the bluez packages on your Z and pair the two devices.

The string and username and passwords change from provider to provider. Checkout
http://www.taniwha.org.uk/gprs.html

J.

So does anyone here use Cingular as their EDGE provider? I'm moving toward getting a Bluetooth phone with EDGE. Someone told me the Motorola V551 was EDGE capable but the Cingular site doesn't have mention it:

http://onlinestorez.cingular.com/cell-phon...id=cdsku9870012

success too with a Nokia 6630 (Edge/Umts) and SLC3000 with a bluetooth dongle.

I use Cingular, but only because it has a slightly better reception in my house
over Verizon and I have a free unlimited EDGE and SMS on my Cingular account.

If not that, personally I would go with Verizon - their EV-DO network is much better that EDGE (in my area, anyway) - it has both better bandwidth and lower latency.

If you are gonna get a new phone anyway and shelling out $80 or so a month for unlimited data, I would strongly suggest to take a look at Verizon and Moto E815. Assuming that Verizon has a good coverage in your area, of course.
-albertr

I have a v551 on cingular and have surfed using a bluetooth connection to my laptop. Since I haven't used any other data service before, I cannot tell you how it compares. It feels like surfing at 56K.

Well I have had the pleasure (???) of owning the Z5600 and a Pretec CF GPRS card (which was a pain in the butt to get working right) and was able to get it to use my AT&T Wireless (now Cingular) EDGE service.

Then I switched over to Cingular and bought the Nokia 6230. It has bluetooth. Paired with a Socket Bluetooth CF adapter and you're ready to go no matter what Z you have. I've used it on the Z6K and the C3K and it works great.

The best speed I've ever gotten from the EDGE service was in Tallahassee, Florida where my speed topped out at a respectable 23K per second download. I'm in Phoenix, AZ right now and I usually don't get anything better than 7 or 8K/s. Lag time yeah, yeah... it lags real good.

My phone stays in my holster. Have it paired with the Z and have auto-connect set so it never bothers me. I just turn on the Z3K and hit NetFront (need to get a better browser agh...) and it connects right off. Nice.

I know they have UMTS here in Phoenix but right now I don't have a phone that supports it so... mebbe I'll have to check out that 6630 and twist the arm of the guy at the Cingular store to let me upgrade without charging me extra since they sooo kindly sold me a fone WITHOUT UMTS when they knew that I'd probably want that instead *grumble*. Anyhoo just my 2cents.

But it is EDGE on your phone, though?

actually I don't know how to tell if I have edge.

Thanks everyone for the comments. I finally took the plunge and moments ago ordered a 3100 from conics.net.

I wish I could but unfortunately, I recently sold my soul to Cingular for another 2 year contract

I just signed up for unlimited t-mobile internet. I plan on using their EDGE service (just upgraded from GPRS - available in most cities in their network) with a bluetooth device tethered to my laptops, and my zaurus c3100.

Sadly, I won't be able to use a bluetooth card with OpenBSD, but I'll install Cacko or pdaXrom or a sharp rom and use it that way.

I've heard that the up/down speeds are much faster, but what about latency? GPRS t-mobile latency was typically 700 - 1100ms which was painful for SSH and other high-transaction applications.

What' the latency on EDGE like? I've seen speedtest screenshots from people's phones saying upwards of 2s !!! (afraid)

Will post when I have tethered via bluetooth. I plan on testing with my mac mini and my existing GPRS phone first to make sure my service works.

In my experience, the latency is the same as with GPRS. So if you see 700 - 1100ms with T-mobile GPRS, you'll probably see the same number with T-mobile EDGE.
-albertr

Thanks albertr - the dream is over. At least it's cheaper than the $80/mo I was paying for EVDO

BTW I found out my v551 does *not* have edge. the firmware I have is too old. I would flash a newer one except I need to buy a special usb cable and I don't want to spend more money into the thing. I'm going to wait until my contract is up at the beginning of the next year and go verizon (evdo). By then I will have a new Z to take advantage of it.

- gbert I don't see how you could fail to love it. The 3100 wasn't out, so I got the 1000, but with Cacko BT is seamless.
- I had a lot of trouble with BlueZ, which Cacko uses, on while on the Sharp ROM. It worked fine, but it was a process getting it to link. I haven't seen others posting about this, so it must be my "good fortune".

- EDGE I'm using Sprint, and have no clue what-so-ever if it's EDGE or what. I do know it works just fine, and it's a darned sight faster than nothing, which is what I had before. (shrug) I use it primarily for live traffic updates when the wife and I are on the road, searching for movies where-ever I happen to be, and getting a doppler radar image when I'm riding the motorcycle, and it's certainly usable in those capacities.