Wi-Fi in your pocket

Have e-mail, must check. But what do you do to indulge your e-mail obsession if you don’t have a fancy mobile phone or a laptop? There are several gaming and music devices (not all available in India) with Wi-Fi connectivity and a browser that can help you stay connected.We look at some options.

ARCHOS 7
Who needs a portable media player when you can have an Internet media tablet? The Archos 7 might not have the drop-dead good looks of an iPod Touch, but when it comes to surfing capabilities, it leaves other devices far behind.You have a choice of 160 GB or 320 GB, besides the 7-inch touchscreen, an ARM Cortex processor,Adobe Flash 9 video support and full e-mail application. If you want more, there are plug-ins galore, especially if you want to watch TV on the move or transfer content to watch on TV.
Price: $450 (160 GB); $550 (320 GB)

SONY PSP
Gamers drool over what is considered one of the best portable gaming consoles. For others, the Playstation Portable is a great way to stay connected using a pocket-sized device. It has a 4.3-inch screen, built-in Skype functions for free Skype-to-Skype calls, LocationFree TV to keep you abreast of the latest soaps, even Internet radio.And you can still play Grand Theft Auto or Final Fantasy or whatever it is you’re currently addicted to.
Price: Rs 8,990

COWON Q5W
This portable Internet device seems made for your car. For, besides the standard browser options, the Cowon Q5W comes with a voice-enabled messenger service and an optional GPS navigation package that has a GPS receiver antenna and an FM transmitter switch for audio playback on a vehicle’s radio. Plus, there is a wireless remote control.Want more? Check out the built-in FM radio and recorder, voice recorder with internal microphone, built-in stereo speakers, TV-out supporting component, s-video and composite connections.
Price: $430 (40 GB); $513 (60 GB)

 

NOKIA N810
And you thought Nokia only made phones? The N810 is an Internet tablet and is considered one of the best in its class. It has all that matters—Internet calling, instant messaging, e-mail, built-in Web camera, integrated GPS, 2 GB internal memory (upgradable to 8 GB with miniSD and microSD cards),WiMAX radio and seamless software updates.You also get an integrated QWERTY keyboard, touchscreen display and a Flash plug-in.
Price: $490

 

iPOD TOUCH
It’s a good thing Steve Jobs and others at Apple don’t believe in resting on their laurels. Otherwise, we’d still be drooling over the click wheel on the Classic iPod instead of being blown away by the iPod Touch.Yes, it’s a music player and a video player, but what sets it apart is that it is Wi-Fi enabled and comes loaded with the Safari browser.The pinch-and-expand function allows you to zoom in and out of a page. Subscribe to MobileMe and you can keep your e-mail, contacts and calendar up to date with your Mac or PC.
Price: Rs 16,300 (8 GB); Rs 19,900 (16 GB); Rs 24,700 (32 GB)