Can you use your PDA to monitor and control your network? Our reviewer says the time is near.

Network Management in the Palm of Your Hand

Can you use your PDA to monitor and control your network? Our reviewer says the time is near.

The E-125 ($550) is nearly identical to its older relatives—it has that unattractive “brick” look and feel. Of all the color PDAs I reviewed, however, the E-125’s display is the best. Colors are crisp and vivid, making the display a pleasure to use.

I found accessing information on the E-125 fairly easy, with its six buttons, touch pad and wheel. But for us “fat-fingered” individuals, accessing the side buttons (Power, Start and Record) takes some getting used to. For network admins, the built-in Compact-Flash (CF) slot is a bonus. It lets you add an Ethernet card or modem to access resources on your network or the Internet, making the E-125 usable for controlling your systems, though you’ll need to connect to a network or phone line to do so. A CF-to-PC card adapter is available, though many of the PC card drivers needed currently don’t exist for this unit. When drivers for some of these PC cards become available, you’ll be able to access your network resources wirelessly.

With its 150 MHz processor, the E-125 is fast. The unit can easily run multiple applications simultaneously, though learning to switch between running applications took time. Go to the Memory Control Panel under Running Programs.

Adding extra memory to the E-125 is a cinch via the CF slot, though the built-in 32MB should be sufficient for most people. I found one drawback with the CF slot: The cover that protects it is flimsy and easily comes off. I removed mine to ensure I wouldn’t lose or break it. I also discovered one other negative with the E-125 in the design of its bottom-mounted synchronization port. A small “door” covers this port. On more than one occasion, I repeatedly tried to fit the E-125 on its sync-cradle only to realize the little door was closed and covering the port.

About the Author

Barry Shilmover, MCSE+I, MCT, owns Shilmover Consulting Services, a Microsoft Solution Provider specializing in Windows NT/2000 and Exchange 5.5/2000 solutions. He has co-authored books that include Windows 2000 System Administrator’s Black Book and Exchange 5.5 Exam Cram, both from Coriolis Press.

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