To go online, you might find built-in WiFi (802.11b/g) much more useful. To use BT to get online with a PDA, you would need to connect to your phone, using the phone as a dial-up modem. Most phones can access the net without using the PDA, so that is not nearly as useful.

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Ah, i worded that wrong.

Is BT something that is highly useful in a PDA?

In general (using wifi), is it easy enough to go online with?

Oh, that is different.

1. Not really.

2. Very easy, and quite useful.

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Bluetooth is awesome, if your other devices are equipped with it as well. Remember, it's only short-range (10-100 feet) from the source, so the only thing it's doing for you on the road is connecting to your car, or Nav, or headset.

I use it every day to transfer contacts between cell phones, file transfer with PC, and headset for almost every call, as well as sending destinations to Nav. Very handy if you use it. If you don't, it's just another bell or whiste.
As for checking stocks, I assume you mean WiFi. Provided you're near a network, you can do almost anything you'd use a PC for online.
Instead of WiFi, I use full data service, which works almost everywhere with Sprint/Nextel, and regularly surf the web or check email (5 accounts) all away from a fixed network. Great for business trips, etc, doesn't require any extra software, & unlimited data is $15/month. There hasn't been a month it wasn't worth it in over 2 years....
HTH.

Sprint/nextel has full data service for $15.00 a month?? Which PDA are you using.

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"What you hear in a great jazz band is the sound of democracy. “The jazz band works best when participation is shaped by intelligent communication.”
Harmony happens whenever different parts get to form a whole by means of congruity, concord, symetry, consistency, conformity, correspondence, agreement, accord, unity, consonance…….

Palm Treo 650. They may have upped the rate for new plans to $20 or $25, but they've kept mine at $15 since the start. Kewl

Most PDAs/Smartphones out are overkill for many users & fall short for the folks that need/ use every feature. That unit should be more than enough for Mom, most likely. If you haven't already comp'd it, this might help. Enjoy.

Thanks for all the help guys. After comparing it with others, based on the requirements and this unit's performance, I snagged it on ebay brand new for $200 shipped.

This is in the running for a mother's day gift. My mom is very much into finance, and complains that she can't always be sitting in front of the computer following the markets/news. We have wifi, at home, so I figure this would be useful for this purpose all with general organizational purposes. Think it should work well?

This is what I'm looking at:
http://reviews.cnet.com/HP_iPaq_rx19...?tag=pdtl-list

Maybe. But here's a consideration. The bad: Unfortunately, the HP iPaq rx1950 lacks Bluetooth and has low onboard memory and out of a score 1-10 it's only a 6.5. Not very highly rated IMHO.

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"What you hear in a great jazz band is the sound of democracy. “The jazz band works best when participation is shaped by intelligent communication.”
Harmony happens whenever different parts get to form a whole by means of congruity, concord, symetry, consistency, conformity, correspondence, agreement, accord, unity, consonance…….