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The Bluetooth Special Interest Group said in May that it would incorporate the UWB specifications in a future version of the standard. Wi-Fi, for instance, could benefit from a Bluetooth technology dubbed Adaptive Frequency Hopping that enables a device to switch to different frequencies to avoid interference. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group is planning to cooperate more closely with the Wi-Fi, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and Near Field Communications (NFC) wireless standards. The initiative seeks to combine technologies, functionalities and user interfaces to make them more straightforward for end users. Bluetooth is used mainly for short-range wireless networks, and has a prime application in connecting wireless headsets to mobile phones, while Wi-Fi is the standard in wireless networking for laptops and home networks. Near Field Communications (NFC) is a less common technology sending a signal over a distance of just a few centimeters. UWB is an emerging standard commonly referred to ...

Bear these thoughts in mind when buying and using notebook computer or PCs. Consider the travel weight . Compare travel weights, not system weights. That's the notebook (system weight) plus transformer (typically 0.75 pounds). For one-drive systems, add an expansion slice for the optical drive (2 to 3 pounds). If the vendor quoted the weight with a weight-saver bezel (translation: a blank plate in place of the optical drive) you may have to add the weight of an internal CD or DVD drive (0.5 pounds). Don't get hung up on small weight differences . What really counts is the total weight of the bag you sling over your shoulder. On its own, a 5-pound notebook with a nice screen and two drives weighs 25 percent more than a 4-pound system with a smaller screen, smaller keys, and no DVD drive. But notebook bags weigh 2 to 5 pounds and all your other stuff (transformer, cell phone, music player, paper documents, and paperback novel) adds 2 to (gulp) 10 pounds. A heavier notebook might...