Instead, I used my OmniSky modem. Instead of paying $400 for the ten days, my entire month cost only $39.95, or just 10% of the in-room charges. Even if I'd gone out and bought the wireless modem just for the trip, it'd have cost me $69 for the modem, $29.95 for startup, and $39.95 for the service, a total of $138.90, which still beats the in-room $400 charge hands down.

Now, let's look at the numbers for a similar Palm VIIx. If you already own one, it'd have cost $44.99 instead of $400. If you had to run out and buy one, you're spending $199 for the new Palm handheld (always cool to get!), $9.99 to start up, and $44.99 a month. That's $253.98. Take away the $100 credit that Palm's currently offering, and you're spending $153.98, which, again, beats the pants off the basic in-room charge of $400.

No doubt about it. If you're going to travel, bring a wireless modem for your Palm handheld or a Palm VII or VIIx. You'll save a tremendous amount of money.

Steve Niles is Senior Editor for ZATZ Publishing. He is also an independent filmmaker and freelance writer. For more information, visit http://www.sn-films.com.