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Palm, Pocketpc Or Something Else Entirely


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Looking for some opinions on my next PDA. I am currently using a Visor Neo. It is getting a little old and somewhat unreliable so I am looking to upgrade.

I have been considering a Tungsten T5 but some of the reviews I have read online are less than favorable but since reviews can be somewhat skewed I am looking for some recommendations. I have also been looking at the pocketpcs. I would like to know what you are using and what your thoughts are on it.

Mostly I use my PDA to track appointments and contacts. (Must sych with Microsoft Outlook) If there is enough memory I would use it to prepare construction estimates. We have an Excel Spreadsheet template that we use so Office Compatibility should be there also.

Would appreciate everyone's thoughts and views.

Thanks

Doug

Edited by DougBarnes101
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I'm partial to the Pocket PC devices. I've used one or another for 6 or 7 years now and have been very pleased. I have not used a Palm so I can't give an objective opinion of Win vs Palm but the interface between the Pocket PCs and Windows Outlook and Excel is very easy to sync and the apps on the palmtop are easy to use, very instinctive. You do lose some of the formating in Pocket Excel or Word vs regular Excel/Word but it's not bad for simple documents.

I'm without one now and am using a Blackberry. I am trying to convince my boss to get me a Pocket PC enabled cell phone so I can ditch the Blackberry and get my Excel capability back.

In terms of which one to get, I don't know what to recommend. Budget is the limiting factor. I like the HP/Compaqs best myself.

My 2 cents...

John

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I have been doing the same kind of research for a new PDA. From what I found out ht emajor questions to ask yourself are:

-do you need wifi capability?

-are you preferential to palm or pocket pc os?

-are there specific programs or files you will use that require large memory cards?

I have pretty much decided to go witha pocket pc based machine. Dells x51v seems to be the biggest bang for your buck. If you look online, every so often there are coupons you can use which will drop the proce significantly. Otherwise, the main competitior seems to be HP. There are some otehr smaller companies like ASUS that make great products, but the prices are much higher and I don't know about the support. Hope this helps.

Adam

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Thanks to my job I get to play with some cool toys without having to pay for them. Take a look at the Ipaq HX4700, 4"vga screen, is is very nice, especially if you want to see a lot, the screen is phenominal. The Wireless works better than the other models I've demoed too.

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A couple of weeks ago I toasted my Palm with some water damage. Don't ask - I think that I will replace mine with an inexpensive E2. Appointments, phone book, the 900 different passwords that I have for various application etc. It can store photos and it is under $200.

Rick

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i have a dell x50 axim, i like it pretty well. it replaced an m500 palm, which i really think i like the palm OS better. it seems more stable, but i like all the wireless in my axim. next purchase here will be a smartphone all in one most likely

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Thanks to my job I get to play with some cool toys without having to pay for them. Take a look at the Ipaq HX4700, 4"vga screen, is is very nice, especially if you want to see a lot, the screen is phenominal. The Wireless works better than the other models I've demoed too.

AFAIK, HP just discontinued the 4700. They now offer a 4705 which seems to be the same machine. I really like the 4700 also, but the price is pretty high.

Adam

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Thanks to my job I get to play with some cool toys without having to pay for them. Take a look at the Ipaq HX4700, 4"vga screen, is is very nice, especially if you want to see a lot, the screen is phenominal. The Wireless works better than the other models I've demoed too.

AFAIK, HP just discontinued the 4700. They now offer a 4705 which seems to be the same machine. I really like the 4700 also, but the price is pretty high.

Adam

It isn't cheap, but the screen is by far the best I've seen. The 4705 is the model I have, I guess it is the same hardware with different software. The next Pocket PC OS should be out soon also and it will have a few features that will be nice if you can hold out a bit longer.

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I have purchased a number of HP’s and Dell’s and like both. My preference is for Windows because we also use Outlook Exchange and we have a third party database that can be configured to use wireless on the Pocket PC which acts as a service call tool.

The HP’s have a better view but we get more (including the built-in wireless) with the Dell. Dell also offers a nifty little aluminum case that offers a bit of protection for the device. Don’t mistake it for a ruggedized version but it is better than nothing.

The wireless setup with the Dell is totally painless and is really a joy to use at airports.

David C

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Visit Howard forums for all the phone/pda info you can handle.

http://www.howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=181

I use an Imate Jam running windows mobile using Cingulars service. Once you get a converged device you will wonder how you lived without one.

Doug

2005 Nationals...we are all sitting around the table eating steak, drinking beer, and telling lies...every so often we hear, "you've got mail".

We finally figure out the "you've got mail" is coming from Doug's pocket. Which, soon morphs into "you've got porn".

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Just as a quick update I wound up buying a HP iPAQ 4700. I found one on ebay with a rhinoskin aluminum case for $395.00 (includes shipping) These are normally $599.00 new. This one appears new and the guy had purchased a two year warranty from the seller and when I asked if the warranty was transferable he contacted them and they told him it was. So now all I have to do is to learn all of the new features.

Thanks to everyone for their input. :D

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I was in the same situation a month ago. I ended up buying (or my company did for me) an Ericsson T910i (called T910ain the US)

It has it all. Phone / Pda / gps all built into one small unit. No need to carry a mobile phone and a pda anymore. Ok for GPSing the screen could be bigger but as phone and organizer its awesome.

I travel alot in my job and now I only have to carry one charger not the double of everything when I had a phone and pda.

just my .02$

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  • 2 months later...

Is everone on this forum using antivirus and anti spam software in their PDA's?

I was afraid of going on line without it.

I have been running a Dell X50v the last year and it is as solid as a rock.

My only complaint is the small size of the navigation/joystick thing.

The Dell replaced an IPAQ purchased in 2001.

The HP was good to, I would buy another.

FM

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I don't usually bother with AV for the PDA-- if something gets in, a hard reset will get it out. I also rarely do security-related things like online banking on a PDA either, so if you do, you might want to reconsider. Antispam goes on my e-mail server so everything gets zapped there.

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