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| Thread ID: 30399 | 2003-02-18 04:55:00 | PDAs, Handhelds, etc - recommendations? | -=JM=- (16) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 122182 | 2003-02-18 04:55:00 | I'm contemplating getting a PDA of some sort. Not wanting to spend too much. But any recommendation is good. As chances are by the time I have the money, they'll be cheaper. I spose the main thing is what are the benefits(or lack of) with PalmOS or PocketPC. |
-=JM=- (16) | ||
| 122183 | 2003-02-18 08:40:00 | My first question is what exactly do you want to use the PDA for? For me, I use my PDA to mirror my appointments from Outlook Calendar and addresses/phones from my Outlook Contacts. I also needed a scratch pad to scribble notes. And lastly, a register to type in things like serial numbers, passwords etc. I didn't need character recognitions etc. I do need it to be light and most importantly CHEAP. So when I checked the market, I ended up not purchasing a $1000 Palm or IPAQ pocket PC. Instead I paid $229+gst for a Casio Pocket Viewer PV-S250 which turns out to be perfect for me. Not expensive, just the basic most productive tools and some cool games to keep me busy at the airport. Uses 2 AAA batteries that last around 4 months. See world.casio.com http://www.pocket-viewer.com/ |
nzStan (440) | ||
| 122184 | 2003-02-18 11:01:00 | I also started out with a "Casio Pocket Viewer PV-S250" but then I found that it did not have enough features for me so I brought a "Casio Cassiopeia BE-300" which I have found meets my needs. I will tell anyone who asks that a "Casio Pocket Viewer PV-S250" is the best place to start. |
dr_jekell (3180) | ||
| 122185 | 2003-02-18 21:24:00 | I started with a really cheap Palm I bought off a friend who won it as a spot prize, and didn't need it. I quickly became sold on it, and am now on my 4th Palm OS based PDA. My current model is a Palm m515, and it does everything I need. I use it mainly as a diary and contact directory. I also use it when I am travelling (I travel a lot) to keep up with my email through infrared via a Nokia 6210. The software that comes bundled with it will handle a wide range of email attachments- specifically Word and Excel files. A recent web page (which I have now lost, darn) demonstrates that Palm OS with either Documents to Go (bundled) or QuickOffice (purchase separately) handles Word and Excel documents better than one of the Pocket PC types. You can also load documents on to the Palm using Documents to Go so you have them with you on the road and can edit them etc and print through an infrared capable printer. I personally find a colour screen better to manage in a wide range of lighting conditions, but that is a matter of choice. So yes, it does depend on what you want it for. Sort that out and you will know what to go for. Just as a guide, Palms range from the Zire model at $288 (at DSE) to the Tungsten at $998 (special limited price at DSE). The m515 is now down to $799 at the same place. You could check pricespy to see if you can get them cheaper elsewhere. Hope that helps John H |
John H (8) | ||
| 122186 | 2003-02-18 21:26:00 | I should have said that I have no experience of PocketPC PDAs so I cannot comment on their pros and cons except for one definite con. I just gulp when I see their price, and buying Palm also means that it is one less glob of money that I am paying to Bill. John |
John H (8) | ||
| 122187 | 2003-02-18 21:56:00 | Whatever happened to the old diary/notebook and biro? | dot_com (558) | ||
| 122188 | 2003-02-18 22:16:00 | If you saw the number of entries in the contact list, with names, email addresses, postal addresses, phone numbers, cell phone numbers etc you may not ask that question so lightly! In the past, I had to update those darned things each year when I bought the new year's diary, and biro entry of a multitude of contacts that I need for my work gets downright tedious . Once you start using an electronic record keeping system (that syncs with your email address book on your PC, meaning you only have to enter this stuff once), I am sure you would not go back . It is also much easier to use the electronic diary - no more of those entries in pen that are such a mess when someone stuffs up and you have to scribble them out when a meeting date is changed . And you only have to carry one small PDA compared with the normal clunky diary . I also find I am often the only person in a meeting who has "next year's diary" with me, when people are trying to set meeting dates etc in the last part of the current year! Now if everyone had a PDA we could make meeting dates up to and including 2031 in the case of my Palm!!!! |
John H (8) | ||
| 122189 | 2003-02-18 23:58:00 | I'm sorry. According to my PDA, I'm booked out for the entire 2031! | nzStan (440) | ||
| 122190 | 2003-02-19 00:11:00 | So am I - in the ground by then I should think. | John H (8) | ||
| 122191 | 2003-02-19 04:14:00 | contacts and tasks would be the main use. Ofcourse with some games and the like. |
-=JM=- (16) | ||
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