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Thread ID: 81768	2007-08-06 11:07:00	Help with PDA / Pocket PC	Princess (7275)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
577171	2007-08-06 11:07:00	:confused: Hi there! Can anyone give me some pointers on purchasing a pda / pocket pc. Have been doin only a wee bit of searching so far...have found this forum very useful in the past, so would appreciate some of your views thanks. I know I need: to manage contacts and appointments on the road (mobility), excel and word a must, email, sync to laptop without too much hassle, phone and mp3 music and video would be an added bonus but not necessary. If you have any recommendations, could you also note if they are both PC and Mac compatible or just PC. Much appreciated :D Thanks :thumbs:	Princess (7275)
577172	2007-08-06 20:40:00	Don't forget to take a look at the Palm product range - easy to use and very stable/reliable, usually fairly good battery life too... If you really want convergence, look at the PDA's that double as phones - Palm Treo 600 or 650 (the 650 is a better option IMHO). The 700 range are Windows Mobile OS based and, again IMHO, not worth looking at, just because of the fact they are NOT Palm OS... Try to get in to a shop like Harvey Norman and have a look at the various models (Palm and others). Pick them up, have a play to see what interface you prefer - the're all a bit different (as are the prices!) and some features of one system may appeal over another. I have been using Palm devices for seven years or so and so am probably a bit biased in that direction, but people I know who have Windows Mobile devices always seem to be cursing them for some reason or another and seem to need to reset (reboot) the devices on a very regular basis. I could count on one hand how many times I have had to reset my Treo 650 in the last 12 months....	johcar (6283)
577173	2007-08-06 22:01:00	I agree with what johcar has said . I have been a PalmOS user for about the same length of time I guess, and I am more than happy with the various models I have owned . Currently the owner of a Treo600, which is the first model of that phone . If you want to use it as a cellphone, you can get the Treo for either Vodafone or that other crowd . As johcar said, if you want to use PalmOS, you need to check the model you are buying otherwise you end up going down the dark side of the force . As far as an organiser is concerned, I have had great service out of the Treo and other Palm models . They come with a software conduit so you can synchronise with your PC - in my case through Outlook . I also purchased the QuickOffice suite, which means you have full access to Word, Excel, and Powerpoint files, which you have either transferred from your PC, had sent to you as an email attachment, or which you have created on the PalmOS device . I think that PalmOS devices now come with DocumentsToGo bundled . Whilst it has similar functionality to QuickOffice, I didn't like it as much when I tried it out . Email works well - again, I bought SnapperMail (developed in NZ), but I gather the new email client that is bundled with the PalmOS is really good as well . I don't think the Treo600 was so good as a cellphone, unless the battery was freshly charged . People I called when I used it as a phone used to complain about a loud buzzing noise that made it hard for them to hear calls . I subsequently bought a cellphone, and only use the Treo now as a PDA or to retrieve emails when I am on the road . I imagine the later models of Treo are better cellphones than mine - or maybe their owners are more punctual about re-charging . Personally I would go with a separate and PDA now . I don't like the chunky format in my jacket pocket . Now I keep my PDA in my bag and small cellphone in my pocket! I would still go with one of the PalmOS models .	John H (8)
577174	2007-08-06 22:45:00	Thank you very much for the helpful advice :thumbs: Sounds like the PalmOS pda's are the go . Will also visit Harvey Norman to have a look at what is available - cheers again :D	Princess (7275)
577175	2007-08-07 01:28:00	:confused: Can anyone comment on the Palm Handspring Treo 180 PDA/Phone? If I go with just a pda rather than pda/phone, is Palm Tungsten ok? Any recommendations for pda with mp3 and video, not necessarily phone option? Thanks again :p :p	Princess (7275)
577176	2007-08-07 01:43:00	Don't know much about the palm treo, except my mate had one a while back. Hated it's guts. Was more than happy when his missus put it through the wash. I don't know what he disliked about it :lol: I'm sure someone here actually has first hand experience with one, so it's probably a plan to take that with a grain of salt :D	wratterus (105)
577177	2007-08-07 02:02:00	The Palm Treo 180 is now a very old model. I would think you are better off with one of the later models like the 650. However, here is a review: reviews.cnet.com Re the Palm Tungsten - when choosing a PalmOS model, I guess it depends upon your budget and your needs. The current top model Palm TX is wireless, so you can use it in wireless hotspots. It is about $600 retail. The lower end model Palm z22 is about a third of the price, but obviously has far fewer features. Check out: www.palm.com where you can do a comparison of their three current models. Smart phones like the Treo are here: www.palm.com Sorry I cannot answer about video. I never saw much use for videos on a screen that is that small. I have Pocket Tunes on my Treo, and it plays mp3s. However, because I have an iPod Nano, I have never used it... Here is a review of the latest version: www.palminfocenter.com You may want to check out with the Palm.com website above what software is currently bundled with a PalmOS product - you may find there is a mp3 player bundled these days.	John H (8)
577178	2007-08-07 02:07:00	I have just had a look at the Palm website, and I see that all of the optional PalmOS software that I have (e.g. QuickOffice, Snappermail, and Pocket Tunes) seem to be unnecessary expenses now, because the TX at least comes bundled with an Office suite, VersaMail for emails, and a mp3 and video player. Things will be less expensive for you nowadays than it was when I bought my earlier models. And the TX has Bluetooth as well as WiFi.	John H (8)
577179	2007-08-07 02:20:00	:confused: Can anyone comment on the Palm Handspring Treo 180 PDA/Phone? If I go with just a pda rather than pda/phone, is Palm Tungsten ok? Any recommendations for pda with mp3 and video, not necessarily phone option? Thanks again :p :p I have both an older Palm Clié Peg S-model and a Clié PEG TJ35 . I have a media player in the TJ, but not in the S-model . As far as PalmOS . . . I find it's better than the Windows for handhelds system . . . The interface is clearer for me . . even though I use XP on almost every PC I have, I like the PalmOS on the handhelds a lot better . I load videos and games and MP3s into the TJ, and play them thru either the enclosed speaker (not too good) or ear buds . I also play them thru my CD player in my car . All up front . . . the Palm system is great . . and the Sony Cliés are fantastic . :thumbs: I like having a tool for a specialized purpose . . and don't like having one device do too many things . Even my cellphones don't have cameras, vid capacities or play games .	SurferJoe46 (51)
577180	2007-08-07 02:38:00	Go for an HP IPAQ, I'm on my second one and even my dad took my first one. They have all the features you mentioned, plus phone capabilities, WMP and even Voice Commander features. I have a rw6828 and it is absolutely fantastic. I find the Palm's very very bulky and unwieldy with the huge antenna though the new ones don't have that. Try a Blackberry Pearl, its a PDA in the shape of a normal candybar phone.	beeswax34 (63)
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