What is the best PDA these days... Palm, Handspring, Sony, Compaq? Is Windows CT a better OS than Palm?

It depends almost entierly on these two things:

What do you want the PDA to do?

How much are you willing to spend on it?

I rather favor the Dell Axim X5 (http://www.dell.com/us/en/dhs/products/model_pda_axim5_advanced.htm). It runs MS Pocket PC 2002, has a 400 MHz. Processer and has 64 MB of RAM. Very nice :geek: :geek:

I am looking for a PDA to basically store text files, address books, and daily notes. I would like it to have a color LSD display. As per price, I will pay what it takes within reason (e.g. nothing usurious).

Originally posted by mousketeer
I am looking for a PDA to basically store text files, address books, and daily notes. I would like it to have a color LSD display. As per price, I will pay what it takes within reason (e.g. nothing usurious).

Well, you can't get a LSD anywhere, but you can get a nice Palm LCD for about $200. It can do everything you want to do. ;)

Originally posted by DisneyFan25863
Well, you can't get a LSD anywhere, but you can get a nice Palm LCD for about $200. It can do everything you want to do. ;)

Oh, I cracking up on my mistake.

Originally posted by DisneyFan25863
I rather favor the Dell Axim X5 (http://www.dell.com/us/en/dhs/products/model_pda_axim5_advanced.htm). It runs MS Pocket PC 2002, has a 400 MHz. Processer and has 64 MB of RAM. Very nice :geek: :geek:

This is exactly what I have and I love it. It is my third handheld, the first two both being Palms. I love the Windows operating system, the fact that I can move files back and forth from my PC to my Pocket PC without any issues. I love the removable storage options (SD and Compact Flash) and I love the fact that my digital camera used the same storage.

I just got a wireless card and haven't been able to fully utilize this addition, but soon I will be able to go on-line with my little device. It has more features/memory/speed than my last desktop. What's not to like!

I'm definitely a fan of the Palm OS. I admit that I haven't used Pocket PC extensively, but it has always struck me as a case of trying to shoehorn a desktop OS onto a handheld. I like the fact that Palm OS was truly designed for a handheld. Just like any platform choice, it is smart to research both pretty thoroughly and, if possible, spend a little bit of time trying each OS out. Different people are going to have different preferences and needs.

Personally, I have a Palm Tungsten-W, which I selected largely for its cellular email/web capabilities and becuase I wanted a combo PDA/cellphone. While it works very well, it is a little below state-of-the-art when it comes to PDA capabilities. In particular, it runs Palm OS 4.1 instead of the current 5.x OS.

If you aren't looking for wireless capabilities, I would recommend looking closely at either the Palm Zire 71 or the Sony Clie PEG-TG50. Either one would run you between $300-$350 and would give you the latest Palm OS, a high-resolution color screen, a very fast processor, MP3 playback capabilities, and expandable memory.

The Sony unit does have some wireless capabilities (specifically, it has built-in support for the Bluetooth protocol) while the Zire 71 adds a built-in digital camera. Depending on your needs, either one would be a very good choice.

If you are looking for something a bit cheaper and are willing to settle for a bit less than state-of-the-art, I'd suggest either the Sony Clie SJ-33 or the Palm m515. Both run the older version of Palm OS and have slower processors, but they are still well-designed units with color screens and memory expansion capabilities.

-Jeff

Originally posted by JeffG
I would recommend looking closely at either the Palm Zire 71 or the Sony Clie PEG-TG50. Either one would run you between $300-$350 and would give you the latest Palm OS, a high-resolution color screen, a very fast processor, MP3 playback capabilities, and expandable memory.


The Dell Axim has all of this (and more) except is used the Windows OS. They are currently on sale on the Dell site (http://www.dell.com/us/en/dhs/products/series_pda_snp.htm) for under $300.

As I said before, I was a Palm user from way back (Palm Pro was my first) and I can't tell you how much I LOVE my Axim.

I was totally sold on the Handspring Visor, until it became very obvious that Handspring didn't care about that innovative line anymore (when they came out with the clunky compromise-model called the Treo). I'm not surprised that they got purchased by Palm.

Nowaways, my "organizer" is my cell phone, an LG 5350. It does a lot of what I need it to do -- keep track of phone numbers, email addresses, snail mail addresses... and it also keeps a basic calendar for me to note appointments and such. And since I carry it with me everywhere, it's actually better than a PDA for my purposes. [Oh, and I have a 'net connection for it, so if I need to, I can get connected -- although it's as slow as molasses in an Alaskan January.]

If I ever decide to buy a new PDA, it'll be a Sony Clie. In my opinion, they are so elegant and well-designed, that they make Palm models look like Fischer-Price toys.

Thank you all. :)

One important point to keep in mind is that the platform debate between Palm OS and Pocket PC users is starting to approach the same levels as the one between Windows and MacOS users for desktop computers. As I said in my earlier post, it is a very good idea to research both platforms and even try them both out, if at all possible. Both have their advantages and disadvantages and you will find >very< passionate defenders of each product line.

There are a few other important points to note when considering PDAs. Keep in mind that I'm a Palm OS advocate, so my points do tend to favor that platform. One of the Pocket PC fans may jump in with some of the advantages of that platform.

1. CPU speed is not really as significant a factor on a PDA as it is on a desktop computer. Other factors, not the least of which being the OS used, have much more impact on speed. As a general rule, Palm OS tends to have lower overhead than Pocket PC, which means that a 400MHz Pocket PC PDA (like the Axim X5) isn't going to run applications noticeably faster than a 144MHz Palm OS PDA (like the Zire 71).

2. Palm OS has been quite a bit behind Pocket PC when it comes to the amount of memory supported, but it also tends to be a lot more efficient when it comes to the size of applications and databases. Typically, equivalent applications on the two platforms will use a lot less space on a Palm. Until recently, Palm OS didn't allow more than 16MB of built-in memory. The newest version now supports much more than that and some 32MB and 64MB Palms have recently started hitting the shelves.

3. Off the shelf, Palm OS does tend to have a pretty bare-bones user interface and fairly weak memory card management, but most Palm users quickly switch to 3rd party launchers that provide much more power and flexibility. A license for one of the better launchers typically costs under $20 and you do get a lot of control over the look, feel, and overall style.

4. Unlike the desktop world, it is worth noting that Microsoft does not currently have the larger market share. Palm OS has a larger installed-base, more hardware choices, and a larger selection of software. Obviously, Microsoft is pushing hard to try and change, but right now it is certainly worth looking closely to see which platform has more of the type of software you hope to use.

5. Don't assume that a Pocket PC will automatically better interface with data from Microsoft's Windows applications. Products for Palm OS like Documents-To-Go (http://www.dataviz.com/products/documentstogo/index.html) (which is actually included in the box with many Palms) and QuickOffice (http://www.quickoffice.com) provide very powerful solutions for viewing and editing Microsoft Office documents. Many reviews have actually indicated these applications tend to handle these documents better than Microsoft's own Pocket Word or Pocket Excel for Pocket PC. There are also very powerful applications available for synchronizing email, contacts, and appointments with Outlook.

6. Finally, it is worth noting that the Palm OS market is undergoing something of a readjustment right now. Palm is in the process of spinning of its "PalmSource" division (which handles development and support of Palm OS) into a separate company. They also just announced that they are going to be acquiring HandSpring. Both transactions are scheduled to be completed this Fall.

After the merger with HandSpring, Palm will essentially have three product lines: "Tungsten" for business-oriented PDAs, "Zire" for consumer-oriented PDAs, and "Treo" for smartphones (PDA/cell-phone combos). These are all expected to be branded with the "Palm" name, with the "HandSpring" name being essentially retired.


Anyway, hope this helps a bit more. As I said, hopefully someone with a bit more knowledge of the Pocket PC world will jump in outlining a bit more the state of that platform and its advantages.

-Jeff

Having both a Palm and Pocket PC device, I can say I prefer the Palm over the Pocket PC. There is more software for the Palm than the Pocket PC currently. For your needs, it seems like a Palm device would suit your needs. No need to spend the extra money for a Pocket PC.

The only drawback I have with my Palm is the low installed memory. It's enough for me to have my apps as well as my GPS maps on but I can't put the pinpics database on it because the damn database is already over 3MB and growing. I haven't yet found a memory unit for my Handspring Visor which will allow me to piggyback my GPS onto a memory card because they use the same expansion slot. That way I could move either my maps or put the pinpics database on the memory card freeing the internal memory for either or.

Other than that, I prefer my Palm over my Pocket PC. My Pocket PC is/was basically my MP3 player (until I got a HD MP3 player). Now it just sits in my desk drawer.

Rather weird but I wen't with a little strange PDA that casio makes, the BE-300. It's has a full color screen, and a CompactFlash card. It runs a "stripped down", "Customized" version of Windows CE 3.0. However, Mr. Pollard of www.expod.net, has software, that exposes the full Windows CE shell, and runs all PPC2000, and any WinCE program to boot.

I paid $120 for this thing, I love it. However, I wouldn't recoomend it for something that they like to work "out of the box". However, if your just looking for like contact storage, it does it well. :D :geek:

I'm a big fan of Palm. I went from Palm Pilot Pro to Palm III and just got a Palm Zire 71. I wanted to get a 515 but just couldn't justify the price for the lousy screen. I'm extreemly happy with the Zire 71 and I also got my wife a plain Zire which she is really getting into. I didn't really care about the camera in the Zire 71 but it turned out to be pretty cool.

The biggest plus is the amount and variety of software for the Palm OS.

I have several Palm apps that let me work with MS Office (Documents To Go), and I used to use an app (DataViz Desktop To Go now Beyond Contacts) so I don't think there is any advantage of the Pocket PC integration. The SD memory card is a big plus and you can put apps on the cards.

I tried the Pocket PC but I'll tell you, just about every meeting I'm in I rarely see people use thier Pocket PC but write on paper. Palm users almost always are using their Palm PDA's. Plus the battery life is sooo much better with Palm PDA's. The form factor is a lot nicer too.

I don't think there is any advantage of the Pocket PC integration.

The major reson why I like the WIndowsCE/PocketPC enviroment, is the fact, that I find it much easier to get on the 'net on the road. Also, since it's a stripped down NT client, I can access any file on my wireless home network, just as I would a desktop computer.

Also, I love the fact that WindowsCE (not PPC) is a stripped down version of the entire Windows enviroment. :D

Also, ArcPad doesn't work on Palm. :D

Since I have no need for net access or wireless I chose the Zire 71. So other than the wireless I can have Office documents on both my desktop and Palm.

I also didn't like the keyboard on the Tungsten (I had a BlackBerry for a while and though it was limited had excellent Exchange e-mail integration and MS Office viewer). The sliding mechanism of the Tungsten T seemed a little flimsy too.

On the plus side for the PPC it does have a Terminal Services client. Though I doubt that I would attempt to administer a server with it. More of a cool factor than real tool. If I was to get a PPC it would probably be a iPaq, but they are way too big and if you want decent battery you need the sled with added battery and by then I might as well drag my laptop around. :geek:

I, too, was a big proponent of Handspring, but as Lani pointed out, it doesn't seem like Handspring really took advantage of what really set them apart from Palm's. I had really wanted a Treo when I first saw it at Comdex right before it was released. Now, I'm not so sure.

That said, I'm now looking for something with wireless and cell capability as well as interface with Windows applications.

JeffG, if you had to do it again, would you still get the Tungsten? How's the phone capability...is the quality the same as a standalone cell phone?

Originally posted by Dlandmom
JeffG, if you had to do it again, would you still get the Tungsten? How's the phone capability...is the quality the same as a standalone cell phone?

Based on what is currently on the market, yes I probably would. I've been very happy with the Tungsten-W and am generally pleased with its cell-phone capabilities. To be clear, though, I am a pretty heavy PDA user but I don't use the cell phone features a great deal. If I were a heavier cellular user, I would probably find some aspects of the T-W pretty inconvenient.

Probably its biggest disadvantage as a cell phone is that it does not have a microphone and speaker. Instead, you have to use a headset or some other handsfree device. In the box, it comes with a fairly poor headset that I replaced pretty much immediately (I bought a Bekins retractable beltclip earpiece). This problem has been alleviated some by a new flipcover that does have the microphone and speaker, allowing the unit to be held up to your ear like a normal phone. It is a bit of a compromise, though. Oddly, it also doesn't appear that there are plans to sell it in the US. I had to import mine from a retailer in Singapore (it cost $39 for the flip cover and $25 for shipping...)

The other slight disadvantage of the T-W as a cellphone is that AT&T's GRM/GPRS network doesn't quite have as strong a coverage as their older network. I do get generally good coverage here in the L.A. area, though, and they do claim that the coverage should equal their older network by the end of this year.

As a PDA, I think the Tungsten-W is absolutely great, though, and am very happy with it. The high-resolution display and keyboard are both outstanding and I generally like the form factor of the unit. I also find the SD card memory slot (which is still somewhat rare on smartphones) to be a major boon. Probably the biggest down side is that it runs Palm OS 4.1 instead of OS 5 (and it can't be upgraded because OS5 and up require newer processors), but that isn't an extremely huge issue yet. In a year or so as more software requires the newer OS, it could start to be a disadvantage.

At this time, there are no smartphones that run OS5, though, and the first ones coming out later this year have other disadvantages that would cause me to still lean towards the T-W. For instance, the upcoming Handspring Treo 800 has a smaller keyboard and its screen has half the resolution of the T-W.

As an added note, Palm did recently drop the price of the T-W quite a bit, which does make it a better bargain. With a 1-year AT&T contract, you can now get it for as cheap as $299.

-Jeff

Originally posted by JeffG
The other slight disadvantage of the T-W as a cellphone is that AT&T's GRM/GPRS network doesn't quite have as strong a coverage as their older network. I do get generally good coverage here in the L.A. area, though, and they do claim that the coverage should equal their older network by the end of this year.

As a PDA, I think the Tungsten-W is absolutely great, though, and am very happy with it. The high-resolution display and keyboard are both outstanding and I generally like the form factor of the unit. I also find the SD card memory slot (which is still somewhat rare on smartphones) to be a major boon. Probably the biggest down side is that it runs Palm OS 4.1 instead of OS 5 (and it can't be upgraded because OS5 and up require newer processors), but that isn't an extremely huge issue yet. In a year or so as more software requires the newer OS, it could start to be a disadvantage.


Cell coverage is my first concern...having an older OS is my second. I'm getting ready to drop Cingular because there's really poor coverage where I just moved, even though it's right smack in the middle of Cingular's supposed coverage area. I've heard (from a neighbor down the street) that AT&T is decent, so hopefully that would be good enough if I get a T-W.

I'm planning on keeping my next pda for a while, so not being upgrade to OS 5 is a concern. Hmm, I think I'll have to shop around a little more before I decide.

Thanks a bunch for the help, Jeff!