Thinking of getting a Windows PDA
 

I'm thinking of finally taking the plunge and getting a Pocket PC. I find that most of the hotels I stay in hae WiFi these days but I don't always want to be lumbered bith a laptop. Also, some of the newer mid range HP models look excellent. Soooo, some questions for our ever assembled experts:

i) What's this pocket IE like? Is it secure? Will it be easy to make credit card payments to WiFi providers?

ii) What is the current generation of handwriting recognition like (and is it up to the odd Flyertalk post).

iii) Speaking of FT (and similar BBs), how well is this displayed on a Pocket PC and is it reasonably easy to navigate.

Regards
I

Pocket IE sucks. There are far better options for the PocketPC like Thunderhawk (from BitStream), Netfront and now even Pocket Mozilla.

Most of the browsers support SSL so payments should go through to any site with a decent website.

Handwriting recognition on the PocketPC is actually pretty decent, plus it supports graffiti like entry as well. Good thing about PocketPC is that it has support for multiple entry methods. There are also excellent onscreen keyboard replacements.

Browsing a site like FT on a small screen sucks. Which is why nowadays I advise getting a PDA with a VGA screen, it makes the whole experience much better, A VGA Dell at 624MHz with Wifi, Bluetooth, Compactflash and SD can be found for as low as $350 on ebay or when Dell has specials.

If you don't go for a VGA PDA then using Thunderhawk will still turn it into a vga-style display.

Thanks for that comprehensive info. Dell wasn't an option I'd considered but now looks to be at the top of my list!

Regards
I

Those silly people at Dell gave dir warnings of delays of up to 20 days for their very best Axim model so I popped over to Expansys and bought myself this little number:

http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?...IPAQ_HX4700_UK

I paid approx £20 more than I would have for the Dell. Of course, being in the UK I've doubtless been ripped off by a $1 = £1 conversion.

Regards
I

I ran the 30-day free trial of Thunderhawk and it was OK, but I'm not away from a PC enough lately to make the monthly subscription fee for the Thunderhawk service worthwhile.

The biggest shortcoming of Pocket IE is the lack of JavaScript (Java?) support. This affects the functionality of a lot of transaction-based websites (Yahoo Mail, GMail for two) as well as preventing me from logging into my company's web-based email and timecard system from my PocketPC. I'll have to look at the other options you've mentioned.

I have an iPaq 2215 and I like it alot, although I admit I don't do much web surfing. My only gripe is that I seem to have random connection issues when connecting via Wifi. One day it works, the next day it doesn't. Or, I get it working at the office, and then it won't work at home.

Of course, I have a Wifi CF card (Ambicom) rather than integrated, so I don't know if the same problems exist for the integrated models.

Since it sounds like you want to do alot of wireless surfing, it's just something to keep in mind :)

As nice as the 4700 is I decided against it as it is HUGE. the mouse/trackpad thing takes some getting used to but is kind of fun...

Are you set on a PocketPC? I had one for awhile and hated it.

I went back to my trusty Palm TungstenC

Another vote for a VGA model, and for the Dell as well. If you really want to go all out to replace a laptop, grab a ThinkOutside bluetooth keyboard and mouse and you've got a good measure against any laptop in far less than 1/4th the size and weight.

D.

I feel the same way about Palm.

With the exception of a little colour the PalmOS hasn't changed a bit since the original Palm Pilot... The program "manager" is exactly the same, it lacks multimedia options, WiFi was only ever integrated into ONE device and they have only recently started offering device with a "high-res" display, the same resolution PocketPC's have been offering since the very first WindowsCE machine, at the same time PocketPC's are starting to move to true VGA resolution. Heck, a Windows Smartphone has a higher resolution than an old Palm...

Palm is the antique dealer of the pocket OS world.

I've got the hp 6340 which is in my opinion the best you can get in communication terms. Why do I say this? Well, it has cellular built in so I can use dial-up, GPRS and built in wi-fi - in short I can log on pretty much anywhere in the world.

Downside is that it only has a 64mb memory but I don't store much on it. It also came with a snap on keyboard which is easier when typing emails than using the on-screen options.

Battery life is much improved on the old 5550 I used to have and the 6340 is also a lot lot smaller.

PM me if you want any more specific info.

You mean antique as in stable and bulletproof and very, very good battery life? You mean bread-and-butter PDA apps like calendar and contacts and to-do list that work flawlessly because they are time-tested?

My PocketPC crashed at least twice a day, the battery-life completely sucked and the interface for WindowsCE was just utterly non-intuititive. It was one of the few devices where I was constantly having to look at a manual to figure out how to do something.

I think, though, part of the difference in perspective is how much one values things like color implementation and high resolution. For me, color on a PDA is nice but dispensable. For my PDA I want to be able to do email, look up contact info, and see my calendar and to-do list. I just don't much care whether it's got incredible color.

But I suspect in the end is is a high-wing/low-wing debate.

Both will work.

But one is clearly better than the other :p

Yup, I did have reservations about the size of the thing (approaching first generation IPAQS) but as someone else suggested I might do above, I'm looking for something to which I can add a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse as a laptop replacement for my hols.

It's a great pity that Dell were unable to get their supply issues sorted out as the Dell device looked perfect but I wasn't prepared to wait (at least) 20 days.

That said, the device isn't that much more expensive than the Dell here in the UK.

I have had the IPAQ 4155 for over a year & have rarely had any issues. I agree with IE for PocketPC and will look in to the options noted in this thread. I added some software to enhance the handwriting recognition and it has worked great in my first efforts.

I love the integrated bluetooth and wireless, but agree that VGA would be better.

ooohhhhhhh ScottC, you have done it again, Pocket Mozilla?? I hadnt seen that. Must try instantly. Thanks!!


Err, edited to add, where have you seen Pocket Mozilla, it doesnt seem to be available yet? Thanks.

Also, another vote for the X50v, great machine at a great price. I got mine for less than my Palm T5 with wireless card.