Is it worth upgrading from Windows Mobile 2003 to 2005?
 

I have a Dell Axim X50V and have been quite happy with it. I remote sync it to our server at work using either WiFi or by EDGE connection (most places) through a Bluetooth hookup with my Nokia 6230.

Im wondering if it might be useful to get a Windows Mobile 2003 device to replace it. The particular reasons Im thinking this are that the sync on those devices includes more information (particularly tasks) than does my current WM2003 device. Also, if I went with a device with a built in phone it would allow me to potentially use push mail on it.

Any thoughts on whether it is time to make the upgrade? If so, any suggestions on which device and whether the ones with a built in phone (such as but not limited to the TMobile US MDA) are worth going with? Thanks for any suggestions.

well,
 

I wouldn't necessarilly make the jump from 2003 to 2005, if I wasn't ALSO going to jump to a new device.

I have been using an HTC 9100 for about six months now and I really like it, but then again I was using an HTC JAM before that. The HTC is the company that makes the MDA for t-mobile and the similar product for Cingular. I would go with them instead of cingular since their data plans are MUCH cheaper, that is if coverage was not an issue. I just cannot get away from the PPC platform since I use things like GPS programs, copilot, exchange services and slingplayer. Data plans have gotten MUCH higher for t-mobile recently though, but it is worth it. Still cheaper than any of the others.

The new devices are excellent, some with EDGE support built in. I don't think cingular offers EDGE with them though, but t-mobile does.

I wouldn't hesitate at the moment, thinking that something BETTER was coming, it WILL be coming but I think from the MSFT side, they will make an upgrade from 2005 products available. MSFT are certainly making a HUGE push into PUSH products. No pun intended.

ScottC will be here in a moment with a deluge of info and links.

:-)

I would NOT do it.

For a couple of reasons:

1) It is NOT stable. WM5 hangs and crashes more than 2003 ever did
2) Activesync requires version 4 for it to work with WM5, and AS 4 SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS

You really don't get any new options, the push mail option isn't available until WM5 "AKU2" and no vendor has announced support for that upgrade yet.

The MDA is an OK device, it is terribly slow though, but if you use it out of the box without any additional applications it would be usable.

whoa sparky!
 

Alright, I gotta throw MY .02$ in here.

I haven't had any problems with ActiveSync 4.0 in months. So, there is another perspective.

And, I might add I don't seem to have any of the crashing problems that ScottC is referring to on an X50 or the HTC running WM5.0. At least not any more than on 2003, which was pretty rare, but happens.

So, couple data points.
ScottC where do you find the crashes come from?

Memory management. It is a huge issue on these devices. I am happy your activesync 4.0 works well, but it is no secret that there are 1000's of people that have major problems with it. Not to mention of course that wifi activesync was removed "for security reasons". Then there are bugs with browsing the device using AS4; try opening "my mobile device" a few seconds too soon and explorer crashes.

All WM5 devices have some massive issues with memory leaks, just leave the device on, run some apps and keep an eye on the memory vanish slowly.

There is a huge lack of WM5 compatible applications, and some older WM2003 apps are even capable of completely messing up the device (try running Resco Keyboard on a Qtek 9100 and watch as the GSM radio stack becomes useless requiring a total reset). Then on the smartphone front; since most new devices use a QVGA screen, and the IDIOTS at Microsoft decided to make the screen fixed resolution with no backfall to the old resolution, most non WM5 apps don't work at all. And of course, don't forget the piss poor Bluetooth implementation done by Microsoft where they don't even support a third of the available Bluetooth profiles, and the ones they DO have are buggy, unstable and unreliable. Even something as basic as BT activesync is a nightmare to get working on the MS BT stack.

As I said; I am glad it works well for you, but on every WM5 device I have here (x51v, Qtek9100, imate k-jam, i-mate jasjar, t-mobile mda and sda) I have nothing but trouble. The x51v is a real step down from the rock solid x50v, and the k-jam is much slower and less stable than the Jam.

wow
 

I guess I picked the right devices, the HTC 9100 and the JAM and the X50v.

As for browsing on AS4.01 connections, I have actually found that the ability to browse the device is there, even before it finds itself "connected" and starts doing it's sychronization delta queries which is nice, since sometimes the later can take a while and all I want to do is load some new cab file or something.

I know there are issues, and it affects many, I just like to point out that even for a power user, well not SUPER POWER it doesn't have to be constant frustration and angst.

No WiFi active sync??? That is a complete deal killer for me. That is one of main things I will do with it. Thanks for the info all.

Nope. MS removed it "based on input from their corporate users".

http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=83497

Good grief. Blackberry may be shutdown, Palm OS is dying it seems to me, and I wont be able to use the new WM systems.....

*&%@ I may have to find my Filofax. Or Symbian????

Oh, I should add that if Microsoft would just write a freaking VPN client for WM that would work with a real VPN server (ie Cisco not Microsoft) maybe their corporate clients would be less concerned.

With the new symbian devices coming from Ericsson you might be onto something. Check out devices like the upcoming P990.

On further reading Im not sure exactly what is removed. In other words, if I am logged on to TMobile Hotspot can I still sync to my exchange server with WM5? Is it only syncing to a desktop with WiFi that is no longer possible with WM5?

so
 

yeah, I am going to have to check into that one too, I USED to use this, but then stopped and haven't started again since moving to WM5.0
I know we have some real power users, I'll ask them.

so, is this an activesync issue, or a WM05 issue. It seems to be an AS issue, not sure if WM05 will work with 3.8 still, which does it.

It is a WM5 issue; since WM5 activesync is TCP/IP based (your device gets a local IP from your system).

While you're up, would you mind picking up an old version of United Express? ;)

HTC Prophet
 

Hi all - FWIW I picked up a Dopod 818 Pro (aka HTC Prophet) about a week ago and, so far, I am fairly happy with it.

I had an 02 Mini before (HTC Magician) and actually found the memory leaked quite badly but so far no issues with the WM5 based Prophet.

AS4.1 was a little bit of a headache to get going but seems to work well since I got it installed properly.

My workplace is pushing e-mail from a Lotus Notes server using iAnywhere (Pylon Anywhere). My 02 mini GPRS connection used to break regularly with this setup but with the new system it seems rock solid.

I wouldn't have bought a new system had I not dropped the old one by accident in a rather deep body of water. However, I am very happy with the improved functionality of the Prophet.