Which handheld is better?
 

Seeking comments from fellow travelers on what kind of handheld device to get...choices are Palm VII or Pocket PC (Compaq IPaq). Must have wireless Internet access. Palm VII is cheaper by far, but Pocket PC has a color screen and does more.

Got to love the PALM VII. Wireless internet connection. Send emails anywhere, even while on the plane at the gate. But it didnt work in Japan, two weeks ago. Its a major convenient factor. There maybe some advantages of others, but I need it for the wireless internet connections. It meets all my needs. I can check scores, flight times, etc, anywhere anytime. You can be having dinner or at a bar, and check things. I would recommend the PALM VII. Mike

I too am looking to upgrade my Palm III primarily for wireless email. I would also like it work overseas (e.g. mainly Bangkok and Hong Kong). I've been told that the RIM Blackberry has an overseas version, but it is not (yet?) multiband. Comments appreciated.

Depends. An iPaq w/ accessories is almost enough to replace a laptop in terms of functionality. It really depends on your needs? Is cost a factor (palm is cheaper)? Is speed a factor (Ricochet offers a 128kbps service but spotty coverage)? What sites do you plan on visiting (PocketPC's built in IE is more functional)? Is size important (Visor Phone combines a PDA and phone in one solution)? Is form factor important (Palm is usually more compact than PPC)?

I have a PPC with a bright 16-bit color screen and can never go back to Palm!

FYI, Palm lowered Palm VII's price to $199.98 and comes with $100 MIR when you sign up for Palm's wireless internet service.

If you are going to get Palm VII, Staples has the lowest price with coupon. Add an small item like paper clip or rubber band to go over $200 and use $40 off $200 coupon.
Your net is around $60 with the rebate. BTW the shipping is free with order of $50 or more at Staples.com

For coupons check out
http://www.valueconsumer.com/Results...me=Staples.com

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ValueConsumer.com Home of Tripple Dipping Online Shopping

[This message has been edited by DH (edited 05-24-2001).]

The Blackberry is VERY popular! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/002006.html

THE FIRST QUESTION SHOULD ALWAYS BE:

What do you want to do with it?

For example, I use my device mainly as a side-car for my brain; not a substitute for it. I don't carry paper anywhere. Everything I need to remember goes into my handheld device. For example:

• I have over 3mb (after compression) of work-related reference material in there
• Multiple kinds of calculators (monetary, inflation, conversion, etc)
• An MS Word-compatible word processor
• A powerful thought-organizer/outliner that synchronizes with my laptop
• A secure program for storing over 160 logins & passwords
• A password generator that creates random-but-pronouncable passwords
• A database program to store all kinds of bits of data AND my expense reports
• A 128-bit encrypted "notepad" for storing bank, CC and other "account" info (like FF acounts!)
• AT&T world-wide access number search
• Bus and light rail schedules for routes nar my home and work
• Maps of major airports and the London Tube
• A cross-street calculator for Manhattan
• Utilities too numerous to list here but customize the device to my liking
• A complete, fully synchronized copy of my desktop calendar & to-do list
• All of my Email in-box (about 145 items not filed yet)
• About 700 contacts (names, addresses, numbers, trivia, etc)
• At least one E-Book at a time (Right now it's Arthur C Clarke's "2001")
• Web pages that I wanted to read but didn't have time for (now I can read them literally anywhere, and do)
• And of course, a few "stress-relievers" (aka games)

Notice that I don't want wireless access to mail or Internet -- my laptop does that just fine. My handhelp is a perfect companion for my laptop. Serious on-line work, network sniffing or documents are done on the laptop, everything else is with me 24/7 in my handheld.

With what device do I do all this?

A Palm Vx with the Palm Portable Keyboard.

"But a Handheld PC can do so much more!"

• MP3 Audio? I have a MiniDisc player that sounds better and I can carry 30 CDs worth of music in a small pouch. One CD eats up a huge amount of memory on a HPC
• Color? looks cool, but not necessary and eats up more battery power.
• Clip-on accessories like cell phones? I have a cell phone, thank you.
• Video? Files take up too much space but might be good for someone in Sales...
• Add-on memory cards? I'd love one but my Palm Vx can't do that. The newer Palms DO take them, though.

Take the time to list just what you want a handheld device to do for you, then check out the available solutions. For example, there are over 10,000 software products available on the Palm platform.

So, again, what is it you NEED for your handheld device to do? Look for the software that will accomplish everything you want, then choose the hardware that runs the software.

I'm sure I'm sounding like a Palm-maniac, but if the HPC better fits what you need, buy it.

RAD

[Edited for formatting]

[This message has been edited by RAD (edited 05-24-2001).]

If wireless is important to you, the Palm VII will not be expandable to higher wireless access speeds (and Sprint will be rolling out in a few months probably) whereas b/c the IPAQ accepts PCMCIA cards it will be. I would go with IPAQ for it's upgrade potential.

If wireless is important to you then it is Blackberry all the way...the thing has changed my life...really.

If you can, wait til the fall when RIM is rumoured to be launching a colour version possibly with phone capabilities.

In Europe the are launching a GSM version of the 957 which does voice.

If all you want is a laptop synch of your calendar, contacts...etc...then get a cheap Palm of Visor.

If you want to do MS Office type stuff, MP3s, maps....get a Windows CE device.

If you aren't technical get a Windows CE device (such as a Casio).

This is some of the stuff I consult on at companies...picking the correct technology. If you are more specific about your needs I can list you the exact device to best suit your needs.

Dorian

custombagel: You can also use a Palm V/Vx with an OmniSky modem http://www.omnisky.com/ for internet access. I have a Palm V and have used the OmniSky service since last August. The OmniSky modem is also available for other PDAs (Compaq iPAQ, HP Journada and Handspring Visor).

Right now, you can get the Omnisky modem for free (Handspring and Palm version only) with an annual contract (offer ends 30 June 2001). The service costs ~$30-$40 per month (depending on your service contract) for unlimited use in all coverage areas (more than 150 US cities).

As others have written, you need to assess your needs/wants. I use it mainly for flight status notifications http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif, e-mail, directions/maps and directory assistance when traveling. Nearly all of my business travel is within the US so the service works out well for me. The speed is okay for wireless (~19.2K) so I generally do not 'surf' the internet much since I'm used to having a DSL connection.

How about the new Nokia 9210, due out early in June?
http://www.nokia.com/phones/9210/index.html

Thanks to all for so many suggestions , specially RAD who listed so many things you can do with a handheld that Id never even thought of. RAD: one question for you: where did you get the bus/train schedules from? did you manually type them into a database? At this point I'm leaning more towards Windows CE powered Pocket PC (probably HP Jordana) because it is expandable, familar interface (Windows), has built in support for Word and Excel (you have to buy 3rd party Office-compatible programs for Palm), and of course the color screen. The only thing I dont like about Pocket PC's is the form factor. Palm V and Visor Edge look so much more sleeker than the HP/Casio/IPaq. When it comes to form factor, Visor Edge would be my first choice, but in terms of functionality I prefer something Windows based. If only Handspring had some sort of a dual operating system option for Visors...you can pick what OS you want - Palm or Windows. That would rule...coz then I'd have the Visor Edge plus Windows CE!. Anyway, thanks again for all the comments. Heading out to circuit city this evening http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

At a company in Vancouver I consult for the employees tested 5 HP's and 5 Casio's and then switched off to the other model.

The preference was for the Casio by a good margin. I admit though...I don't remember why.

Dorian

Casio (which I have) is a PPC that displays bright 16-bit color i.e. 65k colors. My PPC pretty much does what RAD Palm V does and more but it comes at a price e.g. form factor and less battery time. Again, it really depends on what and how you are using your PDA for.

I probably haven't posted this response in time for you to see it before your shopping trip http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif but to answer your question:

I took the RTD web pages, pasted them into Excel, stripped out the junk I didn't want, saved them as HTML, and imported them into iSilo. About four minutes of work. Slick, and easy to use.

As for the form factor, I'm sorry I didn't emphasize this in my last post: I use the aircraft-grade aluminum Palm V hard case from RhinoSkin.com. I slip the Palm Vx into my back pocket. I can sit on it without worrying about damage. AND people simply LOVE the case when they see it. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Like I said before: It is with me 24/7. Literally.

It's my alarm clock when traveling; it's my notepad in meetings; it's a book when standing in line somewhere; it is THAT small and convenient. And best of all, it's not hanging on my belt next to the cellphone, which would have completed my "geek" look. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

It doesn't matter if you buy Palm OS or WinCE. Just find something that works, and USE it. Throw away the paper planners, yellow sticky notes, and legal pads. Try all kinds of software from sites like Palmgear.com and Handango.com. Delete what you don't like, and keep and/or pay for what you do like.

IMHO: THEY KEY TO SUCCESSFUL HANDHELD DEVICE USAGE IS ALWAYS HAVING IT WITH YOU, AND ALWAYS USING IT.

RAD http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cool.gif

[Edited for typos]

[This message has been edited by RAD (edited 05-25-2001).]

RAD,
...your enthusiasm for handhelds is amazing. I am now the proud owner of a Jordana 548. The $449 deal was pretty good coz they threw in a free $99 Stowaway keyboard. Why did I get the Jordana? - 2 reasons: the Casio was too big to fit in a shirt pocket, and the color IPaq crossed my $500 limit. Anyway, I hope to have this sucker handy at all times. One more question: where did you pick up the airport maps? Did you just go to individual airport websites and download the GIF's? That sounds like a lot of work...

A free stowaway keyboard? DUDE, you SCORED! Way To Go! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

The are lots of people at PalmGear.com that create these things specifically to share with others. On the Palm OS platform, there is a program called FireViewer that displays compressed images. I got LAX, ORD and DEN there. For example, I created tiny lists of UA Red Carpet Clubroom locations for Palm OS and posted them on Palmgear. There have been just over 1,000 downloads so faron PalmGear, and nearly 200 on Handango.com. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif

Handango.com does stuff for both Palm OS and Pocket PC. I highy recommend both sites for Palm OS, but don't have much experience with Pocket PC.

Question for you: how does the form factor compare between Palm Vx and the Jordana?

RAD

I'd look at the battery lifetimes for whatever devices you consider. When I bought my pda (about two years ago) the Windows-based devices blew through batteries like there was no tomorrow. I don't know if that is still true or not. I carry my Palm V all week, and charge it up on weekends....I've gone almost two weeks without a recharge. And I don't have to buy batteries for it!

Obviously, I like the Palm, but agree that you should get what fits your needs. Obviously, I also don't feel I urgently need wireless internet, though I've played with it for free on my Sprint cell phone for the last six months (sanyo-4500). I'm not terribly impressed.

Incidentally, I understand Sprint now has a digital cell phone with integral Palm capabilities AND wireless internet. I haven't actually seen one myself yet, but am interested in cutting down the number of devices I carry.....

Mike B. in OKlahoma

You can get the free Stowaway keyboard with any HP 500 series pocketpc at most retailers (compusa, circuit city, hpshopping.com) at least until june 7.

RAD: in terms of form factor, the Jordana is thicker and heavier than a Palm V. However, it is not bulky, and can be carried comfortably. Since it has a scrolling wheel on the side, I can easily read long web pages or documents using just one hand (no need to tab the scrollbar..just use your finger on the wheel). I also found that PocketPC's can be made to change their orientation from portrait to landscape, which is very helpful when editing spreadsheets etc... (obviously the stowaway keyboard can't be used when in landscape mode.)

MikeBinOK: I think the Sprint PCS device you're referring to is the Kyocera phone. It is a wireless phone with a built in Palm handheld. Basically the phone dial is on top, and you can flip the top open to reveal a full Palm V underneath... If you want to check it out, visit kyocera.com or just go to Comp USA . They have those on display.

Although Palm's VII has wireless built in the iPaq offers true flexible wireless solutions. With it's pc-card adapter it offers GSM data, Wireless Lan and many other wireless cards, it's standby time is short but the pc-card adapter has an extra battery built in to power the card. I have been using an iPaq for over a year now and am very happy with it after being a true palm fan (a Vx).

Something I haven't seen mentioned here yet is IR capabilities. Most of the phones in Europe and some in the US have IR data capabilities. What does this mean? You set the phone on the table near your Palm/Wince and it becomes your "modem." I checked email at a London outdoor cafe with a Palm V and Nokia cell phone...no cables, no mess, people at the same table didn't even notice.

Stateside I've done the same thing using a Motorola Timeport, but needed to carry around a tangle of wires. Phones are changing fast and I bet there are more IR phones w/data services cropping up daily.

Not sure how it's done on Wince, but for palm you need the Mobile Internet kit:
http://www.palm.com/software/mik/

WinCe (or PocketPC) does not need extra software for IrDa communications, all of these machines have a "generic IrDa" modem pre-installed.

I love the Ipaq!

I had used a clamshell (full keyboard) Handheld PC and it became an appendage to me.

MY PocketPC (The Compaq Ipaq) is just great! I use it for everything.

Joe.