PDA search 2003

Jeeze, this is almost as bad as asking what is a good cell phone & provider!

PocketPC's let you type in WORD directly and if you use Microsoft Office (Outlook, especially) then there is a very strong connection with the PPC platform.

However, you think the T3 has horrible battery life, use a PocketPC! It's a joke.

If you want more of a PIM (that is, Personal Info Manager) then PALM all the way. If you need flawless office synching and can sacrifice size, weight, and battery life (like a Sager!) then Pocket PC.

I have owned both for many years and am still on my Tungsten T (T1 now, I guess). It's great battery life (about a week of heavy use per charge) and it connects with my Phone via BT and my Sager via IR.

I haven't used the wireless connectivity or anything on it, as it's pretty silly to browse on a 320x320 screen (that and I'm always near a "real" computer). I use Outlook extensively, so I bought Chapura's KeySuite so I can have excellent connectivity with Office docs and Outlook contacts (exchange folder, etc).

Mosey on down to your electronics/office outlet and play with them. I do not like the sliding of the T-series, but it's not too bad. I'd get a T3 but I'll wait for the next revision (there's a rare problem that might wind up destroying a SD card... google search that one).

Palms: dependable and solid
PPCs: flashy and MS-integrated

Good luck,
-myrkat

I have Garmin iQue3600. Actually I bought it because of the GPS function, but it's one of the best PDA as well. It run on Palm OS5. Here is some screenshot.

A bit off topic - but if you are in the market for a Palm then I have a Palm Tungsten E for sale with a 256MB SD Card for MP3's and Videos...

Bought it 2 weeks back and havent used it much...its useless for me should have bought a new iPod - old one's wheel is all over the place !!

Lemme know...

How does the GPS perform on that unit? I've been eyeing it for a while (that and the T3) and I've not been impressed with laptop solutions as of yet, but wondered how the Garmin faired...

-myrkat

I've used lots of GPS in the past few years and I can tell you that when it come to GPS, Garmin is one of the best. I used to have their GPS III+, StreetPilot III, and now iQue3600. I used to try other GPS product, Travroute Copilot 2003. It's a laptop product. It's ok, but not as good as Garmin. I decided to sold my StreetPilot III because with the same price, iQue can be both GPS and PDA.

Since I am in medical school... i have pondering the PDA question myself... here are some random thoughts and such below...

I understand the needs of doctors in the information age. Although multiple devices exist to satisfy our needs, we still do not have a device which can do it all. I was very frustrated today trying to find a device which did all of the following so I figured I would contact Handspring and see what they can do. Although the Treo 600 does some of the items below, it does not do everything. Maybe we can see a device like this soon?

* I need a Palm-based PDA with sufficient amount of RAM so I can load my medical/Drug reference programs (e.g. ePocrates) -- Although this can be avoided w/ a PalmOS emulator (easily had for normal x86 laptops, and the Sharp Zaurus).
* A stereo audio (mp3, personal notes, etc) player along with a voice memo recorder and input for a headset for voice conferencing.
* Ability to play various video formats as well.
* Bluetooth would be a huge plus for wireless headset while driving or syncing with computer or as a Bluetooth modem for laptop web access.
* I need a full fleged browser (not just WAP) so I can get onto internet via 802.11b wifi
* Ability to grab and send email via phone data services or wifi or bluetooth.
* I need to be able to use VoIP services like Dialpad or something similar to take care of international calls when I am near a WiFi network (although I do not think dialpad offers a Palm client).
* Ability to view and edit Office documents and sync with outlook (also ability to open attachments).
* I would like a high-res camera built in.
* Another wish list item include a built in "webcam" for video conferencing (if possible).
* Ability to install more than 256 megs of programs/databases in internal memory.
* SD I/O slot
* High-resolution screen
* Ability to make and receive phone calls via a normal GSM and/or CDMA cellular network (switchable via modules).
* Long battery life.

Once this is all in a handheld, then I can ditch a mini-notebook computer. Until then, I'll have to have a big notebook (Dell Precision M60), mini notebook (Sony PCG-U101), along with headset (USB headset for laptop and bluetooth headset for cell phone), webcam (Logitech USB laptop cam), old palm PDA, camera, mp3 player/recorder, miniDV camcorder, and cell phone/pager. I guess that is why a convergence device is so tempting.

ePocrates is buggy, IMHO, often screwing up on syncs, but oh well. Also, you can install the db's in the SD expansion card. Many apps and data can be put there and launched from there with various "replacement" launch pads (like MegaLaunch).

The Tungsten T series with BT and IR is nice, but a WiFi IS lacking. You can do lots with BT and a cell phone w/ BT (I use a Nokia 6310i) but my provider is so far behind the times (like all U.S. companies) that the data-thing just isn't hapening (like a Blackberry device).

VoIP isn't gonna happen for PDA's or Cells for many years, if at all. Good luck with that.

View/Edit Office files on Palm needs a 3rd-part app (I really like KeySuite from www.chapura.com - it's great).

IMHO, a high-res camera isn't gonna happen, either, it'll be 640x480 at best for years to come, and they'll still choke at low light situations... get a camera to use as a camera! There's some small, elf-like 3.2+mpixel units out there.

GSM and CDMA will never be "switchable" - hopefully, we'll just do away with CDMA/TDMA and move to GSM like the rest of the world.

Long Battery? How long is long? Tungsten T's battery lasts a decent length for the use I put it through, but with all that you listed (that is possible), expect a recharge every 2-3 days at best (or once a day). Besides, with all you want happening in a PDA, you should be synching/charging once a day or more anyway just to keep your data safe.

-myrkat

Dell seems good. Try checking them out.

Well I have a iPaq 5455, so far I love it. Other than droping it on the pavement a couple of times, it's been flawless. Yes the battery life is short but so isn't my sagers. I'm always close to an outlet so battery life for periphs aren't really a concern for me. I used to have a Visor which wasn't bad also but I use office products extensively so I'd rather not deal with a possible headache of using third party software for syncing with outlook, etc...