what should I buy?

[LeslieK]

Hello all,

I am beginning to research Pocket PCs and am hoping your insights can help me in my decision.

My primary interest in a Pocket PC is for storing and giving PowerPoint presentations as a smaller and lighter alternative to a laptop. I would need to be able to store several presentations, some of which use animation. I would also use it to check email while I travel, which is only a few weeks a year. If the price difference is minimal between what I need in a Pocket PC and a new laptop, I may just go ahead and buy a new laptop.

Some questions I have how much RAM should I have to accomplish my objectives? What questions should I be asking about attaching and using a Pocket PC with my LCD projector? I am not sure what characteristics I should be asking about beyond how I have described above.

I appreciate any suggestions of specific brands and models you all think I should consider.

Thank you for your help,
LeslieK

[Primaz]

There are a number of VGA output cards to make a pocket pc or HPC 2000 CE device the perfect laptop presentation replacment. Here is one site and there are others:

http://www.colorgraphic.net/newsite/misc/home.asp

Most are PCMIA card slot devices but I believe there are also CF versions and most pocket pc's have adapter sleaves to accept a pcmia card. Remember some of the bells and whitsles of powerpoint are not on the pocket version but it does the job well and efficiently. I recommend to use a add in CF, or SSD card to store your data as powerpoints can be large.

If you require more laptop and keyboard use to generate documents on the road then look at the Jornada 728 and get a large CF card to store the data and use a pcmia card VGA system. If you edit more and do not need a keyboard built in and you want the smallest size get a Ipaq, Toshiba, NEC, or Casio pocket pc 2002 device. Most have two sources of external input, a CF card slot, and a SSD card slot. If you use the CF card for a VGA card then you will need to get a SSD for storing your presentations. Some have sleaves to accept pcmia but check to see if you can also add a SSD while running the sleave. There are sleaves I know for the Ipaq that can accept two inputs like two CF or two pcmia inputs.

Any CE device will work thus it depends on your main use of the PDA. My top pick is the HP 728 for more of a laptop user, and the new Toshiba 740 that has built in 802.11 wireless and 400mghz processor for the lighter mobile user.

[Kimbo]

The Toshi E740 has an optional expansion pack that allows keyboards and VGA monitors to be connected.