iPAQ or a plam m 515 [Archive]

pdasteve

10-26-2002, 06:50 PM

It really depends on what you plan to use your handheld device for. If you are primary looking for PDA functions (date, calendar, address, etc...) I strongly consider the Palm. If you want to add MP3's, video and other "power user" windows programs look at a Pocket PC.

I considered switching to the Pocket PC platform about a month ago. I took it back (Toshiba e310) after 5 days.

Don't be misled by the large amount of ram on a pocket pc. Most all of the programs are memory hogs. You will find that an expansion card (128mg, possibly more than one) will be a necessity.

Here were the pro’s & con’s:

Pro’s:

1. Screen size & resolution, far superior to a palm (hopefully addressed with the Palm OS 5).
2. Multi-Tasking, opening more than one program at a time (I found this to be a con as well…closing programs without saving files – my mistake but still frustrating).
3. Windows desktop/pocket pc programs (pocket word, excel, etc…). No need for 3rd party software plus you have the ability to zoom in and out of screenshots (I liked that especially in pocket excel).
4. MP3 playback, just need an expansion card to store your music files.

Con’s:

1. Graffiti, if you are used to a palm I found the options on the pocket pc to be not as accurate (block, letter or character recognizer). I can write with palm graffiti faily quickly, I was very frustrated using the Toshiba.
2. Multi-Tasking, again I lost files closing before they were saved. I feel that my data is much “safer” on a palm.
3. Memory. I know the Toshiba e310 only had 32 mg of ram, but I was amazed at how quickly I used up the available memory (with out loading many files). I felt that 64 mg is about equal to 16mgs on a palm.
4. Limited amount of programs available. Look at freewarepalm.com vs. freewarepocketpc.com …palm offers over 800 games while pocket pc offers around 60.

I really wanted to like the pocket pc product…but I came back to my palm as soon as possible.

Hope this helps.

PDASteve