Palm, PPC difference

[Curious Cat]

Not being familiar with the PPC platform, I was curious if the PPC platform has launchers and skins and if so, are they as needed or as prevalent as with the Palms?

[AnswerDude]

There are plenty of both, and lots of them are freeware. You can also skin individual application such as media player like desktop counterpart. Here're some task manager applications and today plugins(customize Today screen)
http://www.pocketpcfreewares.com/en/index.php?cat=24&sortby=date
http://www.pocketpcfreewares.com/en/index.php?cat=13&sortby=date
With commercial software, you can pretty much change everything, 1 example is PPX;
http://www.ppx3k.com/index.php?page=ppx

[JMckie]

Hey CC, what are you doing hanging around here in the enemy camp? :)

Many of those PPC launchers are more functional than anything available on the Palm. But then again you need them because the built in launcher is a piece of crap.

[jwc810]

Originally posted by JMckie
Hey CC, what are you doing hanging around here in the enemy camp? :)

Many of those PPC launchers are more functional than anything available on the Palm. But then again you need them because the built in launcher is a piece of crap.

CC is waiting for A730 w/Wi-Fi to be release.

Asus Launcher works great, better than Palm Lancher.

[JMckie]

Originally posted by jwc810
CC is waiting for A730 w/Wi-Fi to be release.

Asus Launcher works great, better than Palm Lancher.

Really? I understand they made a launcher that looks and works like the Palm Launcher. Then it can't be very good because the Palm Launcher sucks too. Proof: everyone I know is using a third party launcher.

[Bokkie]

Hi guys!

I'm also new to the 'enemy camp'. Looks like we'll soon be taking this one over.:D

[Curious Cat]

Just to clarify my position; I never was anti PPC or any other platform. I was however, against the seemingly “biased pushing of a PPC product” in the middle of a Palm based forum. Let me here thank Sony Convert for helping to initiate this forum. IMO, there is never a good reason not to want to have more information, whatever the subject, and I would not be averse to using a PPC based product in the future if it better suited my needs. That time, especially with regards to navigation use, has not come.

BTW, just so I don’t restart something, I believe jwc810 and I have both moderated our positions and now we coexist quite peaceably. :)

Good to see everyone here!

[jwc810]

Originally posted by JMckie
Really? I understand they made a launcher that looks and works like the Palm Launcher. Then it can't be very good because the Palm Launcher sucks too. Proof: everyone I know is using a third party launcher.

I like it only because it's simple, one button to cycle categorys.

[Curious Cat]

Can anyone shed any light on the basic differences between the way the PPC and the Palm handle todo’s, contacts and calendars with and without common 3rd party software such as Datebk5 and Agendus used on the Palm side? I’m currently only familiar with the Palm way of doing things and I’m interested in how well you can organize yourself with the PPC and whether that is a plus for one platform or the other.

[JMckie]

CC, think of the PIM functions of the PPC is like Outlook-lite.

Comparing with the Palm counterparts, people will generally prefer what they happen to learn first. So that tells you they are roughly the same.

PPC has are a couple of features lacking in Palm. The Today screen is a great idea, customizable, and can be extended with third party apps. Another is integration with other PPC apps, which one has come to expect in desktop Windows applications. For instance, email apps will use the contact list for email addresses.

Palm does have the cross-app "Find" functionality which PPC will include in some release of Windows Mobile 2003 if I remember correctly.

As for objective measures regarding which is better, one can take a look at the popularity of replacement programs. Agendus and Datebk are Handango's #1 and #3 in business apps for Palm, while there are no similar replacement apps in the top ten for the PPC.

[Curious Cat]

Thanks Joseph,
Ideally, I’d like something like the new Treo coming out, that would give me a key pad and Bluetooth to connect with some sort of GPS. I like the all-in-one way, like a Treo but combined with a BlueTooth enabled GPS from Garmin would be ideal, hopefully Garmin will make one. The reason I’m asking about PPC, which I know the Treo is not, is that while I’m looking I might as well see what else is out there and for me the PIM capabilities are probably the most important consideration.

[allgire]

Also, just in case you haven't seen a comparison (I would have guessed you have) - a good article that's usually updated as the technology evolves is http://www.pdabuyersguide.com/tips/palm_vs_pocketpc.htm

Hope this helps too.

For the GPS - I'm going to be looking at the CF iQue - looks interesting at least.

[JMckie]

CC, I waiting for that new Treo as well. And hopefully Garmin does come through with a Bluetooth GPS.

[Curious Cat]

Allgire, thanks, I have read that review before. It kind of says if you are simply looking for PIM capabilities to go with Palm. I tend to be one who like to tweak the heck out of and generally push the limits of PIMs but I also like the interoperability between the Desktop and the handheld. Looks like they are both worth checking out.

Joesph, hurry up and get yours so you can write a review before I spend my money.:D Maybe you can write one of your apps to make it work with BlueTooth and one of Jonas’s frying pans.:D

[Curious Cat]

Originally posted by Curious Cat
Anyone have any opinions as to which is/will be better, feature or hardware wise? The next Treo or the Samsung i700 Pocket PC Phone.

[Curious Cat]

Originally posted by JMckie
CC, I waiting for that new Treo as well. And hopefully Garmin does come through with a Bluetooth GPS.

JMckie, I finally got a look at a real Treo up close, as opposed the on the web and although it looks like a great package as a phone, etc., the screen may actually be too small to use as an in vehicle navigation device. I’m assuming the newer version won’t be much larger. The whole unit is a fair bit smaller then the iQue. Maybe it need a projection ability like the heads up display found in some cars and planes but that would be asking a lot. Looks like I will either have to settle for a larger PDA/phone device or stick with having 2 devices to cover all the bases.

[JMckie]

I agree the screen is too small. The next version is supposed to be 320X320, but the physical screen size won't be much larger. It'll be hard not to live without the extra 160X320 than the virtual grafitti gets you.

However, if you compose emails or send messages, most people would rather have the thumbboard than the extra display area. You also have to use the Treo for a couple of hours to appreciate the user interface design which lets you do stuff with one hand - without a stylus. I personally think that that user inteface is the best thing about the Treo, although few people mention it.

As far as navigation is concerned, I find myself using the voice prompts and just the top two lines anyway. Betty will still be there, spending time in the other car.

It is definitely a tradeoff between the convenience of carrying one device or two. It's a personal preference thing.

[nparker13]

Wow its like an iQue family reunion here! As an iQue user myself, I've been looking to the Asus A716 for school due to the wifi and cf slots. BT and sd are added benefits. Do any of you dual users have any reccommendations...I have been using the palm os all my life since the pilot 1000, but love some of ppc features like voice recog, and transcriber.

-nate

[Sony convert]

Personally, I switched to PPC (I have the A716) from using the iQue. I don't see a need for having both devices. The PPC has everything I need since I purchased the cfQue with it. If you can afford the $600 price tag, read the review of the A730 (http://www.pocketpcreviews.net/reviews/072004/asus730_index.htm) , compared to the A716 it has a much higher resolution (640x480), faster processor, Windows Mobile 2003 SE which supports widescreen mode, and more RAM. It is also more compact than the A716. The only drawback will be battery life, but it has a removeable battery. Instead of having both devices, you could sell your Garmin and then maybe you can afford the upgrade.

[nparker13]

i thought only the a730 has a vga res?

-nate

[Sony convert]

Originally posted by nparker13
i thought only the a730 has a vga res?

-nate
Nate,
Read my post again. I am comparing the A716 to the A730. The other option for a PPC with SD,CF slot, and a VGA screen is the iPaq HX4700. This model also includes WiFi and bluetooth. The only thing missing is the camera.