PPC or Palm

[Curious Cat]

This is not a poll but just an informal question primarily to those of you who have switched from the iQue 3600 to a PPC based device.

I'd like to hear some comments on the likes and dislikes related to the platforms, not the GPS functions. What's easier, quicker, more powerful, versatile, visibility, etc. Facts are not necessary, opinions are fine. Personally, I'm happy with my iQue 3600 but eventually I'll want to replace it with the latest/greatest and at that time I'd like to look at all the options. I'm sure there are others who are looking at it this way too.

[JMckie]

I guess I shouldn't answer because I didn't really switch. I like them both. I can also be critical of both. As much as I really like my iQue, I've never hesitated to point out it's and Garmin's flaws. As for operating systems, I don't have any sense of loyalty to any brand.

I have an older iPaq which I hardly use mainly because I bring the iQue 3600 with me everywhere. And the reason for that is that I have to bring it with me to navigate with in the car.

I impluse bought an Axim X50V the other day mostly because it was on sale. There's usually a 3-week long honeymoon period where of intense playing with a new device.

Right now, I don't see myself replacing the iQue with the Axim. The iQue works just fine for my GPS needs. The Axim will be there for connectivity, games, and for trying out the intriguing new PPC software.

Without software the handheld is just an expensive brick. There was a time when Palm proponents cited the availability of Palm software as one main advantage, citing the relative lack of PPC apps. I don't think that's true anymore. In fact I think the pendulum has swung in the other direction.

[Curious Cat]

Good points Joseph. It is because the PPC platform seems to be evolving so much quicker then Palm that I feel like it is only a matter of time, if it hasn't happened already, when the PPC becomes the obvious best choice. Unlike you I don't have any past PPC experience but I don't feel married to Palm either. Please give us some more impressions when you get your new toy.

[nparker13]

I think thats a fair analysis, but there are some parts where I disagree. I have been a hardcore palm user ever since my first 3c. I never even considered a pocketpc device beacuse i have always been happy with my palm. It was a VERY hard move, but over the last couple of years, some of the features that the ppc offered that the palm stubbornly refused to offer attracted me to the market. While being a happy user of my ique there were a couple times where i almost hit the submit button on the x50v order form as well as the hp hx model. I decided to buy my x50v when it was on sale (for the 3rd time).

PocketPC:
I like the feature set. The device is amazing, (with exception to a faulty digitizer common on the x50v's vga screens) they are replacing it for free. THe windows software lacks in my opinion. I cannot stand how incredibly slow it is. The input mehtods are a refreshing overhaul of the palm os graffiti 2. with pocket informant, the pim apps are basically equal to my palms. The other software on the other hadn i feel is Inferior to the palm os pool. There is a lot of freeware applications for the palm os that are a lot better than the pocketpc's, not to mention other "free" software ;) . In addition to that, the wmv compatibilty with my Beyond TV machine is incredible, i love it.

Palm OS:
Simplicity is bliss. No programs having trouble closing, memory hogs slowing it down, it just works. i have probably reset my x50v more times than i have in all my palms...COMBINED. I hope my reset button doesnt break ;) . The software seleciton is great. Everything i could possibly want for an applicaiton is out there and probably free. The hardware is far inferior to almost ANY pocketpc.

thats my 2cents

-nate

[nparker13]

And i forgot to mention the possibilty, but not reality (YET) of a virus.
As far as i know there was the gameboy virus for the palm and there was a test virus for the pocketpc, but from what ive read, the ppc has a lot more vulnerability.

Another thing is the PC software. I HATE outlook. my campus uses an ms exchange server. the concept is great, but the application of it SUCKS. its TOO connected. when i go home, i cannot even START outlook to sync. I loved palm desktop and really miss it.

- nate

[Curious Cat]

Nate;

Thanks for the answers. That's what I wanted, not somebody who is absolutely in love one way or the other.

I think thats a fair analysis, but there are some parts where I disagree.
I'm a little unclear who's analysis or which parts you disagree with.


with pocket informant, the pim apps are basically equal to my palms.
Is this equal to the standard Palm apps or to the enhanced versions, such as Agendus or DateBK5?

In addition to that, the wmv compatibilty with my Beyond TV machine is incredible, i love it.
Could you expand upon this. I have no idea how this program works or what it does. I guess you can watch a TV show?

The hardware is far inferior to almost ANY pocketpc.
Does the better hardware help make the PPC close to as fast as the Palm?

I HATE outlook. my campus uses an ms exchange server
The PIM capabilities of a product have always been most important to me. I've always thought Outlook (desktop) was a bit bloated and didn't function in the way I like to work. OTOH, the Palm Desktop is probably too simple so for now I use the Agendus version of the Palm Desktop which is OK but not great.

If I had to guess, you are saying that you prefer the way Palm works but you are attracted to the features that are only available, or perhaps work better, on the PPC platform?

[Bokkie]

I came into the Palm arena for the first time when I got the iQue. I left it when I entered the PPC arena for the first time when I got the HX4700. Out of the box, the HX4700 came with more usable software than came with the iQue. True, Palm's HotSync is far superior and less trouble than ActiveSync, which to this day, still causes me trouble. But the ability to filter an Excel spreadsheet from the PPC to the desktop edition is a powerful selling point and it works both ways.

For the cost of the HX4700 I get just about everything built in and suprisingly it has all worked, except when my reset button would no longer reset and I had to RMA it to HP's official service centre in the UK. Garmin's UK service was far better and that's not saying very much!

The development environment leaves Palm floundering at sea. I say that because the use of VS.Net and the implementation of OpenNetCF puts the PPC in a development league which I think Palm developers could only dream of - sorry Joseph, but if you read this I intend it not as a sleight on the excellent work you have done for the iQue community but to give you a true OO environment to look forward to.:)

Overall, the PPC is a richer operating system if a trifle buggy and bloated. I reckon both have their pros and cons. Their is a rumour that PDA sales are beginning to level off so from hereon perhaps the market will be carved up further and to be honest, the squabbling in the Palm world opens the door for PPC to blast in and that's not necessarily good either. My money would opt for the PPC. The 640x480 screen on the HX4700 is truly awesome but it's too new to have been fully embraced by the applications. In a few months maybe we'll see more out of the box programs running 640x480. At that point, I don't think I could ever find a reason to justify switching back to Palm. So long as Palm exist the leapfrog game with the PPC is to the benefit of all. If Palm die, then PPC will live but where would the incentive be to take it further? We've already seen that with the capability of the desktop. I saw a demo of the Apple 'cube' desktop. That is really awesome and it beats Longhorn by years.

[Curious Cat]

Hey Bokkie, haven't heard from you for a while, at least not on the "other" side. :)

Great review!

But the ability to filter an Excel spreadsheet from the PPC to the desktop edition is a powerful selling point and it works both ways.
I've always heard that the Docs To Go version is actually better then Microsoft's Pocket editions but I don't recall ever being able to do a filter from the Palm side.
640x480 screen on the HX4700 is truly awesome
Is it just better resolution or is the ability to pack more stuff on such a small screen actually helpful. I can barley see the fonts on my Palm without reading glasses now.


You seem to think that the PPC will more likely be the winner between the two platforms and I have to agree. Right now I'm trying to asses whether they have made enough strides to consider jumping ship in the near future or to wait until I have no choice.

[nparker13]

Originally posted by Curious Cat
Nate;

Thanks for the answers. That's what I wanted, not somebody who is absolutely in love one way or the other.


I'm a little unclear who's analysis or which parts you disagree with.

I feel as though one has to replace another. I know this is not completely true, and from experience, I always go back to the iQue for nav, buit i cant see using both for pim. its just too much syncing


Is this equal to the standard Palm apps or to the enhanced versions, such as Agendus or DateBK5?

absolutely. i think it can even be considered more powerful... it is great because outlook natively supports most of these extra fields, which are a lot. I would say that PI is the best of both worlds, and it has a world of prefrences to choose from to make it sided either way.


Could you expand upon this. I have no idea how this program works or what it does. I guess you can watch a TV show?

from another thread: "
Another cool gadget I just thought of, if you dont already have something like it, is a homemade HTPC.

I took a 4 year old gateway desktop, that i replaced with my current laptop, and took most of the compenets out. I put in 2 new hdds (400 GB total), 2 PCI HiDef tv capture cards, an AGP DVI out, VGA and HiDef out video card, a big power supply (550 watts i think) and a couple more sticks of ram. I pluged it into a coax cable (s]plit in two), and to an ethernet port. I installed Snapstream BeyondTV (www.snapstream.com). (there are others like mythtv i think, but i tried them, and stuck with btv). It is an awesome set up. I can record 2 shows at once, or wathc and record. I can watch shows COMMERCIAL FREE (automatticaly marks commercials), and best of all, i can showsqueeze to a WMV compatible format to be viewed on my x50v. IT is awesome to be able to go to the gym and watch a show recorded an hour ago commercial free, wirelessly over my BT audio gateway to my mot headset.

Anyway, I DONT work for them, but I swear by this. It has truely "changed the way i think of television"-dtv ad.

-nate

PS - no montly fees, its complete free after you buy the software...and did i forget to mention that you can schedule remotely, adn stream video off your computer on to your handheld, oh yeah!"

basically tivo but better and more compliant with any other device.


Does the better hardware help make the PPC close to as fast as the Palm?

absolutely not. There is just that slow feeling you get when using it. the screen loads arent as fast, but the games and video are amazing. Its like having a T3 modem with a ton of lag. The power is there, but something about it (maybe ram) slows it down when switching apps and common everday use.

The PIM capabilities of a product have always been most important to me. I've always thought Outlook (desktop) was a bit bloated and didn't function in the way I like to work. OTOH, the Palm Desktop is probably too simple so for now I use the Agendus version of the Palm Desktop which is OK but not great.

Youre complely 100% right. I think outlook is too much. it would be nice if they seperated email and pim, because thats my biggest thing that i hate about it. They tried with OE, but i dont think this is what they had in mind. Palm desktop is too simple, as you said when you have extra fields and stuff that it has to attach in the note (like for contacts 5 and other pim apps).


If I had to guess, you are saying that you prefer the way Palm works but you are attracted to the features that are only available, or perhaps work better, on the PPC platform?


Yes. simply put.

[JMckie]

I almost sprung for the HX4700 myself but was turned off by the touchpad when I played with it in the store. I can barely tolerate them in laptops and they have no place in a handheld IMO. Bokkie, what are your thoughts on the touchpad?

nparker13 (and other Axim owners), I hear you about the resets. I know someone who seems to be in a state of constantly rebuilding his system because of hard resets. Do you have Axim-specific recommendations to ease this pain? I know about the A02 firmware update. Any other things I should do/avoid to ease this particular pain?

[nparker13]

Originally posted by Curious Cat
Hey Bokkie, haven't heard from you for a while, at least not on the "other" side. :)

Great review!


I've always heard that the Docs To Go version is actually better then Microsoft's Pocket editions but I don't recall ever being able to do a filter from the Palm side.


Is it just better resolution or is the ability to pack more stuff on such a small screen actually helpful. I can barley see the fonts on my Palm without reading glasses now.

Speaking on behalf of another VGA user, I never use the true vga mode which crams more stuff into the screen. instead, VGA makes everything look a little bit nicer. IN some instances with programs like Pocket Informant, small things that you can afford to let be small can be REALLY small liek an entire month calendar view. I dont know is this is what you were looking for. There is a great screenshot comparo but i dont remember where i saw it of truevga vs ms vga

You seem to think that the PPC will more likely be the winner between the two platforms and I have to agree. Right now I'm trying to asses whether they have made enough strides to consider jumping ship in the near future or to wait until I have no choice.

You might be at that point pretty soon. If Palm doesnt get together and come up with a really awesome device, or liscence out to another sony, so to say, i dont know how they will be able to compete.

-nate

[nparker13]

Originally posted by JMckie
I almost sprung for the HX4700 myself but was turned off by the touchpad when I played with it in the store. I can barely tolerate them in laptops and they have no place in a handheld IMO. Bokkie, what are your thoughts on the touchpad?

nparker13 (and other Axim owners), I hear you about the resets. I know someone who seems to be in a state of constantly rebuilding his system because of hard resets. Do you have Axim-specific recommendations to ease this pain? I know about the A02 firmware update. Any other things I should do/avoid to ease this particular pain?

not in particular...make sure you get A02...im sure they will be putting out a new patch anytime soon to fix the wireless issues. Other than that, most of my resets have bene due to the digitizer problem which is known about from dell. There were a couple defective screens that they are replacing for free (i just need to get the time to call). Other than that, a big help was SPB pocket which has an option to ACUTALLY close an app rather than "stupid" smart minimize. THat will help in keeping the systme running fast. Other than that, the rest of my resets were beacuse of the wireless problem. If i turned wifi on once or bt on once, i would have to reset to turn it on again. That is also a known software/harware glitch that they are working out.

-nate

ps i love pdastreet, but the aximsite fourms help out a lot too.

PPS do you have an x50v?

[JMckie]

Originally posted by nparker13
PPS do you have an x50v? [/B]

On its way. See 2nd post of this thread.

[Curious Cat]

Nate,

On the TV thing. Are you recording the shows off of cable or off the Internet? I'm just thinking that somewhere there has to be a provider who is making money or planning on it.

[0gopogo]

Originally posted by JMckie
I almost sprung for the HX4700 myself but was turned off by the touchpad when I played with it in the store. I can barely tolerate them in laptops and they have no place in a handheld IMO. Bokkie, what are your thoughts on the touchpad?

nparker13 (and other Axim owners), I hear you about the resets. I know someone who seems to be in a state of constantly rebuilding his system because of hard resets. Do you have Axim-specific recommendations to ease this pain? I know about the A02 firmware update. Any other things I should do/avoid to ease this particular pain?
Like Nate I had to reset my X50 numerous times.

The resets often resulted from evaluating and testing a variety of software. Now that I have found most of the software to actually make the PPC useful the situation is stabilizing.

I have also had to get used to the new platform's idiosyncrasies.

The number one reason to reset the device was re-configuration, such as switching from QVGA to VGA or back, or applying registry tweaks.

The digitizer works flawlessly in my device.

[Curious Cat]

Originally posted by nparker13
Other than that, a big help was SPB pocket which has an option to ACUTALLY close an app rather than "stupid" smart minimize. THat will help in keeping the systme running fast.

Are you saying that without a third party option that every application you run stays open in the background until you reset or something?

[0gopogo]

There were times of frustration during the first two weeks of PPC ownership. My expectations were probably too high. The simple efficiency of Palm OS is replaced with WinMobile and PocketOffice which tend to make simple things complicated. Obvious and fundamental usability features are omitted. I still cannot believe that the Notes app should not support categories. When I first found out that applications just minimized when you thought you closed them I shook my head in disbelief.

But software is available to improve things. It took me weeks to find and evaluate the software which would transform the PPC from an expensive toy into a powerful PDA. We should probably start a list of useful PPC software to make the transition easier for new users.

Running all that extra software can impact performance, especially if CPU power management is set to Auto. In that mode the OS clocks the CPU down to 106 MHz when idle. When activity occurs the OS increases the clock speed to a level of its choice, up to the full 624 MHz. Performance is much snappier when CPU power management is off.

I really like the Block Recognizer input method. It's Graffiti 1, only faster. PIM and other apps support multimedia i.e. in my notes I can now mix text, drawing, and voice recordings.

Image viewing/processing and video (including games) are the other areas where the x50v shines.

There are some x50v "features" which I dislike. The buttons are too small although there would be enough room for larger ones. I miss the jog wheel. I miss the flip cover! The glossy black surface parts of the case act like fingerprint scanners. The battery can get warm. The iQue has superior MP3 sound quality. Dell ships defunct drivers for its BlueTooth keyboard.

Having dual card slots is real nice. BlueTooth is great with up-to-date drivers. I have not used WiFi yet.

Overall, no regrets. I still have to try the Presentation Bundle. If it meets my expectations the Axim will be that much more useful...

[nparker13]

Originally posted by Curious Cat
Nate,

On the TV thing. Are you recording the shows off of cable or off the Internet? I'm just thinking that somewhere there has to be a provider who is making money or planning on it.

No. Its completely legal. It is basically a windows based tivo. I have 2 tv tuner cards. I bought Beyond TV from Snapstream.com They are making however much it costs for the program (maybe $70). It uses an XML tv listing from a free tv listing place. No ads, no catches. It records on my hardrive (which i have 3 of, 1x80gb for os and apps, 1x120 for shows, 1x200 for archive and webshared)
. It then analyzes it, and marks off commercials - called smartskip, a built in function of beyond tv. It also has a feature called show squeeze that takes the 2 gb mpeg file converting it to a 250 mb wmv file that i transfer wirelessly via 802.11b.

Nice setup for a computer that would normally be sitting at home off.

-nate

[0gopogo]

Originally posted by Curious Cat
Are you saying that without a third party option that every application you run stays open in the background until you reset or something?
Yes, it is true. You need to find your way to the Switcher app and terminate programs there. The "feature" is called Smart Minimize. Just an example of WinMob's Smart Nannying...

[nparker13]

Originally posted by Curious Cat
Are you saying that without a third party option that every application you run stays open in the background until you reset or something?

Yes, with the windows device, when you click the little 'x', it MINIMIZES the window. Stupid microsoft forgot to include a convient way to manage tasks (you can close them for good by going into the settings and memory, and then a couple mroe steps). Anyway, say your writing a task. An alarm comes up, you snooze it, nad go into your datebook by hitting the hard key. Both calendar and tasks are open. Same as if you hit the x, it would 'minimize' it, so that the next time you open it, it would open faster. You are caught between a rock and a hard place here, because the reason why it seems so slow, is that it is meant for most programs to stay open all the time, however if they do, and apps start clogging, you get the 'bluescreen of death, ppc edition', where you have to hit end task or reset.

SPB or whatever program you use (there are a lot), will be like a tweak to this. Im not sure if it is running in the bg or it is just a mod. You can chose to close when you hit the X. I chose that, but put exceptions to Notepad, PocketInformant, and Windows Media Player, as those are the ones i want to open fastest. Those minimize no matter what.

A reset will close everything though.

-nate

[Curious Cat]

Nate,
What I was asking is the source of the programing itself. What I can guess based on your answer is that you are using an antenna to receive free TV in your area as opposed to cable that you have to subscribe to. Is that correct?

[Curious Cat]

Originally posted by 0gopogo
Yes, it is true. You need to find your way to the Switcher app and terminate programs there. The "feature" is called Smart Minimize. Just an example of WinMob's Smart Nannying...

Thanks for the lengthy review earlier. Do you think that this "feature" of MS is the cause of many of the resets that people are getting? I remember on the older Windows and even sometimes on the current versions, that when you ran a lot of applications you would eventually run out of some memory heap, such as GUI memory and then it would all come crashing down.

[nparker13]

Originally posted by Curious Cat
Nate,
What I was asking is the source of the programing itself. What I can guess based on your answer is that you are using an antenna to receive free TV in your area as opposed to cable that you have to subscribe to. Is that correct?

Sorry.
No. I am connected directly to cable via a coax and a splitter. Why? My tuition goes into paying for the cable that they supply us. Is that what you were wondering?

-nate

[nparker13]

Originally posted by Curious Cat
Thanks for the lengthy review earlier. Do you think that this "feature" of MS is the cause of many of the resets that people are getting? I remember on the older Windows and even sometimes on the current versions, that when you ran a lot of applications you would eventually run out of some memory heap, such as GUI memory and then it would all come crashing down.

I guess you are directing this at anyone?

if so, heres my theory:

Same as if you hit the x, it would 'minimize' it, so that the next time you open it, it would open faster. You are caught between a rock and a hard place here, because the reason why it seems so slow, is that it is meant for most programs to stay open all the time, however if they do, and apps start clogging, you get the 'bluescreen of death, ppc edition', where you have to hit end task or reset.

-nate

[Curious Cat]

Nate, anyone,

Is there no native equivalent to the Windows keyboard "Alt + F4" to close an application? I'm thinking of a pen stroke or something.

[Curious Cat]

Whoops posting too fast. I meant to thank 0gopogo for his review but the question was for anyone. I'm not thanking you twice! :)

edit: hey I had it right in the first place. :)

[JMckie]

Using Kinoma, I can also watch TV shows off the iQue. There are a few inconveniences:

- the slow conversion step from the recorded format to Kinoma's PDB format.
- the slow transfer to the SD card
- the small size of the SD card

With the Axim, I am looking forward to using a multi-Gb CF card. Nate, can BeyondTV record in a format directly usable by the PPC media player? Can you schedule saving automatically to the CF card? That way I can leave the card in the cardreader and pick it up ready to use when I leave.

[0gopogo]

CC,

Once is enough ;). I forgot to mention the stylus. Does anyone like the x50's stylus? It is thin, flimsy, hard to get out of its silo.

Do you think that this "feature" of MS is the cause of many of the resets that people are getting?

Not sure. I think it is more a matter of indirectly causing users to reset the device beause they are unaware of all the apps running in the background, or how to terminate them. I ran into out-of-memory conditions when zooming into images in Resco Photo Viewer. The device did not crash.

Is there no native equivalent to the Windows keyboard "Alt + F4" to close an application? I'm thinking of a pen stroke or something.

No. Either use the unintuitive built-in Switcher or install a 3rd party task manager. WisBar Advance 2 in particular can be configured to close or minimize using tap and tap-and-hold gestures. It also works well with Spb Pocket Plus.

[nparker13]

Originally posted by JMckie
Using Kinoma, I can also watch TV shows off the iQue. There are a few inconveniences:

- the slow conversion step from the recorded format to Kinoma's PDB format.
- the slow transfer to the SD card
- the small size of the SD card

With the Axim, I am looking forward to using a multi-Gb CF card. Nate, can BeyondTV record in a format directly usable by the PPC media player? Can you schedule saving automatically to the CF card? That way I can leave the card in the cardreader and pick it up ready to use when I leave.

Yes and no. You can set a show to record in wmv, but it is not recommended. I have dual tuners therefore i have to have a hardware based mpeg encoder card. You would need a software based card. Anyways, say you go with a hardware setup.

You can record a show and set it up to automatically showsqueeze. I do that with the Apprentice. It will record the apprentice in dvd quality mpeg. It will also recompress (takes like 30 min) to a smaller ~200mb wmv format automatically. I have it not delete the original, so if i want, i can watch it on tv. Since this machine is running 24/7, 365, i never worry about showsqueeze time. I set up a folder called palm, which all the shows shrink into. Once in a while, i will check it and copy what i want to my sd or cf card. Sometimes i can even download it via wifi to the x50v. The picture looks very nice, full and flowing full screen. I dont lhave the setting options, but i can get them posted tomorrow when i head back to school.

If you have any questions, i'd love to answer them...i swear by this setup.

I almost forgot: if you want it to automatically go to a card, someone wrote a script on the snapstream message board that will do that. Its made for making dvds automatically, but it will work with this. Otherwise, you cna use a program like SyncBack.

-nate

PS - when watching on the ppc, you can't automatically skip commercials, as the data is in xml format on the pc. You can however have a 3rd party free software that cuts commercials out permately.

[nparker13]

Originally posted by 0gopogo
CC,

Once is enough ;). I forgot to mention the stylus. Does anyone like the x50's stylus? It is thin, flimsy, hard to get out of its silo.

Do you think that this "feature" of MS is the cause of many of the resets that people are getting?

Not sure. I think it is more a matter of indirectly causing users to reset the device beause they are unaware of all the apps running in the background, or how to terminate them. I ran into out-of-memory conditions when zooming into images in Resco Photo Viewer. The device did not crash.

Is there no native equivalent to the Windows keyboard "Alt + F4" to close an application? I'm thinking of a pen stroke or something.

No. Either use the unintuitive built-in Switcher or install a 3rd party task manager. WisBar Advance 2 in particular can be configured to close or minimize using tap and tap-and-hold gestures. It also works well with Spb Pocket Plus.

I noticed you have the battery display bar at the top. I found that my ppc ran noticably faster by disabling that.

How did you get the date to display as well as the time?

-nate

[0gopogo]

I noticed you have the battery display bar at the top. I found that my ppc ran noticably faster by disabling that.

Thanks for the tip, I shall try that.

How did you get the date to display as well as the time?

WisBar Advance 2. It works well with Spb Pocket Plus. Disable the latter's Close Button feature. WisBar replaces that with many more options. It displays an icon for each running task in the title bar. Now you have a task switcher. Top and hold an icon to terminate the process. Tap the Close button to minimize and app, tap and hold to exit it. You can also configure it such that a tap exits and tap and hold minimizes. I have mine configured such that a tap on the clock takes me back to the Today screen - and hence Pocket Plus - and tap and hold on the title toggles portrait and landscape.

[Curious Cat]

Listening to you now veteran PPC users spout off all this software, I've come to the conclusion that the PPC and Palm have one thing in common. Both of them suck without third party enhancements!

[nparker13]

Originally posted by Curious Cat
Listening to you now veteran PPC users spout off all this software, I've come to the conclusion that the PPC and Palm have one thing in common. Both of them suck without third party enhancements!

Absolutely! Nothing else said.

-nate

[0gopogo]

Amen.

[AnswerDude]

Originally posted by Curious Cat
Nate, anyone,

Is there no native equivalent to the Windows keyboard "Alt + F4" to close an application? I'm thinking of a pen stroke or something.

Yes, using the keyboard, click Ctrl and Q

[nparker13]

On screen or addon? or both?

-nate

[AnswerDude]

It works either way.

[AnswerDude]

One clarification about Pocketpc not closing programs, the os WILL close running programs when it really needs memory. I think the maximum running programs is 10 but the os will start to close (at least on my unit) application when you have around 5 running programs.

[AnswerDude]

Originally posted by nparker13

THe windows software lacks in my opinion. I cannot stand how incredibly slow it is.

-nate
There is a registry tweak that will speed up display;
http://www.phm.lu/PocketPC/RegTweaks/Tweak.asp?ref=11

[Bokkie]

Originally posted by Curious Cat
Hey Bokkie, haven't heard from you for a while, at least not on the "other" side. :)

T'is all quiet these days CC. I don't use the iQue anymore, and I don't have a GPS 10 either. Sort of stuck in no-mans land. Fortunately, I'm learning heaps at OpenNetCF.org. Unitl then, I'll leave the witticisms to you and the others.:D

[Bokkie]

Originally posted by JMckie
...I can barely tolerate them in laptops and they have no place in a handheld IMO. Bokkie, what are your thoughts on the touchpad?

Joseph,

I'm not one to type 50 words where one will do, as everyone knows.:D

But, in this case the touchpad requires but one word alone...

crap!

[jonasolof]

Originally posted by AnswerDude
There is a registry tweak that will speed up display;
http://www.phm.lu/PocketPC/RegTweaks/Tweak.asp?ref=11

I remember seeing that altering the MTU size by doing changes in the registry would increase Wifi speed for iPAQ.

IS there a list of good registry tweaks for windows mobile second edition?

[OWG]

Sorry I missed this thread right away CC.

As far as application simplicity, the Palm OS is very good. There are a lot of application choices, and they all seem to work fairly well. My issues with Palm have never been to do with the software, but the hardware.

I went through 3 different iQues in my year+ of ownership. Fortunately Garmins support is top notch, but the number of problems I experienced were just way too many. The best part of owning the hx4700 is its reliability and the overall feeling of quality that comes with it. The magnesium alloy case, the protective screen cover, it just feels solid. Besides, I have never been able to ZAP my hx4700 into a soft reset by just taking it out of my jacket pocket in the winter.

Adding wifi was definitely a plus, though certainly not a necessity. Originally Bluetooth was not of much use to me until I got 1) a Bluetooth phone and 2) the GPS 10. Now I use it all the time. I can connect to the internet in a pinch by finding a hotspot (in my hotel for example) or by using the BT connection through my phone for a GPRS connection. I also use the BT connection to transfer images from my phone or to move ring tones to it. Not a very big thing, but if you want to do it without BT requires the data kit ($) or you have to email which involves $.

The GPS 10 on Bluetooth is my dream come true. I really have to say that I was very happy to remove that cfQue for the last time. Even though the cfQue was small, it really took away from the clean lines of the iPaq. Being able to separate the two pieces is a very big thing IMO. For the most part I simply leave the GPS 10 in the back window of my car and only need to take it out if I am going on a hike. When I get in the car, the iPaq goes in the cradle, power on and away I go. It just works - always. I am only waiting for someone to write a SNSRCFG app for the PPC so I can easily change the power settings for hiking.

I have found some applications that really make the PPC platform worthwhile. As Nate said, watching TV or movies is awesome. I recently took a trip where I used DVD to Pocket PC to load a movie on the iPaq (SD card). I brought some earbuds, started it up and had a most enjoyable flight. I think it would have been a little more difficult on the iQue. I have weather data display from the desktop, upcoming appointments, system info; all available with a quick glance. I use SPB Pocket Plus and it really is a great application.

Opposed to other posts here, I find Activesync very useful. I love having my PPC as a pretty much an open drive to the rest of my computer when it is connected. It truly is drag and drop. changes made to the calendar or contacts are sent over immediately while on the cradle. On my iQue I had to spend another $50 to get a tool to sync my Outloook data with palm desktop. And it still didn't convert 100%.

I am not very fond of the email on the iPaq though, I have had some issues with the application. For that I now just use my gmail account from the browser.

I only just started adding games, and am quite impressed. I am looking forward to my next flight where I can have a good game of Age of Empires.

The only other thing I have to add is that this device is still relatively new to me. I am learning as I go, and finding many more usefull applications along the way (eg: Pocket TV Listings).

[AnswerDude]

Originally posted by jonasolof
I remember seeing that altering the MTU size by doing changes in the registry would increase Wifi speed for iPAQ.

IS there a list of good registry tweaks for windows mobile second edition?

This original list is still valid for all version of WM;
http://www.phm.lu/PocketPC/RegTweaks/
For tcp/ip tweaks;
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/wcetcpip/html/cerefTCPIPRegistrySettings.asp
And from author of Tweaks2K2 which is a commercial regisrty tweaks application, there are a few registry tricks in his howto page;
http://www.tweaks2k2.com/portal/forum/index.php?forum=8
There is a full list of registry tweaks discovered so far that're available in his software on his main software page.

[jonasolof]

Awesome!

[Curious Cat]

Originally posted by Bokkie
T'is all quiet these days CC. I don't use the iQue anymore, and I don't have a GPS 10 either. Sort of stuck in no-mans land. ...

So your back to asking your wife when to turn? :D

[Curious Cat]

OWD aka Rat face;

Thanks for the reply, very informative. Oh and good luck at the dentist....

[0gopogo]

Thanks for the links, AnswerDude.

It's ... Tinker Time!

[AnswerDude]

Originally posted by 0gopogo
Thanks for the links, AnswerDude.

It's ... Tinker Time!

Remember to backup the ppc properly before making any registry changes.

[JMckie]

Originally posted by Bokkie
T'is all quiet these days CC. I don't use the iQue anymore, and I don't have a GPS 10 either. Sort of stuck in no-mans land.

Bokkie, this is a clear sign that you don't need a GPS after all! Instead of lamenting what isn't you should embrace what is. You are finally free! No go use the money and buy yourself some beer!

[Bokkie]

Originally posted by JMckie
You are finally free! No go use the money and buy yourself some beer!

Um, I did, at the weekend. A six pack of Grolsch. Slurp! Slurp!:D