Wild goose chase?

[freek723]

Hello, I am looking for a pocket pc running a Windows OS that has a color screen and wifi. I have no need for a phone or camera on it. I need it to have a touch screen, keyboard optional, and be able to run other small programs. I need the wifi to access work when I am away. Is there such a PDA or am I chasing a wild goose?

I would be happy with an older pda with a plug in for wireless and buy a wireless card...

[AnswerDude]

When you referred to Windows OS, do you mean desktop Windows such as XP?

[freek723]

It can be windows mobile anything...

[yankeejeep]

There are actually too many models to cover. Makers who offer non-phone models include Dell, HP, and Fujitsu-Siemens. Color screen and wifi are pretty standard for any WM PDA. You might also want bluetooth, which can make it much easier to connect to appropriately-equipped peripherals like keyboards, printers, and cell phones.

I would suggest that you opt for a model designed for WM5 rather than upgraded to it. For instance, select a Dell x51 (released with WM5) model over one of the x50 line (released with WM2003 and updated to WM5). The devices with OS updates do not seem, as a rule, to equal the performance of their stable mates built to run WM5 from the start.

Also, keep expansion flexibility in mind with the card slots. I still prefer a device with both CF and SD slots, which can be found in non-phone models.

[AnswerDude]

And here's the list of some current models and some older ones with reviews;
http://www.mobiletechreview.com/ppc.htm

[freek723]

If I got an X5 would i be able to use an external sd wireless card for web browsing?
Also how is note taking on these... i will hopefully be taking a lot of notes!

[AnswerDude]

No, x5 does not support SD wifi card, you'll need CF wifi card. If you need to take lots of notes, you may want to get external keyboard.
x5 is fairly old model, you may want to look for at least models with WM2003SE operating system,

[freek723]

I have a rollup keyboard that would work nicely... I am not worried about what system it is running as long as there are no conflicts... would i still have decent wifi with a cf card?

[yankeejeep]

If the roll-up keyboard is USB, it will not attach directly to the X5. Very few devices support USB host functions (Toshiba and Fujitsu models generally do through the use of an expansion pack or adapter cable). If the model you choose has a CF slot, you can find CF cards that provide a USB host port.

Rather than an x5, you should look at the x50 or x51. Both have built-in wifi which means you can use the slots for other things. Even the x50 running WM2003SE will be able to keep you happy for some time to come. The x5 will probably limit you more than you anticipate.

[freek723]

Thanks to you guys' help i ended up going with a Dell x51 and thanks to my girl who got it for me...
Now, you said it had built in wifi correct? How do i go about setting up a connect for it?

[AnswerDude]

Here's a wifi guide;
http://wifi.aximsite.com/wifi_net.html