Question for anyone who has a ..PDA..

LIMIT LANDER · 07-07-2003, 06:08 PM

My wife is a flight attendant for Alaska Airlines and she is interested in getting a PDA she has many things she wants to put in there flight sceduals, bid packets etc. im sure there are guys with small bussiness and many guides that have these little gizmos...i need some infromation on what or who makes the best ones, i can tear down and rebuild computers but these PDA,S are not my cup of tea...so help me out here gang. [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

Cool Texan · 07-07-2003, 06:43 PM

They're all relatively the same. Differences are in screen quality, size, and expandability.

I have the Ipaq 1910, and its VERY small and compact. Screen is awesome compared to many others at or below its price point. BUT, I cant expand it (GPS, etc)...which I dont care about.

Other than that, if its Pocket PC, no difference. Palm is a bit different. Just a matter of what you're used to (windows type environment vs learning something new).

crabbait · 07-07-2003, 06:59 PM

Got a Palm as a free gift when I purchased a Dell. The things are very fragile. Make sure you back-up an data that you need. I tapped mine against my hand to get the batteries out. TILT!

Kruechief · 07-07-2003, 07:56 PM

CB,

Which model Palm is it?

I am thinking of buying the 515, it has 16mb storage.

Krue

ampersat · 07-07-2003, 08:02 PM

www.epinions.com see you in a few weeks.

the handheld market is really tight. one thing i can say is this: color is overrated. think about what she's really going to use it for. does it warrant plunking down the cash for color?

lost_sailor · 07-07-2003, 08:25 PM

I avoid Microsoft Windows wherever I can ... which ain't very often. So my $.02 is with Palm, for Micro$loth avoidance.

Does she need to synch with a PC for calendar/ email or ... not? I haven't had any problems with Palm synching with MS Outlook.

Herring Impaired · 07-07-2003, 08:32 PM

The missus got me a Palm Tungsten T for christmas last year and I am loving it. Bluetooth wireless surfing with a Belkin access point. Videos with TealMovie, Photos, MP3's, Shopping list, tide tool, checkbook, Games, password database, IPCalculators, reference material, and there are a bunch more apps out there.

This thing is literally an extension of my brain!
The T replaced a IIIc which replaced Pilot 500 that had been through two upgrades, (And is still being used by my sister).

fish_on · 07-07-2003, 08:34 PM

I have a palm and wish I had something running pocketpc, staying in the windows family would be sooo much easier. I have heard all kinds of good stuff about the ipaq's that will be my next one. cnet.com is a great place to check reviews.

http://reviews.cnet.com/4502-3127_7-...g=dir-allm&qt=

BrionLutz · 07-07-2003, 10:32 PM

LimitLander,

First thing...decide what she is really going to use it for.

Most folks it's the phone/address book, calendar with appointments and alarms. Kids add the text messaging feature, they use it to communicate so it's handy if you need to communicate with them....they like the games also (chess).

If she is using Outlook for address books and calander, then a Palm or PocketPC that can synchronize with the PC is nice.

I've got a Palm/Phone combo, Kyocera 6035 so I have one device, one charger, one cradle, one synchronizing software to deal with. Keeping track of two devices and keeping them all synched (phone, palm and PC) is a pain...fewer is better.

Advantage to that is it can also access the web via the Palm browser. MapQuest comes in handy, United Airlines interface is nice, AOL mail interface is convenient. The local radio station locator is a unexpected nicety. I have a tides program for fishing.

I tried the color version (Treo 300) but screen washed out in the direct light and was a battery drain...went back to black and white Kyocera.

Brion

WaterDog · 07-08-2003, 08:05 AM

Whatever you do don't drop it.

As Crabby says they are fragile.

I'll admit they are neat and handy. I had a handspring that I use to sync with my outlook calendar at work. Always had up to date appointments. There is a program (shareware)you could get that was a note pad. Worked great in meetings. Fits in your pocket. Falls out of pocket too. :depressed:

Back to paper now and no batteries required. :smile:

SafetyChain · 07-08-2003, 08:17 AM

My.02

I have had both a Palm OS and Pocket PC. First was a Handspring now use a Toshiba e740. Palm was great in the beginning.

I would not buy a PDA that did not have the following:

1. PocketPC OS. While the Pocket PC has limitation in that it cannot use Sub-categories in Outlook Contacts, I still much prefer Pocket PC. Let's face it, for most people you cannot get away from Uncle Bill.

2. Expandable slots for whatever may happen in the future, Toshiba offers both Compact Flash and Secure Digital compatibility. I can expand memory, use GPS, digital camera and who know what else there will be.

3. WiFI built in. Since your wife is a Flight Attendant, this might be helpful. Most airports now offer internet access through 802.11b. She will be able to get her email, synch remotely, surf ifish from the lounge. The smaller screen is a little cumbersome IMHO but I don't have to fire up the laptop either. I also have wireless network in my home so I can be anywhere in the house, or on the block for that matter and have access to the internet.

Reasons I got the Toshiba:
See above plus,
400MHz processor
Lithium Ion battery
built in voice recorder for those ideas on the fly
built in MP3 player
built in video player (I show off my son catching his first chinook)
projector adapter and PowerPoint (for visual presentations)

The negative: poor battery switch design. If your not careful, you could lose data which I have done twice. Make sure you back up each time you synch.

LIMIT LANDER · 07-08-2003, 10:16 AM

thanx for the trusty infro fellas...i got it narrowed down to what you guys suggested and what she wants...90% of flightattendants and almost all the pilots have them...so ill be surfin the web to check out prices... thanx again. [img]graemlins/program.gif[/img]