PDA to buy ?

[AdmiralAK]

OK I;ve thought long and hard about this poll.

As well known I am a technology afficionado.... if I could I would have 2-3 macs (running different OSes of course) 2-3 PCs (same deal), a sunblade, an SGI machine and amiga an atari and an apple IIgs set up in my room and network them in some sort of concauction.... (the point is I cannot do this due to space and $$$ limitations )


Now this extends to the PDA region as well.
As well known I have a newton 2100 which I love to death (but the lack of support for my nokia 8890 and IrDA data connections for checking mail when away is getting to me since I want to be able to check my mail when abroad...anyway).

I want to test out a new stuff and possibly find some sort of good back up for my trusty old newton. here are my options:

1) Palm m505
- Its color which I like and also expandable
- I hate graffitti and its..well idiotic!!! CAnt be very productive on it unless you get a keyboard and even then...well... its just crappy OS as I;ve seem from an m100 which I have used.
- Cheapest Price on ebay - $400

2) An iPaq H3650.
- Again color, which is nice, it says it has HWR but I question it since it doesnt say WHAT it is...it could be graffiti.
- Its windows.... dont know of its quality, recharge time and so on.
- Cheaper Price on ebay - $385

3) Psion Revo Plus
- Not color, but keyboard is built in. Seems to have some sort of HWR and of course touch screen, OS seems very stable and good and provides a word processor + spread sheet as well.
- I can find nothing bad thus far about it
- Cheapest price on Ebay : $130



Any ideas ? comments from users already ? Any impressions ? ANy other PDAs I should consider ?


(Of course I could get a sony magic link (magicCap OS) or an Amstrad PenPal, or an AT&T penPont device for $20 eahc but then that woulsnt be fucntion..jsut a colelctors interest )

Thanks

Admiral

[SuperCM]

How about the Sony Clié series? Speaking of which, does anyone know if they sell those in Canada? I've got 10 days left before the 30 day return policy with Future Shop runs out. If they sell them in Canada, then I just might take my Palm m505 back and get the PEG-N760C. Palm OS with the multimedia functionality of PocketPC.

[AdmiralAK]

Any links for the sony clie ?
the iPaq is just a generic term for a pocket PC device
A placeholder really for a good pocket PC device)


Any feedback on the HWR on the pocket PC and on the linux PDA ? what HWR engines do they use ?

[··metaCOREtex··]

Originally posted by AdmiralAK
Psion Revo Plus [Cheapest price on Ebay : $130]

are u searching the SAME eBay as the rest of us? ... i have seen the revo or mako going @ $70 US and lower! ... outpost.com has it @ $100 US ...

$130 means u r getting RIPPED off ..

[AdmiralAK]

metacoretex to the rescue
can you add "linux PDA" to the poll ?? I forgot about it

well... I am considering the "buy now" price which is $120USD. Auctions can go for less but I figured a fair estimate would be the buy now price (I did not buy one yet lol ... still trying to see if I can use IrDA with my newton 2100 to wirelessly connect and go online + check mail and such )


I did not know Palm devices ram BeOS ... are you sure about that ?
BeOS runs on desktops and BEIA is the OS in internet appliances...am I missing something ?


Admiral

[SuperCM]

I think Palm recently bought up the company behind BeOS, so perhaps they'll be incorporating parts of it into Palm OS v5?

[··metaCOREtex··]

i figure palmOS v5 will just be a modified version beIA [a beOS variant]

and admiralAK, get it from outpost.com .. here is the URL: http://shop2.outpost.com/product/93795/

[Ryan]

I've always used PalmOS handhelds, but I prefer the Visor's handheld to Palm. Since they all run the same OS, but the Visor's are generally cheaper and I consider them to be superior. The colour model of the Visor kicks the M505's butt. Plug springboard modules for expansion.. It's all good. Plus, visor has always had USB sync.. faster and more reliable.

[··metaCOREtex··]

Originally posted by Ryan
Since they all run the same OS, but the Visor's are generally cheaper and I consider them to be superior.

how can u call them SUPERIOR when they LACK flashROM! .. if they had that .. then they would be closer to being superior! .. the fact that u need to purchase a new visor everytime a NEW palmOS version comes out really keeps me and a LOT of palmOS users from purchasing any visor ...

and springboard hasnt sold well for handspring ... there are a bunch of them now .. but with palm having SDIO and sony having MemoryStick/MagicGate-IO .. springboard is NOT that innovative now ...

[AdmiralAK]

Thanks for the mods metacoretex

I just came back from the psion site...
they are stopping further development on their consumers lever PDAs (damn! less PDA competition). SO I *might* get a diamond mako to do mail and such while away.

As for Be...they were bought by Palm ... I like the BeOS and I hope two things
1) That they dont make a travesty of it on their palm deviced
2) THat they continue to make it for desktops


Admiral

[SuperCM]

Ah nuts... Called up the Sony Store and they have no clue when the Clié's are suppose to hit Canada. They speculate winter. Pfft. Oh well, looks like I'll be sticking with the m505.

I think you should go with a Sony Clié if you can find one. They're about the same price as high-end Palms, but seem to offer more.

The latest, PEG-N760C has a higher resolution screen and some developers are now adding in support for the higher resolution offered by Sony and HandERA. You also have Memory Stick support and builtin MP3 capability. Plus it looks pretty nifty. Check out http://www.sonystyle.com/micros/clie/ to see a picture.

The iPaqs just look ugly with that dumb speaker doohickey in the middle.

[AdmiralAK]

See what turns me off about the clie (and all palm devices) is the OS ... well the HWR actually. I want to be able to write and have my handwriting recognized like it is on the newton. (and I do not mean a letter at a time)


Admiral

[SuperCM]

Hmm... I take it you have not seen that episode of the Simpsons where Nelson uses a Newton?

Heh heh... Does the Newton's recognition system really work that well?

[howard]

I tried the Newton's HWR a few years ago and it was pretty incredible... you don't have you write one word at a time and it was very accurate.

[AdmiralAK]

I actually have that clip on a quicktime move

He writes "beat up martin" and the newton understands "eat me martha" LOL

The newtons that were problematic were the original pads, since then the OS has has EXCELLENT recognition. The last OS to be made (2.1 which is what I have on the last newton to be made, the 2100) has HWR that recognizes accents and special characters like ø and ß and å etc. You can even write sentences at a time and then have it translate.

When compared to graffiti (which I also had installed on my newton, and tried it on a palm IIIc) the rosetta engine (newton's HWR recognition) is unbeatable.

What does the Linux PDA and PocketPC/windows CE use as HWR ???


Admiral