laptop-replacement PDAs: do they exist?

[pianowizard]

I have never owned a PDA and know absolutely nothing about them. I wonder if there are PDAs that are so versatile that they can do most of the basic things that laptops can do, e.g. MS Office, making audio recordings, accessing the internet, etc. If such PDAs exist, I may be interested in buying one. I am just a little sick of having to lug around a laptop all the time. The laptop itself is really not the problem; the problem is having to also carry a bag to put the laptop in.

Any comments or suggestions are welcome!

UPDATE: I am aware of the PDA-like ultramobile PCs such as the OQO 01+ and the Sony UX series, but they are way beyond my budget!

[GomJabbar]

Check out the Palm Lifedrive. My daughter has one, and loves it. It does most of the things you mention. It has built-in WiFi, one can watch videos or listen to music, store files, and it works with Microsoft Office if I'm not mistaken.

[RUSH2112]

Its pricey, and I'm not sure that its practical, but Sony makes the UX Series
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSH ... =computers

[christopher_wolf]

I have never owned a PDA and know absolutely nothing about them. I wonder if there are PDAs that are so versatile that they can do most of the basic things that laptops can do, e.g. MS Office, making audio recordings, accessing the internet, etc. If such PDAs exist, I may be interested in buying one. I am just a little sick of having to lug around a laptop all the time. The laptop itself is really not the problem; the problem is having to also carry a bag to put the laptop in.

Any comments or suggestions are welcome!

You might want to check out the Palm TX as it does all that and some more but is far smaller than a regular laptop.

[pianowizard]

RUSH, what a coincidence, I just came back to this thread to add that I don't want these ultramobile PCs that Sony and OQO have been making! Thanks for suggesting the UX series anyway. I played with one at a Sony Style store just last week. It's probably a great device for many people, but I don't want to spend so much money on something that has such a user-unfriendly keyboard.

The Palm Lifedrive seems interesting, though kind of obsolete. I just read about the Samsung SCH-i730 smartphone on CNET, which would be really great if it had a higher display resolution. Unfortunately it's only 320x240, half of what the Palm Lifedrive has (320x480)

[JaneL]

My brother-in-law has the Samsung on Verizon, and he is very pleased with it.

[tfflivemb2]

I absolutely love my Dell Axim X51v. With a bluetooth keyboard that fits in your hand, it is pretty handy. The only downfall, that I haven't tried to workaround yet, is the fact that I need to update the browser for some of the higher graphics style pages.

I can load MP3s on here, pics, word and powerpoint files, and once I figure out how, I can watch DVD files on it too.

$280 on eBay...

[pianowizard]

I absolutely love my Dell Axim X51v.

Thanks for recommending this. After reading several reviews, I have decided to get it. What appeals the most to me is the VGA (640x480) resolution, which seems to be by far the highest for PDAs. That should make it easier to view or edit Office documents.

[tfflivemb2]

It is great. I have found that I change the view to landscape when I am on the internet, so that you can view more from left to right. portait makes everything appear out of place.

I have used it to read posts and send PMs here in this forum.

[pianowizard]

After getting an X51v, I will let you guys know whether I like it or not. If I am a little patient, I should be able to get a new one on eBay for less than $280 shipped.

[trent9008]

Here are a few options, although probably not particularly practical:

http://www.alpern.org/weblog/stories/20 ... oards.html

All the devices on the page aren't the same, so scroll down before giving up.

[tfflivemb2]

Here's one for less...

[pianowizard]

Here's one for less...

Still 1 day 19 hours to go!

[tfflivemb2]

Still 1 day 19 hours to go!

But the Buy-it-Now price is much lower than what I paid...

[pianowizard]

But the Buy-it-Now price is much lower than what I paid...

Oh no, the Buy-It-Now option disappeared! How much was it?

[tfflivemb2]

It was $250....I hope someone here didn't jump in and bid a low bid on it...

[pianowizard]

It was $250....I hope someone here didn't jump in and bid a low bid on it...

Wow, that's by far the lowest price ever! If you don't see me post on this forum tomorrow, it's because I've committed suicide.....

[k2jsv]

The X51v is by far one of the most diverse PDAs on the market. I use mine for EVERYTHING. Calendar, notes, e-mail, internet, music, movies, GPS mapping, games... etc.

Only downside... If you have a bluetooth enabled phone, no OBEX on the X51v. Other than that, I am extremely happy with it.

I run several games (Tetris, Bejeweled) Mapopolis, and media player concurrently and it doesn't slow the system down at all.

If you buy one, I suggest going to PocketMobility.com for cases, cables, etc. Decent pricing and good quality. Even some oddball products that you wouldn't expect.

[pianowizard]

The X51v is by far one of the most diverse PDAs on the market. I use mine for EVERYTHING. Calendar, notes, e-mail, internet, music, movies, GPS mapping, games... etc.

Thanks for confirming that it's a great PDA. I have never used bluetooth and won't need to use it in the foreseeable future, so that problem you mentioned won't affect me.

The X51v was introduced in summer 2005, so I guess a newer version will come out soon, and when that happens the X51v should suddenly become really cheap, e.g. $190.

[BruisedQuasar]

I have never owned a PDA and know absolutely nothing about them. I wonder if there are PDAs that are so versatile that they can do most of the basic things that laptops can do, e.g. MS Office, making audio recordings, accessing the internet, etc. I am just a little sick of having to lug around a laptop all the time.

May I suggest that what you want does not exist in any PDA. The central weak point of all PDAs is the impractical methods for on the fly data input & the displays are too small for practical Internet use. Screen keyboards, thumb and portable keyboards are just inadequate if what you want is a truly mobile PC. The battery life is about as bad as for notebooks, which I consider to be lug-a-bout desktop PC. In public places notebook PCs anchor you to a table, since one is reluctant to shut down, packup and lug a notebook PC each time you would like to get up and visit the stacks, magazine rack, etc. For students, notebook PCs are the number 1 stolen item

There is a class of device though that works with the same technology as a PDA but it very practical and can be used to replace a notebook PC such that it is a true mobile PC. I carry mine in a hip sack. Since there is no boot up, I have mine ready to use by the time I sit down and getting up and moving around is no problem. Just close it (auto off), put it in my hipsack and off I go. When I reopen it later, it is pecisely at the point it was when I shut it off.

HANDHELD PCs. There are two lines, no longer made, but certainly available in near new condition for less than many PDAs cost today.
The NEC MobilePro 780, 790 & the 900 & 900c (75% full sized keyboard) The HP Jornada 680. 720, 728.

You can fit a Jornada into a pocket but it has a keyboard that even a large handed person like me can fast two-finger type on. I own a jornada but I prefer the NEC line of handhelds as the keyboard allows me to touch type with both hands. All these devices weigh under 2 pounds, get about 8 or more hours active use per battery charge, have no moving parts and come with a slew of business software on a ROM chip.

They have built-in Infrared wireless, a serial port, link to PCs (with Microsoft Activesync), are instant on and off, and are high quality devices that were designed and made for corporate (enterprise) use. The NEC 900c is the newest technology (USB port, stereo sound). NEC just stopped making them early this year. You can get one in mint condition for about $240. (originally about $1,000)

The devices all have two expansion slots, at least one PCMCIA (PC Card) slot and one CF card slot. They do wifi just fine and come with Windows IE built-in. The 900c has IE 6.0 and you can get Handheld versions of about every type of program you want. There is a superb office suite available from Softmaker. It is so well engineered that Softmaker recently released an Office suite version for Windows. It opens and runs fast and it is only 28MB!

For detailed information about these devices and how to get one, visit the best user forum for handheld PCs,

HPCFACTOR.COM

You can also get a lot of information from the online site of a pricey major reseller of handhelds: USEDHANDHELDS.COM

You can buy a mint NEC 790 ( a wonderful Handheld) for about $160 or less, a 780 for about $80.

Since I discovered these handhelds two years ago, my notebook PCs never leave the house. I take a handheld about everywhere I go, especially on my weekly trips to libraries.

--Bruised

[tfflivemb2]

May I suggest that what you want does not exist in any PDA. The central weak point of all PDAs is the impractical methods for on the fly data input & the displays are too small for practical Internet use. Screen keyboards, thumb and portable keyboards are just inadequate if what you want is a truly mobile PC.

I couldn't disagree with you more here. The X51v has an excellent screen for viewing the internet, in landscape mode. At 640x480, the 3.7" TFT is pretty darn good. I can view most websites on it, without a problem.

As for the keyboard, they do have the thumbstyle for on the fly, but there is also a full size folding keyboard that can be used as well, for significant note taking.

I absolutely love this thing.I canhandle going outof town, if need be without my T21.

[pianowizard]

HANDHELD PCs. There are two lines, no longer made, but certainly available in near new condition for less than many PDAs cost today. The NEC MobilePro 780, 790 & the 900 & 900c (75% full sized keyboard) The HP Jornada 680. 720, 728.

Bruised, I tried a Jornada 720 per your recommendation about nine months ago, but it just didn't work for me, mainly because the software is too old. The X51v has newer software, and TWICE as many pixels as the Jornada 720 even though the screen size is smaller, so I can view twice as much stuff. But Jornada's typeable keyboard is indeed a great feature, which I wish the X51v had.

I absolutely love this thing.I canhandle going outof town, if need be without my T21.

Steve, can it open Office 2003 documents directly? For the Jornada 720, I had to convert them into a different format first and found it very inconvenient.

[tfflivemb2]

I absolutely love this thing.I canhandle going outof town, if need be without my T21.

Steve, can it open Office 2003 documents directly? For the Jornada 720, I had to convert them into a different format first and found it very inconvenient.

I have Office 2002 on my machines, and I can open those documents directly on my X51v WITHOUT having to convert anything....I should try a Powerpoint file and excel file, just to be sure.....as soon as I can find my spare jumpdrive.

[pianowizard]

I have Office 2002 on my machines, and I can open those documents directly on my X51v WITHOUT having to convert anything....I should try a Powerpoint file and excel file, just to be sure.....as soon as I can find my spare jumpdrive.

That's wonderful! Office 2003 and Office XP are very similar, so I should have no problem opening Office 2003 docs.

[Yahdie]

BruisedQuasar
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pianowizard wrote:
I have never owned a PDA and know absolutely nothing about them. I wonder if there are PDAs that are so versatile that they can do most of the basic things that laptops can do, e.g. MS Office, making audio recordings, accessing the internet, etc. I am just a little sick of having to lug around a laptop all the time.


May I suggest that what you want does not exist in any PDA.

Actually, the opposite is true; any Windows Mobile device will do MS Word & Excel, you can create from scratch, edit existing files, sync changes back to your desktop, send & receive as attachments to your email etc.
You can view your powerpoint presentations and sync your Outlook with your desktop or with your Exchange Server, do voice recording, play MP3s and all of this can be done right out of the box, no additional software needed.
If you happen to own a phone edition device, then you get even greater functionality; internet access, email anywhere, Remote Desktop, Phone-as-a-Modem (DUN), Bluetooth Stereo (some), and a camera.
Finally, most of these devices have built-in keyboards, or one can use Palm Graffiti, Handwriting Recognition or character recognition as an input method.
Third-party software exponentially expands the utility of your device, but i'm not even going to start on that.

[bigtiger]

I have been a pda user for over 6 years. My first pda is a palm. Then I upgraded Dell Axim X5. Now I own the X51V. I have to say it is very convenient. I use the following functions:

1, use it as a GPS while I am driving.
2, use it to keep all my important information in a program called ewallet.
3, use to track some of my data in a wonderful data program called ListPro.
4, keep all my contact information in pOutlook (pocket outlook) and sync it with my outlook.
5, read ebooks while I am waiting in the line or any time niche that is wasted otherwise.
6, sometime, I play games.

I do not use it for internet but I may use that function pretty soon.

Forget about typing. I do not recommend either writing using graffiti or external keyboard, unless in some rare occasions.

[dsigma6]

I just picked up a T-Mobile Dash (aka HTC Excalibur) and it's an amazing device. The built-in wifi gives me goosebumps, plus Windows Mobile 5 and a huge screen.

[tomh009]

I absolutely love my Dell Axim X51v.

Thanks for recommending this. After reading several reviews, I have decided to get it. What appeals the most to me is the VGA (640x480) resolution, which seems to be by far the highest for PDAs. That should make it easier to view or edit Office documents.

My old HP hx4700 (and the newer hx4705) had VGA resolution as well. Personally, while it was a beautiful display, I found it was still too small for real work.

And wireless on a PDA uses up the batteries at a furious rate ... it needs just as much power as on a ThinkPad, but the batteries are much smaller!

[pianowizard]

My old HP hx4700 (and the newer hx4705) had VGA resolution as well. Personally, while it was a beautiful display, I found it was still too small for real work.

And the Dell X51v's VGA display is even smaller, only 3.7" versus the hx4700's 4".

[pianowizard]

I just bought it! A $250 like-new X51v through the Providence RI Craigslist. I was going to wait for several months until the prices on eBay drop to around $200, but this was hard to pass up because it could be bought locally (much more convenient than eBay). So far I've used it to open Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents, and to get on the internet via the built-in wireless card. Just these four functions alone make this purchase worthwhile, but of course this PDA can do a lot more. I'm a happy man!

Thanks all of you, especially Steve, for helping me decide on getting this nifty device. BTW, I also looked at some HP PDAs but they are more expensive, even though their slightly larger screens were very tempting.