Pocket PCs Now Available at McDonalds!

[Ed Hansberry]

The ultimate in consumer marketing. Get your product in a McDonald's Happy meal and you have it made! The Pocket PC is apparently available now, at least at Austrian McDonalds.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2003/20030216-mcdonalds-lg.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2003/20030216-mcdonalds-sm.jpg" /></a><br />Click the image for the full poster. I think I saw Brad wearing some of this gear at the MVP Summit. ;)

[vincentsiaw]

it's really an interesting concept :lol:

[bbarker]

This is funny. But in seriousness, I have been looking for a toy PDA for my 7-year-old twins. They're always asking to play with my Jornada 568 and I'd really rather they not.

I've seen several low-end models that have a couple of games but allow only text entry into the organizer apps. My kids don't want to enter appointments and contacts. They need something simple that will allow them to draw and play some games. The games need to be reasonably fun.

Any ideas?

[daninnj]

Hehe...I wonder how much memory it has :lol:. Kinda looks as if it's a CD player.

DanInNJ

[Foo Fighter]

Well at least McDonald's didn't call it a "PalmPilot". Hate when that happens. :?

[Dave Beauvais]

I wouldn't be surprised if McDonald's gets fed a super-sized McLawsuit* by Microsoft for using that name for that particular toy.

--Dave

* No infringement against McDonald's Corporation, its subsidiaries, or any possessions is intended or implied. :roll:

[Paul]

bbarker, why not consider a Game Boy Advance SP (http://www.nintendo.com/news/news_articles.jsp?articleID=7901) for the kiddies? The new ones coming out actually have front-lit screens now.

As for this McDonald's gizmo. I can't figure it out?!? All I see is a plastic toilet seat with crap in the middle...

[Steven Cedrone]

First Barbie and Palm, now McDonalds and Pocket PC...

What next :wink:

Steve

[ppcsurfr]

First Barbie and Palm, now McDonalds and Pocket PC...

What next :wink:

Steve

Barbie too has a Pocket PC...

Check out http://www.donrowe.com/oregon_scientific/toys/18053.html

ppcsurfr

[bbarker]

bbarker, why not consider a Game Boy Advance SP (http://www.nintendo.com/news/news_articles.jsp?articleID=7901) for the kiddies? The new ones coming out actually have front-lit screens now.
I hadn't heard of the new SP line. That might be the ticket, although I was thinking of something a bit cheaper. Still, the Game Boy Advance is highly regarded and they've enjoyed their old (original) Game Boy, which they still use occasionally.

Is there a Game Boy Advance cartridge that allows doodling and writing?

[ppcsurfr]

This is funny. But in seriousness, I have been looking for a toy PDA for my 7-year-old twins. They're always asking to play with my Jornada 568 and I'd really rather they not.

I've seen several low-end models that have a couple of games but allow only text entry into the organizer apps. My kids don't want to enter appointments and contacts. They need something simple that will allow them to draw and play some games. The games need to be reasonably fun.

Any ideas?

Here is a site that might help you with your twins...

http://www.pdasupport.com/Toys.htm

ppcsurfr

[Jason Dunn]

I wouldn't be surprised if McDonald's gets fed a super-sized McLawsuit* by Microsoft for using that name for that particular toy.

Actually, Microsoft didn't copyright the term Pocket PC. They did that on purpose, and up until recently, I didn't think anyone held the copyright on the term...but someone does.

[bbarker]

Here is a site that might help you with your twins...

http://www.pdasupport.com/Toys.htm

ppcsurfr
ppcsurfr, that's very helpful! I'd never heard of that site before. Beyond the good information about toy PDAs, it looks like a useful PDA portal. But I wonder why Pocket PC Thoughts isn't listed on their home page.

Thanks again.

[Rirath]

If you do get a GBA, don't be surprised if you end up playing it yourself. If you loved SNES games, it's all there again. Remakes, and several new titles every bit as good as the old days.

It does my heart good to see 7 year olds wanting to play with pocket pc's. :cry:

[Pony99CA]

Barbie too has a Pocket PC...

Check out http://www.donrowe.com/oregon_scientific/toys/18053.html

It's kind of worrisome that you know that. :-D

Steve

[Pony99CA]

This is funny. But in seriousness, I have been looking for a toy PDA for my 7-year-old twins. They're always asking to play with my Jornada 568 and I'd really rather they not.

Here is a site that might help you with your twins...

http://www.pdasupport.com/Toys.htm

If anybody wants to let their kids play with a Pocket PC, check out Pocket PC Kids (http://www.pocketpckids.com).

Steve

[Pony99CA]

Actually, Microsoft didn't copyright the term Pocket PC. They did that on purpose, and up until recently, I didn't think anyone held the copyright on the term...but someone does.

Putting on my pedantic hat, I don't believe you can copyright a term like that; you trademark it.

As for who holds the trademark, are you referring to Ken Belanger, the guy in San Francisco who was suing Microsoft in small claims court (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2002/01/14/pocket-pc-battle.htm) because he used to sell a "Pocket PC" -- a chip you could flip. He lost that case. :-)

Steve

[rlobrecht]

This is funny. But in seriousness, I have been looking for a toy PDA for my 7-year-old twins. They're always asking to play with my Jornada 568 and I'd really rather they not.

I've seen several low-end models that have a couple of games but allow only text entry into the organizer apps. My kids don't want to enter appointments and contacts. They need something simple that will allow them to draw and play some games. The games need to be reasonably fun.

Any ideas?

V-Tech has a toy PDA that is educational. http://www.vtechkids.com/product_detail.jsp?product_id=72&product_line_id=15 Its $50 at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000634S7/qid=1045486988/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/103-6535577-9037429?v=glance&s=toys (note this is not a PPCThoughts Affiliate link. I wasn't sure how to do that.)

[Cypher]

I wouldn't be surprised if McDonald's gets fed a super-sized McLawsuit* by Microsoft for using that name for that particular toy.

They won't. Microsoft has repeatedly gone on record as saying that the name Pocket PC is not copyrighted in any way and, thus, they are able to use it. So, if anyone else does too, they can't really complain. Now if someone used "Windows-Powered Pocket PC," that might be an issue.

[ppcsurfr]

Barbie too has a Pocket PC...

Check out http://www.donrowe.com/oregon_scientific/toys/18053.html

It's kind of worrisome that you know that. :-D

Steve


Hahaha...

I just remembered my sister looking for something like that... She's 10 and she has taken over my old Philips Nino 391 Windows CE 2.01 Palm-size PC.

ppcsurfr

[bdegroodt]

As for this McDonald's gizmo. I can't figure it out?!? All I see is a plastic toilet seat with crap in the middle...That's what I see, too. I thought this was some sort of rip on the PPC from the Palm camp. I've looked at it 4 times and all I see is a toilet seat with the cover in the upright position (Must have been last used by a man.).

[Duddy]

How about a Cybiko Xtreme? :)

[bdegroodt]

How about a Cybiko Xtreme? :)

I have to be honest, even though it's in a world of its own, I do like the design of that little thing. I'd buy it given the right features and OS. :D

[Zuph]

Right before I got my dell, I had a dream that I was in line at McDonalds, and was ordering food and the guy said "We're running a special on the Dell Axim. Only $200." and I looked in my wallet, and the money appeared, and I went home, and then I woke up :(. I got my Dell at Xmas though, and all was happy once again.

[Paul]

Is there a Game Boy Advance cartridge that allows doodling and writing?
Nope, not that I know of. The GBA doesn't have a touch-sensitive screen.

[bbarker]

Is there a Game Boy Advance cartridge that allows doodling and writing?
Nope, not that I know of. The GBA doesn't have a touch-sensitive screen.
That seems to be the problem with many of the devices suggested, including those listed at PDA Toys. I've been trying to figure out why none of the children-oriented products allowed freehand doodling. I didn't even think about the touch-sensitive screen, which certainly would add a measure of complexity and expense.

It doesn't seem out of the question, though. I see a market for something like the Palm Zire for kids. In my opinion they would need to do something to increase its toughness a bit (unless they already have -- I've never played with one) and lower the price to between $40 and $70.

[Will T Smith]

In 1979, it would be unthinkable to package a functioning digital watch or calculator in a happy meal. Today, these are throw away marketing items that are given away at trade shows, in happy meals and otherwise.

It may be conceivable that within 15 years a single chip PDA with a ink-jet printed organic LED printed display and 2-year fuel cell could be included as a premium in every happy meal.

[bbarker]

In 1975 I was part of an organization that was planning the purchase of its first calculator. It would be a simple 4-function calculator and would cost around $100 (that's $100 in 1975 dollars). We debated for several days whether to spend another $20 for memory -- the M+, M-, MR and MC keys. Eventually we decided to include memory.

This was a significant function for this nonprofit organization. We were in Guatemala City and needed to have someone who was visiting the U.S. make the purchase and bring it back; that sort of thing cost twice as much in Guatemala.

Things have changed. "When I was your age..."

[Stuart]

It may be conceivable that within 15 years a single chip PDA with a ink-jet printed organic LED printed display and 2-year fuel cell could be included as a premium in every happy meal.

Just serve me up a Mc-ipaq and it really will be a HAPPY Meal! :way to go: