I need help choosing a PDA for less than $400

[kewlerthanu182]

I'm new to the PDA thing and I'm looking to buy a new PDA. I have around $430 but I think I'm going to need a CF card or some other memory type of thing. The main thing I would be using my pda for would be Multimedia things like gaming, music, and movies. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be using wi-fi so I would rather not have that because of the high cost.

And for just a random PDA question, could a pda run a movie smoothly?

So does anyone have some suggestions for a good PDA for me?

Any help or suggestions would be appritiated.

[dmacburry2003]

I would look around at the stores and see what you find.

The HP iPaq 1935 (my model), though discontinued, can be found very cheap at I believe Amazon.com. SD only on this one.
The HP iPaq 1945 also runs cheap and is a bit faster than the 1935. SD and bluetooth only.
The Dell Axim X5, also discontinued, is still around here, and is very cheap. This one contains a CF card slot, less memory than the 19xx's, and is a bit larger and faster. No built in wireless.
There are also some of the Viewsonic models. These are cheap but I don't have a lot of experience with them.

Keep in mind none of these have Wi-Fi.

Now, about movies, Pocket PC's are very capable of playing movies. However, the playback of an actual feature-length film will need a lot of memory. Maybe 128 MB (on a CF or SD card) at the least. If this will be a solution for you, you should get the popular DVD To Pocket PC software (if allowed in your area). You could also get a DVD ripper and transcode it to WMV (Windows Media Player 9 is included with a Pocket PC), MPEG (playback of this requires Pocket TV), or even AVI (this requires PocketMVP). I am not going to go into details about the whole ripping thing, so please check out the Multimedia Forum here (http://pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=44).

If you want the speed and the CF go with the Axim X5. You can get the new Axim X3 but that only has SD. However, the X3 may be slightly faster than the X5 and it is also smaller.
The 1935 and 1945 both are small, but their slow speed (inability to play fast-paced games) and lack of the CF might wory you.

The HP iPaq 2215 is about 300 to 400 dollars. This is very FAST (will play every game you put on it), has SD and CF, and is wireless via bluetooth. This also is a very sexy handheld. (I can't believe I didn't think of the 2215 in the first place) I would go with this one. But it is your choice, so go ahead and do some research on all the models.

Hope that will help your problems!!! :D

[kewlerthanu182]

thanks for the quick response. The ipaq 2210 looks really good. And for watching a movie could i just put an .avi file onto a CF card and have it run in my ppc?

[dmacburry2003]

Yes you can put an AVI file right on a CF and play it on the PPC. But FIRST you need the software to play it, so get Pocket MVP or Pocket Cinema or something. I would really not pick the AVI solution for two reasons: AVI's are really tricky, sometimes they will not play on a PPC because of bit rate, size, audio bitrate, etc. Also, when played they use up SOOOO much program memory that they need to be small enough to fit in the memory.

If you have AVI's, just code them to the WMV format and play them with ease on the PPC. If you get Windows Media Encoder from www.microsoft.com/windowsmedia and it will be very easy for you. (I think WME does AVI conversions...) WME also includes a preset format for conversion of a file to a good Pocket PC format (based on size, processor capability, etc.).

MPEG's are very large in respect to AVI's and WMV's. WMV's are probably the smallest out of the bunch. They are also in the least quality.

[kewlerthanu182]

ok first i got pocket mvp (i can't install yet b/c i don't have my ppc) but when i went to download WMP encoder but i couldn't instiall b/c i needed windows 2000 or XP and i have 98. Are there any other programs that can make avi or mpeg files to wmvs?

[dmacburry2003]

There is an older version available to Windows 98 users.

Edit: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/WM7/encoder.aspx :D

[kewlerthanu182]

Thank you sooooo much. Well i'm off to bed while my files convert. Thanks again for the help

[kewlerthanu182]

ok i read alot of posts saying that the 2215 was tearing and not running movies that well which was one of the things i would be doing most. So are there anything in my price range that could play movies better?

[dmacburry2003]

Where did you hear that? (please keep in mind that all pocket pc's over 300mhz will play movies well, its just a matter of how well :D ) The 2215 has a nice screen and meets all your requests.

Well, there is also the Axim X5.

Again, do an amazon search (or browse to the PPC category) and arrange by price. Once you narrow it down, post the models and I can check for you and look at them to tell you if that is what you want. Also, other users will probably join in (hopefully, as I see no one else has :( ).

Anything under $400, CF, and over or equal to 300 Mhz will be able to play movies. Right now I can only recommend the 2215 and the X5.

[kewlerthanu182]

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=19121

http://www.corecodec.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=481

these are the 2 topics i read

I don't really know how bad it is for them b/c i'm not really looking for dvd quality or something but it can't be too bad.

[dmacburry2003]

Hey wait a minute! That person was encoding a file at 250K! Of course that is going to be imperfect! But if you go over 500K WMP for PPC doesn't play the file too well. Pocket TV can play movies very easily that are encoded over 500k. (WMP is just slower, thats all) The only problem is, if you encoded a movie at about 700k (very nice quality), it would take up about 500 MB of memory and play choppily (with WMP, not Pocket TV).

You have to work with some samples to get the best result (for instance, encode at different sizes, frame rates, bit rates, etc.). This will get you to your point of satisfaction. Less memory means worse quality. More quality means it plays slower (again, WMP only plays nice up to about 500K and over 320*240 in size [IMHO]). Just try out some clips once you get your PPC and play around with the bit rates and stuff (if you're that advanced) and when you find the one you like, save it as a type and get some movies on that Pocket PC!

Also, there is such a thing as fullscreen in WMP!

Edit: Sorry, didn't get to read the second one at first, but I just did now. I see they are comparing it to the 4155. The 4155 has a slightly newer processor in it, thus a bit more powerful (I believe). Also, the 4155 has no CF slot. It even has a slight tint to the screen (look it up in the forums, if that type of thing bugs you). And is the 4155 in your price range?

[kewlerthanu182]

the 4155 is in my price range but i really don't need the wi-fi b/c i don't know anywhere with a wireless network and the yellow tint might annoy me but most of all no cf slot i don't think i could handle because cf is so much cheaper.

heres another question that someone might be able to answer. I encoded a bunch of my movies so they are the perfect quality and size for my computer. So i'm wondering will the ppc play the same movies just as well as my pc did?

Thanks for all the help

[David Prahl]

A few things:

-Movies on a 3.5" screen will never really compare to movies on a TV or portable DVD player. If you just need to watch movies, I'd suggest getting a portable DVD player (~$199 new).

-I would rule out the smaller PPCs (the 19xx series is an example). Small batteries and only SD slots don't make a good multimedia machine. Consider the 2215, Dell Axim X5, or Asus MyPal A620.

-Check out the A620 - it has much better video playback, and has a CF slot (like the 2215 and X5).

-Get the biggest memory card you can afford - 512 MB of CF would fit two or three movies (I think), and is pretty cheap.

-What else will you use it for?

-Does size matter?

-Do you understand memory card types? (CF, SD, SDIO, etc.)

[kewlerthanu182]

The 2215 was the one i was looking at. I looked up the axim and cnet said it stuttered during movies but it still looks pretty good.

-Check out the A620 - it has much better video playback, and has a CF slot (like the 2215 and X5). I'll look that up and post again soon

-Get the biggest memory card you can afford - 512 MB of CF would fit two or three movies (I think), and is pretty cheap.

-What else will you use it for?

Some other things i would be using it for would be mp3's games and a little PIM and maybe some word prossesing,

-Does size matter?

Size matters but not much, i just don't want it to be huge, i really don't care if it's 4 ounces or 5 ounces (these were just made up)

-Do you understand memory card types? (CF, SD, SDIO, etc.)

I'm pretty sure i understand the difference, and is SD faster or something? Because CF are alot cheaper than them, i know sd's are smaller but i don't think it really matters

[dmacburry2003]

I have very little experience with the Asus models. I have never even seen one in person :oops:

Do you like the form factor? Is that what you want? Did you get to see one in person? Then buy it! :lol:

IMHO, CF is faster that SD, but SD is sooo much smaller than CF that I threw most of my CF cards out 8)

[Palm Cow]

Well lots of places are selling out their Toshiba Genio e550G's! They are normally $400 but are slashed down to $200 new where you can find them! Got mine from OfficeMax last weekend for that price. It has the features of the X5 400MHz, but maybe a smaller battery. There are very few reviews on the net though :(.

[dmacburry2003]

Well lots of places are selling out their Toshiba Genio e550G's! They are normally $400 but are slashed down to $200 new where you can find them! Got mine from OfficeMax last weekend for that price. It has the features of the X5 400MHz, but maybe a smaller battery. There are very few reviews on the net though :(.

I have not seen these, but I think in another forum it said that they have screens as big as the e805.

[Kati Compton]

Well lots of places are selling out their Toshiba Genio e550G's! They are normally $400 but are slashed down to $200 new where you can find them! Got mine from OfficeMax last weekend for that price. It has the features of the X5 400MHz, but maybe a smaller battery. There are very few reviews on the net though :(.

I have not seen these, but I think in another forum it said that they have screens as big as the e805.
They are 4".

[dmacburry2003]

Oh no, I just remembered something. Since the Dell Axim X5's are no longer in production, and you may have to get a used one or an older model, you need to be very careful; the Dell Axim X5's were originally made with the Pocket PC 2002 OS 8O This means NO WMV v. 9!!! AHHHH! Please be careful if you go with this model. They do have upgrades, but that will pull up the price. Ok? :D

[David Prahl]

Oh no, I just remembered something. Since the Dell Axim X5's are no longer in production, and you may have to get a used one or an older model, you need to be very careful; the Dell Axim X5's were originally made with the Pocket PC 2002 OS 8O This means NO WMV v. 9!!! AHHHH! Please be careful if you go with this model. They do have upgrades, but that will pull up the price. Ok? :D

All Axims being shipped out are running WM 2003, not 2002.

[kewlerthanu182]

i was looking around for the Toshiba Genio e550G and i found one reviewed and it sounds good. But then when i looked to find a price i couldn't find any stores online with it.

[David Prahl]

OfficeMax was selling it a week ago, but now I can't find it on their site. You might call the closest store and ask.

[dmacburry2003]

Oh no, I just remembered something. Since the Dell Axim X5's are no longer in production, and you may have to get a used one or an older model, you need to be very careful; the Dell Axim X5's were originally made with the Pocket PC 2002 OS 8O This means NO WMV v. 9!!! AHHHH! Please be careful if you go with this model. They do have upgrades, but that will pull up the price. Ok? :D

All Axims being shipped out are running WM 2003, not 2002.

You mean Axims (X5) were never shipped with PPC '02??? Or do you mean that current shipments are not 2002?

At some point they had to have been 2002, because they had that whole bug when they upgraded the models.

I'm saying that if he/she buys an Axim from somebody who bought it a while ago it will have 2002 on it :lol:

Ahh, well. Now I'm hearing its supposed to snow in my area again :roll:

[David Prahl]

If they get an X5 from Dell, "new" or refurbished, it should have WM2003 on it. Buy it anywhere else and you'll need to ask the seller.

By the way, you can upgrade the X5 to 2003 easily.

[whatsnext?]

I am selling a 2215 with a case and two cf cards for about $375. let me know if you are interested. it is in excelent condition.

[dmacburry2003]

I am selling a 2215 with a case and two cf cards for about $375. let me know if you are interested. it is in excelent condition.

Very nice, very nice... :D

Not that I'm too interested (but I would like to know), what are the CF sizes?

[whatsnext?]

32 and 16

i suppose thats to small to put and good movies on though....

just want to sell it, i really want a 4355 for wifi and keyboard


but my offer does leave money for a large card

[kewlerthanu182]

i know this is the wrong place for this but you guys have been really helpful.

What do you guys think of the Sony Clie PEG-UX40?

[dmacburry2003]

Still for a price less than the market... 32 MB and 16 MB would be good for storing games and music.

Hey kewlerthanu182 why don't you go for it? You could put the extra money you save toward an EVEN BIGGER CF card!!! :D

Perhaps... 3GB :lol:

[Palm Cow]

The UX40 ... man. It uses Memory Stick, which is ... someone else can rant about that. Memory stick is more expensive than CF, by far. Its processor is ugh, 123 MHz is its max clock speed. And even PalmOS zealots to the max insult this one. In a word, no.

[dmacburry2003]

i know this is the wrong place for this but you guys have been really helpful.

What do you guys think of the Sony Clie PEG-UX40?

Whoa... Now your talking Palm here :twisted:

:lol:

Does the UX40 take CF? Hmm... Let me check... No it doesn't.
It is your choice, but I would not get this for a few reasons:
1. ITS PALM!!!
2. MemoryStick Media is REALLY expensive and 100 MB is not enough to store a good movie.
3. It does not play WMV. I really don't know what it plays. Most likely its some very LARGE type of video. I think it is MPEG 4! WOW! HUGE!
Again, your choice :lol:

[kewlerthanu182]

good points

[dmacburry2003]

One more thing, Palm OS is not really the place to go if you want media. However, the games are starting to catch up on the ones available for Pocket PC. Alas, IMHO, PPC still has the better games. (SimCity, Crazy Kart, Anthelion, Chopper Alley, etc.)

[dmacburry2003]

256MB Memory Stick PRO™ Media

MSX-256

Advanced media for continuous recording of higher resolution moving images. With enhanced features, Memory Stick PRO™ media is the next generation format.


$ 109.99





Sandisk SDCFB-256-768 256MB Compact Flash Card $47.99 See Site 2/16/2004


Sandisk 256MB CompactFlash™ Card SDCFB256768 $69.99 Yes 2/16/2004


Sandisk 256MB CompactFlash Memory Card SDCFB-256-768 $69.99 See Site 2/16/2004


Sandisk 256MB CompactFlash Card SDCFB-256-768 $66.99 See Site 2/16/2004


Sandisk 256 MB Compact Flash SDCFB-256 $49.94 Yes 2/16/2004



As you can see, even the SanDisk cards are cheaper (please note I chose the PRO MS because that is what you will most likely need to play movies).

[dmacburry2003]

Sony does have one thing that might win you over--the video recorder.

CLIÉ™ Video Recorder with Free Bag
PEGA-VR100KIT1
Watch your TV or cable programs on your CLIÉ® handheld, anywhere, anytime! Compatible with: PEG-UX, PEG-NZ, PEG-NX, PEG-TG Series

Record TV onto Memory Stick® media!
$ 299.99


A video recorder will allow you to just record your favorite shows and play them back at exceptional quality but:

Let's total up those prices.

The Clie itself--~$599
The recorder--$299
The MemoryStick--~$200

That's--~$1100! WOW HOLY COW!!! That's really over your price limit :wink:

Your best bet is to buy that person's--or another's--2215. A very nice handheld for a very nice price. Then you can get yourself a BIG 256 MB memory card and encode some movies.

Hope that helps you some more :D

[kewlerthanu182]

so does anyone have any information about the 2215's movie quality?

[dmacburry2003]

Hey I have an idea :idea:

Why don't you e-mail those people who make the DVD To Pocket PC software and ask them if they could encode a sample video for you (at the approximate quality of the 2215's playback) and see what you think? Or you can even download the trial of the software, make a clip, and do it yourself.
Or, you can e-mail them anyway and ask them for their opinion on the playback of the 2215 (you should ask them to keep in mind you are just looking to buy the 2215, not the software :lol: ).

If you do this you would get perhaps... immediate results. Waiting for people to tell you in this forum can sometimes take forever :wink:

[David Prahl]

I would read Jason Dunn's 2215 review on this site,
http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,13980
and then check out Anthony Caruana's DVD to PPC review here:
http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,23403

[dmacburry2003]

Ok I have another post :D

I just downloaded a movie from www.pocketmovies.net 8) If you want, you can go there and download one too. I feel that these movies play the same (exactly) on my 1935 using Pocket TV as they do on my laptop (600 Mhz PIII) using WMP XP. They play worse than my 1935 on my Gateway desktop (300 Mhz PII) using WMP 7.1.

[dmacburry2003]

Lol David, I forgot about those benchmarks 8O

Yes, the 1910, a beauty with graphics. No CF and it runs Pocket PC 2002. No WMV v. 9 there. Well, if you like it :| I think the fact that the 2215 is faster anyway and the 1910 has been out of market for quite some time now would be a win for the 2215. Plus the CF, and I think more memory, lol, its better.

[kewlerthanu182]

ok i went to pocketmovies.com and downloaded the LOTR trailer and it looked very good. For my movies I have avi files and i encoded them but i think i might have encoded them to low. They ended being less than 1mb per minute. Does anyone know whats the best way to encode for ppc with WM encoder with good enough quality and not too big of a size?

[dmacburry2003]

What size are you looking for?

128 MB
256 MB
512 MB
or 1 GB?

[kewlerthanu182]

well i don't really know i think i'm going to be getting a 256 cf card but i don't know how big i want it to be. I just want something that runs smoothly and has a good combo of quality and size and then i would see what i could fit on my card.

[dmacburry2003]

Oh, well then transcode it to the pre-defined Pocket PC format. That will probably work best. Maybe 320*240/200, 150-220Kbps, 20-30fps, 10-25Kbps audio.

Oh, uhh, do you still have WME for Windows 98? I don't know if that includes the Pocket PC format. Play around with the guidelines I gave you up there (I have). If you only have Windows Media Audio v. 9 Voice available to you then choose a low bitrate for audio. Any higher than 32Kbps will give you a large file (around 22Kbps is good).

[whatsnext?]

my offer is still standing!! :D

[Palm Cow]

FYI there is a deal at Staples this week, 256MB CF for $40 after rebates. 256 SD for $50! :D

[dmacburry2003]

Wow a 2215 for less than $400 with 48MB worth of CF and a $40 256MB CF card? Go for this deal because it is GREAT! :D

[David Prahl]

I was able to cram disc one of LOTR: Two Towers onto a 128 MB card. It looked okay. Check out this great site - created by a PPCT member!

http://www.bigdsvideo.com/bigdsvideoencodingguides/index.html

[dmacburry2003]

You can also split the move in two!

For example: Encode the LOTR to fit on a 512 MB card (great quality!). Then, split it so you can put half on the 256 MB card. You can then watch the first half of the movie, and when your finished, watch the second half.

The transfer time is worth the quality!