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View Full Version : Ok, So How Much Are You Spending On Your Applications?


Ed Hansberry
10-10-2005, 05:00 PM
In <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/index.php?topic_id=43394">this poll</a>, we found out most of the readers of this site have over 10 applications installed, and the bulk of those have over 20 installed! Then <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/index.php?topic_id=43508">here you told us what you have installed</a> that is making up for that critical functionality the Pocket PC lacks out of the box. Ok, the guy with 41 games installed, you do realize you can get work done with a Pocket PC, right? :wink: :lol: <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2005/20051010-appspurchased.gif" /><br />Bars represent dollars spent. The line is how many apps purchased that year.<br /><br />So just how much did you spend on applications? Very few on my list are free, so when I added it up, it was touching on $1,200 since my first third party app purchased in 1999 - bSquare Spreadsheet which made up for the lack of Pocket Excel on those early Palm-Sized PC devices. I've spent much less this year mainly because my device pretty much does everything it needs to for me and just about all updates have been free. How about you, could you have made a great down payment on a big screen TV for what you've spent on Pocket PC software? :| <i>(Note the poll is in US dollars. Do your best to translate it. Thanks!)</i>

OSUKid7
10-10-2005, 05:23 PM
So the poll is asking how much we've spent on Pocket PC software this year? Or how much we expect to spend in 2005 total (since there's a few months left, after all)? Or how much we've spent over all years? Just a little confusing in my mind. :|

I'm like you, though, I haven't spent nearly as much on PPC software this year because I've had free updates, and I've actually won some free software on Pocekt PC Thoughts. :D I'm definitely in the $1-50 range though, and was probably in the $51-100 range last year. It's not that I mind spending money on software, it's just that I want it to be really good (i.e. I'll use it daily or at least quite a bit) so spend money on it.

ipaq_wannabe
10-10-2005, 05:26 PM
i really havent given it much thought, though - up until i was going to upgrade to a new model that i just had to create some sort of "installation manual complete with URLs, registration infos, etc." to make my clean "upgrade" as painless as possible...

and well, it did end with me having an excel sheet listing my APPs - at to my amazement, it did AMOUNT to NEAR the PDA's purchase price...

hhhhmmm... i do remember posting somewhere, maybe here at PPCT - that for some, like me for example, have to invest the same amount of money just to LOAD our devices with those what we need....

and come to think of it - with total initial investment reaching US$1,000 (software apps of around US$400, and a PPC/peripherals for about US$600) - one could then ask if it were more beneficial to buy a mid-level non-branded PC, or even a new previous-generation notebook computer?

ipaq_wannabe
10-10-2005, 05:29 PM
however, i think that Ed raises a very important point here - that out of the box, our handheld devices rarely provide the much needed functionality we would expect it to...

OSUKid7
10-10-2005, 05:33 PM
however, i think that Ed raises a very important point here - that out of the box, our handheld devices rarely provide the much needed functionality we would expect it to...
Well, in that perspective, neither do our PCs - and I'm just fine with that. I'd rather spend money on some greatt apps than spend hundreds of dollars more on the operating system for apps I may or may not use.

Ed Hansberry
10-10-2005, 05:38 PM
however, i think that Ed raises a very important point here - that out of the box, our handheld devices rarely provide the much needed functionality we would expect it to...
Just for clarification, that is not the point I am raising at all. I have never purchased any computing device ever that did what I wanted out of the box. The key is, what can it be made to do with add-ons? I would say that most purchases do not have broad appeal. For example, HanDBase. Just how many people need a database on their Pocket PC? Relatively few compared to the overall market, so it would make no sense if it came with one, but as a $30 addon, I am happy to buy it and extend the functionality.

yada88
10-10-2005, 06:54 PM
The option you left out was for those less scrupolous individuals who pirate pocket PC applications, and have a bunch but simply don't pay for them. And yes, it does exist.

PocketPC Addict
10-10-2005, 07:12 PM
personally, I've spent a small fortune on PPC software. It always seems there is something new and innovative to add to my device. :D

surur
10-10-2005, 07:32 PM
GPS put me well into the $500 range. Ignoring the cost of the hardware, the software (+maps) was probably $75. Add the TomTom 3 upgrade for $75, plus the TomTom 5 upgrade for another $75 = $225.

Add Calligrapher bought about 3 times (2002, 2004 and 2005) for about $80, and then Resco Explorer, Textmaker, PocketInformant (a few times) and then all the miscellaneous software. It all adds up very easily.

I guess I'm a sucker for an upgrade.

However, people are comparing the cost of their software to their device, but if I had to add up the cost of all the devices I ever had, its probably in the $2500 range in any case.

PPC's are an expensive hobby.

Surur

ctmagnus
10-10-2005, 08:19 PM
PPC's are an expensive hobby.

I concur.

But think how much they'd cost out-of-the-box if they shipped with decent software instead of the anemic stuff they currently come with. 8O

welovejesus
10-10-2005, 08:55 PM
After spending a considerable amount of money to acquire the best productivity applications available, the focus is now on reducing upgrade costs. Some companies charge an exorbitant fee for upgrades. After visiting the Windows Mobile 5.0 Fix Site (http://www.wm5fixsite.com/), it has become apparent that further upgrade costs could occur since a fair share of the software available is untested, has bugs, or is altogether not compatible with Windows Mobile 5.0.
I don't mind spending more money up front if the software comes with a free lifetime of upgrades (software such as Sentry 2020 for PPC, SpreadCE, ProfiMail).

Down8
10-10-2005, 09:34 PM
I've never spent a dime on PPC software. The total for all of my devices + accessories comes in under $400. But, I got a lot of stuff free, so that's not a good measure.

There is always a freeware app that will do what I want on the PPC. Not that I demand a whole lot of mine.

I am pretty sure I'll be upgrading my x50 to WM5 though, so that will be my singular $40 purchase for PPC software.

-bZj

Hrun
10-10-2005, 10:00 PM
Too much!

But it is in bitesize chunks, so I dont notice in the same way I would if I bought a device with all the add ons included

Damion Chaplin
10-10-2005, 10:28 PM
Well, when I owned my iPaq, I probably had ~$70 in software installed on it. Most of the stuff I needed was available as freeware. I bought Dashboard for my original iPaq for $10, and it came with free updates for the life of the product. I bought Bejeweled, then I ditched my original iPaq (battery issues), bought a Sony Palm, had Astraware change my license over, then ditched the Sony (OS issues), bought another iPaq, had Astraware change my license back, then bought a smartphone and had them switch my license yet another time.

Since I bought my SMT5600, I've been running an experiment: Install nothing (except Bejeweled), and see what programs, if any, I actually miss and need to get again. Total so far = 0. I didn't even bother reinstalling my unit converter and haven't missed it. The ONLY app I miss (cause it's not available for SP) is my astronomy program. However, it was for entertainment purposes and I only used it every so often in the first place...

DavidHorn
10-10-2005, 11:12 PM
Ed - what's this "work" thing everyone's talking about? ;)

ipaq_wannabe
10-11-2005, 12:24 AM
however, i think that Ed raises a very important point here - that out of the box, our handheld devices rarely provide the much needed functionality we would expect it to...

Just for clarification, that is not the point I am raising at all. I have never purchased any computing device ever that did what I wanted out of the box. The key is, what can it be made to do with add-ons? I would say that most purchases do not have broad appeal. For example, HanDBase. Just how many people need a database on their Pocket PC? Relatively few compared to the overall market, so it would make no sense if it came with one, but as a $30 addon, I am happy to buy it and extend the functionality.

okay - i stand corrected then... my apologies for misunderstanding your post...