07-28-2003, 05:15 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 739
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How Many Devices is Too Many? And Can One Device Ever Be Enough?
Hi all! I just got home from a weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is it ever good to be back. I missed you guys (and gals)!
This is the first airplane trip I've taken since I got my Pocket PC, and what a difference it makes. I'm a believer in traveling light, and having a Pocket PC allows me to travel lighter than I ever have before, since it replaces books, magazines, a journal, CD player and CDs, and games.
However, I'm not traveling as light as I could. While my Pocket PC can do it all (except make phone calls and take pictures - but there are Pocket PCs out there that can do these things), I find that specialized gadgets can do certain jobs even better. So in my purse, I have a total of four gadgets: cell phone, camera, Otis audio player (which I got free with my Audible subscription), and my trusty iPaq 1910. I also spent quite a bit of time playing with a Gameboy Advance SP that my boyfriend bought for the trip. And then of course there are the extras that go along with the devices: chargers, headphones, cases, etc. (Not to mention the CF card sleeve and Stowaway keyboard my boyfriend brought along with his iPaq 3875, plus his digital camera and cell phone. Between the two of us, we had a lot of gadgets).
Is it desirable to have one device that can do everything? Or is it better to have specialized devices for each job? I suspect it's a matter of personal preference. One concern for me is battery life; I literally have had nightmares about my Pocket PC running out of juice and leaving me with nothing to do. Specialized gadgets tend to have longer battery life; my cell phone can go for a week on one charge, my camera can go for a surprisingly long time (plus I carry a spare battery), the Audible Otis gets 10 hours of life from one set of batteries, and the Gameboy Advance can be played for up to 15 hours (according to its specs).
Also, with specialization comes speed, and hardware optimizations. It's fun to play games on my iPaq, but I wonder whether gameplay on a Pocket PC will ever come close to gameplay on a device that is specially made for gaming; the GBA just blew my iPaq away in that department. The buttons on most Pocket PCs are not ideal for playing games. And the speed of a specialized device can be astonishing - transferring audiobooks to the Otis is about 5 times faster (in my rough estimate) than transferring audiobooks to my Pocket PC. For me, the advantages of specialization are worth it. (Or maybe I'm just trying to justify my gadget addiction! 8) ) I'm curious how Pocket PC Thoughts readers stand on this issue. Is your goal to have one device that can do it all, or do you like to carry around two or more specific devices to meet your specific needs?
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07-28-2003, 05:32 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 194
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ONE DEVICE
I had a Casio E-200 and a cellphone and of course all the chargers.
I now have Siemens SX56 pocketpc phone and It is ONE DEVICE - for games,audible downloads,MS Reader or Peanut Press ebooks, and all the software I had on my Casio. I have a "lil" sync USB charger cable that hooks to my computer and a car adaptor it fits into and rarely have a battery life issue. I carry an AC adaptor as well. Obviously, I am waiting for a newer device with more RAM than the 32MB it comes with and an SDIO slow for wi-fi and WINDOWS CE MOBILE 2003. I'm sure this will happen. I do feel the cameras with the phones are gadgets (gimmicks) to sell phones, and for real picture quality have a decent 3.5 megapixel digital camera that is excellent and runs on 4AA batteries. I have a belt clip from SEIDIO that works just like my other cellphones before.
I'm sure there are multiple other opinions, but this works for me-instead of carrying all the items you had in your picture.
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07-28-2003, 05:55 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 739
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Okay, the people who responded "zero" have piqued my interest. I just put that option in there as the traditional "joke" option.
Do you leave your Pocket PCs at home? How do you get by without any toys?
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07-28-2003, 06:02 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 333
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daily basis
I voted 2. On a daily basis, I only carry my pocket PC and my cell phone. Travelling would be different, and it would depend on why I'm travelling. Business travel would add my laptop, and digital camera. Personal travel would add digital and film cameras.
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07-28-2003, 06:04 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 12
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I love gadgets and would love an all in one device to simplify traveling. My only fear is that one item can malfunction and then I have nothing or I have to send it in because one item stopped working correctly and again I have nothing. Even if I got the magic all in one device I would probably be to paranoid to not carry some kind of backup. After all we all know how super reliable computers of any kind are. They only break when you really need them.
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07-28-2003, 06:17 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 222
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Crystal Eitle
Do you leave your Pocket PCs at home? How do you get by without any toys?
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Every time that I take my iPaq with me, I get frustrated with the battery life. So, most of the time I leave it at home.
We went to my in-laws cottage in Michigan a few weeks ago. Our cell phone does not work there so we left it in the car. I did take my iPaq so that I could do some stargzing. But, I had to lug the charging cable with me so that it wouldn't die on me.
Besides, if I'm taking the weekend "off", I'd rather just back a book and a magazine. I don't really need gadgets. I miss them, but it's nice to get away for a while.
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07-28-2003, 06:32 PM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 545
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Let's count....
I have my iPaq (h5555), my Yaesu VX-7R(ham radio + general coverage reciever.....even picks up TV audio), my Nomad Zen (20GB), my Digitravler GPS, my Garmin eMap GPS (in case the iPaq is outta juice and I gotta go somewhere), my Kodak DX4900 digicam, my walkman, my work nextel, my personal cellphone all the cables.....I need a new backpack! :rofl:
When I go on a trip it gets worse.....you add to these, the chargers for all of them, a spare set of triple a's and a spare set of double a's, cables for all of that stuff, a modem, a network card (need to purchase yet), and possibly a laptop (if I have one for work). I am Inspector gadget in the flesh! Would I leave home without any of this? Yeah, for an hour or two, but when I am gone for more than 4 hours, all of this goes with me. Also, I would like to add to my trip list a DV Cam, a 10 m radio (once I get my tuner, antenna and a 7 AH battery I am GOING to do this) and anything else I can think of.....various memory cards and CD's. I like to be prepared for any geek emergency. Thank GOD the 5555 has WiFi anf BT built in....I really need a BT phone (and a BT Dongle too!).
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07-28-2003, 06:54 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 185
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Well, I'm always with my Calvin Klein bag with a Toshiba e570 with a 256MB CF, Nokia 6610 Cell Phone, a pair or earbuds and the handsfree cell phone set. Inside it's also my sunglasses and 10pc cd case (integrated with the bag - i love that bag) and my keys.
Since my cellphone has a buil in radio and my CF is full of MP3, i'm always with music.
I still travel with a magazine, most of the time (no PPC version yet).
I find that a separate cellphone is more convenient than a XDA, as for battery life and smeared screen...
Still, i travel mostly on public transportation and I don't like to flip out my PPC there (there are a lot of dangerous people on the subway). So, my gorgeous cell phone, with a cool color screen and Java Games (I have Bomb Jack on it - amazing) is my playing toy there (less evident).
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07-28-2003, 06:54 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 105
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:mrgreen:
I answered one because i thought thats how many i thought i wanted lol, i have +5
iPAQ 5555
GBA SP
T68i se
Canon Pshot S50
...and more...
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07-28-2003, 07:10 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 267
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I have two... my 2210 and and a 2 yr old tiny Aiwa radio. It'll be 3 when i get a t68i phone.I still dont believe integrating phone into PPC esp when I'm disappointed how the H2210 compares against my old, reliable H3135. It becomes 3 when I bring my Oly C5050, b/c phone/ppc cams are gimmicks when you see a real nice 5mp shot with a great camera w/o going pro! 
Actually what doubles my daily haul is xtra batt for 2210 and camera, and the Wifi card, and various cards for the ppc and digicam when I take it with me. :mrgreen:
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