02-20-2004, 12:03 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Rick Broida's PDA Prizefight on C|Net: Who Hired This Referee?
"Microsoft may rule the desktop world, but in the battle for handheld supremacy, it's still anybody's game. Found in handhelds from PalmOne, Kyocera, Sony, Samsung, and other manufacturers, the Palm operating system has held a market-share advantage since the beginning, but Windows Mobile 2003 (n�e Pocket PC) is no longer just nipping at its heels; it's nipping away at its sales, as well. But if you put the Palm OS in the ring with Windows Mobile, which PDA operating system would survive the bout? Is one notably stronger than the other?
To find out, we booked eight rounds of PDA pugilism, pitting Palm OS 5.2.1 against fast-rising challenger Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 in categories such as ease of use, Office compatibility, and multimedia features. For the most part, we left the hardware outside the ring, as features such as battery life and processor speed vary widely from model to model across both platforms. The operating systems threw some seriously powerful jabs, and the winner may surprise you."
An interesting article, but one look at who wrote it and I knew what the outcome would be. Rick Broida was part of the Handheld Media Group, and a writer for Handheld Computing Magazine - a very Palm-biased magazine. He's also the author of several Palm books ("How To Do Everything With Your Palm" and others). In short, he's about as qualified to do a comparison as I would be. :roll: That is, not very - I'm too Pocket PC biased, and he's too Palm biased. There are indeed some areas where the Palm trumps the Pocket PC (screen resolution being one of them), but this article is full of inaccuracies and "warm fuzzies" for Palm.
For instance, as of last year there were over 13,000 Pocket PC software listings in Handango (I don't have a current figure) - a heck of a lot more than "several thousand" as Rick suggests. Sure, some of them are themes, eBooks, etc. - but the Palm catalogues have the same type of "non-application" entries. And so much of Rick's comparison is based on "the applications just aren't intuitive" - what he really means is "This Pocket PC just doesn't work like my Palm". Anyway, go give the article a read and tell me what you think.
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02-20-2004, 12:14 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 451
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My thoughts:
Round 4 to me is a tie; PPCs offer way better Outlook integration out of the box, Chapura isn't always bundled with Palm devices, but then there's this little thing called ActiveSync.. :roll:
Round 5 I thought should be a tie as well, having used both VersaMail and Pocket Inbox, I find both of them overwhelmingly underpowered for my needs. =P
Round 8 is as Jason mentioned, both sides have very good software, while there's a wee bit more software on the Palm side, I can't see Palm having that big an advantage.
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02-20-2004, 12:16 AM
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Mystic
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,768
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Why is it that when it comes to the Palm, they include third party apps as part of the competition, but when it comes to the Pocket PC, it is just the base OS? For example, the description of having to hit the start button to get at programs. There are plenty of Today screen launchers available.
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Jonathan (JonnoB)
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." -Edmund Burke
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02-20-2004, 12:19 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 399
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Since I know all about this one :lol: ...
I think it is absurd that he gets into the whole "ease of use" comparison thing. Ive used both extensively and can tell you that there are a BUNCH of inconviniences within the palm os as well.
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02-20-2004, 12:20 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 39
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by JonnoB
Why is it that when it comes to the Palm, they include third party apps as part of the competition, but when it comes to the Pocket PC, it is just the base OS? For example, the description of having to hit the start button to get at programs. There are plenty of Today screen launchers available.
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That is exactly what I was thinking, How about that you can put 9 programs in the start menu? and not have to use the program folder.
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02-20-2004, 12:22 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 451
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9 programs are way too limited.
Well, problem is most of the Today launchers aren't usually bundled; at least with the Palm something is bundled, though as with most bundles they're fairly inconsistent.
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02-20-2004, 12:22 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 217
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Sheynk
I think it is absurd that he gets into the whole "ease of use" comparison thing. Ive used both extensively and can tell you that there are a BUNCH of inconviniences within the palm os as well.
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As in...? :?
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02-20-2004, 12:27 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 130
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Seems to me that a good, and well balanced comparison could be had here, and I think we (that is to say Jason) should propose that a co-authored review be wertten, byt the team of Jason Dunn and Rick Broida.
Whaddia y'all think??? I'm actually proposing that Jason get in contact with Rick and write the comparison for PPCThoughts in tandem, each to help balance and assist the other in a far result.
Cheers,
David
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02-20-2004, 12:30 AM
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Theorist
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 262
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by c38b2
As in...? :?
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My boss asked me to setup his Treo 600 for him, so I used it for a week or so and it was horrible. Off course, I am used to PocketPC, but it felt so clunky and akward to use, it just didn't feel natural to me. I assume which ever OS you use first, stays your favorite...
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02-20-2004, 12:36 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,162
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by CloudDancer
Seems to me that a good, and well balanced comparison could be had here, and I think we (that is to say Jason) should propose that a co-authored review be wertten, byt the team of Jason Dunn and Rick Broida.
Whaddia y'all think??? I'm actually proposing that Jason get in contact with Rick and write the comparison for PPCThoughts in tandem, each to help balance and assist the other in a far result.
Cheers,
David
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A co-authored review? I think they'd end up in a fist fight :lol:
All kidding aside, It would be a good idea to have a point-counterpoint.
As in both write good points about one area of comparison and then they write their response to the other's. I don't know how well this would end up. It may end up being quite repetitive.
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