Pure Pocket PC?

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://news.independent.co.uk/digital/features/story.jsp?story=317308">http://news.independent.co.uk/digital/features/story.jsp?story=317308</a><br /><br />I read this article and thought “This guy gets it!” I know Pocket PCs, Handheld PCs and other PDAs are <b><i>not</i></b> laptop replacements, but in my mind, they can be excellent substitutes. The author of this article takes pride in composing using his Handspring and Stowaway keyboard. I am composing this post using my iPAQ and the <a href="http://www.fitaly.com">Fitaly</a> SIP, or Soft Input Panel, though I admit I will transfer it to my laptop for posting. You think the forums are hard to read with Pocket Internet Explorer, you should try posting, with a poll no less. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif" /><br /><br />Unless I am going on a trip where I would need desktop versions of Excel and Access, or will be gone more than three days, I almost always leave my laptop behind. How about you?

[marlof]

As I don't use Excel, and don't use fancy formatting in Word, I can live with my Pocket PC most of the time. There's two things where my notebook still goes with me: when I want to do some more intensive work online (like newsgroup browsing!), or when I want to do image editing / offloading on the road. Most of the time it's not so much the functionality as the screen size that dictates my choice.

[Jason Lee]

I don't think I have turned on my laptop since I got my compaq handheld pc companion. From there to my Jornada 430se, to ipaq 3600, then 3800, now to toshiba e740. For taking notes in class I have to have the instant on/off. If I am ever in need of pc applications there is usually some kind of network access available so I just use terminal services.
I work as tech support for the college and only use my desktop as a server. PPC all the way.

Laptops..? We don't need no stinkin' laptops!

[Marcel_Proust]

:lol:
From my Newton, Casio e-10, C-11, 2 models of Aeros, ipaq, and now the Jornada 568, I feel hardly any need to carry a bulky laptop. The Newton was good, but too big of course. the biggest change in functionality came when the little keyboard for the iPAQ came. But it wasn't nearly as good as the Jornada Pocket Keyboard. The most innovative, but discontinued. Once Softmaker releases Textmaker for the PocketPC, I can't imagine any need to ever buy a laptop.

[ppcsurfr]

Hahaha! :lol:

That is really something.

So he says that the Stowaway keyboard is only for Palms and Handsprings... Is he trying to fool the readers?

C'mon...

I myself, use a Stowaway keyboard... but I use it for the Jornada. I used to use a Jornada 548 but am now using a Jornada 568. They work well together and I do exactly what he does... Wait! I do it better.

With a Pocket PC and a Stowaway keyboard, I can type my articles too. But the advantage I have is that I can directly save my articles as MS Word 97/2000 *.doc formatted files. See no synching needed here!

It is already saved as an MS Word document which means that any PC or Mac with MS word should be able to open my email attachment. Oh yes! There again! I can email them as attachments... And even before I get to my PC the article has long been sent. Oh... If ever I sync it to my PC is becase I want to keep the article I've written in the PC (archive).

:D :D :D

[draiken]

I don't like to take my laptop on trips... but I have to... because of my work responsabilities...

Not only for e-mail, but unfortunatelly, I have to use VPN Software, connect to the office, do some connections with our software, check stuff...

And since I don't have unlimited ammounts of CF Cards... to unload my Digital pictures...

Maybe when they make 5GB CF Cards for 100 bucks... and broadband wireless worldwide, maybe then I can leave the freaking laptop home...

[Brian Johnson]

I would love to travel without my notebook, but on business trips I need to have my Lotus Notes to retrieve my company email.

Is there a way to have my Notes email accessible for my iPAQ with a modem? So far, I've only been able to sync the Lotus Notes email on the notebook with Easy Sync Pro but would love to be able to leave the notebook behind on business trips!!

[Sslixtis]

Trips? I don't go to the mailbox without my PPC! Much less, think about leaving my precious sweetheart behind (shudder) when I go on a trip! The truth of the matter is my laptop just doesn't look right in my pocket :wink:

[fireflyrsmr]

:roll: i wish i could go without the laptop but i still find i lug it around when i have to present or have a working meeting. working mind maps with a group is not feasible with the iPAQ. getting to lotus notes and the databases is a daily event. working the intranet would be painful and not possible since it requires firewall and t1 linkage. in my multinational corporate environment the laptop still has a primary function. the pocket pc is definitly an add on - or is the laptop and add on? i can't work without both. 8O

[Bob Anderson]

There is no doubt that my iPaq can do a TON of stuff...

But can it replace a notebook? Not quite....

I take my notebook and PDA on all trips... I find myself using my PDA in places a notebook isn't practical (like waiting in line at a Seattle Mariner's game) or when I go to the grocery store... and on and on...

But when it comes to handling e-mail, photos and other projects (some work related, some not) my PDA, even with the Stowaway keyboard, just can't do enough!

Dont' get me wrong here... the PDA is an indispensible part of my life, but I realize it's limitations and I use it for things and at times it's best suited for, instead of thinking I can use it to replace the laptop.

(Until I can get 30gb storage on a handheld, a CD R/RW, a DVD player, and Firewire a PDA will be my personal digital assistant not a replacement!)

[Jimmy Dodd]

I would love to travel without my notebook, but on business trips I need to have my Lotus Notes to retrieve my company email.

Is there a way to have my Notes email accessible for my iPAQ with a modem? So far, I've only been able to sync the Lotus Notes email on the notebook with Easy Sync Pro but would love to be able to leave the notebook behind on business trips!!

Check out the Notes webpages and search for Pocket PC or Windows CE. I believe they have a Pocket PC client available.

Personally I use the web interface to Notes to get my mail, etc., via the Internet.

---
Bwana Jim

[jmulder]

My company pays me to carry my laptop on business trips, so I really don't have any choice. But I always take my PPC along for jotting down notes, reading ebooks, etc.

When I'm on vacation, I typically do not take my laptop, but I still take my PPC. Since I am apparently critical to the operations of the company (I've only had one vacation out of 6 where somebody from work didn't need something), I tell my coworkers to email my personal email address with a specific keyword, which then forwards a page to my cell phone. When I get back to my room, I take the PPC and my cell phone out of the wall safe and dial up to get the email, compose a reply, and send it off. It's not immediate communcation, but it works. I'd take the cell with me, but I'm often visiting some nearby amusement park and wouldn't want to lose it. If MS Smartphones are ever available available in the US for a reasonable price, I'd leave the PPC home, too!

-Jim

[sundown]

I used to take the laptop everywhere but now I mostly leave it behind, depending on the what software I might need to run. Heck, there is no way I can run Access queries against a big db on my Jornada. Plus I'm so tired of having an aching shoulder due to a heavy laptop bag. Sure the laptop weighs only a few pounds or so but then there is all the crap you have to take with it and papers, etc.

Now if I could just find a good SSH client I'd be set...

[yawanag]

8O Before I bought my Jornada 548, I was looking at laptops. I'm so glad that the price deterrred me 'cause now I do everything with my Jornada that I could do with a laptop. With the Pivot and carrying case I have, I don't walk downstairs without it. I've stopped using Mapquest because I can get door to door directions right on my PDA. I love showing it off to the laptop users. I get a kick on Sundays when the Pastor says, "Everybody raise your Bibles - and I raise my Jornada. I love it!

[Ed Hansberry]

I would love to travel without my notebook, but on business trips I need to have my Lotus Notes to retrieve my company email.
You have my sympathies. :(
Is there a way to have my Notes email accessible for my iPAQ with a modem? So far, I've only been able to sync the Lotus Notes email on the notebook with Easy Sync Pro but would love to be able to leave the notebook behind on business trips!!
Can Notes not be configured to allow POP3 or IMAP access?

[gracar]

I thought I was going to have to continue with my laptop for company business until I got the IT guys involved. Company e-mail was available with an IMAP connection, downloads can go onto a Toshiba 2GBit drive and I can even manage my VPN connection. I found that letting the IT guys play with the PPC for a couple of days gave them a challenge they enjoyed and save me using my hand baggage allowance on a laptop :wink: .

[ricksfiona]

I am a computer consultant and since I've had my IPaq 3870, which is 4 - 5 months, I've only used my laptop 2x for client stuff. Usually, it's because I'm testing Internet related issues or doing hardcore documentation.

If I go on vacation, I take both pieces of equipment. Only because I don't have a CF Modem card for my IPaq and it's a LITTLE more comfortable to work with the laptop screen and keyboard.

I guess I just to ween myself off the laptop for vacations too. As soon as I get my bluetooth module for my Ericsson T28 and/or a CF modem card, I'll start the weening process.

I would just like a slightly larger keyboard than the Compaq foldable. Does anyone know of a portable keyboard that is slightly larger than the Compaq? I don't like the Stowaway.

[MobiliT]

Most of the time it's not so much the functionality as the screen size that dictates my choice.
Agreed. We'll see better processors, more memory, faster wireless connections, but the screen size will continue to be the hardware obstacle. This isn't a complaint. It's just the beauty of the compact Pocket PC size can be its own curse when productivity is vital. Meanwhile, I'll keep relying on my Pocket PC to steadily decrease the time gap.

[Brad Adrian]

Does anyone know of a portable keyboard that is slightly larger than the Compaq? I don't like the Stowaway.

I am only aware of the Compaq foldable, the Stowaway and gadgets that will help you connect to a full-size keyboard (and, of course, the various thumb-boards).

[unxmully]

I would love to travel without my notebook, but on business trips I need to have my Lotus Notes to retrieve my company email.

Is there a way to have my Notes email accessible for my iPAQ with a modem? So far, I've only been able to sync the Lotus Notes email on the notebook with Easy Sync Pro but would love to be able to leave the notebook behind on business trips!!

Get the admins to enable IMAP on your mailbox and LDAP for addressing. Worked well for me when I used Notes.

[RobertCF]

When I first started up as Network Admin at the AF Base I purchased a notebook for our employees who had to pull frequent trips. Just after the purchase I bought my 3630 and have luckily never had to carry the bulky notebook anywhere. With the CF sleeve, Stowaway keyboard, CF modem and cards, all carried in two small, good looking belt cases, I breeze through the airports on my trips and have access to everything I need. I can either grab my office e-mail via Outlook Web Access or hit Earthlink for my personal e-mail. And with the vga presenter card and Powerpoint compatible apps, I have the option of doing my presentations on the large projectors most of my sites have available. I have to grin inwardly when my employees have to schlepp around with that bulky notebook.....

[Jason Dunn]

Robert, you are a Pocket PC Poster Child! Way to go! :D

[topps]

Most of the time it's not so much the functionality as the screen size that dictates my choice.

As I use my laptop on the road less and less, I too have been wondering why I bother to take it...and the answer as Marlof states is mostly to do with screen size. Scrolling through lots of email is a pain on the small screen.

I have left the laptop behind and have not regretted it. Just my paranoia (well, I might just need that crucial piece of data) keeps me lugging it with me most of the time.

Now that my laptop has WinXP and I can potentially use Remote Desktop client to log into it from afar, that may change things for me...except that it is behind the router on the home network, which helps with security but locks me out of my own machine. I expect that there is a solution to this...when I get a round TUIT.

[Jason Dunn]

Now that my laptop has WinXP and I can potentially use Remote Desktop client to log into it from afar, that may change things for me...except that it is behind the router on the home network, which helps with security but locks me out of my own machine. I expect that there is a solution to this...when I get a round TUIT.

Open up port 3389 on your firewall, make sure the desktop is set up to accept remote connections (My Computer > View System Information > Remote, make sure your profile has a password on it, and you're done. :D

[dunneldeen]

I do tend to take my laptop on trips of any real length, but very rarely pull it out of it's case. It's just there, "In Case".

[draiken]

Yes it can, but then you would be getting only mail... not access to all the Databases.

Besides, if his company uses something different from the default template for mail... it could not work.

Sorry if I'm not that explicit but I've been without a Domino Server to administer for about 2 yrs (thank God!!!.... well I'm still stuck with the Exchange... crap!!!)