PPC question for School notes?

[pez]

This may be overlapping with the post about notes but I find little notes about times and appointments are a bit different then this.

Ill introduce myself.. Im a college student only 19, but in the past week I have been thinking about getting a new labtop or even a tablet pc, then I noticed these Pocket PC's but they never came to my mind when I saw there price and I never researched what they could do. I noticed the Dell Axim and I am already in love. Ive gonna probably get a 400mhz when I get a bit more rich :wink:

Anyways.. Is it viable to possible use the PPC for school notes like in College? IE: Powerpoints on the board and taking notes from those..


Thanks for anyones help.. I enjoy these forums already!

-Pez

[Rirath]

Sure, highly possible. One of the basic functions really. In fact, Dell's come with Powerpoint presentor software.
By the way, "only 19"? There's a lot of folks here younger than you. Isn't it time to stop saying only when you're in college? :wink:

[pez]

Hah thats good to know that there are some youngins (i said youngins!) :wink:


Rirath.. Thanks for the reply.. Now im compeltly motivated to get one like today! but Im poor..

As for the Powerpoints I meant my professors using them not myself :wink:

[pocketpcdude1024]

Sure, highly possible. One of the basic functions really. In fact, Dell's come with Powerpoint presentor software.
By the way, "only 19"? There's a lot of folks here younger than you. Isn't it time to stop saying only when you're in college? :wink:

Like me; I'm only 15! :wink:

Certainly Pocket PCs can be used for notes; I use mine all the time! However, when a model doesn't have a keyboard, it makes it hard for long reports! :x

[seanturner]

I would highly reccomend any PPC with the ThinkOutside Stowaway keyboard. That is a full size, folding keyboard that allows you to take notes at the speed you can type.

It works perfectly for me.

PS, you should ask your teachers to post hte power points online...

[frzamilan]

I don't leave home without my pocket pc, even if I am going to class. While people are scrambling to copy notes off powerpoint slides, or from the chalkboard, I sit in the back of the room with my pocket pc typing away at the portable keyboard I have. I have arrived at the point where I type MUCH faster than I write, so it is has become a very viable solution for taking notes at school.

We may be the biggest geeks in the class 8) ...but at least I can check my email or browse the web if the teacher gets boring (T-Mobile Pocket PC Edition).

[pocketpc]

Hi all, Im 15 too and like to take my H3850 into school to get aw and wows from people who just want to poke it and play games on it hehe :P . Anyway I was wondering if you could record all your subjects or your school timetable so the today screen would show you what subjects you had for that day... is there any thing like this available?

Also anyone know of freeware student apps ? Or maybe paid ones which are cheap? :D

[vincentsiaw]

Hi all, Im 15 too and like to take my H3850 into school to get aw and wows from people who just want to poke it and play games on it hehe :P . Anyway I was wondering if you could record all your subjects or your school timetable so the today screen would show you what subjects you had for that day... is there any thing like this available?

Also anyone know of freeware student apps ? Or maybe paid ones which are cheap? :D

why don't you just put your timetable on your calendar? that way the subject will appear in the today screeen, plus you don't have to buy any software at all!

[seanturner]

Hi all, Im 15 too and like to take my H3850 into school to get aw and wows from people who just want to poke it and play games on it hehe :P . Anyway I was wondering if you could record all your subjects or your school timetable so the today screen would show you what subjects you had for that day... is there any thing like this available?

Also anyone know of freeware student apps ? Or maybe paid ones which are cheap? :D

why don't you just put your timetable on your calendar? that way the subject will appear in the today screeen, plus you don't have to buy any software at all!

Because then you will have a really cluttered calendar and you might miss other appointments you might have.

[Polly]

My typing speed is higher than my IQ...I've gotta getta keyboard!

[Rirath]

My typing speed is higher than my IQ...I've gotta getta keyboard!

Erm... I wouldn't recommend saying that without posting some figures? It reads badly. ;)
So... is your typing speed 145wpm or what? Eh, I'm probably taking it too literally.

[seanturner]

My typing speed is higher than my IQ...I've gotta getta keyboard!

You just made my day! :lol: :lol: :lol:

[pocketpcdude1024]

Hi all, Im 15 too and like to take my H3850 into school to get aw and wows from people who just want to poke it and play games on it hehe :P . Anyway I was wondering if you could record all your subjects or your school timetable so the today screen would show you what subjects you had for that day... is there any thing like this available?

Also anyone know of freeware student apps ? Or maybe paid ones which are cheap? :D

why don't you just put your timetable on your calendar? that way the subject will appear in the today screeen, plus you don't have to buy any software at all!

Because then you will have a really cluttered calendar and you might miss other appointments you might have.

I set my classes as "free" time so they show up on the Today screen, but won't clutter other views like the month view triangle

[Gremmie]

I'm highly against it. I've had a lot of pocket pc's, but its too difficult for class notes. Its great cuz I use grade programs so I know how I'm always doing, but for notes, screen real estate is too small. Too many classes use diagrams that don't fit.

I think tablet pc's would be better for a couple of reasons...handwriting recognition is quicker (who has time to go back erase an o and get the a to work) and even if you don't use handwriting recognition, you can still do work searches to find words in your natural handwriting. This is excellent for graphing and browsing for notes is quicker on a bigger screen. Laptops don't work as well for the graph reason and math reasons. Sometimes you can cheat, but when it comes to greek letters or beyond its harder.

[PapaSmurfDan]

Taking notes on a PPC screen is a bitch. I do it in emergencies when I leave my backpack at home. You need a Newton sized screen to sanely take notes on a PDA. However, you may want to take a look at the Seiko Ink Link (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006B7UH/qid=1045192220/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/102-6667374-0455361?v=glance&s=electronics). I am thinking about getting one becuase my notes require many drawings but there seems to be many issues with the software. I am sorta waiting for a bluetooth version of it. If someone would make a good voice recognition program for PPC, I would be instantly convinced to by a BT card,headset, and a BT version of the InkLink. Until them, I may get one, but only from a place with a liberal return policy due to the not so steller reviews.

-Dan

[seanturner]

Or for that matter you might look into one of those logitec pens that record what you write...

[dotcomguy]

Hi all, Im 15 too and like to take my H3850 into school to get aw and wows from people who just want to poke it and play games on it hehe :P . Anyway I was wondering if you could record all your subjects or your school timetable so the today screen would show you what subjects you had for that day... is there any thing like this available?

Also anyone know of freeware student apps ? Or maybe paid ones which are cheap? :D

why don't you just put your timetable on your calendar? that way the subject will appear in the today screeen, plus you don't have to buy any software at all!

Because then you will have a really cluttered calendar and you might miss other appointments you might have.

I set my classes as "free" time so they show up on the Today screen, but won't clutter other views like the month view triangle
Well, having all your classes in your calendar might not work well when you are in one building all day and go from class to class. I schedule all my classes because I don't have class all day every day. Sometimes I schedule things between classes so it is helpful to have them in the schedule.

As for notes, it doesn't really work to take notes on the PPC with the current input methods, unless perhaps you have a portable keyboard. I take notes quickly and sloppily and try to comprehend them later. I'm trying to copy them into word documents now as I go along and save them on my PPC for later viewing. These notes would be readable at least. :)

[seanturner]

As for notes, it doesn't really work to take notes on the PPC with the current input methods, unless perhaps you have a portable keyboard.

Stowaway Folding Keyboard. Nothing better!

[Gremmie]

As for notes, it doesn't really work to take notes on the PPC with the current input methods, unless perhaps you have a portable keyboard.

Stowaway Folding Keyboard. Nothing better!

For outline notes keyboards work well, but it depends, its not often the teacher presents things in an outline form, and God forbid graphs or math equations.

[seanturner]

For outline notes keyboards work well, but it depends, its not often the teacher presents things in an outline form, and God forbig graphs or math equations.

Yeah, it is really a laptop replacement.

[Paul]

I do use my PDA to take notes, in certain courses tho.
If it's all text then you have no problem.

Graphs,charts and equations make things a bit tough. That's why you should always have paper/pen in your backpack too.

[pez]

Yea I meant for stuff on powerpoint just like words.. something like a government or english.. not like algebra :P


Thanks guys for the opinions.. Ill just get a keyboard with mine and impress others :D

[seanturner]

Ill just get a keyboard with mine and impress others :D


Grubby hands on my PDA? NEVER!

[pez]

haha dont you worry.. i plan on errecting a mini electrical fence around my ppc.. while i type.. so all they can do is awe at it.. and ill just continue typign :P

[AndrewLubinus89]

My typing speed is higher than my IQ...
I can't tell if that is good or bad :D

[seanturner]

haha dont you worry.. i plan on errecting a mini electrical fence around my ppc.. while i type.. so all they can do is awe at it.. and ill just continue typign :P
Or buy this: www.pdajunkie.net/security.htm

[xendula]

Or for that matter you might look into one of those logitec pens that record what you write...

That's the so-called IO pen. I was thrilled to hear about it and when I finally saw one in a store, I tried it out. It all sounds better than it actually is:

1) You have to write on a special notebook that comes with it. If you run out of paper (very fast, if you are a student), you have to buy a new one for over
10$!!! (at least that's the price at amazon.com)

2) Yeah, it's easy to use, but it does NOT turn your handwritten notes into a doc or txt file, or anything else. You can only save your notes as graphics!! (I think jpg, not quite sure) -->too much space -->not really interesting for PPC users.

3) Transfering the data from pen to PC is time-consuming. In the store, the pen was hooked up to a super-fast laptop, but it still took ages to trasfer the notes.

If it had handwriting recognition, and if it would work on regular paper, I would give it a try, but right now, I don't think it is worth the money :? Too bad...

[Fzara]

I take notes on my PPC, and it truely does come in handy occasionally. In History class, we're required to write the outline from the board, and then add in comments/notes when the prof. gives more info. For me, i'm always strangling myself because of Microsoft Word's poor outline formatting.

I would buy a stoaway, but I dont want to pay over 40 dollars for a keyboard, because its ludacrous.

Btw: dont try recording the prof's voice. I use NoteM, and the quality is disgustingly horrendous. Def. not reccomended.

I might think of investing in a new Word processor, however, I havent had time and I dont want to learn new features/icons/toolbars/functions. It just complicates the user functionality.

I think if we had high res screens on our PPC's, we would def. be in for a treat. More text could be displayed on the screen, freeing up more real-estate. Lets hope PPC2003 really outpeforms.

[seanturner]

I would buy a stoaway, but I dont want to pay over 40 dollars for a keyboard, because its ludacrous.

Btw: dont try recording the prof's voice. I use NoteM, and the quality is disgustingly horrendous. Def. not reccomended.


Well, if you go back a few years, desktop keyboards used to cost upwards of $100... Although they were much better quality back then... Ahh the days... But, it really depends on how valuable a keyboard can be to you. If your needs are condusive to what Pocket Word can do for you it is certainly worth the cost. If it isn't then you're out of luck.

Also, regarding the voice recording, I have gotten quite good results with my iPaq 3600 and 3800 series. I've been able to keep it in my pocket and record conversations that I have throughout the day....

[felixdd]

I'm not sure if it works for Pocket Word on PPC (too lazy to try) -- but on my HPC I can use bullets and indent using ctrl-m, and un-indent using ctrl-shift-m. Quite fast and handy.