Pocket PCs To The Rescue!

[Brad Adrian]

If there is a situation more dire and scary than a household with three teenagers that suddenly loses its computer and Internet access, I don't know what it is! When the power supply of my family's PC decided to suddenly die two weeks ago, I would describe my kids' reaction as "concerned." When a quick trip to our local computer supply stores failed to turn up a compatible power supply, their reaction degraded rapidly to "panicked." Finally, when I did locate a power supply online and we found out delivery would take over a week, my kids were practically inconsolable.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/adrian/ppc_desktop.jpg" /><br /><br />What had my kids the most upset was that they couldn't instant message their friends. Luckily their dad just <i>happened </i>to have a few "extra" Pocket PCs laying around the house, complete with WiFi connectivity and foldable keyboards! In no time, they were back online, sitting in their bedrooms and typing furiously. I was their hero.<br /><br />The funny thing is that I finally fixed the desktop PC several days ago, and they barely seem to have noticed. They've decided to keep using the Pocket PCs for chatting, rather than the PC! <br /><br />I have won two converts to my world! BWUAAAHHHAAAAAAA! :devilboy:

[Iznot Gold]

Way to go Brad! Not long before you have converted them to the merits of Scott eVests too? I can just imagine the whole Adrian family - all wearing their Scott products with pride! :lol:

Cheers
David

[mscdex]

Uh oh, don't get him started on the eVests :lol:

[Duncan]

I see... are those powerleads (with suspicious burn marks) and pliers sticking out of pocket number 84 of his SeV...?

Just how how far is Brad Adrian ready to go in order to convert his young to the noble cause eh...??!

Join us later as we look into the mysterious disappearance of the Adrian childrens coats...

[cyp]

I have won two converts to my world! BWUAAAHHHAAAAAAA! :devilboy:

I'm detecting an unusually high level of midichlorians here. The Force is strong with this one. 0X

[Jorlin]

Great story... LOL

[mrkablooey]

You must now teach them about W?BIC! :wink:

[jonathanchoo]

Nice story.

However I am more concerned with you leaving your power supply lying around.

[maximus]

I have won two converts to my world! BWUAAAHHHAAAAAAA! :devilboy:

Wait until both kids realized that they are currently playing with outdated PPCs ... and decided that they each want XDA3 (with a lot of kicking and screaming).

BWUAHAHA :mrgreen:

[Fabulas]

that reminds me of back in 2000 when I just had my e100, CF modem, and landware keyboard. I was the king of AIM 8)

[delfuhd]

Sweet! I love it when excuses to use Pocket PC's pop up. Something similar happened to me a few months ago, but I lost all my USB devices instead of my internet...

http://pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=22043

[Brad Adrian]

However I am more concerned with you leaving your power supply lying around.
I was just pleased with myself that I was able to switch out both the power supply and hard drive without frying either myself or the PC's innards.

If the power supply's not plugged in, there's not a risk I didn't know about, is there?

[outdoor]

now THIS is where the pocket pc comes to the rescue.

I still remember in my first year at university when i accidentally spilled a cup of water all over my laptop :| I was half paralyzed, as there was no way to fix it. I had a paper due the next day, and luckily i have my trusty ipaq 4150 and stowaway IR keyboard + MSN access point. I would have gotten a failing grade if it wasnt for my ipaq ;)


oh and btw after days and days of drying, my laptop was back to normal. whew.

[Zero101]

My question is... what chat software did they use? Because on my WM2003 ppc... it seems that if I want to chat with anything other than MSN, I am out of luck.

[tap0utt]

AIM, the UK version...

it's free as opposed to the paying version, which is almost the same other than regional news, on the USA site.

but who looks at news on aim neways?

[Rob Alexander]

If the power supply's not plugged in, there's not a risk I didn't know about, is there?

I'm pretty sure there are some large capacitors inside that can do you harm even after it's unplugged, but I'm also pretty sure that you would have to open the power supply box itself to be at risk. I'm not aware of any danger from just swapping out one unit for another (excluding obviously stupid things).

[Jonathon Watkins]

If the power supply's not plugged in, there's not a risk I didn't know about, is there?

I'm pretty sure there are some large capacitors inside that can do you harm even after it's unplugged, but I'm also pretty sure that you would have to open the power supply box itself to be at risk. I'm not aware of any danger from just swapping out one unit for another (excluding obviously stupid things).

Agreed. I think you have to open the power supply up before there is a problem.

[Dogo]

My question is... what chat software did they use? Because on my WM2003 ppc... it seems that if I want to chat with anything other than MSN, I am out of luck.

Go to http://www.agilemobile.com/agile_messenger.html.
It seems this IM application for PPC handles other standards.
If anyone uses it, please post a review.

Bye

[Jon Westfall]

You must now teach them about W?BIC! :wink:

Naw, that would be a bad idea. Adults at least possess some disposable income that they can throw into W?BIC projects... children would want daddy's W?BIC money - which won't happen.

Just curious Brad - what models of IPaq / PPC did you loan out? Are your children actually using them, aside from AIM? (I.e. activesyncing them, charging them, not dropping them, etc..?)

[cmchavez]

You are the man Brad! Next, show them the difference between a standard PPC and a VGA resolution model. There's no limit to the possibilities that you could introduce them to! :lol:

[Zero101]

Go to http://www.agilemobile.com/agile_messenger.html.
It seems this IM application for PPC handles other standards.
If anyone uses it, please post a review.

Very cool.. I have not heard of that software before. I will download it and try it on my T-Mobile PPC later today. :wink:

[Kati Compton]

Not to burst your bubble, Brad, but somehow I don't think it's very difficult to "convert" teenagers to IM on a PPC instead of a PC if it means they don't have to take turns PLUS they can IM away from the "prying eyes" of their parents... ;)

I mean, I know *I'd* have been mortified if my parents had seen my personal communications...

[dean_shan]

I agree with Kati, I think the true challenge will be taking the PPCs aways from them.

[kosmicki]

I agree with Kati, I think the true challenge will be taking the PPCs aways from them.

Not really, who do you think owns the wifi AP? :devilboy:

[Mark Johnson]

You are the man Brad! Next, show them the difference between a standard PPC and a VGA resolution model. There's no limit to the possibilities that you could introduce them to! :lol:

So we'll soon have two new Junior Contributing Editors to assist with product reviews? :wink:

Just don't let them do a review of the rz1715. I just read the BargainPDA post and we wouldn't want the kiddies using such language...

[ctmagnus]

I'm pretty sure there are some large capacitors inside that can do you harm even after it's unplugged, but I'm also pretty sure that you would have to open the power supply box itself to be at risk. I'm not aware of any danger from just swapping out one unit for another (excluding obviously stupid things).

Agreed. I think you have to open the power supply up before there is a problem.

And you have to open the power supply to witness the nifty blue flash that occurs as a result of "smoking" it. :mrgreen:

[Brad Adrian]

...excluding obviously stupid things...

You don't know me very well, do you?

[Brad Adrian]

Just curious Brad - what models of IPaq / PPC did you loan out? Are your children actually using them, aside from AIM? (I.e. activesyncing them, charging them, not dropping them, etc..?)
I had an iPAQ 2215 and 3800 (with CF sleeve) and a ThinkOutside keyboard for each (they got tired writing everything). They didn't synch them, mostly because the computer they would have synched to was the one that died. And they did a pretty good job of keeping them charged. They used them to surf a bit, but they stuck to PIE-friendly sites, including the Homestarrunner site, which works surprisingly well.

[Mark Johnson]

Just curious Brad - what models of IPaq / PPC did you loan out?
I had an iPAQ 2215...

Lucky kids! I was ecstatic when my dad got me a "Pong" console. :lol:

[starbot]

did you have a contest to see who gets the 2215... "i love dad more, no i do.."

maybe one wanted the 3800 because of the bigger screen? (in which case s/he will be considered a n00b 8O )

[Rob Alexander]

...excluding obviously stupid things...

You don't know me very well, do you?

:rotfl: ...or maybe that's why I added that caveat!

[Johnathan]

It's very interesting! :D

[Brad Adrian]

As a final note, I had some trouble getting our desktop fixed; it worked a few days, and then a loose connection kept it gathering dust for another couple of weeks.

Today, when I told my kids that the desktop was FINALLY back in working order, I stepped aside for fear I'd be trampled in the onslaught. To my surprise, they looked at me and said, "Thanks. We'll keep using your Pocket PCs for stuff like IM because it's so much easier."

I could feel a tear welling up in my eye...

[Jon Westfall]

As a final note, I had some trouble getting our desktop fixed; it worked a few days, and then a loose connection kept it gathering dust for another couple of weeks.

Today, when I told my kids that the desktop was FINALLY back in working order, I stepped aside for fear I'd be trampled in the onslaught. To my surprise, they looked at me and said, "Thanks. We'll keep using your Pocket PCs for stuff like IM because it's so much easier."

I could feel a tear welling up in my eye...

Brings a tear to they eye of any PPC enthusiast to know new converts are happening...

Seriously, though, I think the kids are just happy to know their IM convos are secure, away from parental eyes. But, aside from that, sounds like you're little 'broken computer' scheme has worked well ;)

And its good to hear Homestarrunner works well in PIE - I haven't tried it but will have to!