Which PDA has the sharpest display?

[scoobie]

Hello,

Sorry, pls allow me to post here to get a quick response. I am not sure where to post PDA comparison.

I am not sure which PDA has the sharpest image : HP iPaq 4700 (TVGA) vs Dell X50V (VGA?).

I recall x50v giving me a good impression of its graphics. But I also recall HP's impressive too. I forgot which is better. I thought SVGA is the best vga there is? Neither using SVGA?

Awaiting your advice.
Scoobie

[Kati Compton]

Both are VGA.

I would guess that more than half the people would say that the 4700's screen is better, but there are certainly those that would disagree with that as well. I personally own an x50v, but have not seen a 4700, so cannot give you an evaluation of my own.

[Janak Parekh]

I believe the discussed difference is color saturation, however, not sharpness. Both screens are extremely sharp. In theory, the smaller Dell screen would appear sharper as it has a higher DPI -- but I wouldn't use this as a primary criterion on picking my Pocket PC. Color saturation might be of relevance to you, and you may want to do a search on our forums -- there's been a lot of discussion on the topic.

No Pocket PC has SVGA (yet :P).

--janak

[MitchellO]

The Dell's 3.7" Display has a higher DPI (dots per inch) so it technically would be sharper. Then again I find the 2.8" QVGA screen on my XDA II Mini to be very sharp. Best screen I have ever seen. Beats the hx4700.

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/images/reviews/jam/PICT0275.jpg

[scoobie]

Wow, the picture says it all. HP iPaq seems very sharper indeed. Thanks MitchellO for the display.

Thanks also to Janak and Kati for very useful review.

I just found a freeware called Zoom V2.3 - Software Solutions From Visual IT. It claims to provide zooming function for all applications run in PPC. Theoretically, it should overcome small screen PDA problem. I wanted to buy Sony's VAIO U with 5" screen that is just nice to read any document. But it costs a nuclear bomb! Here's my problem. I do not yet own a PPC. I have downloaded the software and was searching for a simulator or emulator for 4" HP iPaq or Dell x50v. But I have found none so far. Would you guys know if such a simulator exist? It would be great for to-be buyers to get a feel of the visuals of PDAs using their PC/ notebook.

Has anyone used the Zoom freeware before? Any recommended zoom programs that are free? How granular is the zooming? Appreciate if those who have tried can let me know as well. Thanks in advance.

kr,
Scoobie
:D

[Sven Johannsen]

No such simulator exists. There is an emulator that is avialable with developer suites, but it requires you to have the source code, as it compiles (interpretes?) that source to run in a PPC emulation on a PC. There is none that runs native PPC apps on a PC.

I am curious why you started this thread on the Phone Edition forum. You realize neither the X50 or the 4700 are phone editions, right? And currently there are no VGA phone edition devices, just Quarter VGA (QVGA, 240x320 screens).

[scoobie]

Hey dude, I am sorry as I said before. Pls let me know which category I should post to for PDA comparison. And thanks for the info. Cheers!

[Sven Johannsen]

Hey dude, I am sorry as I said before. Pls let me know which category I should post to for PDA comparison. And thanks for the info. Cheers!

No problem, just wanted to make sure you weren't looking for a phone edition specifically. With the lack of a general hardware forum, Just Chattin' might be good place to get wide exposure to a hardware question.

Actually might be a good idea to have a general hardware forum in addition to all the device specific ones to cover questions just such as this, or to discuss hardware that spans multiple devices but didn't start in a front page post.

[surur]

Scoobie, it sounds as if you have a specific application or purpose in mind. Why don't you tell us what it is, and we can advise you if a pocketpc would be suitable for your endeavour.

Surur

[Wiggster]

Nothing beats the actual device in your hands. If you can go to Staples or CompUSA or any computer retailer that has PDAs, check them out first. Photos are good, but they can't replicate having a real device to poke around with.

[Sven Johannsen]

Nothing beats the actual device in your hands. If you can go to Staples or CompUSA or any computer retailer that has PDAs, check them out first. Photos are good, but they can't replicate having a real device to poke around with.

Unfortunately that's going to be tough if you are trying to compare VGA devices. 'Bout the only one stocked is the 4700 in the States. You aren't going to find Dells in stores at all. I bet you can't find a Loox, and probably few Toshibas. I don't know what it's like in Europe.

[scoobie]

Scoobie, it sounds as if you have a specific application or purpose in mind. Why don't you tell us what it is, and we can advise you if a pocketpc would be suitable for your endeavour.

Surur

Hi Surur,

Certainly. I could not afford a Sony Vaio u (world's smallest Full windows XP super-mini handtop). Even though its screen size is only 5", it is just nice for my pdf documents. Small display still but I do not need to zoom to have a clear view of the text & diagrams. I personally believe screen size of 5" is just nice. Sadly, PDAs are limited to 4". I also think that 5" screen should not cost much more to manufacture the PDA. Its just happen that the PDA designers have come to conclusion that a PDA should not be too big. Actually, it depends on the size of the person. A big size person would find the Sony a tiny PDA. Why make a device that makes your eyes squint? What harm does 1 more inch do? After all, there are 10.6" notebooks. Why is it possible to sell that and not a 5" PDA?
I would think that more would buy a 5" VGA PDA than a 5" Sony even if it runs on Windows for PPC. If Sony is able to slash price of its 5" Vaio, PDAs would be replaced by Sony.

I wanted a zooming software to magnify the entire display of a 4" screen. It should be application-independent, that is run on OS level or hardware level.

I figured that if the zooming feature can be flexible and allows zooming in steps of 1%-100%, then the display limit is overcome.

[MitchellO]

I personally believe screen size of 5" is just nice. Sadly, PDAs are limited to 4". I also think that 5" screen should not cost much more to manufacture the PDA.

You have to remember that the Sony U-xx has an SVGA screen, so there are more pixels on that screen, and probably higher density, therefore higher cost.

If you want a big screen, go with the hx4700 and use a program like MyVGA (http://www.pocketpctools.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=index&c=8) to make it run at True VGA res, not the "make everything big and clear" that Microsoft uses by default.

[scoobie]

You have to remember that the Sony U-xx has an SVGA screen, so there are more pixels on that screen, and probably higher density, therefore higher cost.

If you want a big screen, go with the hx4700 and use a program like MyVGA (http://www.pocketpctools.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=index&c=8) to make it run at True VGA res, not the "make everything big and clear" that Microsoft uses by default.

Hi Mitchello,
One thread says that myvga is not supported on HP ipaq 4700 :

http://www.pocketpctools.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2415&sid=609c4f7916258e2f9c8927c0ddf53bf1

[MitchellO]

Sorry, it was one I had heard of and didn't know it doesn't work with the 4700. There is another prog called SE_VGA which I know works with it (gotta love google!).

[Menneisyys]

Sorry, it was one I had heard of and didn't know it doesn't work with the 4700. There is another prog called SE_VGA which I know works with it (gotta love google!).

I'd also recommend OzVGA ( http://207.153.195.134/ ) - it's far better configurable / "hackable" than SE_VGA. See some sample screenshots and working settings at http://www.geocities.com/[email protected]/VGA/index.html