Which one to buy? So confusing!! H-E-L-P

[SVTour98]

Hey everyone, sorry to post such a lame question but...

I'm really in need of a Pocket PC with built-in WiFi ASAP. I run a small business and I am constantly on the go so I need something that I can check my email frequently (where I get WiFi access) and do some other tasks (such as Word or Excel). Instant Messaging is handy also. Anyway, email and web access are most important to me. I need something with a strong email client such as Outlook. It has to have the ability to download my POP3 mail and leave a copy on the server so it doesn't delete the permanent copy online. I can't seem to find any information out on the Axim... As in what type of software it comes with, if any. I'm totally lost. I don't need anything really high end. Just has to have WiFi (802.11g would be nice, but 802.11b is fine, and has to have a strong email client, or the ability for me to add it (I'd prefer if it was preinstalled). A good battery life is also a MUST. What do you think? I like the Axim X30 for around $300...but I can't tell what's up with the software on it. Any other alternatives?

So my needs are:

WiFi (802.11b)
Outlook/Internet Explorer
Good Battery Life

Don't need all the multimedia mumbo jumbo

Thanks for your help! :D

[Sven Johannsen]

WiFi (802.11b)
Outlook/Internet Explorer

If the PPC has WiFi, it is 802.11b. There aren't any other options built in to any of them, though I think there is a G CF card out, but that's not what you wanted.
They all come with Contacts, Calendar, Tasks, Inbox, as seperate applications, which mirror the associated apps in desktop Outlook. The Inbox does what you want, getting PoP3 and leaving a copy on the server by default.

Good Battery Life

Can't have that and WiFi too ;) Most PPCs today have changeable batteries, so you could get a second one, or many have extended batteries for purchase which typically doubles the life, at a price. The price is $ and a thicker unit.

If your main goal is to retrieve mail, have you considered a PPC with BT and a BT capable cell phone with a data plan, or even a PPC Phone edition, or Smartphone?

I think the Dell X30 would do what you want. The Dell X50 mid would too. That's the Quarter VGA one with WiFi, not the top of the line VGA model.

[szamot]

You should get real and honest about your WANTS and NEEDS and opt out for a big boys toys like the sx66. It is better to have too much then not to have enough. I would say spend the money once and enjoy it twice. That is your best best.

[surur]

Pocketpc's are desktop companions, not desktop replacements. It does access outlook on your desktop and your email there and allow you to manipulate it on the go.

Choosing a pocketpc means going for a limited (and limiting) choice for the sake of mobility. You do not get full desktop level apps with a pocketpc. You do however get excellent third party software (http://www.handango.com/SoftwareCategory.jsp?jid=831B612BDBE9337DB24CD478CX18FF85&special=&platformId=2&bySection=1&siteId=1&sectionId=1425&topSectionId=1425&catalog=30&title=Business+%26+Professional)which are sometimes even better (and definitely better suited to the small screen) but you will not get desktop outlook. If you really need that a micro-laptop may be more of what you are after (though for much less battery life and much larger size). Some people (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/_archives/Apr05/replacedesktop.aspx)have however managed to use pocketpc's as their only computer.

I would actually recommend an HP hx4700 pocketpc for a number of reasons.

1) large screen
2) excellent battery life
3) laptop like track-pad
4) fast processor
5) HP support
6) best of all you can actually go to a shop and touch it and give it a go before you buy it. As you are a novice I would really recommend this, as pocketpc's are very different to windows xp.

If you are not in the USA I would also recommend the FSC Loox 720. It has a smaller screen, but has some additional high-end features. For your purposed a low-end unit would probably not be suitable.

http://www.mobile-review.com/pda/review/vga-comparing-en.shtml

Surur

PS: Some of these screenshots of WebIs (http://www.pocketinformant.com/productlist_windows.php)software may answer some of your questions re functionality.

http://www.pocketinformant.com/p_pocketinformant.php
http://www.pocketinformant.com/graphics/windowsce/screenshots/pocketinformant-large/102.gif

http://www.pocketinformant.com/graphics/windowsce/screenshots/pocketinformant-large/106.gif

http://www.pocketinformant.com/graphics/windowsce/screenshots/pocketinformant-large/11.gif

http://www.pocketinformant.com/graphics/windowsce/screenshots/pocketinformant-large/10.gif

http://www.pocketinformant.com/p_webismail.php
http://www.pocketinformant.com/graphics/windowsce/screenshots/webismail-large/1.gifhttp://www.pocketinformant.com/graphics/windowsce/screenshots/webismail-large/22.gif

Textmaker (http://www.softmaker.de/tmp_en.htm)- a very capable pocket-word replacement

http://www.softmaker.de/images/tmp_hi_lscape_en.gif
http://www.softmaker.de/images/ppc_men,en.gifhttp://www.softmaker.de/images/ppc_ins,en.gif

Planmaker (http://www.softmaker.de/pmpshots_en.htm)- a pocket excel replacement

http://www.softmaker.de/images/pmp04_en.gif
http://www.softmaker.de/images/pmp_hi_lscape_en.gif

[SVTour98]

Thanks for all the help guys. I am going to keep on searching and check out that HP you were talking about. Price is not an issue but I'm keeping it simple to the fact that I really only need this thing for 2 or 3 tasks. I have a laptop but I need this as something to keep up with email from clients when I'm on the go and don't feel like lugging around my laptop. I thought of the PPC phone...but I don't want to carry around a huge phone all the time. If I get a standalone PPC then I can just grab it and go when I need to...while keeping my same small phone. This isn't something I'll need everyday, just when I'm on the go.

I appreciate all the advice! If you have anymore suggestions, feel free to chime in. :D

[discordian]

I wouldn't focus so much on wifi. Wifi hotspots only cover a very small percent of the world.
Since price isn't an issue I'd spent the $$$ on a cell phone unit and plan that can get email via the phone connection.
Unless all your 'on the go' business is done in areas with wifi access.

I'd probably go with a blackberry in this case, but that's my personal preference after having a HORRIBLE experience with Hitachi G1000.

I love my ipaq but I like it separate from my cell phone.

[drop]

I am surprised you don't find more information on Axim :wink: . Check this out Aximsite (http://www.aximsite.com).

I am with discordian. If receiving emails in a timely fashion is important to you, then you should consider Blackberry. Excellent battery life, pushed emails and many other advantages. There are not as many applications available for Blackberry, but there are some excellent ones covering the basic.

[surur]

If he gets a blackberry he wont get the word and excel functionality at all. Also he may not have the network infrastructure in (I assume) his small business.

I would however agree that a pocketpcphone may be the best solution, with "pull" email every 3 minutes. However the only one I would recommend battery-life wise would be the hp6315, but we know that device is on the way out due to a number of problems.

Surur

[drop]

You are right, Surur. Since SVTour98 had made up his/her mind about a PPC, I shouldn't introduce another device to confuse the issue.

X30 is a good device. People are still buying it and are happy with it. X50/v is a more recent model but battery life is not as good as X30. ipaq 4100 series also has built in WiFi.

[SVTour98]

How would you compare the x30 and the x50v? in terms of battery life?

I know the x50v has a wireless on/off toggle switch which is kind of nice, I'm not sure the x30 has that feature. I'm kind of leaning toards the 50v right now but I'm going to do some more research this week...

[drop]

Check out this Axim model comparison table (http://www.aximsite.com/index.php?page=models).

The prices on the tables are all outdated. As with any Dell products, you should look out for deep savings that are available from time to time. Check Rasputinj.com (http://rasputinj.com/) for bargains.

I thought X30 has a bigger battery. I was wrong. But I guess it has a better battery life because it is not so power hungry as X50. :D

I have a X50v. It would last me a whole work day with room to spare without charging. I do frequent PIM, run FlexWallet several times a day, take notes from time to time, look up ListPro, occasionally a game or two during the day. I usually have about 40% left at the end of the day. That 40% would not last if I want to do some serious gaming, listen to music or read an ebook or two. No. I would need to have a full charge before attempting on anything like that.

That is before I got a travel sync cable. Now I have the X50v plug in to my workstation at work at all time. You could also get a travel sync cable from PocketPC Techs (http://www.pocketpctechs.com/Accessories.asp?type=lilsync). You can charge up the device at any wall jack or in your car or any USB port.

Here is my theory. Power is something I could manage. I could get a Socket Mobile Power Pack, or a travel sync cable to compensate the anemic battery that comes with X50v. But I do not want to give up VGA display, the graphics accelerator, the processor speed, etc. Other's mileage might differ. In my particular set up, X50v serves me well.

I am not pushing X50v. If you don't care for "all the multimedia mumbo jumbo" :wink:, X30 or ipaq 4150 might be a better choice. Although, you could do quite a lot of "multimedia mumbo jumbo" with those devices. Here is a link to a collection of X50/v reviews. (http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=53894&highlight=x50+review) Hope some of the information might help you make up your mind.

[surur]

How would you compare the x30 and the x50v? in terms of battery life?

I know the x50v has a wireless on/off toggle switch which is kind of nice, I'm not sure the x30 has that feature. I'm kind of leaning toards the 50v right now but I'm going to do some more research this week...

Unless you are on a very tight budget you might as well get the newer unit (Dell x50v) with the VGA screen and the very large extended battery. Isn't there a truism with tech that its best to get the best you can afford at the time, so your investment would last longer?

Surur

[drop]

Just know that the extended battery is not flush with the back of the device. You would need a case that could accomodate a bigger battery. There are many available.

[Menneisyys]

You may also want to visit http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=38827

[drop]

Excellent work, Menneisyys! :way to go:

I am going to bookmark your post. Thanks for the effort.

[Menneisyys]

Excellent work, Menneisyys! :way to go:

I am going to bookmark your post. Thanks for the effort.

Thanks :)

[SVTour98]

Ok I am 90% sold on the x50v. I don't want to cheap out and regret it later. I'll stick with the standard battery and if I need the extended I can get that down the road. Now to wait for a deal on it... I searched around and saw it was as low as $300 recently. So I'll wait for it to go for between $300 and $350.

[Sven Johannsen]

Ok I am 90% sold on the x50v. I don't want to cheap out and regret it later. I'll stick with the standard battery and if I need the extended I can get that down the road.

Note that you can also get a second standard battery. It will charge in the cradle, You can swap them out if you run low some time, and it doesn't add to the bulk of the X50v. You do need to remember to grab the extra battery though.

[SVTour98]

how about the HP H5550? i can get that for about $390. but it seems the axim x50v is better for a bit less?

[surur]

how about the HP H5550? i can get that for about $390. but it seems the axim x50v is better for a bit less?

Where did you dig up that dinosaur? It has reasonable specs, but its yesterday's pocketpc.

It has the older OS (wm2003 vs wm2003se) which means there is no native screen rotation (to landscape). Its only 240x320 pixels vs 480 x 640 pixels on the dell. It has an external aerial, which is a real oddity when it comes to pocketpc's. Also it only has one slot, which means you lose out mainly on cheap storage expansion via CF memory card or microdrive.

In its favour it has 128Mb ram and a fingerprint reader. The negatives outweigh these however.

Its natural successor appears to be the HP hx2750. At its cheapest it appears to be about $450. Its QVGA, but has 128Mb rom, 128Mb ram, a larger battery (1440 mah), is lighter (206 vs 164g), a faster processor (400mhz vs 624mhz) and still has the finger print reader and has dual slots (CF and SD). Also it has a optional flip cover, which means you may not need a case. All for only $60 more.

http://www.google.com/froogle?price1=400&price2=&btnP=Go&q=HP+iPAQ+hx2750&price=between&scoring=p
http://www.mobiletechreview.com/image/iPAQ_hx2750.jpg

Review here:
http://www.mobiletechreview.com/iPAQ_hx2750.htm

Surur

[SVTour98]

how about the HP H5550? i can get that for about $390. but it seems the axim x50v is better for a bit less?

Where did you dig up that dinosaur?

a "friend" recommended it to me, lol. doh!

[Mitch D]

I would personally suggest Surur's suggestion of going with the hx275x series if vga is not all that important to you.

I have played with the x50v and owned a hx4700 for about a month and I find my hx2750 beats either of the above mentioned devices for speed, style & storage.