newbie help

[vivian]

I don't know much about pocket pc's at all, so this may be a very dumb question.....

Is there a pocket pc out there that acts like a computer and you could load a designCad program to it? Or would you have to use a terminal server type thing to run of a computer to do this?

I know someone who is always full of ideas, and has many scraps of papers with doodles on them, so he'd like a pocket pc to be able to draw them up right away and organize them.

I guess even just a notepad with the ability to draw and then transfer to a computer later would also work.

Does anyone have any ideas on what kind of software would work best?

[applejosh]

PocketPCs (aka Windows Mobile Devices) run software specifically made for PocketPCs. I believe there was a CAD program of some sort for the PPC platform, but I don't know what/where it is. As far as a "doodling" type program, my iPAQ (and I'm assuming most/all PPC's) has a Notes application that can recording doodles and stuff. Unfortunately, I don't know of a way to export them to something another program could use (eg. .jpg, .bmp, etc.). But it is somewhat convenient for jotting down quick ideas.

You can also use a terminal services client from a PPC to connect to an XP desktop (or possibly a Windows Terminal Server, although I don't know what security capabilities the PPC client has).

Also, I'd recommend getting a VGA device if you want to do these kinds of things. The extra screen resolution (not to mention VGA devices generally have physically bigger screens) would be very beneficial.

Cheers!

[Nurhisham Hussein]

I was pretty much in the same pickle (although for stats programs rather than CAD). Before giving up and resigning myself to a laptop (albeit an ultralightweight laptop) through lack of funds, I was considering stuff like this:

http://www.dynamism.com/libretto/index.shtml

http://www.dynamism.com/oqo/index.shtml

http://www.dynamism.com/u50/index.shtml

While not exactly pocketable, they are very portable compared to even ultralight notebooks. The latter two incorporate touch screens as well. The only problem with these babies is price :|

If your friend is on a cheaper budget, a google search turned up this article with some useful links, though it is seriously dated.:

http://cadence.advanstar.com/2001/0801/cadlab_pocketpc0801.html

I wouldn't go the terminal services client route. While there are secure solutions available (look up VNC/Remote Access), it's just too slow for anything more than general maintenance tasks unless you're sitting on a wireless hotspot - believe me I tried. And while I agree with applejosh that a VGA device would be more useful, the screens are most certainly not physically bigger on average. The only Windows Mobile VGA devices with larger than average screens are the Toshiba e830 and the HP iPaq hx47xx series, and the Tosiba has been discontinued. The rest are of average size only.

[vivian]

Thanks guys!

I think I'll do some checking on the VGA options.