12-12-2002, 09:30 PM
|
|
Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
|
|
Mercury News | 12/12/2002 | Mike Langberg: Dell makes strong PDA debut with Axim
It is possible for a Palm fan to post an objective review of a Pocket PC, and Mike Langberg seems to have overcome the fear of being ostracized by his peers and done just that with the Dell Axim X5.
"Dell Computer has made a brilliant debut in the crowded field of personal digital assistants with its fully featured and very affordable Axim X5 running Microsoft's PocketPC software. The Axim is such a good deal that it changes my world view: I'm now prepared, for the first time, to recommend first-time PDA buyers consider PocketPC as a reasonable alternative to the well-established Palm software."
He goes on to do comparisons of the Axim to the M130, Zire, various Clies, a Treo and other Pocket PCs in features, usability and price. It is still clear that for Microsoft to win over many Palm enthusiasts, they have to figure out what "simple interface" means without destroying the rich feature set the Pocket PC has. Oh the complexity of being able to assign multiple categories to a contact and having a file system that means you don't have to know or care if your data or app is on a storage card or in RAM. :roll:
"I remain a big fan of Palm's software. For ease of use and fast response, PDAs running the Palm operating system continue to outperform PocketPC, especially at basic tasks such as calendar and address book. The Palm side of the PDA divide also continues to offer the lowest entry price for buyers on a budget, with the monochrome Palm Zire at $99 and the monochrome Sony Cli� PEG-SL10 at $149. I never recommended a PocketPC before because PDAs running the software were so expensive and slow. Now that Dell has removed those objections, I regard PocketPC as a worthy contender -- especially for those who want to work with Word or Excel documents, or who run their lives entirely through Microsoft's Outlook. All PocketPCs are designed to synchronize with Outlook, so any data you enter in Outlook on your computer automatically flows to your PDA, and vice versa. I borrowed the $199 Axim and found just about every facet sparkled." 
|
| |
|
|
|
12-12-2002, 10:22 PM
|
|
Theorist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 287
|
|
Judging by the content I think this is Mr. Langberg's first time using a PocketPC in the last year and a half. The speed "issues" he talks about were no existant from at least the first 206Mhz processor.
When I was a kid I did NOT want to eat Chinese food. No WAY, it tastes aweful, looks terrible... Then one day I ACTUALLY tried it!!!
I had the same reaction as Mr. L...YUM!
dazz
|
| |
|
|
|
12-12-2002, 10:56 PM
|
|
Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,466
|
|
I agree with Langberg. I rarely have recommended Pocket PCs simply because of the prohibitive cost. How can I tell a person looking for their very first PDA that they should spend $600 for an iPaq? It defies all reason. Now, however, I have been recommending the Dell to EVERYONE looking for a nice "starter" PDA with a color screen. The PalmOS selection is a disgrace by comparison. $199 on the PalmOS side will buy you a Sony SJ20 with a circa-1998 monochrome screen and limited functionality. Now, on the PPC side, that same price will net you a kick-ass high-res color screen PPC with all the trimmings. What's not to like?
Os preference might keep it out of the hands of some, but any PalmOS user who is not the least bit impressed with the Axim (at least in terms of value) is an outright zealot.
:roll:
|
| |
|
|
|
12-13-2002, 01:54 AM
|
|
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 725
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Dazz
Judging by the content I think this is Mr. Langberg's first time using a PocketPC in the last year and a half. The speed "issues" he talks about were no existant from at least the first 206Mhz processor.
|
Actually, there are still some speed bumps (pun intended) if you will with the 206mhz StrongArm. Mostly in media player and reader but with other apps too! (and don't even ask about PocketFritz )
|
| |
|
|
|
12-13-2002, 02:17 AM
|
|
Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,466
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by ThomasC22
Actually, there are still some speed bumps (pun intended) if you will with the 206mhz StrongArm. Mostly in media player and reader but with other apps too! (and don't even ask about PocketFritz ) |
Yeah, overall speed is "Palm-like" until you get into the major apps....at which point, performance tends to bog down somewhat. But it's not too bad. Pocket IE is in desperate need of an overhaul though. And MS Reader is just plain awful. :? Palm Reader for PPC is EXCELLENT!
|
| |
|
|
|
12-13-2002, 04:04 AM
|
|
Theorist
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 298
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Foo Fighter
Os preference might keep it out of the hands of some, but any PalmOS user who is not the least bit impressed with the Axim (at least in terms of value) is an outright zealot.
|
Tell me about it.
I've officially thrown my hands in the air at attempting to post on the PIC forums. It's basically impossible to get anyone to admit that the Axim is an impressive device.
People are comparing it to the Zire!!
So sad.
(of course, it's also sad that there don't seem to be any knowledgable PPC users posting there either. Heck, I have a Palm OS device and i post wherever the news is good. I have no loyalty to an OS. Whatever gets me the most bang for the buck, and i enjoy using, i will purchase).
|
| |
|
|
|
12-13-2002, 04:30 AM
|
|
Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,466
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by sub_tex
I've officially thrown my hands in the air at attempting to post on the PIC forums. It's basically impossible to get anyone to admit that the Axim is an impressive device.
|
That's why I rarely post at PIC. The mere mention of the word "PocketPC" will get you branded as a PocketPC fanboy or PPC Troll or M$ cheerleader by the knee-jerk reactionaries there. It is IMPOSSIBLE to talk sense to those fools. I like PalmOS to, but good gravy...talk about blind devotion. 8O
A few weeks ago, when the Tungsten first came out, I was complaining about the fact that Dell was able to offer so much for so little, while Palm was charging so much for so little. That was the wrong thing to say. Several people pounced on my ass with nasty comments and flame-mail. And when I first posted on the Tungsten dust issue, one person accused me of being part of some conspiracy cooked up by PPC users to scare people away from buying a Tungsten! :roll:
You can hold their faces to the sun, but you can't make them see the light. :roll:
Quote:
|
People are comparing it to the Zire!!
|
That's funny, when I tried to compare the Axim to the Zire (from a price/value standpoint) I was labeled an idiot for comparing two diametrically apposed products. Now you say they are comparing it to the Zire? Looks like the Palm trolls will use whatever argument suits their fancy.
Quote:
|
(of course, it's also sad that there don't seem to be any knowledgeable PPC users posting there either.
|
There is one rabble rouser there by the name of Ska who constantly throws gasoline on the fire.
Quote:
|
Heck, I have a Palm OS device and i post wherever the news is good. I have no loyalty to an OS. Whatever gets me the most bang for the buck, and i enjoy using, i will purchase).
|
Yeah, I lean towards the PalmOS, but still remain fairly agnostic. I'm just as comfortable with my Axim as I am with my Palm. In the end it all comes down to what works for you.
|
| |
|
|
|
12-13-2002, 04:32 AM
|
|
Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Foo Fighter
Yeah, I lean towards the PalmOS
|
Palm fanboy.
:wink: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:  nfire:
|
| |
|
|
|
12-13-2002, 04:37 AM
|
|
Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,466
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
Palm fanboy.
:wink: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: nfire: |
Dance, monkeyboy!! :snipersmile: nfire:
|
| |
|
|
|
12-13-2002, 04:42 AM
|
|
Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Foo Fighter
That's why I rarely post at PIC. The mere mention of the word "PocketPC" will get you branded as a PocketPC fanboy or PPC Troll or M$ cheerleader by the knee-jerk reactionaries there. It is IMPOSSIBLE to talk sense to those fools. I like PalmOS to, but good gravy...talk about blind devotion. 8O
|
Indeed, what I liked about PDABuzz and like about this site is its community: it's generally well-educated, open-minded (biased, but willing to listen), and great fun to talk to. Slashdot used to be like that years ago, but it's degraded into what you say above; just substitute "Linux" for "Palm". While I browse the forums there, the number of closed-minded people often makes me (metaphorically) throw my hands up in despair. We... well, we've only got Ed. :way to go:
Let's not lose that community feel, m'kay? 
--bdj
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
