I'm gonna buy a PDA when...

[Namuna]

When I see this configuration, I'll be buyin one...

* Color screen able to handle at least 16bit color
* 128mb ram built in, with upgrade path
* USB Docking station
- The Dock would have a port for external Keyboard
* Li-Ion battery
* MP3 compatible with Stereo headphone jack
* Blackberry Email capable (or whatever other wireless email service)
* IR Port (with an option to be able to use the unit as a Universal Remote)
* All the regular PDA software plus...
- Video playback capability

And it's ALL GOTTA BE UNDER $300!

Yeah baby, let's see THAT happen!

 

[Ariel]

<< Yeah baby, let's see THAT happen! >>

may happen sooner than you think

I'm guessing the battery technology (the ability to power something like that) is most lacking right now.

 

[StageLeft]

I had a blackberry for a while (the smaller one), boy did it's email kick ass. I finally brought it back because I realized that sitting in front of a comp 10+ hours a day didn't really make it's ownership necessary. I can't wait until PDAs are sweet though, I want wireless net surfing - and not neutered crap - I mean full graphics with IE baby. WORD.

 

[IBhacknU]

Hey Ariel... you took the words right out of my mouth.

HEY, THOSE ARE MY WORDS!

<blushing>whooopps! wrong browser. Ariel is off today</blushing>

 

[The Stigenator]

why wireless email.. I need wireless net access. I have a palm VII and I have a text browser.. not bad, but I wouldnt mind Internet Explorer or some other graphical browser.

MP3 is a waste of memory prefer a cross between the Windows CE based systems with the Palm VII.

That I would buy immediately.

 

All I can ask for is to have Palm like functionality in a cell phone, without a huge clunky device.

If I can get PalmOS in a Nokia 82xx sized device I would be happy. Save color, multimedia and gaming gloss for a seperate device.

My calculator does require 128M or RAM, I don't expect my PDA/cellphone to either.

 

[NFS4]

The closet thing meeting your needs is the Compaq iPAQ

32MB built in (highest available of any PDA)
12-bit screen (not as bad as you think)
There will be a $99 fold away keyboard available for the iPAQ (similar to the one used on the Palms). I doubt that you will see any built-in external keyboard functionality though.
Under $300!! Geez man, call me in 2 years.
And as for IE, all PocketPC's (iPAQ included) come with PocketIE which is a resized version of IE5.0. It resizes the pages down to fit the screen of the PDA and look marvelous. None of that pea-soup green sh!t on the Palm Just about all of the functionality in IE5.0 &quot;full-size&quot; is available including cookies, Java support, favorites, caching, etc. etc.

Everything else you listed the iPAQ handles beautifully. In fact, I was just showcasing the MPEG &quot;Clinton, the Final Days&quot; in class today with PocketTV. Everyone was in awe an gathered around me desk. I then played a few MP3's for them and showed them the Transcriber hand recognition and they were speechless.

It was about that time that my professor walked through the door, and was wondering what was going on. He peered over and was quite impressed. He's looking for an upgrade for his Palm III.


<< MP3 is a waste of memory >>


That's what my 32MB and 80MB CompactFlash cards are for My 32MB internal memory is used for data/program storage and program memory.

 

[RACER]

I believe &quot;crisp&quot; video playback capability is still a whiles off.

 

[Napalm381]

<< None of that pea-soup green sh!t on the Palm >>

Comparing a 500 buck color compaq to a 250 dollar Palm/Handspring? Talk about unfair

 

[NFS4]

<< Comparing a 500 buck color compaq to a 250 dollar Palm/Handspring? Talk about unfair >>


Hey, I fight dirty Well, I could compare it to the Visor. Don't they have a new color model?


<< I believe &quot;crisp&quot; video playback capability is still a whiles off. >>


The iPAQ is even better than *crisp* It's phenominal. 206MHz is plenty for *crisp* video playback.

 

[Napalm381]

Yup, Handspring has a new color model out, and a model that's the same as the Visor Deluxe but has a faster processor. From what I've heard, the new models are very very good.

 

It's really apples to oranges. See the &quot;battery&quot; thread too. Microsoft is the one who is instigating a Palm vs. PocketPC feud. &quot;Can your Palm do this?&quot; Palm users could care less.

 

[Total Refected Power]

And voice (phone) capabilities.