Mobile Review Suggestions- Make your voice heard

[Matthew Witheiler]

Hey guys.

As you have probably noticed, I have been spending quite a bit of time getting the new AnandTech mobile section off the ground. To date, we have provided you with 18 mobile system, mobile graphics, and mobile CPU reviews and there are plenty more on the way (I am currently working on two very fast notebooks and should have some real neat stuff for you in the next few weeks (can you say tablet-pc?)).

With the effort that we are putting into the mobile side of AnandTech, I was hoping to get some feedback from you. Shortly, we will be expanding the mobile section to include not only laptops and mobile graphics but also PDAs, tablet machines, ultra-portable laptops, and more.

Moving forward, I would like feedback from you, the AnandTech reader, as to what is most important to you in mobile reviews. Right now we see PDA reviews in the near future. To make these reviews as comprehensive as possible, please take a few minutes to answer some PDA questions that will directly affect our review process:

What are some of the top features you look for in a PDA (pocket PC or other)?

What do you find most useful in PDA devices?

If you had to create a PDA of your own, what would it be most like (within reason)?

The answers you give here will give us a better idea of how to properly review incoming PDA systems. Put your voice to use and take the time to answer these questions. We will take every response into consideration.

Thanks!

 

[AndyHui]

- screen brightness and colour
- battery life, is the battery user removable
- software interoperability with desktop formats
- weight
- size
- speed
- stylus comfort, tap screen responsiveness
- directional pad....does it work in all 8 directions, can the PDA accept multiple button input

 

[oshelef]

I think form factor is a big deal. size, weight, etc...

I'd be interested in something along the lines, of these are the kinds of things you can do with this pda above basic functionality...i.e. this is what the speed/extra cost etc... is for something other than the baseline(palm III for me). Oh, and how well it does those basic functions. Anything annoying or difficult about basic stuff is a real show stopper.

os/platform compatibility.
Smart design(for example, USB powered charging).


Orie

 

[bgeh]

built in wireless support for bluetooth,802.11b and 802.11a

 

[ElFenix]

size, battery life, brightness, wireless support, expansion options.

software compatibility with desktop platforms is largely dependent on which pda platform you're on...

 

[xarar]

Price/performance is also a key factor for those that do not have lots of $$$. Besides that battery life, size, wieght, ease of use, features features features ...

 

[DAPUNISHER]

G-Shock rating!

 

[Czar]

What are some of the top features you look for in a PDA (pocket PC or other)?
- Functionality
- Battery Life
- Screen
- Size
- Weight

What do you find most useful in PDA devices?
- You can use it for almost anything and its portable

If you had to create a PDA of your own, what would it be most like (within reason)?
- The total size would be just one screen with very little borders around it, it would have to be under 200g and I wouldnt mind it being a little bigger in the with and height department but it must be very thin.

 

[ztadmin]

you'll have to take a look at screen sensitivity. i've used PDAs before that are too pressure sensitive, and some that are not sensitive enough. if you visited FIC at comdex and took a look at their PDA and Tablet PCs, you may remember their tablet PC being extremely easy to write on. It felt like paper. This is how a pda should be as well.

 

[cong]

Don't forget durability - how well it'll handle a drop here and there. It's some what related to g-shock rating I strongly believe in durability when it comes to mobile devices, if I can make it home in one piece so should the device I'm carrying.

 

[dpopiz]

in order from most important:
price
durability
ease of use in everyday life
pocketability
screen quality indoors and out

 

[mcveigh]

for me the concern is networking. I would love to share certain info and file among, my desktop, laptop, pda, and cell phone.

Battery life and durability are my other main concerns.

 

[CJP]

I'd like my pda to be able to stream audio from any audio link in pocket internet explorer.

 

[Ionizer86]

Let's see: screen brightness (indoors and out)
Listed/actual battery life
Weight and dimensions
Slots (CF and/or SD-MMC etc)
Price, of course
Benchmarks on actual speed
Batt life at different CPU settings
Software package: for a pocket pc, an image viewer and a powerpoint compatible app can be useful
The little things: comfortable stylus? Button layout? Fragility of device? Speaker strength/quality of music played via headphone
Wifi is a plus

If I were to design a PDA:
Pocket PC 2002
Weight: 4-5oz
Chip: Xscale 300-400mhz
ROM: 48mb
Ram: 128mb
Storage: IBM microdrive 340mb-1gb
Screen size: 3.5-4"
Screen: Transreflective
Batt life: 8hrs
Networking: 802.11b
hehe, the above would be cool to have

 

[hirschma]

I think that MANY reviews miss a few criteria that are useful to large class of users, especially more technically savvy users. All PDA's work great as datebooks. But how about for uses that matter to the geek?

How about commenting on:

* "Independent" functionality

That is to say, how well, and for how long, does a PDA work WITHOUT going back into its cradle? Is there a way to load software without having it tethered to a PC? Can it replace a notebook for certain functions?

I know that Pocket PC has been constantly evolving, but I had one of the first Ipaq's, and it was basically a brick after a while without doing a full synch. Couldn't load new software, etc. Network synch was flakey, too, and forget about doing anything over the Internet.

Personally, I really love the Sharp Zaurus just for this reason. You don't have to ever hook it to a PC if you don't want - you CAN use it as a mini notebook.

* Synching hassles

How well do different synch modes work? How long does it take? For example, Palms sync really, really fast, even across slow serial links. PPC's tend to take amazingly long to synch, no matter how fast the connection. The Zaurus, well, either the synching works or it doesn't. And it doesn't too often

And just because it can work with a USB cable, how about other modes? IR is often overlooked, but very nice to have. Does Bluetooth activate automagically when your devices come within range? Does either Ethernet or 802.11x work well for sync?

* 3rd party apps

Palm just rocks here. PPC is very good. Zaurus, running Linux, has the most useful free apps IMO.

* Functionality profiles. For example, how about rating it for:

- Gaming
- Road warrior "office" apps
- Road warrior office accessories - can you put the display into landscape mode? Are there large keyboards? Can you get a device to get VGA out for presentations? Is there good software? Can you print, either thru IR, network, Bluetooth, etc., to printer? Can you fax?
- Wireless communications - how good are the email/web clients for the device?
- SysAdmin terminal replacement
- "Hackability" - ability to replace OS, apps, etc.

* Drop survival (this one may not be popular with the manufacturers)

How about a final test where the unit is dropped five feet onto different surfaces? No, I'm really not kidding here. Most people would be amazed to know that the older Handsprings were just about indestructable. My Zaurus, however, doesn't take knocks very well. This is a really important feature that NO ONE ever tests.

Most of these things were present in the PDA reviews I used to do for the old pathfinder.com site - at one point, I owned like a dozen different models (this was back when manufacturers were happy to give them away ). I'd go through all those oddities, but doubtful that anyone cares. I will say that, like most things, they don't make 'em like they used to. Almost every unit I tried survived the 5 foot onto carpet fall easily, which is more than I can say of current models.

jonathan

 

[wfbberzerker]

-location of buttons (am i going to be tapping the on/off button while its in my pocket?)
-comfort (no sharp corners, fits comfortably in my hand)

other than that, pretty much everything everyone else said.

 

[DaveSimmons]

What are some of the top features you look for in a PDA (pocket PC or other)?
If you had to create a PDA of your own, what would it be most like (within reason)?

Things to test:
- stereo audio quality for MP3 playback, test using high-bitrate "--alt preset extreme" 234kbps MP3 not kazaa 128kbps garbage.
- built-in wifi (if present) using tests similar to practicallynetworked.com.
- image quality (and check they aren't lying about bits/pixel like Palm did)
- battery life

Things I want
- built in wifi, or 2 slots (1 CF) so I can add both wifi and memory not just 1 at a time

Things I don't care about
- bluetooth

Something I'd also consider buying is a book-size tablet PC (vs. the magazine-sized being made now). It would be perfect for surfing, eBooks, remote player for MP3 jukebox, etc. since the screen would be 2-4 times the size of a PocketPC.

 

[gsingh]

Looking for cheap enclosures for 3.5" drives, to be used from USB/FIREWIRE ports.

 

[robilium]

Non-PDA related:
I just wanted to say how much I love the new Mobile section. They are the best reviews bar none for laptops. I love how they go over the build and construction of laptops and actually take them apart. Recently I have purchased a 2800T for myself and a presario 900 for my cousin. Other sites have reviews but they are targeted towards a business or non-tech user.

Please keep all the mobile reviews coming!

 

[Utterman]

Could you do a laptop battery shootout? Like take Several notebooks from Dell, Apple, IBM and compare their battery life under several situations like: light use, DVD play, heavy use and min. use.

 

[Stripe]

I have used Palm for the last couple of years after jumping to Windows CE too soon. Palms have always been faster at what I need and the battery never gets low as long as I stick it in the cradle every few days.
Here's what I need to know:
Screen - is it readable in bright sunlight?
Battery - how ling does it last and is it rechargeable?
Size - smaller the better
Function - all I care about are the Palm core functions - calendar, to do list, phone book, calculator, and one add on that I use a lot - a photo viewer.
I currently use a Palm 515 and love it.

 

[Paul]

Top features I look for

Must Haves:
PocketPC OS
Dual Memory Slots
Desirable:
Good Battery Life
Good bright screen
Built-in WiFi
Built-in Bluetooth

What's most useful in a PDA
Information Management.
One device that does all.
The ability to have Outlook with me.
Extremly useful for checking my schdule but also for reading those e-mails I skimmed over earlier.
Being able to have all my notes/documents with me and in one place.
This saves me time from having to look for that piece of paper I scribbled something on.
Maps for navigation and city guides to find places to eat, movie times, etc...
MP3/WMA player for when I'm in the car, on the bus or away on business.,
Also short movies as well.
Voice memos for when you are in the car or can't write stuff down.
I've successfully used my PDA's built-in mic to make a recording for a song a group of us were rehearsing. Then I converted it into mp3 format and posted it on the web so people in the group could listen and practice the song.
Casual web-browsing, e-mail checking, AIM chatting when around an access point using WiFi.

What my ideal PDA would be
Toshiba Genio e550 form factor running the PocketPC 2002 Phone Edition OS
with built-in WiFi and maybe Bluetooth + GPRS
XScale 400Mhz CPU, 128MB RAM, 48MB ROM
Dual CF & SD I/O slots
Jog-Dial
Removable li-poly super high mah battery
4" back-lit screen
Cradle w/ 2nd battery charger

Oh, and some GOOD ACCESSORIES!
Most importantly, a well designed keyboard that isn't too bulky
a decent 2.0 Megapixel camera attachment

 

[cmdrdredd]

my ideal PDA needs lots of memory and I'd also love to see a PDA with Firewire or IEE1394 for transfering files to and from my PC. Also a battery that recharges while it's attacked to my PC via firewire would be cool too.

 

[MadRat]

I want to know how much it will cost and perform to do:

1 - Support for Time Management and E-Mail Tools (Lotus Notes, Microsoft Exchange, etc.)

• Datebook/Calender Tools
• Checklist/To Do List Tools
• Notepad Tools
• Handwriting Recognition Tools and Alternates (Keyboards, Speech Recognition, etc.)

2 - Dialup and what choices for doing dialup (internal/external options)
3 - Support for Office Applications and their compatibility with Microsoft Office

• Word Processing
• Spreadsheets
• Databases

4 - Network Support

• HotSync across a network option?
• Compatibility with most ISPs?
• Ethernet support?
• Wireless support?

5 - Display Features

• Color/Grayscale support
• Touchscreen support?

6 - Display Features

• Hotkey support
• Handwriting support?
• Touchscreen support?
• Voice Command support?

7 - Accessories

• Recharging cradles and quicklink options
• Memory Expansion
• Multimedia Playback

8 - Battery Life

• Internal/External Battery Pack or Batteries compatibility
• Recharging options

etc etc etc -

 

[MadRat]

Bump!