Please recommend me a PDA that is good for watching movies....

[StormRider]

I am looking for recommendations for a PDA that is good for watching movies in either WMV or Mpeg4 format. Basically, a good portable media player (mp3, video etc). If you can, please recommend a model from both the Windows CE and Palm OS world. Thanks.

 

[robisc]

For the money in PPC I would get an Axim, for Palm, I like the Tapwave Zodiac

 

[StormRider]

The reason I am asking this is because I am exploring gift ideas for my brother's upcoming birthday....

 

[StormRider]

Originally posted by: robisc
For the money in PPC I would get an Axim, for Palm, I like the Tapwave Zodiac

Thanks, I'll take a look at those models... The Tapwave Zodiac can playback movies? I thought it was a gaming PDA....

 

[CVSiN]

PSP cheaper than a good movie playing PDA.. hell cheaper than a bad movie playing PDA...
my Dell was 450 bucks.... my PSP was 250
PSP screen and resolution look 20x better and is bigger

 

[robisc]

Thanks, I'll take a look at those models... The Tapwave Zodiac can playback movies? I thought it was a gaming PDA....

It is a "game" PDA but it has a great screen as well for movies, and awesome audio for a Palm.

 

[sparkyclarky]

Originally posted by: CVSiN
PSP cheaper than a good movie playing PDA.. hell cheaper than a bad movie playing PDA...
my Dell was 450 bucks.... my PSP was 250
PSP screen and resolution look 20x better and is bigger

Decent suggestion, but bear in mind two things.

1. limited codec support compared to the PDA
2. doesn't have any real PDA functionality which the OP seems to be looking for (as he explicitly wanted a PDA to be recommended)

and then there is the dead pixel problem which if you get a unit with it, could hinder a movie watching experience

 

[magomago]

Was going to reccomend the PSP but someone did it already 😀. Yeah, get a PSP defintely worth it especially how nice movies look encoded on it (There are sites with programs that do all the work for you)

1. limited codec support compared to the PDA
2. doesn't have any real PDA functionality which the OP seems to be looking for (as he explicitly wanted a PDA to be recommended)

and then there is the dead pixel problem which if you get a unit with it, could hinder a movie watching experience

Well if he wants it mailny for movies, he knows what to do.

As for dead pixel, i don't see how the same issue cannot occur with PDAs also~ those things also use LCDs and you can get a dead pixel.

Either way PSP is much cheaper, and you can play games on it 😉

http://www.pspvideo9.com/

go there for info on video on the PSP and how to play videos on it.

 

[sparkyclarky]

Originally posted by: magomago
Was going to reccomend the PSP but someone did it already 😀. Yeah, get a PSP defintely worth it especially how nice movies look encoded on it (There are sites with programs that do all the work for you)

1. limited codec support compared to the PDA
2. doesn't have any real PDA functionality which the OP seems to be looking for (as he explicitly wanted a PDA to be recommended)

and then there is the dead pixel problem which if you get a unit with it, could hinder a movie watching experience

Well if he wants it mailny for movies, he knows what to do.

As for dead pixel, i don't see how the same issue cannot occur with PDAs also~ those things also use LCDs and you can get a dead pixel.

Either way PSP is much cheaper, and you can play games on it 😉

http://www.pspvideo9.com/

go there for info on video on the PSP and how to play videos on it.

So far, the PSPs have had a higher percentage of units with dead pixels than pretty much any other portable TFT based device that I've read about/seen. While other LCD screens certainly suffer from dead pixels, the screens used in the PSP currently seem to have an inordinate number of problems in that area.

If he is not looking for PDA functionality, the PSP is a decent choice. But, memory cards still need to be purchased, and from a capacity/$ option, a PDA that takes compact flash and a microdrive might be a better deal. But unless you really shop around for a PDA, the screen on the PSP is likely to be more vivid.

 

[MetalMat]

If you want one for just viewing movies and listening to mp3s for less than 100 bucks, check out the Mustek PVR-A1. Its what the PI's at our company are starting to use when they go undercover and use covert cameras. Not the best quality thing out there, but gets the job done and its cheap.

 

[DJFuji]

Just about any Pocket PC will run movies effectively. In fact, the 206Mhz Arm based processors actually play movies BETTER than the 400Mhz ones in certain circumstances. It's even to the point now where smartphones can play FMV

 

[igowerf]

My Axim x30 High can play all of the TV shows that I download (all encoded in xvid) without needing recompression or resizing first.

 

[StormRider]

Hmmm, the Tapware Zodiac looks really interesting but I think it's a bit underpowered for video. It seems like people are encoding for 15 fps playback -- I want something that can do around 30 fps like the PSP

Unfortunately, the PSP is not really an option because that is what I got for my very early birthday gift! So, I would feel weird if I gave the same thing as his early birthday gift!

BTW, I'm confused -- why was this moved to the software forum? Asking for a recommendation on a PDA seems like it really belongs in the hardware forum which is where I originally posted this.

 

[igowerf]

My friend has an iPaq rx3715 with a 400Mhz Samsung processor (I think) and his plays videos pretty decently. I'd definitely suggestion something higher than 400Mhz though.

 

[MrBond]

Search Hot Deals for Axim. Geeks.com has (had?) a deal on the Axim X5 Advanced for $180, plus it included a case, folding keyboard, and USB sync cable with a car adapter.

I thought about getting a PSP for videos and mp3's, but honestly, for the cost of a PSP I can get an Axim and a 512mb CF card at least. Plus the X5's have 64mb of memory built in. The PSP comes with a 32mb card, and memory sticks are more expensive than CF.