Pocket PC's: Who's got one?

[SexyK]

Alright, well, I'm thinking about picking up one of Dell's new $299 Pocket PCs. So I guess I have a couple questions for the Pocket PC users out there:

1) How is web browsing on the PocketPC platform? If i get one, I'll be picking up a CF 802.11b card also so I can use email and the web on it. What kind of pages are useable on the screen? (could you read anandtech forums, for example)

2) Is the device useable as a note-taker at all? If I'm going to put down the cash, I want more from it than just contacts and appointments. Ideally I'd be able to use it in a lot of different situations - light note taking in class, and it'd be decent if i could edit desktop Word documents on it also, since I do a lot of proof reading.

3) Mention which PocketPC you have experience with, and any other uses you have found for it.

Thanks a lot!

Kramer

 

[Wingznut]

I have an iPaq 3650 and I use it every day at work. I take notes on it all the time... More often than paper.

I've never browsed the web with it (outside of AvantGo).

But I love my PocketPC, and I'm not sure I could live without it.

 

[Vegito]

if sd/io takes off.. it be great.. i got wireless ipaq and love it.. surf in bathroom, etc..

 

[MedicBob]

I have had 2 PPC devices, both Ipaqs, 1 Linux device Sharp Zaurus SL-5500, and a Palm Vx. Without a doubt PPC and the Zaurus are much, much better then the Palm. Trowing out the other devices color screen, the iPaqs and Zaurus were good for taking notes. For surfing the web I preferred the Zaurus, but that isn't why I have them. I use mine for work and for contacts, etc. I like the PPC iPaq's better then the Linux based Zaurus only because the software I use at work is only PPC/Palm.

 

[ozone13]

Originally posted by: forcesho
if sd/io takes off.. it be great.. i got wireless ipaq and love it.. surf in bathroom, etc..

Okay, if you are spending THAT much time in the bathroom you got other things to worry about!

 

[draggoon01]

Originally posted by: MedicBob
I have had 2 PPC devices, both Ipaqs, 1 Linux device Sharp Zaurus SL-5500, and a Palm Vx. Without a doubt PPC and the Zaurus are much, much better then the Palm. Trowing out the other devices color screen, the iPaqs and Zaurus were good for taking notes. For surfing the web I preferred the Zaurus, but that isn't why I have them. I use mine for work and for contacts, etc. I like the PPC iPaq's better then the Linux based Zaurus only because the software I use at work is only PPC/Palm.

what makes ipaq and zaurus better at note taking? is the graffiti more intuitive? does it have handwriting recognition? does it just store images of what you write/draw?

i'm looking into getting a handheld for notetaking and was about to get a palm with foldable keyboard, how would that compare?

thanks for any info

 

[fr]

1. The screen is only 240 pixels wide (or 320 if you rotate it). Open an IE window that wide and see how it is like browsing a web site. It sucks doesn't it? Java is so far not supported.

2. It is not that great for taking notes, but very doable. I prefer to do it on paper as I can easily make changes and I can see everything all at once. I also don't want to look like a geek taking notes on a PDA.

3. You can use it to play games, listen to music, read cached web pages and news, store photos, chat on MSN, ICQ, AIM, and lots of other stuff.

 

[CJP]

I was able to surf the web on my pocket pc but it wouldn't launch streaming audio or video links in web pages except for the Real and Windows mobile homepages. I don't think the players can do it yet.

 

[kgraeme]

I have pockets and PCs.

1. The screen is only 240 pixels wide (or 320 if you rotate it). Open an IE window that wide and see how it is like browsing a web site. It sucks doesn't it? Java is so far not supported.

True, but with nyditot, you can change the resolution.

 

[Celstar]

Are you talking about note taking for lectures in class?

I can't imagine how you would be able to keep up even if you were the world's most efficient grafitti writer. And even if you had a portable keyboard, it would still be difficult.

 

[kgraeme]

Originally posted by: Celstar
Are you talking about note taking for lectures in class?

I can't imagine how you would be able to keep up even if you were the world's most efficient grafitti writer. And even if you had a portable keyboard, it would still be difficult.

Agreed.

 

[UlricT]

well... I got in on the iPAQ 3835 deal that was running around about the end of september, and I have found it to be really helpful even as a college student. This has got pretty good handwriting recognition, so I take notes on it all the time (just general stuff, not class notes or anything).

I have been using avantgo to read up on the main anandtech page, using the media player quite often for MP3's, using microsoft money to track my accounts, outlook to check my mail and set up my class schedule, the microsoft reader software to read a ton of e-books, and some other stuff. And all this for $237.56 !! (will be $137 when i get in my 2 more rebates).

Oh yeah, my college is wiring up for 802.11b, so in spring i'm going to get a pcmcia slot, an 802.11b card and a 128MB SD card so I can sit and surf anandtech in the more boring classes .

 

[Darein]

I have an iPAQ 3650 and it works ok for notes. I personally prefer paper since most of my classes are math and science. Its very handy for PIM.