PocketPC vs Palm benefits/drawbacks of either one? I need help deciding on a PDA.

[777php]

Mr. Potatohead...you're fightin a losing battle....you are never going to convince the PPC users that PALM is a better handheld platform than PPC.

 

[potatosalad]

<< Mr. Potatohead...you're fightin a losing battle....you are never going to convince the PPC users that PALM is a better handheld platform than PPC. >>



I am laying down the facts. Whether you are prepared to be convinced or not is up to you.

Palm has better support, a larger software library, better battery life, more licensees and accessory producers, and can do every single thing that a Microsoft contraption can do.

 

[RoninRXN]

<<

<< you're comparing Palm 4.1 with CE 2.0 again. >>



This isn't about reliability, it's about battery life.

Stay a couple of days away from your computer / cradle / adaptor and your PDA is worthless.

Mine isn't! Mine lasts two months on the beach, camping, hiking, anywhere!

Why settle for less? >>



Wait...I seem to recall someone saying...



<< If you're the kind of man who settles for half-ass solutions that don't work half the time, go right ahead.

I want something that I can use anywhere anytime. >>



It's not about reliablity now?

Why would I ever be away from an AC outlet for more than 12 hours? and why would I be using my PDA for more than 12 hours on vacation?

And why would I take my PDA hiking/biking/beach/camping? It's liable to be damaged.

If we're gonna talk about battery life, then obviously a 206 Mhz proc uses more power than a 33Mhz one.

A 2 month battery life is REDUNDANT Have you ever gone on a two month vacation? During that time, are you completely out of touch with the modern world and nowhere near a AC outlet?

BTW, my Palm lasts a week. I don't know where you're getting 2 months from.

 

[Ameesh]

man thats stupid! you have to use hardware solution for it not software, what if i dont want to use PPTP i want to use L2TP IPSec? you'll have to wait for xircom to give you that functionality. one word : LAME

 

[NFS4]

<<

<< Mr. Potatohead...you're fightin a losing battle....you are never going to convince the PPC users that PALM is a better handheld platform than PPC. >>



I am laying down the facts. Whether you are prepared to be convinced or not is up to you.

Palm has better support, a larger software library, better battery life, more licensees and accessory producers, and can do every single thing that a Microsoft contraption can do. >>


Potatosalad. I'm being serious here. What kind of car/truck do you drive?? I just want to make a comparison like you are with Palm vs PocketPC.

 

[RoninRXN]

<<

<< Mr. Potatohead...you're fightin a losing battle....you are never going to convince the PPC users that PALM is a better handheld platform than PPC. >>



I am laying down the facts. Whether you are prepared to be convinced or not is up to you.

Palm has better support, a larger software library, better battery life, more licensees and accessory producers, and can do every single thing that a Microsoft contraption can do. >>



Hehehe...other than Palm, Handspring and Sony, which company makes widely used PDAs based on Palm?

Alright...and of those, Which has not gone down in the market share and which is not in jeopardy of being taken over by a larger company?

Of those...ONLY SONY, which is why I have a Sony.

As for licenses, I see more PPC licenses. Learn to read and see NFS4's post on how many there are. Also...did you know IBM is going PPC?

What kind of accessories are there for a Palm that PPC doesn't have?

And what kind of USEFUL software is there for a Palm that isn't on PPC?

Better support than Compaq, HP and Toshiba?

Please answer ALL the questions as you are notorious now for AVOIDING ISSUES YOU CANNOT ARGUE

If you do, then I will be very impressed. I'd like to see what you have to say without a MS bias.

 

[777php]

nm

 

[potatosalad]

<< Please answer ALL the questions >>



You have (incorrectly) answered all of your own questions.

There are more hardware manufacturers for the Palm platform than the Microsoft contraption platform. This includes main units and accessories, combined.

There are more software developers and more software titles for the platform than the Microsoft contraption platform.

There is more academic research targetting the Palm platform than any other handheld platform.

Palm is on the very cutting edge of technology.

As for "useful" hardware or software, anything that sells profitably (and widely) is obviously useful to lots of people. By this common sense definition, the Palm platform is more useful than any other platform.

 

[RoninRXN]

<< You have (incorrectly) answered all of your own questions. >>



Wrong again, Watson. =) You have failed to answer in detail. Pbbbbt...I could get this off the Palm website. I want you to go into detail about what so good about Palm.

You don't get a gold star.



<< There are more hardware manufacturers for the Palm platform than the Microsoft contraption platform. This includes main units and accessories, combined. >>



Really? And how many of them are significant? The top 4 positions are split between Palm and Pocket PC.

However, that's not what I asked. I said "What kind of accessories are there for a Palm that isn't available for a PPC?"



<< There are more software developers and more software titles for the platform than the Microsoft contraption platform. >>



Really? Link me. I linked you to several sites. The least you can do is explain it to a PPC Heathen like me. Please tell me what kind of useful software you get on a Palm that isn't available on a PPC format or an equivalent PPC program?



<< There is more academic research targetting the Palm platform than any other handheld platform. >>



This I won't dispute...but from my observations, I'm doubting you're a doctor. There are more medical programs for Palm but I seriously doubt you can do much else on a Palm that you can't do on a PPC. Please explain. This was rather vague. I'm a PPC Heathen remember? I can get this claim off the Palm website or an ad if I wanted.



<< Palm is on the very cutting edge of technology. >>



REEEEEAALLY...is that why they're going down in the market? Is that why they have to lay off employees? Is that why they utterly SUCK at playing video and MP3? PPC is as close to an actual computer as handhelds get. It is FAR ahead of Palm OS in terms of technology and I'm pretty sure no one other than you is going to doubt that.



<< As for "useful" hardware or software, anything that sells profitably (and widely) is obviously useful to lots of people. By this common sense definition, the Palm platform is more useful than any other platform. >>



Well then, by that same definition, people above have mentioned that they can buy DVDs and divx them to play on the PPC. In that case, aren't there a lot of DVDs out?

I'm willing to bet that there are no accessories out for a Palm that you can't get for a PPC. GPS? Bluetooth?

So what kinds of software is there for a Palm that isn't available for a PPC? Obviously games are better on PPC but spreadsheet, financial, etc are all also available for PPC. What else? Video? Other than Sony, which Palm plays FMV? And which Palm actually does it WELL!?

 

[potatosalad]

<< Well then, by that same definition, people above have mentioned that they can buy DVDs and divx them to play on the PPC. In that case, aren't there a lot of DVDs out? >>



DVDs nor DivXes are Palm nor Microsoft contraption exclusive.

If we go by your logic, we would have to count up all the mp3s, gifs, jpegs, midis, text files, pdf files, etc, in existence. That is crazy. The only meaningful metric is to measure exclusive content for both platforms.

There are more exclusive software and hardware products for the Palm platform than the Microsoft contraption platform.

Go to download.com, add up how many Palm titles are available versus how many Microsoft contraption titles.

As for academic research, I am not talking about medical applications (in which area Palm is once again superior). I am talking about cutting edge wearable, wireless networking and interfacing research. Carnegie Mellon and MIT research labs exclusively use Palms. The most original, innovative and groundbreaking interfaces, including the Fitaly keyboard, the one-handed wearable keyboard, the chording keyboard, the atomic board, and many others, are exclusively available for the Palm.

The Palm can do both graffiti and Jot, (with add-on software). Microsoft contraptions can only do Jot, and not graffitti.

Palms have clip-on joystick and joypad accessories available that turn them into true gaming machines. Microsoft contraptions do not.

 

[OS]

<< Have some respect for Sept. 11 victims. >>



I donated money to that cause the same day it happened. I have lots of respect for those people.

Can't really say the same about you though. . .




<< Not funny. >>



Apparently, the zealotry mockery aspect is lost upon you.

I guess I was expecting too much from you at any rate.

 

[ShadowHunter]

hey potatosalad....

This is a really stupid argument. You're doing nothing but showing your extreme Microsoft hatred (God only knows why you HATE them anyway). NFS4 and RoninRXN have been very reasonable in this discussion, and have acknowledged that Palm is a good thing. You on the other hand are just spewing out crap for no reason other then bashing Microsoft. Please grow up.

 

[RoninRXN]

<< DVDs nor DivXes are Palm nor Microsoft contraption exclusive.

If we go by your logic, we would have to count up all the mp3s, gifs, jpegs, midis, text files, pdf files, etc, in existence. That is crazy. The only meaningful metric is to measure exclusive content for both platforms. >>



That's not the point. Can a Palm play divx? Can it do it WELL?



<< There are more exclusive software and hardware products for the Palm platform than the Microsoft contraption platform. >>



And how many are useful? We're not talking about exclusive software. We're talking about what can a Palm do that a PPC cannot. For example, just like the VPN software. PPC has it built in. Palm has a add-on for it. How many programs have exclusive features that only a Palm can do?

Also, let me remind you that Palm has been around longer and there are programs there that have been around since Palm OS 1.0 or 2.0.



<< As for academic research, I am not talking about medical applications (in which area Palm is once again superior). I am talking about cutting edge wearable, wireless networking and interfacing research. Carnegie Mellon and MIT research labs exclusively use Palms. The most original, innovative and groundbreaking interfaces, including the Fitaly keyboard, the one-handed wearable keyboard, the chording keyboard, the atomic board, and many others, are exclusively available for the Palm. >>



I cannot confirm any of this. Where's NFS4?



<< The Palm can do both graffiti and Jot, (with add-on software). Microsoft contraptions can only do Jot, and not graffitti. >>



...on an area which takes up 40% of the available space, making Palm screens smaller.



<< Palms have clip-on joystick and joypad accessories available that turn them into true gaming machines. Microsoft contraptions do not. >>



Again...WHAT FOR? Where is a decent game for Palms? I know PPC has SimCity 2000, Rayman PPC, etc...but what Palm games?

 

[RoninRXN]

<< hey potatosalad....

This is a really stupid argument. You're doing nothing but showing your extreme Microsoft hatred (God only knows why you HATE them anyway). NFS4 and RoninRXN have been very reasonable in this discussion, and have acknowledged that Palm is a good thing. You on the other hand are just spewing out crap for no reason other then bashing Microsoft. Please grow up. >>



Thank you.

I have a Palm myself so it doesn't do me any good to bash Palms but I fully acknowledge that PPC is a better OS that will be better in the future as well as today. PPC has more features and can do everything that a Palm can and more.

Basically, my question to potato was..."What can a Palm do that a PPC cannot?" and while he has come up with numerous companies, etc which exclusively use Palm (which I think will change in the future) but cannot come up with anything useful that the Palm does that a PPC cannot.

 

[NFS4]

I wonder if there were these kinds of arguments when the Palm first came out??

"I don't need to change the batteries on my notepad, HA!!"

 

[potatosalad]

<< what Palm games? >>



Two words... Gameboy emulator...

Ha!

 

[NFS4]

<<

<< what Palm games? >>



Two words... Gameboy emulator...

Ha! >>


How about this spud (for the PocketPC):

Gameboy emulator
NES emulator
SNES emulator (sorry, Palm's don't have enough horsepower for that kind of stuff)
Atari Emulator
DOS 6.22 emulator

HA!

 

[Descartes]

For a while, many manufacturers of niche devices were using Palm, but that's not the case anymore. As an example, look at Symbol Technologies (www.symbol.com). They manufacture some of the best barcoding equipment in use, and you'll find more Pocket PC based units than Palm these days.

It really comes down to what the requirements are. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any benefits of the Palm OS over Pocket PC, aside from size. Size alone often determines whether an OS is considered for "real-time" embedded solutions. I'll also note that Pocket PC 2000+ was rated an excellent "real-time" OS, whereas the earlier CE was not. This might account for the Palm having a stronger hold on the embedded market. Times are changing, and that won't be long

 

[potatosalad]

<<

<< There are more exclusive software and hardware products for the Palm platform than the Microsoft contraption platform. >>



And how many are useful? We're not talking about exclusive software. >>



Any of them that sell sufficiently well and sell profitably are by definition useful, because people see use in them and buy them, which translates into profits. If nobody saw any use in them, nobody would buy them.

In other words, every program currently on the market is useful. Those that are not useful would not remain in the market for long because its producers would go out of business.

 

[ShadowHunter]

<< In other words, every program currently on the market is useful. Those that are not useful would not remain in the market for long because its producers would go out of business. >>



Ok then, why aren't YOU off the market?

 

[RoninRXN]

<<

<<

<< There are more exclusive software and hardware products for the Palm platform than the Microsoft contraption platform. >>



And how many are useful? We're not talking about exclusive software. >>



Any of them that sell sufficiently well and sell profitably are by definition useful, because people see use in them and buy them, which translates into profits. If nobody saw any use in them, nobody would buy them.

In other words, every program currently on the market is useful. Those that are not useful would not remain in the market for long because its producers would go out of business. >>



I see you have CONVIENIENTLY EDITED OUT the rest of my question. How typical of you.

I realize that many programs are designed for Palm OS. There are many programs designed for PPC.

HOWEVER. HOW MANY OF THEM DO SOMETHING PPC CANNOT?!

That, sir, is the question.

You answered the one you stated above before and I asked this one. You're doing yourself no good by just repeating yourself.

 

[RoninRXN]

<<

<<

<< what Palm games? >>



Two words... Gameboy emulator...

Ha! >>


How about this spud (for the PocketPC):

Gameboy emulator
NES emulator
SNES emulator (sorry, Palm's don't have enough horsepower for that kind of stuff)
Atari Emulator
DOS 6.22 emulator

HA! >>



Hehe...good thing you reminded him that Gameboy emulator isn't exclusive to Palm.

 

[potatosalad]

<< HOW MANY OF THEM DO SOMETHING PPC CANNOT?! >>



There are zillions of Palm games which do not have a port not even a cheap ripoff copycat on the Microsoft contraption platform.

Lots and lots of medical software.

I remember looking for an Infocom interpreter on Windows CE and Palm. Palm had one, Windows CE didn't.

Palm has OmniRemote, Win CE has no such thing.

You can use/sync Palm on Windows, Mac, Linux, even Amiga! You can't with Win CE.

And last but not least, Palmasutra baby!

 

[RoninRXN]

<< There are zillions of Palm games which do not have a port not even a cheap ripoff copycat on the Microsoft contraption platform. >>



How many of them are GOOD games? Apparently, Dopewars is the most popular and while it's fun, it doesn't COMPARE to SimCity 2000 and others.



<< Lots and lots of medical software. >>



How many of us are doctors?



<< I remember looking for an Infocom interpreter on Windows CE and Palm. Palm had one, Windows CE didn't. >>



A what?



<< Palm has OmniRemote, Win CE has no such thing. >>



Oh my god...I can't believe you actually use your Palm as a remote. Doesn't your TV come with one? What the hell is the point of using your $300 Palm as a $30 dollar universal remote? It's like using emulators to turn your $3000 PC into a 100 dollar Gameboy.



<< You can use/sync Palm on Windows, Mac, Linux, even Amiga! You can't with Win CE. >>



For one thing...I might be mistaken but I think PPC can sync to Windows. Linux is unfortunate but not enough people use Linux to warant support. Macs = ewww... and WHO ACTUALLY USES AN AMIGA ANYMORE!?



<< And last but not least, Palmasutra baby! >>



So what? Are you gonna use your PDA while you're having sex too? In that case, I take it all back. Maybe you do need the 2 months of battery life if you using your PDA during these situations. <insert random jokes about endurance here.>

 

[RoninRXN]

BTW...I looked up Infocom Interpreter.

http://www.pocketgamer.org/archives/00000111.shtml

Here you go.