[H-GEN] PDA choices

[Russell Stuart]

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On Mon, 2003-07-28 at 15:41, David Jericho wrote:
> I've finally decided to buy into the PDA idea, and I want to get one
> for myself. I'm not wanting to spend the $1000+ on a top of the line
> unit, so that puts my budget somewhere between the $300 to $700 marks.
> 
> >From experience, I would prefer something from the PocketPC lineup[1]
> because I won't have to learn graffiti.
> 
> Does anyone have any suggestions or comments about their purchases, or
> other information?

You don't say what you want to do with it.  It you are familiar with MS
and want to write MS type apps, or have a liking some WinCE program then
get a pocket PC.

But if running WinCE specific stuff in not on your list then get a
Zaurus.  It has a very usable inbuilt keyboard, runs Linux and has lots
of useful I/O ports.  Its an ideal "remote sysadmin" / hacking around
tool.  You can import one from www.tigerdirect.com for about USD$200.

But if you are not doing much data entry (have you tried doing text
entry on a PDA? - it sucks to the point of being useless IMHO) then get
a mobile phone.  No, really.  A mobile phone such as a Nokia 3650 runs
at 400Mhz, comes with a 16Mb flash card which you can upgrade, can play
and _record_ MP3's and videos, can connect to the internet out of the
box, has blue tooth, irda (which words with Linux and TV's), you can
download apps (and there is freeware/shareware & games & book readers),
can send & receive email, browse the web, can maintain your contacts,
tasks, appointments, runs Java apps and has an SDK.  At around $750 it
is cheaper than a PDA that can do similar things.  Big bonus: you don't
have to carry two devices: phone and PDA.

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