Re: What should I buy?..Palm vs PPC?..PLEASE ALL HELP ME!
From: Pierre_Cat (pierre_catello_at_yahoo.fr)
Date: 02/19/04
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Date: 19 Feb 2004 07:46:14 -0800
"Rich Cantrell" <rich@threewayzone.com> wrote in message news:<OHqYrlh9DHA.888@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl>...
>
> SUMMARY AND MY QUSETIONS:
>
> Note: I can afford any of them so its not the money......I just dont know
> what to buy?
> Example: HP Ipac 2215, or a higher model of the Ipac?........or.........the
> Sony UX-50?
Really depends on what you *want* to do with your PDA, and *how* you
use your PDA.
In overall, the ppc (ipaq) have a more powerful OS, better
flexibility, and expandability. On the Palm, you will have more
software to choose from, with many small software "fine tuned" to a
particular task, like specialized Database software, logging software
or calculator program for example. Software on the PPC tends to be
more powerful, with a wider application scope, or in other words more
"desktop-like". I usually prefer the palm way as in mobile usage I
prefer very specialized tool with a user interface exactly fitted to
what I'm currently doing, instead of a more general tool that require
more UI interactions to specify what I want to do. There is no
miracle: when you have a set of 100 functions or options instead of
10, you have to cluster them in menus and dialog boxes and the user
has to navigate in the "feature space" before being able to do actual
work. This is adequate on a static workstation, but not on a PDA in my
opinion.
The API of Windows CE, and the user interface is derived from a
desktop OS (Win3
2), and makes porting existing code easier. PalmOS usually require a
complete re-write from the developer, and thus provide the opportunity
to design explicitely for the PDA platform and its specificities, like
saving screen space and taps.
A simple example is the scroll bars: they waste so much useful space
on windows CE!
A third aspect is energy: both PPC and current palmOS devices eat up
battery energy pretty fast when using the device aggressively (mp3
playback etc.), but in my experience PalmOS tends to live a lot longer
on light use (PIM applications). I like the idea of a device that can
survive my negligence in forgetting to charge it every two days. Like
my cell phone, bringing my device in short trip forgetting to get my
charger is common. In such cases, I know that I can't trust the iPAQ
if it is not 100% charged!
However, the iPAQ are a great development platform, to prototype new
applications for mobile usage. There is everything: bluetooth, wifi,
JVM support, the free eVC environment for native developements, etc.
The OS is multitask and multithreaded, with thread priority support
which makes it better for some application like real time GPS mapping,
and some applications like Tomtom navigator show the superiority of
this platform for that. The 2215 with support for both CF and SD is a
great device for this application.
In summary, if you your priority is power and flexibility, get a PPC.
If you want a set of very fine tuned applications, simple and elegant,
with great PIM support (I find outlook and pocket outlook frustrating
is practical use), chances are that a Palm will be better.
Hope it helps
P.
- Next message: Nigel Kendrick: "Re: Ipaq 4150, bluetooth internet connection with Sony Ericson T68i"
- Previous message: matt poole: "how do you use your PDA? - results"
- Maybe in reply to: Kevin Wehner: "Re: What should I buy?..Palm vs PPC?..PLEASE ALL HELP ME!"
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