PDA/Smartphone suggestions??

[Lee]

I am looking to purchase a palm device - something along the lines of a Palm Treo I think.
Does anyone have any suggestions/advice on what to look for in terms of specs etc on these devices????
TIA

[asterisk (Geoff)]

I have had an O2 Atom - good electronically, but poor mechanically - flimsy case, buttons dropping off. I followed that with an iMate Jasjam, a much better unit.

In terms of specifications, I find anything that synchronises with Outlook to be desirable - contacts, appointments especially. I don't think the Palm performs this synchronisation.

Cheers

[Zuts]

Hi,

I would suggest a Dopod 838 Pro, now known as the HTC Tytan II. I have the previous model and its a great phone.

Full 3G, hspda 3.5, bluetooth, wireless. Qwerty keyboard and heaps more. I use it as a GPS, Skype phone, video player, mp3 player, chat on it, full internet browser, the list goes on. I can even run a citrix client and logon to production windows boxes for support.

I have the previous model. The current model i beleive has a built in GPS radio, for mine i use an external bluetooth gps.

http://www.htc.com/www/product.aspx?id=640

Cheers Paul

[Phil]

I just got the Nokia N95 don't no if it is a smart phone but it has a nice 5mega pixel camera in it. GPS, google earth and heaps of other stuff. Very nice phone you can get it of eBay quick cheap now.
Phil

[Louwai (Bryan)]

I was using an imate Kjam.

The first one had to be replaced under waranty after approx 6mths.
The replacement unit worked fine for about a year, then the touch screen started losing it's "touch" capability. There were "dead" spots in a few places.

Then the blue tooth started playing up. Had trouble connecting to bluetooth ear piece. Tested ear pce on other phones & worked fine.
Also started having trouble with it connecting to the car bluetooth.

Ended up retiring it & getting a normal ph.

[Lee]

Took your advice Zuts (and the dude at Stratfield) - this seems to be one awesome piece of kit - thoroughly impressed so far!

Originally Posted by Zuts

Hi,

I would suggest a Dopod 838 Pro, now known as the HTC Tytan II. I have the previous model and its a great phone.

Full 3G, hspda 3.5, bluetooth, wireless. Qwerty keyboard and heaps more. I use it as a GPS, Skype phone, video player, mp3 player, chat on it, full internet browser, the list goes on. I can even run a citrix client and logon to production windows boxes for support.

I have the previous model. The current model i beleive has a built in GPS radio, for mine i use an external bluetooth gps.

http://www.htc.com/www/product.aspx?id=640

Cheers Paul

[gbeal]

iPhone? I certainly love mine, although running the astro type stuff is a bit tricky at present.

[Ian Robinson]

Don't get one.... you don't need it.

[Zuts]

Originally Posted by Lee

Took your advice Zuts (and the dude at Stratfield) - this seems to be one awesome piece of kit - thoroughly impressed so far!

Hi Lee,

Congratulations on your purchase, you will find it a great device. It's also reasonably robust, I have dropped it a few times ; and its still fine. Mine has lived on my belt for nearly two years and apart from a few sticky keys it's still going strong.

When it was released two years ago there was nothing to match it and the 2nd gen one you have is even better. I still think nothing matches it, maybe an I Phone, but i couldn't do without the slideout keyboard.

Cheers
Paul

[Chippy (Nick)]

Hi Lee,

Looks like a nice toy! Are you running any astro apps on it - if so what? Impressions so far?? And lastly - what was the damage? :-)

Clear skies,
Nick.

[Lee]

Haven't got to the astro toys yet.... still working out how to get the bluetooth headset to go!
Damage - $1249 outright - ouch! I have a salary sacrifice account to get through before I switch employers in a month.....

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

I hope you think that you've done the right thing in a few months Lee. I had the JasJam - not too different to the device you've chosen and it was even upgraded to Windows Mobile 6 (latest).

What a heap of junk. It was THE most irritating phone that I've ever had. Windows Mobile is NOT a phone operating system, it's a PDA. The touchscreen phone keypad is so slow and clunky that you continually mis-key. The logical order of things is such that you're never where you want to be without having to move this, close that, close that, close that, and open the other.

I literally tossed mine out and went with the Nokia N95 - again, not a perfect phone, but brilliant in comparison to WM6. At least it's a phone - first and foremost.

[Odlaw]

The 838 pro is much better design than the Jasjasm, have had both..

Upgraded to WM6 and I am very happy with it, just wish it had FM radio, only complaint.

[Chippy (Nick)]

Thanks for the info guys. Always good to hear opinions, likes, dislikes, etc. That's one of the things I love about this site - always someone willing to shed some light on a topic.

Nick.

[Lee]

I guess when you combine so many pieces of equipment into one that compromises need to be made. A nice way to use up some salary sacrifice money - probably wiser to toss it into super, but what the hey, more fun this way! And I do love gadgets!
I am a fan so far of being able to carry a bag load of textbooks in my pocket now - the main reason I wanted the PDA in the first place.
If it does turn to a nightmare in a few months then it just means more toys

Originally Posted by Omaroo

I hope you think that you've done the right thing in a few months Lee. I had the JasJam - not too different to the device you've chosen and it was even upgraded to Windows Mobile 6 (latest).

What a heap of junk. It was THE most irritating phone that I've ever had. Windows Mobile is NOT a phone operating system, it's a PDA. The touchscreen phone keypad is so slow and clunky that you continually mis-key. The logical order of things is such that you're never where you want to be without having to move this, close that, close that, close that, and open the other.

I literally tossed mine out and went with the Nokia N95 - again, not a perfect phone, but brilliant in comparison to WM6. At least it's a phone - first and foremost.

[h0ughy (David)]

LOL nothing wrong with toys Lee.........

[Zuts]

Originally Posted by Lee

I guess when you combine so many pieces of equipment into one that compromises need to be made. A nice way to use up some salary sacrifice money - probably wiser to toss it into super, but what the hey, more fun this way! And I do love gadgets!
I am a fan so far of being able to carry a bag load of textbooks in my pocket now - the main reason I wanted the PDA in the first place.
If it does turn to a nightmare in a few months then it just means more toys

I have the Encyclopedia Britannica and Oxford Dictionary installed on mine, with google only a click away I can be a real terror at trivia nights

Google maps works too, though with Copilot 6 installed I rarely need it.

My 838 pro takes micro sd and i think the tytan ii does as well. MSY sells 4 gigabyte Sandisk modules for only 35 AUD.

Paul

[Lee]

Cool!! Downloaded a little weather app a few nights ago - just found a hidden menu item - a link to Iridium Flare pass info for your location.... loving this toy!

[Chippy (Nick)]

Hi Lee,

Can you explain what this does?

Nick.

Originally Posted by Lee

Cool!! Downloaded a little weather app a few nights ago - just found a hidden menu item - a link to Iridium Flare pass info for your location.... loving this toy!

[Lee]

It is really a weblink in the PDA software called PocketWeather - takes you to heavens-above with your preset location, with the times and details of iridium flare passes.