PDA advice

[Clive795]

I need to get a PDA.
It will mainly be used to synchronise with Outlook contacts and calender entries.
The only other 'must' is wi-fi.
I think I am going to be forced to go for one running Windows Pocket PC but wondered if a Palm would be any good.
Does anyone use a Palm to connect to a wi-fi Router/Modem ?

Thanks
Clive795

 

[Tobers]

Clive - do you really need a PDA? Most phones these days can sync address book and calendar with your PC. If that's all you need then a PDA becomes irrelevant and is just another thing to charge up.

If you are stuck on getting a PDA, I suggest one that is also a phone. The o2 XDA Mini S (also in numerous other guises from other operators) is excellent, with a slide out keyboard which makes email responding and texting much easier. It does have WiFi and Bluetooth as well. I've used one and it works fine on my home WiFi router.

The Windows Mobile/Pocket PC operating system is really pretty good these days, and sync with your PC will be really v.fast.

Andy

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Checked all this out, used to love my Palm, but for seamless trouble-free sync with Outlook, you need Windows Pocket PC. I have an I-mate (XDA is another name). Oldish model now, but in principle, the features are a-1.

 

[Clive795]

do you really need a PDA? Most phones these days can sync address book and calendar with your PC. If that's all you need then a PDA becomes irrelevant and is just another thing to charge up.

I take your point but I like a small phone that I can carry all the time (I cycle a lot and my current phone slips in a jersey pocket and weighs nothing) but prefer the larger screen on a PDA. Do phones use Windows - I thought they used a Symbian OS ? I want to be able to run Netstumbler to sniff for wi-fi.

I think I will probably end up with an IPAQ - they do a low spec model with wi-fi that sells for about £180 (the 1950 model I think). I don't think I need too much processing power as it won't be used for graphics or movies.

Its a shame that Windows has to be used - anyone used a Linux PDA ?

Clive

 

[reespa]

I've used a sharp Zaurus which was linux based but I wouldn't recommend it - mainly due the the lack of decent freeware/shareware (ironically..)

Saying that, my Palm W was a bit of a letdown - the WiFi perfromance was crap and you couldn't browse realistically...

If I were starting again I'd go with a decent symbian-based smartphone from Nokia...

 

[Wreford Miles]

I've synchronised outlook for a few years now... after a few years with a P900 I now use an O2 XDA IQ.... it's small and has wifi etc

 

[the_laughing_mole]

Take a look at the Nokia 9300i - good Nokia phone but operating the Symbian (ie Psion in a phone) operating system, giving you calendar, email, notes and ability to work on spreadsheets, words docs and view powerpoint. Synch with Outlook and other windows applications. I've had the 9300 for about a year and a great product.

 

[Rich C]

A PDA/ phone is the way to go IMO for having your phone / contacts and diary in one place. I've had one now for 8 months, it's synced to two PCS (home and work) and does everything I needed it to. I've got the orange SPV M600 but that was only because Orange don't do a version of the O2 XDA mini in the UK. Nearly all these PDA phones are made by a company called imate and badged up accordinlgy. Check out www.imate.com. I also run sat nav in the car on this device and it works fine.

R