Your Next Pda

[gvtexas]

I have to agree with sunshine that the camera is not a deal breaker, but might be if I had the chance to have one built in!

All this talk about "the next pda" is causing me to rethink some of my basic premises. As I'm approaching new laptop time and new cell phone time within the next six months, I'm beginning to see how my choices may really impact how I connect while mobile, and how I could integrate the three components of mobility: pda, laptop, cell phone.

- If I get a bluetooth-enabled cell phone, then a bluetooth-enabled pda could really be nice to check email, etc. I see that as my second level of web connectivity...I rate that a high-geek factor!

- If I continue my trend of more time spent on my laptop than desktop (outside the day job!), then the laptop becomes my #1 web connecting device and the new built-in wireless makes a lot of sense, especially with the new processor/wireless/network hardware combined to run on less power.

- If i stay with Sony PDA, then a Sony laptop (or Acer) with memory stick slot could really help move things between the two, eliminating syncing of mobile content (why sync when I could pop the MS out of the pda, into the laptop, click and icon, and everything transfers). And if they're both bluetooth, then don't need to move the MS (although I doubt the speed is anywhere near the direct connection, so I don't know that I'd use that). And for major online sessions away from Starbucks the bluetoothed phone/laptop makes sense as well.

I never thought I'd ever consider bluetooth...always thought it was a little esoteric in use...but here it is, a viable alternative to stay connected. Now only if I understand it a little better...

[saw9000]

The camera was not one of the key selling points for me on the NX70V when I bought it. However, since then, I have become surprisingly attached to it.
As for the Graffiti area, I wouldn't want to take a device with a thumboard and take up even more of the screen by creating a Graffiti area. Also, at least half of my interest in having a soft Graffiti area lies in the fact that I can use it to display content when I'm not writing.
As for Bluetooth, it's not everything it's cracked up to be, but it's still fairly functional. I use a Bluetooth headset, and the range isn't 30 feet, but it has managed to prevent me from getting tangled up in wires going to the headset.
Scott

[sUnShInE]

I'm not jazzed about BT either, except for perhaps a cellphone headset...which I'm now considering buying. Although I must say that I'm still surprised they don't make BT headphones for things like iPods.

I don't know that it's so much of a sacrifice using GA. I can't speak for other similar wares, but the expanded grafitti area is integrated as a hack into whatever software you're using. I really like it, and despise those tiny keyboards... but, like everything, I guess it all amounts to personal preference.

I couldn't really see the advantage to going "all Sony", until my friends dad got a WEGA tv and a new Clie for Christmas, on top of his Vaio. Now if the MS Pro prices would come into the realm of the possible we might be talkin'!

[saw9000]

I'm pretty sure I would be willing to use a smart phone if I could use Bluetooth and be assured that the phone functions would not interfere in any way with the use of the handheld. If I'm typing a document and a call comes in, I would want to get a notification of some variety, after which I could press a button on the headset and start a conversation, all the while going back to my document as if the call were not going on.

As for Bluetooth headphones, I agree, I don't know yet why it hasn't come up. I would like to see headphones that double as a a headset and automatically pause the music when a call comes in, and start it back up after the call is over. Now that's integration

I agree, keyboard vs. Graffiti is purely a matter of personal preference. However, the licensees must be driving themselves crazy trying to deal with people who are solidly on either side, much like you and I are Keyboard users won't buy VG; VG users won't buy keyboard, what's a licensee to do? I would think that two versions of each device wouldn't be plausible.

I'm not sure I would want to go all Sony, but they offer some advantages in their devices. I'm currently using the new CF drivers to run my 1 GB Microdrive, precisely because I'm not interested in the 1 GB MS Pro. I simply refuse to pay $0.64/MB for a 1 GB MS Pro in 2003 after I paid $0.33/MB for a 1 GB Microdrive around Christmas 2001.
Scott

[gvtexas]

I was suprised when I went looking at cell phones that Bluetooth models are somewhat vaporphones...Sprint has announced an Ericsson model coming in a few months, but otherwise don't have it. Seems like BT has been really sloooowwww to make much headway, yet all the PDA manufacturers seem to want BT-enabled units over wifi untis. All in all, confusing. Can't decide if it's too early to consider BT or too late! Just know that it would be nice to use the cell phone as a modem for either the laptop or PDA as the case warrants, without using a lot of adapters, cabling, etc. Probably can make this happen without BT, but BT *seems* like an easier (cleaner) solution.

[saw9000]

I agree, Bluetooth handsets are fairly uncommon in the United States. My T68i is beginning to show its age as a high-end handset, and I could easily find myself looking for a new one, but there don't seem to be any really spiffy Bluetooth-compatible options available. In other words, the T68i was enough ahead of its time when I bought it that nothing significantly better has been released in the states yet. I'm thinking that the T616 might cast a long shadow when it gets here. Depending on its reception, it might be my next handset.
Scott

[sUnShInE]

Yea, I've noticed that some dealers are now giving out $100 BT headsets with appropriate cell phones. Not a bad incentive if you need a new cell.

As far as the conflict between grafitti vs keypad input, I think the smart mfr's will let us opt for our preference. I sorta feel that way about wifi and BT at this point though.

I also agree with the per meg pricing. My brother and I had this convo the other day: Remember the days when it was $1 per meg? Yeouch. I'm not willing to step backwards just to get forward moving devices.

[Saud]

btw
if you guys use smaller fonts for isilo on clies and plan to move to the new palm os5 .. you should know that isilo supports high density fonts on the new palms..but not hi-res smaller fonts (which disappoints me)

[brahamt]

Well I thought about this a lot recently, as I ended up buying the NX60 on sale at Compusa for $299.

About 5 months ago, my M505 was starting to act up, and then the dreaded USB sync problem occurred. My friend had gotten like one of the 1st NR70Vs, and he loved it so I went looking. I ended up finding an NR70 at Best Buy for $129 without the software. My friend copied the CD and I was in business.

The problem I had was though I loved the NR70, I had started to load up a bunch of apps and data on it and it began to feel sluggish. The deal came up at Compusa about a week ago and I thought, hmmm, should I?

Here were my issues:

1) Size, though similar in size to the NR70, the NX60 had the little bump out for a CF wireless modem. I ended up deciding this was not a problem as not only was I going to get a wireless card, but a company called ERUWare introduced a driver to but CF memory cards into the slot.

2) OS5. I knew there were some compatibility problems, especially with older apps, but all of the ones I used regularly had been updated so this was no problem.

3) OS5 #2. Memory. This was almost the deal breaker. Depite supposedly having 16M on board, only 11 was available for use. I then discovered Powerrun which let me put all of the memory hogging apps on the memory stick.

The only issue I have, which I did not know about at the time of purchase was the MP3 issue. My NR70 played all of the MP3s I had. When I put the memory stick in the new Clie, some of the tracks refused to play. I found out that the NX60 does not play VBR files nor anything not encoded at 44100. 44100 is not an issue, but most of my files are encoded VBR.

So with the one issue I have, and the benefit of the new platform (MSPro Support, CF Support, Wireless, etc), I'm happy that I got the NX60.

Now about that new NX80 I heard about...

[Pride Of Lions]

Personally, I'm in love with the T|T form factor and I'd hate to lose it.

My "Barbi--er, my GI JOE-Dream-PDA" has/is:

1) Palm branded. I'm a Mac kinda guy, so PPC is out. I'm not a Sony guy, so...

2) With that new 128MB RAM that they keep heralding.

3) Integrated BT, and WI-FI, and GPS.

4) The T|T form-factor with virtual Graffitti, so that when I wanna read that e-book longwise or watch that widescreen movie, I can, but when I want it short I just collapse the slider.

5) That 1GB SD card they keep heralding. (This just turned into my X-Mas list.)

6) ummm...ummm...and something I'm forgetting, but will remember when I post this.

That's about it.
I think.
Make this, Palm, and I'll be your best friend.
POL9A

[Hammer]

1.) What's your next pda going to be?
not sure. there needs to be a big improvement over the TT

2.) Do you do any wireless functions now? If so, what? Via Bluetooth or dongle?
I use BT

3.) Do you plan to go wireless in the future? And if so, what for? (ie, email, web surfing, etc)
Already do for email, web, ICQ

4.) How do you think going wireless might change your offline (read: iSilo) habits, if at all?
THis is a separate use for me

5.) Have you even thought about this at all?
yep!

[RockerChick]

1.) What's your next pda going to be?
So far, it doesn't exist. I've got an NX, and the newest releases from Sony don't do a lot for me . . . *sigh* I could go for the T|C if it didn't have a thumbboard. I REALLY want to get away from that!

2.) Do you do any wireless functions now? If so, what? Via Bluetooth or dongle?Nope. Don't do wireless. But then, I don't like reading my email on my PDA either . . .

3.) Do you plan to go wireless in the future? And if so, what for? (ie, email, web surfing, etc)Nah, probably not. It's just not THAT big a deal . . . and I live in a very small town with NO Starbuck's!

5.) Have you even thought about this at all? Yes, I've thought about it a great deal actually. I just weigh what I need against what I want (I won't even mention what I can afford . . .)

[illustratton]

Likely a Sony if:

1) They offer it in a "T" form
2) 320 x 480
3) Virtual Graffiti
4) Better battery life
5) Blutooth or WiFi built in would be nice.
6) under $300 - as long as I'm dreaming...

[sUnShInE]

Hmmm. One thing that I was thinking about fleetingly the other day was the deal Palm and RIM made.

Would you be happy if your PDA simply had Crackberry-like capabilities? I think I would be tickled. I just wanna get and send email....

[elveejay]

I have been happy with my Prism. But it seems to be going the way of the 8-track. I am pretty sure I will stay with the Palm OS so, if I had the coin today, I would probably get the Zire 71. It is in the right price range even if I am still not sure I really need or would use the camera, etc.
LVJ