PDA vs smartphone HELP

Forums › Legacy mobile platforms (Windows Mobile, Palm OS, Web OS, Symbian, Meego, Blackberry) › PDA vs smartphone HELP

burn

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#4782 27-Aug-2005 04:42

I just got my Dell Axim X50v in the mail two days ago. It is my first ever PDA. I absolutely love it.

Yesterday I went into VerizonWireless to update my last years cell phone to a BlueTooth phone and purchase the unlimited airtime package.

VerizonW. then showed me the Treo, which I have seen before and said that instead of using the upgraded cell phone as a modem for my PDA, I could just do it all in 1. Duh, I all ready know that.

I just couldn't convert YET to buying the All-in-one because of :

a)what happens if you lose it, both are gone.

b)what about the battery life, won't it get drained by using both on one device

c)screens are a lot smaller than my PDA

Then I saw the Samsung i730! Pretty Cool! I have been reading all info on the web about this smartphone. So far, the majority say it is the best PDAphone out there.

So, it is either, keep my Dell PDA and upgrade to a Motorola v710 and purchase the unlimited usage deal and use it as a modem for access to the web on my PDA

-or-

Send everything back to Dell, wait to get my money back, and then upgrade to a i730 PDAphone.

Question: Why is having an all-in-one device so much better than owning two really good devices?

tonyhughes

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#19192 27-Aug-2005 09:20

burn: I just got my Dell Axim X50v in the mail two days ago. It is my first ever PDA. I absolutely love it.

Pocket PCs are drugs for Geeks. You are now hooked. Welcome to Geekzone.

a)what happens if you lose it, both are gone.

Yep, but you could just as easily lose (or have stolen) both.

b)what about the battery life, won't it get drained by using both on one device

Correct. You need to manage battery life effectively using management of usage, settings, applications, spare batterys, or spare chargers (or any combination of the above)

c)screens are a lot smaller than my PDA

Not true for all devices. I have an HTC Harrier with a screen about the same size as yours. This unit has an EVDO modem and phone built in.

Question: Why is having an all-in-one device so much better than owning two really good devices?

Its not always. But there is the convenience factor. You only have to carry one device to get the functions of both. You only have one set of batteries to worry about keeping charged.

I carry two seperate devices even though my Harrier does phone as well, because its so critical to me to have a phone due to my health, and i am paranoid about the battery life.

freitasm

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#19194 27-Aug-2005 10:35

It is really a matter of personal preference. I like the Pocket PC Phone Edition form factor because I think it is easier to write on the screen than to tap on the keypad of a smartphone/mobile phone.

However my main communications device is a Windows Mobile Smartphone (Motorola MPx220). It is very small, synchronises with my Exchange server and the battery life is longe than that on a Pocket PC Phone Edition.

Having said that I do have a HTC Harrier (a.k.a. Audiovox XV6600, which is a little different from the HTC Blue Angel because it doesn't have Wi-Fi) but I use it mainly as a high-speed modem for my Tablet PC when out and about - also when I see some email on my Smartphone that I need to reply with a longer text I use the Pocket PC.

Yes, I ended up with two smart devices, which is not very "smart", but I like the different functionalities in each device.

As I said, personal preference. If you really want one single device, I would go with a Pocket PC Phone Edition because of easy of use. Make sure you have a miniSync cable so you can charge it from the USB on a laptop when away from your computer/wall charger. Even better, I bought a versa charger (car/plane/wall) and the miniSync - I can travel anywhere even without my Tablet PC and have my Harrier or Smartphone charged. This is the nice stuff about USB recharging - one adapter for all devices (different miniSync cables for each though).

burn

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#19200 27-Aug-2005 15:11

Thanks Disenchanted & Freitasm,

I think I might just hold onto my Dell and cell phone for a couple of years, (*tears* "so hard to get a new toy and all ready I am planning their demise").

And, wait to see what cooler and even better Pocket PC Phones come out 2 years from now. That way, I will know from experience what it is like to do it both ways. (Pardon the expression)

But, if owning a PPC is better, then why don't I just convert now.

I am driving myself nuts.

Thanks for your imput, it did help.

tonyhughes

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#19204 27-Aug-2005 19:19

Windows Mobile 5 devices might float your boat - we are really looking forward to them, especially in phone edition, so we can run our batteries into the ground and not worry about losing data.