whats the best PDA handset?

Forums › Mobile handsets › whats the best PDA handset?

barf

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Topic # 7691 3-May-2006 16:48

Hello world,
my client needs a PDA with a browser to access a (simple) web-based application im building.

I have dared myself to ask, what is the best bang-for-buck PDA-Phone that goes online and has a web-browser thats easy to input to HTML forms with?
And while im on the thread, are there any quirks to designing webpages for handhelds? So far I've been successful using simple HTML forms and tables.

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tonyhughes

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Reply # 34633 3-May-2006 17:06

As a handheld user i like seeing really simple text only pages, that require ZERO sideways scrolling.
A small logo at the top is okay (nice even), but keep it clean and functional.

The only real option for a CDMA PDA on TNZ is the EVDO HTC Apache (sorry... acronyms are fun).

Anything else and you are really looking at older, less functional secondhand units.

You cant import CDMA devices yourself, Telecom will not connect them.

mouseydemon

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Reply # 34634 3-May-2006 17:08

apache or the harrier are generally best if you are wanting a phone and internet. cost alot though.

Shouldnt this be in PDA topic?

freitasm

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Reply # 34667 3-May-2006 18:39

It is my opinion that simple forms and applications will work on any network, regardless of being GPRS, CDMA, WCDMA. However, I like the HTC Apache in terms of form factor and cellular data speed.

The i-mate Jamin is also a good option, although only operating on the (much) slower GPRS network only.

As for development for mobile browsers, if you are targeting Windows Mobile, check the MSDN pages. There is a full article on-line with examples of HTML, DHTML and JSCRIPT compatible with Internet Explorer Mobile.

As you found out, basic structures will work ok. More complicated JSCRIPT may not work well, and Java aplets are not supported in the native browser without third party software.

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tonyhughes

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Reply # 34687 3-May-2006 19:35

mouseydemon: Shouldnt this be in PDA topic?

The OP wants a unit with phone capability, and by posting in CDMA may deliberatly be avoiding the GSM/UMTS offerings (his client may have specified Telecom).

This thread could sit in CDMA, Telecom, Windows Mobile, or the Phone Edition forums...

paradoxsm

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Reply # 34727 3-May-2006 22:24

Apache, most definatly, The harriers are too large to use as phones and keyboard is really nice to use compared to pokey harrier one. K-Jam is Vodafones small form factor option but it's GPRS only. 43 Kb max versus at LEAST 300Kb on apache.