PDA or Pocket PCs

I am thinking about getting a PDA or pocket PC and just wanted to gather some advice. I really like the Qwerty keyboard which limits me to just a few devices. I already have a cell phone I like so don't want to go the Blackberry or Treo route. This will mainly be for contacts, daily data storage and especially for editing/revising documents and files while away form home.
WiFi may be nice too as I vacation weekends at the beach where we have free WiFi

Any suggestions on new or refurb units you have owned and enjoyed?

So far the choices are the HP 4350 or a Sharp Zaurus. I don't mind the Linux thing as long as I can still read and edit MS Word and Excel.

Thanks,
Tony

Tony,

I'm a Palm fan. I actually use 3, but my main Palm is the TE, and for contacts and scheduling, I use Agendus. I find the Palm to be more user friendly, and I also find that there is much more available freeware for the Palm. I've never used a pocket pc, but I have friends who have used both and prefer the Palm. YMMV. As far as the keyboard, the majority of info I need to enter I can do at my computer and then sync over to the Palm.

RT

I have a dell that I really like (even though I cant stand dell computers) it doesnt have the keyboard you mentioned, so I wouldnt suggest it for you, but I would highly recommend anything running windows mobile. It interfaces with your windows computer programs wonderfully. It is a pretty powerful OS, that I have used while traveling when my laptop broke, and it really surprised me. I could do everything from use wireless networks to surf the internet and check email to create word documents and edit pictures.

I never owned a PDA but I've had bad experience with refurbs of just about everything else. If you're shelling out the dough, buy a new one.

I'm using a Palm Tungsten 2 and have used a Visor Prism both of which I really like. Both also have a virtual keyboard at your beck and call.

X

Tony,

Are you going to be syncing it with your home computer or laptop? If so, make sure that the software/OS of the PDA is compatible with your home computer. If size is not a factor, check out some of the table PCs that aren't much bigger than a steno pad.

Hello Tony. I'm a new member, so I just now read your thread about PDA's. I've had PDA's since '97. I just bought a Treo 650 3 months ago, it's my 5th pda. I tell you that you won't regret it, you will make this device part of your daily life routine. The only catch is you really have to train yourself to use it for everything. When you meet someone new, or goto a new restaurant, or store, you pull your pda out (always carry it with you) and write the address, email, phone number, etc into "Contacts" . Use your "calendar" to write down every time you learn a friends birthday, a holiday, an important meeting, you get the idea. You can enable an alarm for the meetings, and a reminder for the birthdays. 5 days or 1 week before the birthday, it will remind you. Every time I learn something interesting, from a book or from the daily newspaper, I make an entry in "memos". I also write into memos, anything new that I learn from work. There is ALWAYS something new to learn. The man who thinks he knows all there is to know about any subject, including what he does for a living, is sorely mistaken. I walk around every day with my own little database or collection of names, dates, addresses, worktips, customer contacts, even pictures of certain work equipment. After almost 9 yrs of daily use, I have over 950 contacts!! in my pda!

I won't ramble anymore, I hope I've convinced you that if you put in an effort, you will never regret buying that PDA.

Eddie Colon, new member.

Eddie,
Thanks. I went with an HP ipaq4355. This one has a built in keyboard and mine came with a 2gb memory card.
I have been using it for everything. All of my business contacts and suppliers are in there now along with catalog numbers of products I order. Current strop and shaving set orders are there too with reminders set to keep me on schedule. The word feature is noce as I am editing things for my webpage when away from home.
Been a great investment.

BTW, welcome to the group.

Tony

I love my pocket PC, but I just ordered a daytimer that has a paper calander and lots of pockets for company documentation, credit card slots, etc. Also a place for my pocket PC.

I had hoped that my pocket PC would let me eliminate the need for paper, but there are so many appointments and deadlines I come close to missing because I am to lazy to enter them into outlook or my pc datebook. Writing it down on a calandar is just so much easier for me. I keep all my contacts and outlook tasks in my pocket pc, but for some reason my school assignments and work deadlines seem so difficult to input! Im just wondering if its just me...(probably is)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ecr959

...I just bought a Treo 650

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I think this is going to be my next. It's just getting so I can't quite get along as well without a cell.

X

X,
A Treo was a choice about a month ago but my current service provider charges about double of what some others do for data transfer. I also specifically wanted PDA and phone to be separate.

Tony

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tony Miller

X,
A Treo was a choice about a month ago but my current service provider charges about double of what some others do for data transfer. I also specifically wanted PDA and phone to be separate.

Tony

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I hear ya Tony. I dont know about you, but I dont combine them for the same reason I dont by those tv/dvd player combos. If one part breaks the other is severly impaired, and if the important part breaks they are both useless!

I also agree. I just hate having either a cell phone or a PDA. People are always able to contact you. Sometimes I just like a peaceful ride home on the bus without calls or messages. Just my 2 cents

Rich,
Wow, your hair is looking sweet <g>.

Nice avatar <g>

Tony