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[Deku]

I'm looking for a new PDA and since I haven't kept up to speed on the market for years, I have no idea what is a good PDA and what is a bad PDA, they all seem to look so cool.

Basically, I need something that's very inter-operable with my home PC, which is on a Windows XP Pro, so that would mean I'm probably looking for Pocket PC systems.

Price range is $400-$500 CDN so that's about $300-400 USD (yeah, its pretty much a lower mid range machine I'm looking at.)

Required features
- Bluetooth/Wi Fi
- Good screen (screen protection feature such as a flip cover is desirable)
- Good community (freeware/app) support for games and productivity software
- SD card expansion slot
- web browsing (I think most PDA should be able to do this but I'll throw it in)


I'm open to non PocketPC suggestions also, just as long as it'll work well with Windows support apps like WMP, Office. Also if the price is +$100 or so from my suggested price, feel free to recommend it, I'm willing to spend a bit more for the better machine.

 

[Phoenix]

The PDA market is deader than disco. Take a look at the pocketPC smartphones (generally they more completely fill your requirements). Most of the good ones will have slider keyboards so you will be able to do everything with your smartphone that you can with a PDA.

 

[Lhadatt]

Yeah, PDAs are being relegated to niche devices by the smartphones. Personally, I don't think the smartphones are ready yet due to Internet connectivity issues on some services (and other usability issues), but that's what the industry is pushing.

I've had my eyes on a Dell Axim X50v. People say it's a good unit for the price. It's not as luxury as the high-end HP iPAQs, but it seems to do the job well.

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/pda?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

 

[iapetus]

Zodiac Tapwave?

 

[Lhadatt]

Hell no. Tapwave just closed up shop. Don't buy a Zodiac unless you're a Tapwave fan.

In fact, aside from the Treo, I can't recommend Palm at all. Go PocketPC, until Palm shows some interest in securing its future in the market.

 

[truffleshuffle83]

SONY CLIE UX50. NOT POCKET PC, BUT PROBABLY THE BEST PDA OUT THERE

 

[Megafoo Chavez]

just carry around a roll of toilet paper. everytime you need to write something important down, just rip off a ply and bingo! got yourself saved information. also, you can wipe your butt and blow your nose. i recommend northern.

 

[iapetus]

Hell no. Tapwave just closed up shop. Don't buy a Zodiac unless you're a Tapwave fan.

Actually that makes it a pretty good time to buy one for anyone looking for a budget price PDA - they're selling at huge reductions, for what's a pretty reasonable lowish-spec organiser with some nice additional features.

 

[Lhadatt]

Yeah, if you don't mind not having support or an upgrade path. You sort of have a future device lineup with whatever Palm's got brewing (if anything.. ha!), but anything strictly tied to the Zodiac (for, say, the graphics chip) isn't going to be portable to a new device.

There's also the problem of replacements - who do you call for a RMA? And other issues like that.

Still, it's a nice device. Too bad I never really found a use for mine.

 

[SKluck]

Dell x50v is really the only one worth buying. Considering you can grab one for as low as $300.... it's a goddamn steal. I bought mine for $390 after tax.

 

[Deku]

The PDA market is deader than disco. Take a look at the pocketPC smartphones (generally they more completely fill your requirements). Most of the good ones will have slider keyboards so you will be able to do everything with your smartphone that you can with a PDA.

OK, thanks for the tip.

 

[Synth_floyd]

Yeah, PDAs really are dead. Just buy an expensive cell phone.