It's January 2004; what's the best PocketPC available?

[Woolen Horde]

I was planning on getting a PocketPC back in the summer, but that got delayed. But now I'm thinking of getting one now. I was thinking about a HP Ipaq 2215. But that doesn't have integrated wifi. Now I'm thinking about the new Dell Axim X3i, which does.

What's the best bang/buck system of the moment?

[DennyA]

IMHO the best -- though it's a big large -- is the new Toshiba e850. VGA-resolution screen. (Takes some hacks to run most apps in VGA, but no big deal.) If you have good eyes, it makes handheld web browsing a pleasure.

The Axim X3i is nice, a much sleeker design than the X5. Personally, though, I prefer the new iPAQ h4150 to the Axim. It has Bluetooth and WiFi both, and it's ultra-thin. (Palm V-like in size.)

[Woolen Horde]

Wow, saw a screenshot of that Toshiba. It actually fits an entire web page on the screen! It's nice. But is it even available in the U.S.? Can't seem to find any retailers with it at all, worldwide.

That ipaq is nice too, but it's pricy. About $125 more than the Axim. Bluetooth is nice, though, but I don't have a single Bluetooth device to link it up to.

[DennyA]

I typo'd the name -- it's e805, not e850. Lots of folks have it in-stock.

It's pricey, though... $599 retail, $538 at MP Superstore...

Circuit City carries them, if you want to see one in-person. You can check to see if your local store has them in stock at circuitcity.com.

[DennyA]

Of course, unless there's a particular Pocket PC app you just MUST run, I'd say go for the Tapwave Zodiac. The only glitch there is that you'll need to use an SD card for Wi-Fi, and the Palm OS drivers for that are still about a month away.

But it has double the resolution of a Pocket PC, gaming-optimized controls, and runs all Palm OS 5 software in addition to Zodiac games...

[Xaroc]

Of course, unless there's a particular Pocket PC app you just MUST run, I'd say go for the Tapwave Zodiac. The only glitch there is that you'll need to use an SD card for Wi-Fi, and the Palm OS drivers for that are still about a month away.

But it has double the resolution of a Pocket PC, gaming-optimized controls, and runs all Palm OS 5 software in addition to Zodiac games...

Denny, I am thinking about geeking out and getting a 3mp digital camera (The dimage xt looks really sexy) and a handheld to show the pictures on, get email at work via the 802.11b network, handle contacts, and maybe play a few games. Any reason to go with the 128mb version vs. the 32mb version of the Zodiac with 256mb SD cards available for $70?

-- Xaroc

[quatoria]

There are SD-sized wifi cards? Ooo, can you link me to one? My HP 3955 has an integrated SD slot, but cheap bastard that I am, I didn't plump for the 3960 with integrated wifi and biometric scanner. I really wish I had, now that I'm getting into avantGo and other web news apps.

[Xaroc]

Denny, I have been doing some research and the entire Palm OS 5 SD WiFi thing sounds pretty sketchy.

http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=6264&curpage=1

I really like the feature set of the Zodiac but I really want WiFi since we have the network setup at work. Maybe I will wait until they get it ironed out.

The Pocket PC version seems to work fine as seen here:

http://www.davespda.com/reviews/other/sdsdiowifi.htm

-- Xaroc

[DennyA]

Talked to Sandisk and some other behind-the-scenes folks at CES and it looks like March for the SD Wi-Fi drivers for Palm OS.

I've been using the Zodiac with my Bluetooth phone until then; works great, but obviously you need a data plan on your cell phone to take advantage of that.

Quatoria, here's the SanDisk SD Wi-Fi Card. (www.mobileplanet.com/private/pbuzz/product.asp?pdept%5Fid=&dept%5Fid=5040&pf%5Fid=MP853528&listing=1) Works on Pocket PCs now, and Palm OS drivers are in the works.

[Moore]

If you want SPEED (ie- quake and psx emulation) asus's machines are way faster than anything else.

IIRC all current toshi's use a graphics chip that fucks over games and video.


The dells are decent and cheap, the old axim (400mhz) can play movies fine at a full frame rate, and runs all the emu's except psx just dandy. (and it has dual slots)

It's also a brick, but I needed dual slots.

[Woolen Horde]

Denny...

April 2004. What do you recommend PocketPC wise? I finally have money in the wallet to spare.

The HP 2210/2215 is nice, but it doesn't have integrated wifi. Only bluetooth, which I don't have/use.

The Dell Axim X3i is still there. $297, with integrated wifi.

The Toshiba's are nice, but pricy. I also don't like the design. Very blocky.

Anything new I should know about?

I've also heard that Dell isn't offering a free upgrade to Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, like other manufacturers.

[DennyA]

My favorite's definitely the iPAQ h4155, but it's $100 more than the Axim X3i. HP's better with updates, etc. than Dell has proven to be so far, though.

If you don't absolutely need a Pocket PC, check out the Sony CLIE TH55 for a slick, small, WiFi handheld with a great screen.

Basically, what I said earlier in the tread still applies. The CLIE is the only line that's seen real updates in recent months.

I imagine you'll see the next Pocket PC "hardware refresh" around June when the first PPC 2003 second edition units come out. Palm OS stuff will follow in the June/July timeframe, when the first Palm OS 6 units come out.

[Woolen Horde]

Hmmm.... HP h4155.

$427 at Newegg, free shiping but that would include sales tax for me, which is about $40-$45. So $470-$480.

$440 at Amazon, but no sales tax and free shipping, which would make it less expensive than the Newegg option. Also, a $50 coupon for any future purchase at Amazon. So, essentially, $390.

[Xaroc]

I picked up the HP 4355 and I love it. The thumb keyboard is actually quite useful and it has wifi and bluetooth.

-- Xaroc

[Woolen Horde]

Xaroc, how much longer is your 4355? It seems almost unwieldy, like a TV remote or something.

And out of curiosity, what would you say typing speed is with that keyboard?

[DennyA]

You can get a cover or thin aluminum case for the 4155 and put it in a pocket. I challenge anyone to get a 4355 into anything short of a winter coat pocket. :-) Too long.

I despise mini-keyboards. I can't type any faster with my thumbs than I can write with a stylus. But that's purely a matter of personal taste.

[Woolen Horde]

Tried out the 4355 at CompUSA. Don't like the keyboard that much.

The 4155 is shockingingly small, thin, and light.

One last question for the Denny-meister. The upcoming hardware refresh this June(?), are they *finally* going to usher in VGA across the board?

[DennyA]

I think you'll still see quite a few 320x240 units, just because of price issues. And 640x480 is mostly useful for web browsing and spreadsheets.

I'd imagine HP will intro a 640x480 unit. Not sure if they can squeeze it into the form factor of the 4150 -- hope so!

[Woolen Horde]

Okay, took the plunge. Ordered at Amazon at 2 am last night. Read a ton of reviews, but the gushing Brighthand review was the final straw.

When I choose free shipping, Amazon can usually get the item from their Nevada distrubtion center to San Fran overnight. (Dear Lord: please ship from Nevada and not from Kentucky!) I'm now a kid before Xmas, dying for the package to get here.

Also bought the HP nylon slipcase/belt case, along with the Boxware screen protector.

[DennyA]

Okay, took the plunge.
Thanks, Woolen, for helping to insure that I'll be able to buy a 600MHz VGA H4255 or something similar in June. :-)

(Seems to work that way when I make a purchase, anyway. :-) )

Seriously, enjoy the new toy. And if you like Old Skool RPGs at all, be sure to get Redshift's Legacy for it.

[Woolen Horde]

Okay, took the plunge.
Thanks, Woolen, for helping to insure that I'll be able to buy a 600MHz VGA H4255 or something similar in June. :-)


Shit Denny, don't say that. I just know that's going to happen. :P

If it comes to that, I'll sell this one for a small loss and reinvest! But gotta live your life in the moment.

I got mine yesterday, and spent all night setting it up and charging it. My last experience with a PocketPC was back with the first-gen devices in late 2000/early 2001, and the platform has definately matured. A lot more stable, a lot more integrated with the desktop, faster, and a lot more apps. I'm loving every minute of it.

Bought a little third-party app that lets me sync hotmail in the Pocket Inbox. Signed up for a ton of newspapers, movie listings, and stuff at Avantgo. Transfered my Money 2004 account so I can track expenses better. Ripped 48-bit versions of my favorite CD's and stuck the best songs on it. Got it hooked to my wifi network and surfed the web. It's all good!

Defintely want to get at least a 256MB SD card next. And I'm thinking of going for Amazon's 2-year protection plan for $30, because I'm paranoid about dropping this baby. But I got 30 days to think about that.

Denny, do you know if the "bulky" battery for the Ipaq can fit in the h4155? it's got a little door to the battery compartment, and I'm wondering if it will seal if I buy the really long-life battery.