PDAs...?

Simon · Jul 13, 2008, 11:25:21

I think I know what I'm talking about - one of those mini-computers about the size of a sat-nav. Firstly, any recommendations, and secondly, would it connect to the internet through my mobile phone connection, or would I also need a wi-fi enabled mobile to do this? Reason being, I have unlimited data with O2, so wouldn't want to be paying extra still, to run a PDA.

Inactive · Jul 13, 2008, 11:32:33

Not another toy, Simon?...

Rik · Jul 13, 2008, 11:33:47

I've run Palms since the first USR Pilot, Simon, and thoroughly recommend them, though their future is less certain these days. They work fine with mobiles using Bluetooth, provided that the phone model is supported.

Simon · Jul 13, 2008, 11:38:52

Right, so some research required then. Do Sony do them?

Rik · Jul 13, 2008, 11:42:53

Not Palms, afaik. Possibly a Windows device though.

Glenn · Jul 13, 2008, 12:00:49

Simon, are you due a phone upgrade anytime soon? Would an iPhone V2 do what you need?

Baz · Jul 13, 2008, 12:02:12

dont know what they are but everyone talks about the Blackberry............is that the same

Rik · Jul 13, 2008, 12:06:52

Not quite the same thing, Baz, Berries are more dedicated to mobile email:

http://www.blackberry.com/blackberrybold/features/#experience

and generally require a separate account, a bit like a 3G data card.

Simon · Jul 13, 2008, 12:41:22

I don't really know what I want. I've just got an itch for a new gadget! What I was thinking of is something for portable internet access, a bit bigger than a phone, but smaller than a laptop, for ~~playing with~~ use in the car.

Quote from: Glenn on Jul 13, 2008, 12:00:49
Simon, are you due a phone upgrade anytime soon? Would an iPhone V2 do what you need?

I'm SIM only, Glenn, so haven't got a contract, as such, and don't really want to get into another one. Maybe I'll just hold on for the Sony Ericsson X1, as that should do everything I want.

Inactive · Jul 13, 2008, 12:44:53

Face it Simon, you are just gadget deprived..

Rik · Jul 13, 2008, 12:46:09

You sure that wasn't depraved you meant to type, In.??

Inactive · Jul 13, 2008, 12:46:49

And that Rik...

Simon · Jul 13, 2008, 12:47:05

Sebby · Jul 13, 2008, 13:32:10

Quote from: Glenn on Jul 13, 2008, 12:00:49
Simon, are you due a phone upgrade anytime soon? Would an iPhone V2 do what you need?

I like your way of thinking. I'm much more enticed by all-in-one gadgets like the iPhone these days. Why do I want to carry a mobile, an iPod, a PDA, and so on, with me when I could have it in one device?

Sebby · Jul 13, 2008, 13:32:44

Quote from: Simon on Jul 13, 2008, 12:41:22
I'm SIM only, Glenn, so haven't got a contract, as such, and don't really want to get into another one. Maybe I'll just hold on for the Sony Ericsson X1, as that should do everything I want.

O2 will be selling it on PAYG later this year.

Simon · Jul 13, 2008, 15:31:04

Quote from: Sebby on Jul 13, 2008, 13:32:44
O2 will be selling it on PAYG later this year.

Worth thinking about... but I'm hooked on that SE-X1 now!

Glenn · Jul 13, 2008, 16:33:38

How about an HTC Diamond?

Simon · Jul 13, 2008, 18:01:54

Quote from: Glenn on Jul 13, 2008, 16:33:38
How about an HTC Diamond?

Nice, Glenn, but looking at the pic in the thread, it seems incredibly reflective, so might be a nightmare to use in daylight.

weevil · Jul 13, 2008, 19:38:31

I currently have a BlackBerry and have been very tempted by the new 3G iPhone.

The Blackberry is great for email. You can browse the web etc. It does work but it is a bit painful to use (slow and a bit awkward to navigate).

I was interested in the iPhone for a few reasons. Firstly, it's compatability with .mac (now called MobileMe). Basically it synchronizes all your emails, address books, bookmarks etc. etc. with your Mac (or PC) at home/work.

The other big thing (for me) is that there is no restriction on the size of email attachments. With BlackBerry there is an attachment limit of 3-5mb. iPhone attachment limit is dependent on your provider i.e if you can accept 10mb attachments (or whatever the limit is) from (for example) IDNet then this will get pushed to the iPhone.

I have discovered that it's not quite the thing for me yet though. Although the emails (with larger attachments) get sent to the iPhone, you can not do much with them (apart from view them). I thought you may be able to save them to the iPhones memory and then connect it via USB to your Mac or PC and copy the file over. Apple obviously don't want to make files easy to copy (I'm thinking about the music files really) so they have not made this a feature (although there are some hacks for it).

The main thought process behind this was that I wanted to have a backup to my normal internet connection (via telephone line). With the Blackberry, you can use it as a mass storage device (in effect an external hard drive). If my telephone exchange had a major problem and it meant losing internet connectivity for anything more than a couple of hours it would cause me a serious headache (on the work front).

Before my connection to IDNet came online when I moved to my new property, the BlackBerry saved my skin. I was able to save my work from my desktop Mac onto the BlackBerry and send the files via email from the BlackBerry. You can even set it up as a modem too.

Asides these points (probably not relevant to most), the iPhone looks great. It's web browsing is fantastic visually too. It's a real all rounder function-wise and it looks the business too. If Apple sorted out the couple of things (they easily could but probably won't) that aren't quite right for me then I would swap the BlackBerry straight away.

Sebby · Jul 13, 2008, 20:14:07

I agree about MobileMe. To me, it's the answer to a load of problems associated with having more than one computer device.

Whilst it is certainly not perfect (poor camera, no copy and paste, etc) I'm seriously attracted to it (don't tell my girlfriend!).

somanyholes · Jul 14, 2008, 10:25:18

this might help, some very pretty ones

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/07/11/round_up_iphone_rivals/