Hey all, I want to get a pda before I start my junior year at college. I'm
on a limited budget cause I have to build a new computer as well. Here's
what I kind of want the pda to do...

synch with outlook
run ms money so I can do my check book on it
edit word documents
be upgradeable to wireless network
be able to plug a keyboard in that is close to normal size.

What I'm looking at is the Dell Axium with the 300mhz cpu. It seems that
dell has a decent keyboard so I can take notes in class but its not as full
size as some of the addon keyboards out there... are any of those compatible
with the dells?

Here are some questions... how beneficial would it be to have a faster
processor? Would going with the slower 300mhz model give me longer battery
life? I really want something that can last a while for note taking during
a 2 hour class. Are there any major downsides to getting the dell as
opposed to getting an ipaq?

Oh yea, does anybody know any good pda websites out there with lots of
reviews? Thanks!

"Nobody" <nobody> writes:
Don't get one. Get a laptop.

PDA's suck for all those things.

Don't take notes in class with an electronic gizmo. It makes noise
and annoys your classmates. Use a pen and paper like a normal sane
student. If you really want to be organized, transcribe the notes to
your laptop after you get home, expanding everything into complete
sentences while the lecture is fresh in your mind. Some professors
also let you tape record lectures, but ask permission first.

Don't get any.

"Paul Rubin" <http://phr.cx@NOSPAM.invalid> wrote in message
news:7xr84q1cjn.fsf@ruckus.brouhaha.com...
Or spring for a tablet PC and be the ubergeek. I wish I'd had one of those
when I was in school.

Paul Rubin <http://phr.cx@nospam.invalid> wrote:
Er, and most likely it's really slow and takes more mental
effort compared to writing. I take notes using my Zaurus,
but only to jot down the odd reference or important point;
even that is distracting enough. Of course, if I'd been
using my PDA for as long as pen and paper, it'd be different,
I suppose.

Oddly (hah) my Z neither makes noise (I turn any beeping
it might do off), nor does it annoy other people.

It's advantage for notes is that I can later edit the files,
and don't have to keep track of bits of paper. But for
taking copious notes, the mini-keyboard, handwriting, or
screen-keyboard are all too slow to use effectively.

#Paul

Make sure what ever you decide to buy will work on the college network .
If you go the laptop or tablet PC make sure the OS complies with
requirements of the University .

Look at getting a ethernet CF card , for high speed connection in your
dorm room (PDA). Get a wireless card that is 802.11 a,b,g cf card . Get
a pda that allow you to rotate the screen. Their are keyboards that
expand to near full size . Also , have software that detect wireless
connection and strength. Get a ebook reader for text book , etc . look
at getting an extra battery or have some way to plug in to electric
outlet. The pda must support Compact flash and SD .

The Dell is a good balance between price, functionality and expandability.
It's a bit on the large size when compared to devices like the hp2215, but
you'll save enough money to buy a keyboard and WLAN card or other
accessories. I also like it because it has both SD and CF slots, so you can
use expanded memory AND accessories (like a LAN card) at the same time.

I'm a bit biased, but if you have any other questions about devices, you can
also try posting them at the www.pocketpcthoughts.com discussion forum.
--

Brad Adrian, MS-MVP/Mobile Devices



"Nobody" <nobody> wrote in message
news:c89ab15e3e3a6fd4a892855a139cc599@unlimited.ul trafeed.com...

"Nobody" <nobody> wrote in message
news:c89ab15e3e3a6fd4a892855a139cc599@unlimited.ul trafeed.com...
You can do most of that on any PocketPC, but editing Word documents is a bit
iffy.

I tried taking notes on a PocketPC. It sucks. They're really too small to
write much, and you have to switch pages so many times that it gets
confusing. Paper and pen work MUCH better. I've yet to see one with a good
keyboard. I've tried many, and they're all too small, flimsy, and a general
pain in the ass.

The Dell you describe sounds fine, as PocketPC's go. There's a few after
market keyboards (I use a Targus) that work with just about all.

You don't need anything faster unless your planning on playing or capturing
video, or playing intense games. The Ipaq has a much wider range of
products designed for it, although they "may" work on others. I have the
Toshiba e740, which has an optional huge battery pack that lasted on a
flight from CA to TX and back, with plenty of power to spare.

A digital voice recorder that uses removable flash memory is my suggestion,
along with pen and paper. These you can archive to CD's and play them for a
refresher later on.

For a real good laptop that's also very portable, try a Toshiba Libretto or
another laptop of around that size. I know NEC made one. You can get them
on Ebay fairly cheap.

If you have the dough, the Fujitsu P Series and Sony Z1 are current models
with the awesome Centrino chipset/CPU, which means more power and much less
battery life. There are other's out there, but these two are the only ones
I've seen of this size which also have built in CDRW/DVD drives built in.
I've learned my lesson on buying a real tiny laptop and having to lug around
loads of shit anyway.

www.maximumpda.com www.pocketpc.com www.tomshardware.com

Pagan

kinslerp@delillo.lsr.ph.ic.ac.uk writes:
I don't think so. It's fundamentally a fussier device.

The Zaurus makes enough noise that I think it would bug me if someone
sitting next to me were to takes notes on one in class.

I've been told the best note-taking system is to just jot down the
main points while listening, then go home after the lecture and write
out as complete a reproduction as you can, in complete sentences,
based on the notes you jotted down. That makes sure you understand
the material, etc. I've done it a few times and it's effective,
though considerable work.

Paul Rubin <http://phr.cx@nospam.invalid> wrote:
I'm completely mystified -- my Zaurus (SL5500) is silent. What
sort of noises? The tapping of the stylus? Have you not turned
the keyclick/tap sound off?

--
#Paul

I can't remember the product name. It allow you to take notes on a note
pad , but the pen transfer the information to your pda. It get me about
the noise thing. Its more annoying when someone mp3 player (from laptop)
makes a noise. I had a professor who didn't rely on a text book and his
notes on the board were fast and furious. I had to get tape recorder to
keep up. The pda must allow for a near full size key board to be used or
its useless for taking notes . The note pad is only for things that are
impossible to get on to a laptop or pda quickly.

kinslerp@delillo.lsr.ph.ic.ac.uk (Paul Kinsler) writes:
Either the stylus or the keyboard makes noise (like mouse clicks).
Yes, that's with the beeper turned off.

This directory links to lots of sites with reviews:

http://www.pocketpcmag.com/bestsites.asp