For the PDA gurus....

[barney]

Hi there. I am looking at getting the Dell Axim X30 312MHz Wifi PDA @ $499 delivered with free screen protector 12 pack and 3 stylus pen pack.....phew.

Any reasons why I shouldn't?

I definitely need wifi as I want to be able to sit in the lounge, check tv programs, whats on at the movies, get email etc...

The Dell certainly seems great value in comparison to ipaqs and toshiba offerings. One concern I have is the OS. How "proprietary" is it? Will I need to buy extra software, or is there a good open-source community for this platform? I've had a look at sourceforge, and there seems like a lot there, but it's hard to know until you've used these things in practice.

Is there a unix-terminal emulator for PPC2003? At work we use PC's to emulate a terminal from our unix mainframe, it would be schweeeeet to run that from the PDA instead. I've seen in other threads that people use their PDA's to emulate GBA, SNES etc. How well do these work? I know on PC's emulation can be a bit touch-and-go.

I would have bought a Palm if it was 12 months ago, but they seem a bit off the pace and poor value now. I particularly dont like the idea that you have to pay extra to be able to play mp3's (Real expansion required?)

I am looking to initially spend ~$500.

[gregzeng]

Originally posted by barney
Hi there. I am looking at getting the Dell Axim X30 312MHz Wifi PDA @ $499 delivered with free screen protector 12 pack and 3 stylus pen pack.....phew.

Any reasons why I shouldn't? <,SNIP> ...

Combination Phone-PDAs are getting better & more powerful.

I have an old Sony-Erikkson Phone-PDA, plus an old Ipaq (PC 2002 operating system). I can't easily carry both. I'm watching the new Phone-PDAs. The current Sony-Erikkson Phone-PDA misses the memory card of the Ipaq.

Not sure if you can use the IR to control the TV. I've read elsewhere of add-ons (hardware & software), etc.

[barney]

Originally posted by gregzeng
Combination Phone-PDAs are getting better & more powerful.

I have an old Sony-Erikkson Phone-PDA, plus an old Ipaq (PC 2002 operating system). I can't easily carry both. I'm watching the new Phone-PDAs. The current Sony-Erikkson Phone-PDA misses the memory card of the Ipaq.

Not sure if you can use the IR to control the TV. I've read elsewhere of add-ons (hardware & software), etc.

Only about 12 months into current contract. Something like the 3 phones sounds appealing, but then I realise I'd have to walk around with it in my pocket....

[The_Cheat]

i got the Dell Axim X30 and i love it. Does everything i want plus more.

[barney]

Which model do you have? 312MHz, 312MHz w/ wifi, or 612MHz? I'm a little bit tempted to get the 624MHz model, but I think the 312 w/ wifi should do me. How long did delivery take for you?

[The_Cheat]

I got the 312mhz w/wi-fi.
Delivery took me a week, about 6 working days. I don't know what everyone else thinks but i think that Dell's delivery time has improved. Got my Dell printer in 2 DAYS! Thats super fast!

[Oppressa]

From what I've experienced, the 3 phones aren't very customisable, their planners aren't great, their construction is unreliable and there are software bugs including syncing bugs with ActiveSync (which you use to update contacts, favourites, inbox, etc, on your PDA).

I'd go for something that operates on the Pocket PC platform which HP uses mainly because there is a huge amount of software that is made for it:
http://www.freewareppc.com/
http://www.pocketpccity.com/software-pocketpc.html
http://www.pocketpccentral.net/
htto://www.kazaa.com


The o2 XDA II/iMate is definately worth a look if you want a phone and PDA. It's in my opinion, the best PDA/phone out there.

Or there's HP's new offering which I can't comment on because I haven't used it:
http://www.expansys.com.au/product.asp?code=IPAQ6000

[barney]

Cheers for the links Oppressa! I ordered the Dell Axim today, now, the waiting game! Last day of free screen protector and styli offer......At $499 delivered, it really is cracking value. Compaq/HP should be ashamed. The rz1710 is the same price, isn't networked, has half the memory, slower processor etc. Really looking forward to getting this.

[Franc]

Originally posted by barney
Hi there. I am looking at getting the Dell Axim X30 312MHz Wifi PDA @ $499

Any reasons why I shouldn't?

The Dell certainly seems great value in comparison to ipaqs and toshiba offerings. One concern I have is the OS. How "proprietary" is it? Will I need to buy extra software,
Is there a unix-terminal emulator for PPC2003?

their PDA's to emulate GBA, SNES etc. How well do these work? I know on PC's emulation can be a bit touch-and-go.

I am looking to initially spend ~$500.

No reasons why you shouldnt; especially as you sound like you got a real need for it...

The OS is like windows for PDA's there is tons of freeware/shareware/commercial software out there

Unix terminal emulator - Yep.

With the IR on the axim you can program in all your remotes

OH AND FOR GODS SAKE GET THE EXTENDED BATTERY ITS ONLY FOR $30 OR SO MORE !!!!!

[barney]

I checked out the links above for software. Looks like there is a great range of software. I didnt get the extended battery, it's already been ordered. Can always get it later I guess.

Only 1 disadvantage with Dell / ordering online...the wait. It's killing me! It will be worth it though....hehe.

[Zardoz]

Wireless on a PDA makes the unit so much more useful.

I use PocketTTY (or is it PockeTTY?) for my ssh/telnet needs under PPC2003. Google it