Upgrade from iPAQ 4150 to VGA+CF PDA

[birdie]

I am considering upgrading from my HP iPAQ 4150, it has served me well and is still prefect but i am looking to upgrade to a PDA with CF and VGA screen namely either the Dell Axim X50v or the HP iPAQ hx4700.

I am leaning more towards the Dell atm, because atm they have a 20% off + free delivery which brings the $849 price back to $644.60 whereas the HP is $999 for basicly the same pda except the screen is .3" bigger which makes the whole pda bigger.

How does the bundled software compare between the two? Has anyone used both and has any comments on either?

[427]

I was looking at the same choice for upgrading my old 3870, and it basically came down to the .3" bigger screen as you say, and the iPAQ screen being a bit brighter and more vivid according to reviews. However the iPAQ screen apparently has a yellowish tinge to it, whereas the Dell's white is really white.

Also unsure if the iPAQ has the dedicated 16MB Intel graphics accelerator that the Dell has?

One more thing, I think 20% off $849 is $679

[birdie]

Originally Posted by 427

I was looking at the same choice for upgrading my old 3870, and it basically came down to the .3" bigger screen as you say, and the iPAQ screen being a bit brighter and more vivid according to reviews. However the iPAQ screen apparently has a yellowish tinge to it, whereas the Dell's white is really white.

Also unsure if the iPAQ has the dedicated 16MB Intel graphics accelerator that the Dell has?

One more thing, I think 20% off $849 is $679

Well which did you chose?

Goto http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/prod..._au&l=en&s=dhs and then click on customise & buy for the X50v and it says $644.60 so i guess the postage must be $34.60?

[427]

You're absolutely right about the price thing... My bad

I still haven't made up my mind actually! I'm leaning to the Dell as well, $350 is a lot for .3" of screen real estate...

[silver6]

I got the Dell X50v. Excellent PDA. VGA screen is great. The only downside to the unit is battery life. The extended battery doubles the life but adds a bulge to the back. Plays Divx,xvid,mpeg video without any problems

The HP 4700 has an ATI Imageon 3220 card instead of the Intel card.
the 4700 has more software than the Dell. The x50v come does not come with much apart from alot of demo stuff. HP usally supplys more stuff hence the price difference.

One thing is if you intend to play games on a PDA, the touchpad is can be a pain on the 4700.

The x50V is a little bit smaller and sleaker than the 4700. Makes it easy to carry around.

[birdie]

Originally Posted by silver6

I got the Dell X50v. Excellent PDA. VGA screen is great. The only downside to the unit is battery life. The extended battery doubles the life but adds a bulge to the back. Plays Divx,xvid,mpeg video without any problems

The HP 4700 has an ATI Imageon 3220 card instead of the Intel card.
the 4700 has more software than the Dell. The x50v come does not come with much apart from alot of demo stuff. HP usally supplys more stuff hence the price difference.

One thing is if you intend to play games on a PDA, the touchpad is can be a pain on the 4700.

The x50V is a little bit smaller and sleaker than the 4700. Makes it easy to carry around.

What is the standard battery life like? would i get a day out of it work?
Where is the cheapest place to get the 2200mAh battery? Of what I have found Dell is the cheapest at $60.50.

My iPAQ 4150 can do all that fine too :P

Of the extra 4700 software is there anything worth having in it? With my 4150 i only use the iPAQ backup, iPAQ image zone, iPAQ wireless, of the HP software, the rest is just standard MS software or freeware I have downloaded. I guess the Dell would come with software to control the WiFi and BT? what about backup software?

I don't really think an extra .3" of screen and a few extra programs are worth the extra $350.

I don't play many games, but i have heard the trackpad is a pain for games as you said.

I like how small my 4150 is, I haven't compared the size to the X50v but i know it will be larger for the simple fact it has a 3.7" screen.

[silver6]

Dell has it's own WiFi utility.
Bluetooth is the PPC2K3 version.
Has Dell Backup Software

You can get 3 hours continous use out of it. (WiFi off, 70% brightness) or watch 1 movie. It should last a day without any problems.

[birdie]

Originally Posted by silver6

Dell has it's own WiFi utility.
Bluetooth is the PPC2K3 version.
Has Dell Backup Software

You can get 3 hours continous use out of it. (WiFi off, 70% brightness) or watch 1 movie. It should last a day without any problems.

I checked out what Hp offers with the 4700 extra, and of what they offer I think i can live without them and if I can't i will simply buy them with the $350 i save.

What about at 50% brightness? Or do you need to run it at 70%? I have heard that the battery life is fairly good if you drop the brightness back to 50%. If so I don't know if i will worry about getting the 2200mA battery yet.

[argus]

The other down side to dell is their poor customer service. I have an x50v on order and am going through hell with thier hopeless Indian call centres at the moment. I would never order from dell again based on this experience.

[silver6]

50% brightness is fine. I am also using a 2GB CF card and also a 1GB SD card. You'll get more battery life if your not using memory cards.

I would bother with the 2200 battery. Just get an aditional 1100 battery.

[Elysium]

I'm getting one of these pretty soon, They're on offer in Singapore at SGD$700 delivered

EDIT: By the way, is the video playback quality good for the Dell ? I'm thinking of getting the Dell instead of a dedicated media player like the Iriver pmp-120 or the Archos Av420? Is the quality comparable to these two ?

[birdie]

silver6: I might just get the 1100mAh battery for now as you suggest, as it is only about $15 or so IIRC.

Does CF use more or less power than SD?

Was anyone paid by DD? I want to pay that way, but it looks like i have to go to a local National Australia Bank branch to deposit the money. Also if i do it that way how they know you have deposited the money? Is there a number you get given or something like that?

[silver6]

CF uses more power than SD. (Not by much)

Walk In to Bank

Complete a bank deposit advice slip (Available at any National Australia Bank) with the information below and deposit it along with your cheque or cash at any National Australia Bank . Please write your name on the deposit advice slip and fax to us.

Or Internet Banking

Please indicate our Quotation or Invoice number as reference in the telegraphic transfer details.

Video playback on VGA is excellent unlike QVGA on those media devices. Pixels are much smaller giving much better video quality. You get the full 30+fps without any skipping.

[birdie]

Originally Posted by silver6

CF uses more power than SD. (Not by much)

Walk In to Bank


Or Internet Banking


Video playback on VGA is excellent unlike QVGA on those media devices. Pixels are much smaller giving much better video quality. You get the full 30+fps without any skipping.

Ah so thats what a telegraphic transfer is I will just do that then

[birdie]

i have ordered it yesterday and deposited the money today.

1 - Dell Axim X50v
1 - 1100mAh Spare Battery
1 - Screen protector 12-Pak for 3.7" LCD

Total $ 674.30

So hopefully i can get it this week