PDA Crapness

[socialsim]

I've got a HP Jonada PDA, which I've wanted for a while but I'm really disappointed with the dairy / calender on it - it's so unuser friendly, in fact, I've gone back to a traditional paper diary for this aspect. Anyone know of any phones that have good calendars? i'd like it to play games too if poss. I'm hoping to upgrade my Nokia in a couple of months. Is there something out there that could potential do all the PDA and mobile phone thing together?

 

[Jonty]

Hi socialsim

Rather than ditching your Jornada, why not try downloading a diary/calender application? Places like Tucows have lots of free or shareware applications for the PocketPC OS. Personally I love my Joranda, and I believe the diary function is pretty much the same on any PocketPC. You may wish download and install Microsoft Transcriber which allows you to write anywhere on the screen and have what you write converted into typed text. With practice it's surprisingly accurate, and it saves a lot of time compared to using the onscreen keyboard.

As for phones with good calenders, to be honest, none will really match up to those on the PocketPC. I am fortunate enough to own a Nokia 7650 which has an integrated diary and calender as on all Nokia's new Symbian-based phones. However, nice as it is, you still have to take time filling in entries, so if it's speed you're after, I suspect you'd be better off sticking with your PDA (or your pen and paper).

Remember with both Nokia's advanced phones and your PDA, you can syncronise data with your PC. You may, therefore, find it easier to fill in your calender on your PC then syncronise the data to your PDA/phone on the way out. The PocketPC is especially good at this as it is integrated directly with Microsoft Outlook.

Finally, as for a PDA and phone combined, you really only have two options. The first is Microsoft's PocketPC Phone which is exactly like a PDA except with the additional benefit of being able to make voice calls on them. Manufacturers like Trium produce models based around this technology (I believe the HP Joranda 928 series may have something like this too). Otherwise, you're looking at something more like a phone with one of two PDA features added. Examples of this are Orange's SPV smartphone and Sony Ericsson's P800 phone (and, at a push, phones like the Nokia 7650).

Kind Regards

 

[(Shovel)]

Well, you probably want to look into the Sony Ericsson P800 - that is the latest one of that type.

Have a look at the first post in this old thread. That should give you some hints on the game playing possibilities!

SE make great phones, TBH I find the Calender on the T68 userble, if a little click happy, and syncronising with Outlook is great.

So that would be my tip. Furr posted about a month back that he had ordered one, so maybe he can contribute something on it.

 

[PR.]

I've started using PocketInformant, it replaces the Calendar, Tasks, Contacts and Notes but uses their databases to allow synching with Outlook on the desktop.

I'm not sure what version of the PPC OS you are running but I think its compatible with PPC 2000 as well as 2002

http://www.pocketinformant.com/

http://www.handango.com - is also a good site for PPC software

 

[socialsim]

Thanks

For all your advice. There's lots to investigate here. I agree it would be a shame to ditch my pda as it does have its uses. I'm happy with the way it sinks with Outlook it's just the actual 'look' of the diary on the screen, you have to look at little blue squares or triangles that are supposed to signify an appointment but you have go into to it to see what it is - sounds petty but there you go. I'm gonna look at the ones you guys have suggested as I'm sure they'll be something useful there. On the games and mobile front (although I'm not sure about calendar facilities) what about that new Nokia game / phone thing - I don't know its name - engame or something???? Sounds intertesting...although I've seen pic and it looks quite big / cumbersome for a mobile.

 

[Jonty]

Hi socialism

You're right, Nokia's N-Gage phone does look quite interesting. Unfortunately, Nokia showed a pre-alpha version of the phone at a show some months back. Because it was so early in its design, the games reviewers slated it for not being enough like a Gameboy; and the phone reviewers slated it for not being enough like a phone. That said, it does look quite interesting, and it has some impressive features (3D games, XHTML browser, Bluetooth, MP3 playback and ringtones etc).

However, it still uses the same operating system as other Nokia phones, so in terms of calender and other traditional PDA functions, I doubt it will be anything revolutionary. And, of course, it isn't touch screen, thus so you still have to everything in (one way to get around this, however, may be Nokia's 6800 phone with flip-out keyboard).

Anyway, in short, I'd stick with your PDA As PR. kindly stated, there are some good alternatives to the standard software, and even if you have to buy the program, they're still relatively cheap, especially compared to purchasing a whole new phone.

Kind Regards