Hmmm T|X or E2....or what else?

J

Julius E

New member
Hi guys,

I'm new to the PDA world and I've been doing a lot of reading to see which OS is best for me and I guess the best method to find out is ask the questions to the pro because the stores just don't know.

I want to do the following:

-Browse the Internet throught hot spots (access points)
-Don't need Microsoft Outlook features, but want Outlook Express (don't use Enterprise e-mail)
-Interested in possibly getting GPS. If PDA works well with it, then it would be important.
-Not interested in games, movies, music or many other software. Maybe a mapping software like Street and Trips.
-I need an OS that is easy to navigate. Good looks is always important I guess.
-I don't need it to be a phone or on a 1X network.
-Something that can be charged by USB would be an asset.
-It would be an asset to have something with a good battery life. I read that WI-FI can drain the battery fairly easilly.

So what would you recommend and why?

Thanks for all your help.
 
I preferred by Treo 650 over all other hardware. And you must be informed that I was kicking and screaming when I was forced to get it. Now that our company has gone away from that platform (went to simple phones), I miss it.

Hot Spots are ok but you still have to pay for most of them. Why not get a data plan that is unlimited with your phone and have access nearly everywhere compared to having to hunt for a Starbucks or another location.

Surfing the web via a PDA - well it's just as fast with a cellphone as it will be with a PDA connected to a wifi spot. Try loading a page on a TX that has 40GB of pics.......it's slow and most mobile phones will drop you into a wap location rather than trying to load a wifi full tilt page that thinks it's loading to a laptop.

M2C.
 
Thanks Moose Man.

I don't want to buy a data plan. The main purpose of this would only be organizer. I have a WI-FI connection at home. Most people don't secure their WI-FI routers at home and they are easilly accessible (without hacking). I visit a lot of people at their homes, so this would be an asset for me. And like you said, I can always use the cell phone for Internet, which I never do (I need to carry a seperate cell phone).

I'm not doubting the Treo 650, but I think it would be too much for my purpose.

Would anyone else agree or would it realy be the PDA for me?

Thanks guys.
 
I have a T% that I use for almost everything you list. Here is what I have experienced, it might be of some help for you.

Surfing the web from a Palm is... something I will only do when it is really necessary. I have Wifi in my house, and have used it at other people's homes. However, I have to really be desparate to make myself surf on a 320 by 480 screen.

VersaMail will work for your mail needs
Any Bluetooth GPS should work. I have a stand-alone GPS that I bought a bluetooth transmitter for, and it works quite well.
For mapping I use Delorme Street Atlas 2006 Handheld It works great with the GPS.

As far as I have seen, Palm OS is about the easiest to navigate. And once you get familiar with it, there are always add on launchers that you can use to customize it even more.
All the newer Palms will trickle charge through the USB, but it will take a while for a "full" charge this way.
The T5 has very good battery life. As I understand it, so does the TX. As for Wifi, the doesn't have Wifi built in, so I only use it when I have the card in, and I have an extreme need, With the TX, wifi can be turned off so that it isn't chewing up battery life. With all of the newer palms, T5, Lifedrive, TX, Treo650, 700, and E2, all of the information on them is stored in NVRam, or non-volatile ram. This means that even if your battery runs out, you will not lose everything.

So, with all of that being said, I would choose a T5 if I could find one new, or gently used on e-bay, with a wifi card. Otyherwise, in order of preference:
TX, LifeDrive, Treo 650, E2, Treo 700P.

Hope this helps...
 
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