Need advice on a PDA

[blowe]

Mother-in-law wants a PDA. Here are the features she wants(in order of importance) ...

Internet
Email
Word(or other word processor)
MP3

What would you all suggest. I would give you a price point, but I have no idea these days on what these things cost.

Thanks!!

[bchappuie]

I'd say go to your favorite Wireless carrier, Cingular for example and look at the Treo 650. Does all + voice I beleive.

[rocky]

I've recently fallen for a Nokia 9300 or 9500.

Current phone is too new to justify ditching for one of these er rather large but very capable machines...

http://www.nokiausa.com/phones/9300

You can get them unlocked now from places like www.Gadgetfreeks.com and similar

[ecsw]

Dell X51 with wireless + BT with Windows Mobile 5.0.

Or Compaq whichever comes with Windows Mobile 5.0.

[robrecht]

Originally posted by ecsw
Dell X51 with wireless + BT with Windows Mobile 5.0.

I'd go along with this IF the mother-in-law has (or will get) a bluetooth phone for when she's not in a WiFi area and is VERY tech savvy--mine is but not nearly enough for this set up. I basically have this set up myself BTW. Internet and email aren't exactly easy given these wireless connection options.

Otherwise, I'm hoping the Treo phone carrier solution is much more user friendly 'cause it's Palm. But it's not exactly cheap either, especially with a data plan. Other possibility is a blackberry-phone setup with a good screen for some basic Internet. That might be easiest.

Basically, though, I'm not so sure that the current generation of mother-in-laws are that wireless savvy (hope I'm wrong for your sake).

Good luck!

[ecsw]

BT is just there, not important. If possible, get X3i to save some money.

Tero doesn't come with Document to Go, does it? Windows Mobile all come with Word/Excel that u can Edit/View Office documents.

I had 3 Palms and 5 PPC and I found Windows Mobile much easier to use than Palm.

Also, Tero670 will be using Windows Mobile 5.0 as well. Think about it, why does Palm going to use Windows Mobile 5 instead of their own OS?

http://mobile.yesky.com/imagelist/05...jfn6a62r88.JPG


If Internet browsing is all u care, u might want to consider PSP as well. It can browse the web with firmware version 2.0 and it has a 4.3" screen that's better than any PDA u can find.

Originally posted by robrecht
I'd go along with this IF the mother-in-law has (or will get) a bluetooth phone for when she's not in a WiFi area and is VERY tech savvy--mine is but not nearly enough for this set up. I basically have this set up myself BTW. Internet and email aren't exactly easy given these wireless connection options.

Otherwise, I'm hoping the Treo phone carrier solution is much more user friendly 'cause it's Palm. But it's not exactly cheap either, especially with a data plan. Other possibility is a blackberry-phone setup with a good screen for some basic Internet. That might be easiest.

Basically, though, I'm not so sure that the current generation of mother-in-laws are that wireless savvy (hope I'm wrong for your sake).

Good luck!

[rocky]

If your MIL isn't wireless savvy and rejects the new device after a trial period, just make sure its somethin YOU could use

[jay]

Originally posted by blowe
Mother-in-law wants a PDA. Here are the features she wants(in order of importance) ...

Internet
Email
Word(or other word processor)
MP3

What would you all suggest. I would give you a price point, but I have no idea these days on what these things cost.

Thanks!!

You sure she doesn't want a laptop? The feature list you have there doesn't even contain any of the usual strengths of a PDA. And Internet access, email, and word processing are slow and clumsy at best. And the sound quality for mp3s will likely not be what yoy couyld get from an mp3 player.

[blowe]

Thanks for all your replies. Some clarifcations ...

She doesn't want a phone. She already has one. Plus she wants to have a decent size screen and doesn't want to carry around a big huge phone. She is very comfortable with the wireless thing. She has a wireless router in her house and uses her laptop with it all the time. I am leaning toward anything with Windows Mobile. She is already familiar with the characteristics of the Windows OSs. Have been looking at the Dell Axims or the HP IPAQs. It seems the Dells have better reviews though.

One seperate question about wireless. Although these would work fine in a 802.11b environment, is there anything out there that will allow you to access the internet from anywhere, or do you prett much need a PDA phone for that?

[ecsw]

u still need a wireless hot spot. But believe me, it's almost like everywhere.

If u need access EVERYWHERE, then u will need a Phone/PDA like the one from Sprint PPC6700 I believe. Made by UTstarcom or something like that. But really made by HTC in Taiwan (the company made most iPaq).

In reality is, Compaq usually have a bit better overall quality than Axim. Although review mostly pefer Axim, that's because they usually don't REVIEW the unit for LONG-TERM.

My friend works in HTC as the QA, he told me Axim's product cycle is much shorter than iPaq (3~6 months shorter). That's why iPaq usually have less bugs and things like that.

I have both Axim/Ipaq and I have to agree with what he told me.

But Axim usually have better deals.

I hope that helps.