I honestly don't get any troubles with my Axim at all. Battery life seems quite good and I never have to use the extra High Cap battery that I purchased at all. I treat it like a mobile phone and give it a trickle once every few days, but I have not seen this issue of the software crashing on flat batteries either. My own GPS solution, "Co Pilot 6 live" just saves data to either the CF or SD card and it is there as soon at the electrickery allows. I Have run out twice in twelve months, yet it all fires up bootifully. I would have been pretty miffed to find any of the above complaints, but I do agree that this is no laptop. Conversely, the laptop is clumsy to lug around and the PDA isn't, so it is there when you need it.
I also believe Dell are pretty good with updates too, though they have just cleaned me out for £21 for three replacement styli.
Conan