Which wireless PDA
 

I've been debating the merits of a PDA v a laptop for keeping me in comms while travelling, hols etc (I'm self-employed, so no comms = potential lost business).

I've decided that a wireless PDA is better - I don't need crunching power, just the ability to send/receive emails, inc. Word/pdf attachments.

I've narrowed it down to the iPAQ hw6515 running Windows Mobile, or the Treo 650, running the Palm OS.

Your opinions/verdicts, please.

Toshiba does it well for me and i get GPS with it.

You would still need to be in a wireless hotspot! the advantage of a laptop (I would guess) is that it would have a cable connection for internet a well. Plus you could install and connect up with a 3G card.

The other option would be to access through a mobile, just a thought.

I need it to be able to connect to GPRS without other devices. More links = more things to go wrong...

As far as I can see there are not many PDAs with GPRS built-in. A friend who works for Ericsson had the most horrendous horror stories of trying to get his Voda 3G card to work. PDA on hols is a bit easier to use/carry than a laptop, as I don't go on holiday to business class hotels, or hotels at all, very often.

Worked 1st time for me.

If it's only email access you need there are plenty who provide on-line access, just need to find an internet cafe.

Are you talking about GPRS or WiFi? Plenty of combined mobile phone/PDAs are available now, some even have wifi as well (eg i-mate JAMin, Eten M600).

General question - how does one's network based/contract GPRS package work overseas?

I need GPRS.

Internet cafes are a PITA for me - I need near 24/7 access as most of my customers are W coast US, so 8/9 hours behind UK/mainland Europe. It's not an option to go looking for an internet cafe at 2300. Since I'm often exchanging commercially sensitive Word docs it's going to make more sense to use/keep them on a private device.

Have a look at the dell Axim. It seems to work down route but PDA WIFI can be a bit quirky at times.

My Ipaq 5555 pulls e-mails via GPRS and Bluetooth using my Motorola V3 cellphone. It took a while to set it up, but it works flawlessly.

It's a bit fiddly, because of the small screen, and I prefer the laptop (which will do all the same things using a Bluetooth dongle), but if that's the way you want to go...

Can't fault my HP Ipaq HX4700. Had it for 2 months now and it only gets better..:ok:

Take a look at any of the new breed of Windows Mobile 5.0 devices, such as the Imate K-Jam or Qtek 9100 (TMobile MDA Vario, O2 XDA mini S) if you want a keyboard, both have EDGE/GPRS, WiFi and Bluetooth. Alternatively wait a few weeks for the new updated 3G version of the above or the UK launch of the Treo 700w equiv.

If you don't mind a slighty larger device look at the Imate JasJar or Qtek 9000 (T-Mobile MDA PRO, O2 Exec, Orange M5000 and Vodafone VDA IV). This is a 3G/EDGE/GPRS device with WiFi and Bluetooth and a quick enough processor that you could run Skype when in a WiFi hotspot if you use to speak to business contacts.

It's a rapidly evolving area, so there's loads of choice out there. It all depends what your key needs are.

HTH

Michael

I have an IPAQ 6340 which has wireless, bluetooth and is also a 3G phone so you can slip any simcard (2G or 3G) into it and away you go. I also brought a bluetooth foldable keyboard which is outstanding and much better than trying to use the stylus or the tiny keyboard that comes with the IPAQ.

I learnt to my cost that you just can't beat a laptop if you need to read something with a decent screen size or do some spreadsheeting or prepare long word documents. But for receiving and sending emails on the go and perhaps viewing the odd document it is fine but you definately don't want to try and sit there for hours on end using the cut down versions of excel or word as it is just to frustrating and time consuming.

'Chuffer'

I've got to agree with you mate - the hx4700 is excellent. BIG screen - 4x as many pixels means that I can do without the laptop now.

Look at screen size and resolution, as these really determine how much use you'll get out of whatever you buy. VGA is a joy!

O

Nokia 9300. GPRS, EDGE compatable, keyboard, seamless connectivity, and phone size. Tried the 9500. Too big, too buggy, but it did have WiFi (that was rarely used). 9300 wins hands down; closest thing to a Psion... but better. Want a sim free 9500?? make me an offer! Keeping the 9300 though..

Xda IIi
 

I've operated an O2 Xda IIi pocket PC for over a year.
Seems to work tolerably well. Has frozen occasionally requiring soft reset but no loss of data.
Has WiFi, Bluetooth, GPRS.
Irritating that (unlike Psion) Pocket Excel cannot produce graphs and display isn't as appropriate for spreadsheet as Psion either.
Personally I'd like to try a Palm and the Nokia which looks like a Psion for comparison.

Basil,

For a replacement spreadsheet on PPC/WM5 have a look at PlanMaker or PTab

I've not used PTab, but have used PlanMaker in the past, and it's a vast improvment over the standard PocketExcel version.

Michael

mdc,
Thanks for the tips. I don't use PDA graphing so much now - used to do the B747 trimsheet on my Psion - worked very well esp for trial loading.