quote:

Originally posted by Docc:
Firstly, decide if u wud like to buy a PDA-Phone for sure bcos to be very honest its really quite an inconvenience to carry around and the telephony aspect of it is not as great as regular mobile phones. Ofcourse it does have its advantages in deparments like media and connectivity and ease of use. Anyone who uses a computer with Windows can easily adapt to the Windows Mobile OS. So thats the first thing u need to decide....

Secondly, as to which device u shud buy. Well thats a very good questions. We have many choices these days. Your options as of now are:

1) Imate PocketPC: This device is for about AED 2000 in the market and is pretty much like the Imate PDA2k except it doesnt have the Keyboard and Wifi and ofcourse it doesnt support WM2003SE natively but u can install it by using hacks. Reagarding WiFi, u can always add it to the device with the help of an external SDIO WiFi car which costs abt AED 300.

If u dont intend to use WiFi and dont need a keyboard then this is a decent choice.

2) Imate PDA2k: This is a device that has provided everyone with nothing but agony. The device by itself is pretty robust and is capable of a lot. The keyboard is great, the WiFi built in is a welcome change for WiFi users and the new improved WM2003SE is great as it supports landscape orientation. However, the phone part of it has now become stable as it had a lotttta issues earlier but the BT problems still remain. Using it with a BT headset is almost impossible. So, if ur a hardcore BT headset user or intend to start using one, this device isnt ur best option. Overall i wud give it a 7 on 10.

3) Imate JAM: Wonderful form factor, great specs and easy to use. Again, no built in keyboard and no WiFi. But again the WiFi can be added using an external SDIO WiFi card. It has only 64MB of RAM which in my view is less as if u intend to install a lot of 3rd party applications then ur device mite become slow due to insufficient RAM. Overall an 8 on 10.

4) HP 6315: U dont need to know about it as i wud never suggest u to buy it. A 5 on 10.

Upcoming Devices:

5) Imate PDA2: Simply the same form factor as the Imate pocketpc but with an upgraded processor, built in WiFi and apparently 1.3MP camera which produces horrible quality images and BT 1.2 which really isnt a big issue these days. Again, for those who want a keyboard this is NOT the device to buy. If u can make do without the keyboard then this isnt all that bad n idea. But i suggest that u wait untill someone reviews it. Alternatively u can read some reviews of the XDAIIi on the internet as they are both pretty much identical.

6)Imate Universal: Based on WM 5.0, supports 3G and therefore dual cameras, faster processor, VGA screen, built in keyboard just like Nokia's Communicator line and a few other enhancements. This is definitely the device to look forward to. However, i am a little reserved about this product as of now bcos Windows Mobile still hasnt ironed out all the issues pertaining to telephony and other basic phone needs. How it is able to manage 3G is sumthin that shall be quite controversial. And since it will be the first device to be based on the new OS and form factor it will come with its own share of problems. This will be out around September end during GITEX. If u can wait that long which i suggest u do then it shud definitely be worth the wait.

7)HP6500/6700: Shud be very interesting devices as they are almost based on the Palm Treo form factor which the world has applauded over n over many times. It has a great set of specs and a gud form factor. This shud be available within a few months. Also a gud device to look forward to.

8)Imate JAM upgrade: This is still just a speculation. No official word about it as of now. But seeing the success of the JAM, they wud be stupid not to bring out n upgrade to it. Wot one can expect is probably a faster processor, built in WiFi and WM 5.0. Other than that, i dont see them including a keyboard in it as it would lose it main advantage over other devices which is....ITS SIZE.

9)BenQ P50: A competitior to the JAM but i personally dont prefer it as its HUGEEEE and for some reason keeps gettin delayed. Seemed interesting when it was announced almost 2 years back with the introduction of the BenQ P30, but the charm has died over the years. Has a good set of specs but form factor is where it loses on.

At present, thats pretty much about wot u can look forward to. We have made n excel sheet,thanx to a few members such as Eng. Muhammad and Asrar and Kumarsps, which gives details of all the currently available and a few upcoming devices in comparison to each other. Its definitely worth looking at.

In the end, if ur going to ask me which device to buy....i wud jus say....WAIT a few months and u will be very happy u did If u have any other queries, please feel free to ask and we will be more than happy to assist u. I hope we at PPCD have been of some help to u.

Best Regards,
Docc.

P.S. This message was originally a response to one of the users who asked about which device to buy, so i posted it here as it may be beneficial to newbies....

quote:

Originally posted by Docc:
Firstly, decide if u wud like to buy a PDA-Phone for sure bcos to be very honest its really quite an inconvenience to carry around and the telephony aspect of it is not as great as regular mobile phones. Ofcourse it does have its advantages in deparments like media and connectivity and ease of use. Anyone who uses a computer with Windows can easily adapt to the Windows Mobile OS. So thats the first thing u need to decide....

Secondly, as to which device u shud buy. Well thats a very good questions. We have many choices these days. Your options as of now are:

1) Imate PocketPC: This device is for about AED 2000 in the market and is pretty much like the Imate PDA2k except it doesnt have the Keyboard and Wifi and ofcourse it doesnt support WM2003SE natively but u can install it by using hacks. Reagarding WiFi, u can always add it to the device with the help of an external SDIO WiFi car which costs abt AED 300.

If u dont intend to use WiFi and dont need a keyboard then this is a decent choice.

2) Imate PDA2k: This is a device that has provided everyone with nothing but agony. The device by itself is pretty robust and is capable of a lot. The keyboard is great, the WiFi built in is a welcome change for WiFi users and the new improved WM2003SE is great as it supports landscape orientation. However, the phone part of it has now become stable as it had a lotttta issues earlier but the BT problems still remain. Using it with a BT headset is almost impossible. So, if ur a hardcore BT headset user or intend to start using one, this device isnt ur best option. Overall i wud give it a 7 on 10.

3) Imate JAM: Wonderful form factor, great specs and easy to use. Again, no built in keyboard and no WiFi. But again the WiFi can be added using an external SDIO WiFi card. It has only 64MB of RAM which in my view is less as if u intend to install a lot of 3rd party applications then ur device mite become slow due to insufficient RAM. Overall an 8 on 10.

4) HP 6315: U dont need to know about it as i wud never suggest u to buy it. A 5 on 10.

Upcoming Devices:

5) Imate PDA2: Simply the same form factor as the Imate pocketpc but with an upgraded processor, built in WiFi and apparently 1.3MP camera which produces horrible quality images and BT 1.2 which really isnt a big issue these days. Again, for those who want a keyboard this is NOT the device to buy. If u can make do without the keyboard then this isnt all that bad n idea. But i suggest that u wait untill someone reviews it. Alternatively u can read some reviews of the XDAIIi on the internet as they are both pretty much identical.

6)Imate Universal: Based on WM 5.0, supports 3G and therefore dual cameras, faster processor, VGA screen, built in keyboard just like Nokia's Communicator line and a few other enhancements. This is definitely the device to look forward to. However, i am a little reserved about this product as of now bcos Windows Mobile still hasnt ironed out all the issues pertaining to telephony and other basic phone needs. How it is able to manage 3G is sumthin that shall be quite controversial. And since it will be the first device to be based on the new OS and form factor it will come with its own share of problems. This will be out around September end during GITEX. If u can wait that long which i suggest u do then it shud definitely be worth the wait.

7)HP6500/6700: Shud be very interesting devices as they are almost based on the Palm Treo form factor which the world has applauded over n over many times. It has a great set of specs and a gud form factor. This shud be available within a few months. Also a gud device to look forward to.

8)Imate JAM upgrade: This is still just a speculation. No official word about it as of now. But seeing the success of the JAM, they wud be stupid not to bring out n upgrade to it. Wot one can expect is probably a faster processor, built in WiFi and WM 5.0. Other than that, i dont see them including a keyboard in it as it would lose it main advantage over other devices which is....ITS SIZE.

9)BenQ P50: A competitior to the JAM but i personally dont prefer it as its HUGEEEE and for some reason keeps gettin delayed. Seemed interesting when it was announced almost 2 years back with the introduction of the BenQ P30, but the charm has died over the years. Has a good set of specs but form factor is where it loses on.

At present, thats pretty much about wot u can look forward to. We have made n excel sheet,thanx to a few members such as Eng. Muhammad and Asrar and Kumarsps, which gives details of all the currently available and a few upcoming devices in comparison to each other. Its definitely worth looking at.

In the end, if ur going to ask me which device to buy....i wud jus say....WAIT a few months and u will be very happy u did If u have any other queries, please feel free to ask and we will be more than happy to assist u. I hope we at PPCD have been of some help to u.

Best Regards,
Docc.

P.S. This message was originally a response to one of the users who asked about which device to buy, so i posted it here as it may be beneficial to newbies....