Hello everyone - what a wonderful surprise to stumble across these forums which are focused in my adopted home town!

I am in many ways a relic of the past, having bought my first PPC in the late 80'ies - the world's first DOS based PPC, the Atari folio. I really loved that little machine; it had some quirky software, lovely looks and I could really do a lot with it. Sadly it got stolen together with the backup card from my car.

My next gizmo was bought as a present which explains why it was some cassio thing which did however have the best keyboard I have ever used. In fact I could take minutes of meetings straight into the wordprocessor and then squirt it down the serial cable into our mini-based WP.

Then came a long love-affair with HP, HP95LX, HP100LX, HP200LX what lovely machines they were. Sadly they all fell prey to my insatiable curiosity and torx screwdriver and eventually the ribbon cables just snapped.

This phase, coinciding with my leaving IT programming saw me adopting a Psion 5, perhaps the most magificent PPC I ever saw. Typically British, it was fiendishly clever, featured wonderful design features, huge suport network, masses of free software and yet never really quite worked.

Anyway - having broken the screen in a fit of rage (long story, don't ask) I have after a lull of three years, gone for an iPAQ rx 3715, despite my resolution to never go for something that didn't have a keyboard. One thing I now realise is, that being a dreadful impulse buyer, I didn't find a shop that had a decent range of models and consequently this purchase was, to a large extent completely random.

I now want something better (but no phone bit) and therefore really would like to find an outlet in Dubai that has a reasonable range of models as well as people working there that actually know what it is they are selling!

Hi Reggie,

Firstly, welcome to PPCD. Its always great to have someone new around especially someone like u with a looong history with handhelds. I am sure u will be able to contribute as well as learn from the forums.

In regards to choice of handhelds in Dubai, ur gonna have difficulty finding anything apart from the HP range. I have seen the HP 4700 and the HP2750 in Dubai which are reasonably priced both at AED 2000. U can find these at stores like Esen trading in Al-Khaleej centre in Burd Dubai. U can also find them with other branded dealers like Jacky's and the likes but will be slightly more expensive.

Models from Dell and Fujitsu as i mentioned wud be rather hard to find as DXB really isnt a hardcore PPC place. In case u need any other info, feel free to ask.

Docc.

Hi Docc/Reggie,

Just a quick correction... Esen Trading is located in Al Ain Computer Plaza, across Al Khaleej Centre and next to Spinneys' Ramada. You may also stroll a few meters to Wi-Fi Zone in Al Musalla Towers' Mall, there's another shop there that deals with PDAs. Gadget World (PDA Accessories) is also here at Wi-Fi Zone.


Brgds,

Big PAPA

Many thanks for the kind welcome docc and PAPA. Also thank you so much for informing about shops that sell these type of things. I used to spend hours walking around that area and have made some good friends with some of these shops but I have to say I fgind that Dubai's market tends to be fragmented i.e. there are no mega one-stop shops like PC World (Ok this is a poor choice) or Dabs or Time or whatever. But it is more fun to browse I must say.

I tried to drive over there yesterday - HUGE mistake. I left work in Al Dhiyafa at 19:30 - arrived at the Ascot hotel 20:15! Did a U turn, couldn't find anywhere to park and went home. Next time I'm WALKING! Really traffic in Dubai is getting very bad. Also I sense that this market is more keen on phone/PDA hybrids, which it must be said have come a long way from the original Nokia communicators. Having said that, I still have this almost superstitious belief that it will just be a compromise at the end of the day and it is better to have two separate units. There again, I actually graduated to a Windows CE (spit) machine with no keyboard! A really bold step for me!

Actually I've set my heart on an iPAQ 4700, which although bulky, will give me something to play with when I'm next stuck in traffic. Which means that I will be saying goodbuy to this rx3715 - shame really as it is a nice little machine.

Whilst it is considered bad form to reply to one's own message (a bit like talking to yourself you know) I am known to be a bit of a chatterbox so I'll crave your indulgence to allow me to just say that I popped down to the other end of Mankhool road yesterday.

Walking around Al Khaleej mall (the one next to Spinneys) I was actually salivating at some of the things on offer. And believe me for someone of my vintage years it takes quite a lot to get me going. I am impressed at how sophisticated the market is becoming in the three years I've been in Dubai.

Anyway I eventually ended up in Essen trading and yes, I now have the iPAQ 4700 nestling in the corner of my desk. I will post my observations in the iPAQ forum when I get to grips with it, if anyone will be interested. I have to say I was quite impressed with the level of service that the chaps at Essen offer - they seem to know what they are talking about too. A refreshing change.

I then braved the traffic to pop into the wifi mall in what used to be the Dragon Castle. Interesting place; a lot more shops selling accessories in there. Incidentally, have you noticed how many people are selling fake watches? Or do I just look the type that would buy one?

So all in all, a worthwhile expedition that netted me a new toy, case and that wifi range expander from linksys I've been looking for ages (I remember asking for DSL routers a couple of years back - hahahahahaha).

On another note, has anyone come across the shop that sells accessories and cases that are ultra quiet and cooling efficient? It is upstairs in one of the little strip malls along the beach road. I had been looking for aluminium cases ever since I followed a program to build a dream computer on BFBS a few years back. (They even use round cables as opposed to the traditional ribbon ones to not impede airflow within the casing). It was a delight to discover that someone now imports these products, but the markup is somewhat sobering... 80 to 100 percent on UK prices and they include tax and VAT. Still it is tempting, a water cooled machine will look kinda neat don't you think?

So here I am, rambling way off topic.... I expect a moderator will be along soon to put me in my place!

All the best

Interesting post Dubai has certainly grown and i can only see things getting better n better and its about time

Docc.

Hi Reggie,

If you were talking about the Lian-Li and ThermalTake cases and accessories, you could get them at much lower prices at both Wi-Fi Computer Zone and Al Ain Computer Plaza. You'll find more mod accessories in these shops too.

So how is your HP 47k? I hope you'll get a free upgrade to WM5.0 Where did you got the LinkSys WiFi Expander? From Esen too? I haven't been to these shops lately after getting disappointed waiting for the XDA IIi/PDA2/2020i. Then now the news of WM 5.0... can't really get everything you wish for in one shot.

Interesting; I always used to do the rounds of the shops further down that road, towards Shindaga so I've only recently started nosing around these two malls. I'll have to take another look as it is time I rebuilt this PIII machine.

I have to say I am just a tiny little bit disappointed with the 47... it has a fantastic screen and I like the slimmer form factor, however there's something not quite right with the screen refresh... I haven't had time to really investigate, but a few times now it hasn't repainted the whole screen and I've had to soft and hard reset it already. It looks as if the memory isn't quite enough. Still it is early days so I'll reserve judgment (and wait for the next patch from HP). I'll be posting something fuller in the ipaq forum.

I rather suspect that the day of the PDA is numbered and before too long, companies they will only be producing hybrids. I wonder whether we'll still be seeing WIndows CE and palm based systems or are they all going to be the smartphone types. (Does anyone still use Symbian BTW?)

So sorry, forgot the question about the range expander... no I saw it in another shop... about three before you get to Essen... across the aisle from the shop selling ferraris and those genius colour co-ordinated accessories.

I wanted it so that I could extend the range of my home LAN to a friend who lives at the other end of our little compound. Ironically, his house is just out of range and by just I mean a matter of centimetres - it is so frustrating! I'll have to see if I can get an obliging neighbour in between to host it for me.... I'd stick it on the roof, or the side of the house only I know that it would fry up in a matter of weeks.