Poll: should I get a Pocket PC or another Clie?
 

I recently got rid of an old sony clie peg-t615c. Now I need a new PDA but I'm not sure what I should get. I was really happy with the Clie but now I want something for more multimedia stuff. I plan on using it for listening to mp3s an hour or so a day while walking to classes and work and for organization and of course playing games when I get bored during class. I will get a wi-fi card but bluetooth isn't anything I feel that I need. I would also like to be able to watch some encoded tv shows while traveling once in awhile or maybe while waiting for appointments. Above all I'd rather spend as little as possible.

I know that most PPCs and Clies now have an option to add wi-fi(if it's not already built in). I've looked around and the type of software I used to use with my palm-based clie are available for the PPC and there aren't any games that I was really attached to so I'm not worried about the software. It appears that for the kind of stuff I want to do the PPC is a cheaper than the newer Clies which have cameras(something I'd like but are not necessary). I was also wondering if anyone knew anything fun that wouldn't run on a 300mhz xscale ppc processor that will on some of the more expensive 400mhz arm processors.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

i've heard very good things about the compaq ipaq

but I haven't really had a chance to use either, so I won't vote....

I've still got a handspring visor platinum (that i never use...)

I had an old iPaq 3635 from when they first came out, I just upgraded to an iPaq 2215 (2210 is the same thing), and my girlfriend is getting jealous if that's any indication of my love for the thing. Here's the lowdown from what you say you want:

MP3s, WMAs, OGGs, they all work perfectly. Windows Media plays the first two, PocketMVP plays the 1st and 3rd. I'm not sure what the battery time is listening to MP3s off an SD card, because I've never gone below 70% from music listening even after two hours or more with Bluetooth running. The battery life in general is amazing, though, especially for a PPC. I've gone days without recharging.

It's a bummer that wi-fi isn't built in, but get a CF card off eBay for $40, don't bother buying a more expensive iPaq. Bluetooth is pretty useless, yeah, you're right. But hey, it's there. Might use it someday if I get a cell phone that supports it.

TV shows are a dream. I've got three eps of the Simpsons, a bunch of South Park and even a copy of Casablanca on my microdrive right now. Download Windows Media Encoder for free and encode to WMV using the Pocket PC setting, or use Virtualdub to convert to DivX or XVid. The video is great resolution and really smooth, and the sound is perfect. My microdrive sucks battery like nobody's business, but I can get thorugh a full two hour movie without recharging (and you can pop out the battery and put another one in if you want instead of charging). eBooks are great too, I can carry around dozens and be sure I always have something good to read.

As far as processors go, you'll need a 400 XScale if you want full screen video, if you get 200 or 300 you'll have to do half-screen. Regardless the speed you choose, MAKE SURE IT'S POCKET PC 2003! Pocket PC 2002 is really, really slow on XScale processors because it was designed when they were all on ARM processors.

By the way, the 2215 has the most beautiful screen I've ever seen. If you're on a tight budget, I've heard lots of good things about the 1945 and 1935 too, though they're less powerful definitely. Both also have gorgeous screens, though. Get a screen protector, hands down. NuShield makes a really good one.

Damnit, you got me going. Sorry. I should probably disclose that I'm a Pocket PC programmer, that's why I can wax on about them until you fall asleep. :rolleyes: Hope I helped. Cheers.

Palm Tungsten!
 

Palm Rocks, Just admit it.
You already know graffiti if you used a clie, any programs you d/l'ed can be used in it, it has the same SD slot as IPAQS, and has bluetooth and wifi built in (Tungsten2). Palm provides great customer service and still has the larger market share amongst IT proffesionals and non-MS based work environments including IBM, Sun, and Pixar, all of whom are major companies commited to the Palm platform.

All my opinion though. I just dislike the fact that not only can your laptop and desktop get bluescreens , but now your PDA to thanks to the PDA windows platform.

You told us what you want in a pocket multimedia player but you didn't mention what you want in a personal organizer (PDA).

Sounds like what you really want is an Archos Jukebox (http://www.archos.com/) that can store and play MP3, JPEGs, DivX, etc.

If you want an easy to use PDA with some multimedia capabilities, go with a Sony version of Palm. If you want a handheld computer that does more multimedia and gives you all the hassles of Windows, go with an HP Pocket PC (iPaq).

You should settle in on a price you're willing to pay. You want all of the features for "as little as possible." I can respect your need to stay affordable, but technology with "all the goodies" is never inexpensive.

Good luck and let us know what you get.

Thanks for the info guys. While I've been really wanting an archos jukebox for mp3s(and the few games it plays with rockbox) it just doesn't do enough for me. I played around with a buddy's IPAQ before and while I think I like the palm interface a lot more, right now it looks like PPC will do more for the price than the Clie. If I had the money to spend I'd buy a new Clie in a heartbeat but right now it looks like I'll probably go with a PPC. I'm thinking about the 400mhz Axim right now(yes I've read about the problems people have been having, but also the solutions). It looks like it has the most in my $300 range.

What are the benefits of Palm over Pocket PC?

To answer <b>JBX's</b> valid question, I've had a lot of both,

My thoughts are, Palm is smaller apps that run in less memory. A clie (my current) is underpowered although it has an amazing display, the new Tungsten T3 would be a great replacement for the power-hungry.

Pocket PC? I had the Ipaq, I had the Dell Axim, I had lockups on a continous basis. It's Windows. You get both the bad and the good about windows with any pocket-pc. Not dissing it, it just was too unreliable for me.

I played around with the Tungsten T3 and it's sweet. 400 MHz, awesome screen, MP3, video, tight integration with Office with new apps, etc.

I used my wife's iPaq for awhile and got _really_ tired of clicking the stupid X to shut down every app.

Thanks, I'm about to buy a PDA and have been searching for real world answers.

i'm sayin ppc i've never used one but a buddy of mine got it to be a farly good netdiver for wi-fi access points, it was quite funny walkin around lookin at a screen and cin like 4 unproteced wi-fi spots in one mall alone, god wonder how many there are in a school????

memory sticks are crap and windows CE is also garbage. Get a sharp zaurus or something with palm os.

I'm leaning towards the Plam T3
http://store.palm.com/graphics/produ...p1142116dt.jpg

I've had both. I recently sold my Visor Prism, and currently have an iPaq 3800 series.

I think the Palm device was a better organizer. If you want a little computer to carry around with you, get a PocketPC. If you want a small device that can get you the information you need with a minimum of hassle, get a Palm.

A buddy of mine just bought a Tungsten T3. So far he really likes it. Although my iPaq runs an OS from Microsoft, the Tungsten seems to be more compatible with Word, Excel, Outlook. I've had lots of problems syncing with Outlook (not running Exchange).

If you should ever switch from Windows to Mac, the Palm will sync seamlessly. You'll need third-party software to get the PocketPC working on a Mac.

Here's something you can try... Buy both units: a Palm and PocketPC. Use each one for a week. Return the one you don't like. Most every retailer in the US will accept returned hardware assuming you don't have it more than a couple of weeks.

I had a clie nx-70 with extra memory and the like and it never fulfilled its promised capabilities. So I then and now without reservation and the very proud owner of a Dell Axim X-30--great specs, everythings works as promised, I can get online almost anywhere in my city using the built in wireless network. The sucker has a 624megahertz processor and get 2-3 hour of battery life when the screen is on full past, the pocessor is on high and bluetooth is on. The screen can be flipped. I can google, use handwriting to text, watch videos, mp3, create art, read a book and use it very simply as with a bluetooth gps system. I will very shortly purchase an aftermarket battery th with give me 8+ hour of real world use and the ditch all my wires permantantly...AXIM X30....EXCELLENT PRODUCT

Is Sony discontinuing the Clie? Think I heard that, maybe not.

Have the T3. It is absolutely a gem. No problems at all. Synchs fast. Synchs w/ Outlook and DocsToGo will handle any Office document. It rocks. Have a 512 sd card in it and a ton of MP3s. No need to add audio support to this PDA, plays MP3s great. Also soon to have wireless capability w/ expansion card.