What Do You Look For In A Pocket PC?
Mar 3rd, 2008 by Tariq Bamadhaj
I want to try something new this month of March. Instead of giving my opinions on a subject, I want to instead put it open to you the readers. Tell me what you think of a certain topic and in the following week, I will create an article that encompasses all (if possible) of your opinions as well as mine. The reason for this is simple: getting an opinion from an individual is easy but getting an opinion from a group is much harder. So what do you think? Are you in it?
If you are, just leave your comments in the section below. What I want to know is:
What do you look for in a Pocket PC?
Basically, I just want to know what are some of the things you look out for when buying a Pocket PC. Here are some questions to get you started though feel free to comment outside this guide:
- Why are you getting a Pocket PC ? To replace a dying/dead one or just itching for the latest?
- Does price matter or do you go for the best in the market?
- Do you consider the support for warranty issues?
- Is getting the most powerful or the best selling more important to you?
- How does design fit into your research?
These are just some questions to start you off. Feel free to discuss something that I did not highlight here or to build up on what other’s might say.
Come next week Monday, I will consolidate all your comments and add mine to create a new post. Stay tuned!!
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Lately I’m buying Pocket PC to have an all-in-one device with a broad software selection and high customizational ability (mobile phone, reading E-books (->vga!), organizing stuff, play games, gps, bluetooth/wifi connectivity, camera nice plus - because quality is almost ever an issue)…
Good looking design is a must for me, also size. Therefore I’m willing to spend some on a device fullfilling all that needs…
Tariq, great job. You’re asking the right questions here on your blog and giving the right information to people.
* Why are you getting a Pocket PC ? To replace a dying/dead one or just itching for the latest?
Every time my 2 year contract expires, I make sure to send a letter to Orange saying I want to end the contract. Then, I can get a new contract with them, which gives me the greatest discount on the devices! So yes, it’s “itching for the latest”, but that’s already starting when I have my current device for 6-12 months. So by the time my contract ends, I make sure to already have a solid idea about which device I want to get and how much it will cost with which carrier. (But because of the way their plans are stuctured I always end up with Orange)
* Does price matter or do you go for the best in the market?
Price does matter, but after my HTC Wizard I did know that I wanted a hardware keyboard and better processor on my new device. Then the TyTn II was the most logical device to follow up the Wizard. It was one of the more expensive devices, but with the discount (because I also signed a new contract) it was affordable. Of course the HTC Advantage was much more expensive but that was too large anyway, just not practical, so to be true: I really didn’t want it. The TyTn II was my ideal device and I was lucky enough to find it at an affordable price.
* Do you consider the support for warranty issues?
Not really. I know I’ll have to get my device with a carrier, and because of the way Orange structures their mobile plans, that’s the only attractive choice for me. And with my Wizard, I flashed a custom ROM rather quickly so I voided my warranty anyway. I don’t plan to do that with my TyTn II but I know I have at least a 1 year warranty, and if I also turn out to have warranty for the second year I’ll own the device, then that’s nice. I hope the TyTn II is of enough quality to last two years.
* Is getting the most powerful or the best selling more important to you?
Most powerful. I only know of 2 people in my real-life direct environment who have a Pocket PC, so no matter which PPC I have, I’ll have something most other people don’t have. (And it turns out that those other 2 people also have the HTC TyTn II! One is like me, and wants to know a lot about it, the other is the business user that uses the programs that are pre-installed, and nothing else (at least, so far)).
* How does design fit into your research?
The question for me is rephrased a bit: “How does [a device with a slide-out keyboard] fit into your [pocket]”. Those are the two hardware design things I pay attention to: it has to fit into the pocket of my jeans, and I have to be able to type messages while walking or while sitting in a train/bus. Of course other characteristics may look nice (no antenna makes the device a bit smaller etc) but in general if my TyTn II would look like the Glofiish M700 I totally wouldn’t mind.
Another interesting question would be what specs I’d want in a device. My 3 requirements are: slide-out keyboard and good CPU/RAM/ROM, and WiFi. Everything else is second place and not essential, but these things can make the difference and are consider alogn with the external appearence etc.
ETEN M700 was my first all in one device, it does the job 90% of the time, I choose the device only because of the features GPS+FMradio+WiFi+SlideKeyboard+FastCpu+GoodBattery , it was expensive but it helps me everyday
To summarize: My first PPC was the O2 Mini. I got it because I needed an electronic diary as I’ve been writing down my schedules and appts on paper diaries. Saw someone using the O2 mini and fell in love with it. After using it for a week, I told myself I would never return to normal mobile phones. After my Mini died, I got myself the X500. Loving it more because of the better specifications. Here’s to more good years with our ppc!
To ans the qns:
* Why are you getting a Pocket PC ? To replace a dying/dead one or just itching for the latest?
To replace a dying toy.
* Does price matter or do you go for the best in the market?
Price!
* Do you consider the support for warranty issues?
The usual one-year warranty is necessary to rectify any problems.
* Is getting the most powerful or the best selling more important to you?
The one that catches my attention or the best selling, which ever comes first.
* How does design fit into your research? Design is important. I need something small. So far the mini and X500 met my needs. Keyboard is optional but square LCDs are a no no.
When I was looking for a pocket PC it really came down to the all in one factor. No 1 priority was GPS and ability to run Tom Tom then I wanted to sync with my email server and thirdly it had to be a phone and then had to support Wifi. After that specs and price came into play and I was close to buying the X500 when the X800 came out so that’s what I brought. The VGA screen and 500MHZ processor clinching the deal and once through the optimization and Rom upgrades (thanks to your website) has been fantastic. Now I really want to find great software to run on the device to do other cool stuff so always looking for recommendations.
Why are you getting a Pocket PC ? To replace a dying/dead one or just itching for the latest?
2003 (bought Handspring Treo 600): to buy a smartphone that can do lots of things
2006 (bought Loox T830): to buy a phone with the most powerful features but also can be used one-handed
2008 (bought TyTN II): to replace my T830 which I mistakenly sold
Does price matter or do you go for the best in the market?
I look for low price AND the best in the market. That’s why I wanna sell my TyTN II and buy M800
Do you consider the support for warranty issues?
I take care of my phones like no one’s business, so, I don’t care about warranty.
Is getting the most powerful or the best selling more important to you?
Definitely most powerful. When I bought TyTN II, it just happened that it is also beautiful and best-selling. But now that why I wanna get M800, I’m back to getting the most powerful instead of the best selling
How does design fit into your research?
I prefer one-handedness ie candybar qwerty keyboard phones), but none has VGA yet, so I have to settle with slide-out for now