So last week I tried something new here at Eten Blog dot Com and asked the readers of the site for their opinions on a certain subject. In the past, I would write articles based on my own opinions and then readers would comment on it. While this worked, I decided to try a different approach. I wanted to hear from the readers themselves and then create a post around that. And I am glad to see many readers taking part in this discussion.

The question I asked last week was: What Do You Look For In A Pocket PC?

We all have our own reasons for buying a certain model of a Pocket PC. Some prefer looks over features, other prioritize price. But what did the readers think?

Why They Bought It?

For starters, most of them bought a Pocket PC to replace one that they no longer have (damaged or sold off) or because their contracts were up. Considering the prices of these devices, I am sure many would opt for a huge rebate rather than getting the latest undiscounted. But there are those who are on the lookout for a certain specific device and do not bother whether their carriers offered a discount on it.

In my case, the carrier I am on (T-Mobile USA), does not have great Pocket PCs and I do not really like being tied down to a contract. In fact, the last time I signed a contract was over 8 years ago. Therefore, I usually change my phones around a year or so after I’ve had it. I guess the ‘discount’ comes in the form of me selling off the old device to offset the price of the new one.

Price

That does not mean they will go out and spend a bomb on the best. That’s because all of them actually mentioned that they look for a low or affordable price instead of powerful features. But that does not mean they get the most basic. Rather, it’s a compromise between price and features. As spmwinkel pointed out, if he were to go for the most powerful, it would have been the HTC Advantage but price and size were factors that put him off and in the end, her got him a TyTNII.

It’s hard to say what is a fair price to pay for a device and how much is too much because there are no identical devices from the different manufacturers. Even the Glofiish M800, which many say is the Kaiser rival, is different in terms of screen resolution and RAM.

I do agree here, price and features are always at a constant tug-of-war. Which is why I settled on Eten lately because it’s one of the cheapest Pocket PCs out there when you compare price-to-feautre ratio (is there such a thing? )

Warranty & Support

Most did not really care about where the support came from as long as it had basic support, be it from manufacturer or carrier. However, in Helmy’s case, he takes really great care of his device so it does not really matter where there is warranty on the device.

For me, I too would like some basic warranty, be it from a manufacturer or carrier. With electronics, you never know when they will go down. I also look for online support in the form of forums and blogs where I can discuss my problems should I have any. This way, I can self-fix them before I send it in for repair (which thank god, so far has not happened).

Powerful Or Best Selling?

Most would go for the most powerful, or in this case, the most powerful that suits their needs. With the exception of Adrian who says that he it could be either, depending on which catches his eyes first. Interesting method Adrian.

For me, I have never gone for the best-selling which is usually not powerful enough for my needs. Nor do I go for the most powerful. Instead, I go for the ones that suit my needs. So if you were to ask me where I am leaning towards, it would definitely be powerful.

Design

Very important aspect as you can tell from the comments. Helmy prefers the one-handed candybar version (aka BlackBerry), Adrian wants something small, spmwinkel is not really concerned with neither looks nor size though he needs it to fit into his jeans pocket and allow him to type messages quickly while Anonymous \(O_O)/ says a good looking design is a must for him.

What do I say? Well, design in terms of size and portability is important for me. I like something small and thin, which is why I don’t do 3.5 inch screens anymore. Like they say, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.

Device Specs

This was not something I asked but I am glad many of you brought it up. It seems that GPS is gaining popularity with Philskill, PJMDS and Anonymous \(O_O)/ wanting it a part of their device. Others, like spmwinkel, prefer a good CPU/ROM/RAM combo, slide-out keyboard and WiFi.

For me, I need something with GPS and WiFi at the very least. And considering I am running navigational software, the CPU/RAM combo would be important as well. This is one topic that’s really hard to pin down because these features will vary according to your needs and use of the Pocket PC.

So there you have it, what our readers look for in a Pocket PC. It was really interesting to read your comments. I will be creating another topic soon so do be sure to check it out and leave your comments.

Tags: opinion