I want to have a pocketPC that can edit MS files (word, Excel, PP, and such), use WiFi, play video/music, and email.
I have been looking at the iPAQ 3115 and it looks pretty nifty. Then I looked at Dell and their Axiom line looks realy good too. I am looking to spend $350-400 on this project.
So. Who has one of these? What can you tell me good/bad about them?
Thanks,
Mike
I’ve got a dell Axim X5 and my mother owns an Ipaq, not clear of the model number offhand. We both like them. 
the X5 is larger than most HP models, but then again the X3 and X3i are smaller than it is as well – I guess the trend is towards pocketPCs that are about the same size as palmPilots.
One really nice feature with my axim is the built-in ‘switcher bar’ functionality… we looked for a similar utility in shareware for my mom’s machine and didn’t really find anything as well designed for managing programs and flipping between them quickly. (One quirk of pocketPC is that almost every program seems to hang around in the background unless you make a special effort to terminate it… a little hard to get used to compared to palm, which is essentially not a multitasking OS, although palm programs are designed to save information about state automatically to make it easy to switch back and forth.)
Whatever pocketPC you get, make sure it has more RAM than you think you’ll need 
Is the X5 the same as the X50? I am looking at an X50v right now. It has lots of memory and a VGA screen and a fast processor.
no, I think the X50 is the newest model, more recent than the X3 and X30 serieses. (Really simple numbering system huh? 
) It definitely does look snazzy.
an Axim X5 on ebay. I don’t know if the black is a custom faceplate or not, there are some pics with the usual silver tho
And maybe this is a nitpick, but I don’t consider 64 megs ‘lots of memory’ for a pocket PC, (and that’s what it looked like the X50 comes with.) Maybe ‘sufficient memory’
Of course, mine only comes with 32, but I would easily be able to use double that and still feel cramped I’m sure. When they come out with one that has 96 or 128 megs, I’ll be impressed.
Or when they come up with a release of pocketPC that doesn’t act like such a memory hog.
WEll, I meant compared to the 64 meg of total memory/HD that comes with the HP. I’m not impressed by that at all.
Plus this one has VGA out, which gives it everything that I could ask for I think.
Actually the x50v is a newer model than the x50. The x50v includes a high-res screen and accelerated graphics.
Mrs. MeanJoe just got the x50 (saved the money as she wasn’t going to be watching videos any time soon on a hand-held) and is completely raving about how fantastic it is. Mr. MeanJoe (me!) is quite green with jealousy.
MeanJoe
We recently purchased both the Dell and the HP to test a new order entry system that runs on them. They were both almost identical but a couple of people prefered the Dell, only because it fit better in their hands. The HP ships with a preloaded screen saver that you can use your own photos with, other than that I saw no real differences. You could go with either model and be pretty happy.
By the way, a few more general items that don’t really have to do with comparisons. You’re going to need third party software on any pocketPC to view or edit powerpoint slideshows, but there seems to be a good selection available.
To send or receive email on the go you’d need a wireless connection (obviously) but the pocketOutlook included is capable of downloading email messages via activeSync… then you can review them, compose messages, and have them sent the next time you synchronize.
I have pretty much decided on the Dell because I can connect it to a presentation system (monitor or projector) and because it is 2x as fast as the HP model that I was looking at. It also has dual card slots for more expandability should I need that.
Thanks for the input folks.