I have an old Windows CE Hewlett Packard hand held computer. A few years ago everybody was making PDAs with all kinds of features. I had a a Palm Pilot before the HP. They were pretty handy. I understand that cell phones now have a lot of the same features but looking into cell phones there is a much higher monthly fee to have one with the same features as a PDA isn’t there? I would just like to have something about the size of my Hewlet Packard hand held that would open PDA, text, and excel files. It would come in handy at work.
Is there anything out there like that? What happened to the PDA market?
I ran this past the Better Half, who has been a PDA maven since Day One, ( we’ve been through The Sony and The Palm and The Dell, it’s been an epic struggle, there’s a movie there I believe ), who says, “Yeah, everybody’s using iPhones now. Hewlett Packard still makes them just like the one you already have.” He also suggests you check out http://www.brighthand.com/ in general, for news and info, also the kickass PDA forums.
As for “wha’ happen?”, market forces, my boy, just market forces. People don’t wanna carry two gadgets when they can carry just one.
Competition from below (mobile phones with PDA-like features) and from above (ever cheaper full-blown laptops). And now cheap micro laptops such as the Eee are banging a few more nails into the coffin. PDAs were just too limited in what they could do.
PDAs and cell phones have pretty well merged; these days even the dumbest phones include MP3 capability and allow contact/appointment sync with your PC. If you want to view Office documents, you’ll probably want a device running Windows Mobile Professional (a specialized subset of Windows CE designed for PDA phones) – most of these devices are PDA-like in appearance, with largish screens and a solid rectangular form factor. Some have hardware keyboards to allow for thumb typing, some have GPS receivers built-in, and most have BlueTooth and/or WiFi connectivity.
Most US carriers offer one or more PDA phone options. You’ll have more selection if you’re on a GSM carrier (AT&T, T-Mobile) than if you’re on CDMA (Verizon, Sprint). Monthly fees aren’t any higher if you have a PDA phone, unless you tack on extras like data service (which you probably don’t need, since lots of PDA phones also have WiFi). The cost of the PDA phone can be pretty steep, especially if you’re used to buying cheap dumb phones.
I’ve got an HTC touch, which runs Windows Mobile 6. It’s marketed as a cell phone, but it’s a better PDA than any PDA I’ve ever had. It’s got a 320 X 240 color touchscreen, 8 GB RAM, a built-in 2 mp camera, bluetooth, one version has Wi-fi, USB, a microphone, voice recognition, a 400 mhz dual core processor, etc. It can play MP3s, video in numerous formats, and connect wirelessly to a GPS receiver to become a navigation tool. It’s got full-time connection to the internet, connects with my E-mail server, and there are thousands of programs available for it. It’s much smaller than my old Palm IIIx, and fits easily into a pocket.
Yeah. I used to use a 8700c blackberry and it was astounding. Being able to read documents, surf the web and email is too good an addition to consider using a stand alone PDA.
I currently have a Blackjack II and while the user interface is inferior to the blackberry, it has even more features. In addition to PDA type software it has GPS, can be used as a tethered modem for my laptop, email access, fast websurfing on the 3G network, a 2 mp camera, mp3 playing and it makes phone calls.
I wouldn’t give all that up to have a separate device just for PDA functions.
I would say get a used Pocket PC or smartphone and prepaid service if you want the phone. I got a used HTC Wizard (Cingular 8125) for $100 on eBay, unlocked it and now I use it with the T-Mobile to go wireless SIM - 1000 minutes for $100. No monthly fee, and the minutes are good for a year. I can get a prepaid local SIM when I travel.
It is a little narrower, thicker and heavier than my old HP and Sony PDAs. It has all the usual Windows Mobile applications. I have been very happy with it so far except for the Wi-Fi, which sucks.
I’d gladly pay for PDA features in my phone but I don’t want to pay a higher monthly fee for internet access I don’t need. I just want memory in a hand held device that I can access info at work while I’m on the floor. I did see some good used PDA’s on Ebay so I’ll keep exploring. Thanks for the input.
As noted by 3waygeek, If you already have a GSM phone you can just take your SIM out and put it in the new PDA phone. Your monthly bill won’t change and you can sell your old phone or keep it for a spare. It will be one less thing to carry.
While you’re looking on eBay note that there are very confusing names for the Pocket PC OSs. The primary difference is whether the OS expects you to have a touchscreen or not.
If you see an item on eBay or Craigslist that you are interested in, you can look it up on Howard Forums for more info.
You can buy a PDA phone and not use the internet features on it. In my case, Bell offers unlimited internet for $7/mo, but had I chosen not to get that, I’d essentially have a voice phone that’s also a full PDA running Windows Mobile.
I’m 63, and I remember dreaming about having a wrist radio, like that comic cop whos name I just forgot.
Tracy something. :smack:
Anyway, most of the stuff out there now is great. Some of it’s just a little greater than others. I can communicate with people in far-flung parts of the World fer crissakes. And learn most anything.
We’re spoiled, aren’t we?
Every once in a while I’ll refer to my cell phone as my “shoe phone.” From the blank stares I sometimes get, I have learned that people below a certain age have not grown up on Maxwell Smart reruns.
I think most carriers charge around $20 a month extra for internet access. You should be able to use the phones other features without paying for internet access. If the phone has Wi-fi you can probably connect to the internet that way without paying your carrier anything extra.
Cool!
No price shown. I don’t wear a watch anyway, and I don’t think I want to get used to one. But it is really cool. A watch is a convenient way to use a phone, if it has bluetooth.
Okay, here is a MUCH better one. It has every feature you would expect from a full size cell phone, including micro-SD expansion and Bluetooth, but appears to be no larger than a REGULAR watch! Looks like a bargain at 299 EUR.
), who says, “Yeah, everybody’s using iPhones now. Hewlett Packard 
And learn most anything.