On Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 1:09 AM, Herbert Graf wrote: > On Wed, 2009-08-05 at 20:01 +0800, Xiaofan Chen wrote: >> I used to be a PDA fan. I still have three PDAs but hardly use >> them any more: a Windows CE 1.0 Handheld PC (with 2.0 Rom >> upgrade), a Palm IIIXe PDA and a HP Jornada 565 PocketPC 2002. >> I was using the Jornada 565 as a eBook reader and it actually is >> very good for that purpose. But other than the eBook function, I think >> it is not that useful in the end. My brother-in-law is using the >> HP iPaq 212, with a 4inch VGA screen, he likes it quite well >> for casual web browsing. Both of us are not into smart phones. > > Hehe, I guess you and I are just different then! Not that different in this case. The main reason we do not like Smart Phone is the small screen and the battery life. PDAs without phone function last much longer with the battery. The bigger screen also helps. That being said, if there are similar smart phone with good battery life, I will probably get one in the future. > I splurged last year and got the HTC Diamond Touch. It's Windows Mobile > based, so yes you have to deal with some "issues", but once you're aware > of them it's an incredibly useful device. We are ok with Windows Mobile. Actually I like Windows Mobile than anything from Apple since it has more free applications. I am actually ok with most of the Microsoft offerings, even Windows Vista. ;-) > It's got a 640x480 screen, so browsing the web on it is as close to the > desktop experience as any smart phone (the extra resolution makes it > better IMHO then an Iphone, which is the standard). The iPAQ 212 has a 4 inch 640x480 screen. So we are the same here: we all like bigger screen. ;-) The data service in some places is very cheap, but not really here, especially for someone who do not use cell phone that much like me. > This past weekend I was in Montreal and for the first time pretty much > ever, I never had to pull out the laptop (it sat in it's bag the whole > weekend). Every time we needed to look something up (directions, phone > number, things to do) I just pulled my phone out and got the answer. > > At one point we were looking for a store that was in the guide book. > When we go there we realized it wasn't there anymore. Pulled out my > phone, turned on the GPS and asked google maps where other locations > were, couple minutes and we were on our way, incredible. Yes I like this form factor much more than netbook. > Mobility is the future for most devices, we're on our way! > I agree with you. -- Xiaofan http://mcuee.blogspot.com -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist