What is the best PDA?

[GraemeKerr]

I am searching for a PDA at the moment and wondered if anyone had any advice. I have been recommended the Palm Tungsten E or T3? They seem pretty good, and good value at between £150 and £200.

Does anyone have one of these models, or is there another PDA i should be looking at?

I would appreciate any advice.

Cheers,

Graeme

[Ozzy]

I had a meeting with a guy today who had what I think is a Treo or similar. Combined phone, PDA, etc. Looked pretty impressive, but other than that I don't know how usable it is as not used it myself. However, he did say he loved it and kept taking notes on it.

[DotNetWebs]

Hello

I have just joined today so sorry if this reply is to late to influence your purchasing decision.

I am a huge fan of the Palm Tungsten T3. Assuming you want a PDA based on the Palm OS, as opposed to a Pocket PC, the T3 would be my recommendation.

My favourite feature of the T3 is its compact size when closed. (It can be used in the closed position but pulls out to enable ‘wide-screen mode’). This allows it to fit into a shirt breast pocket when not in use.

I take my T3 everywhere. Coupled with DataViz’ Documents To Go it allows pocket sized Microsoft Office compatibility. In the car I have a TomTom bluetooth GPS receiver allowing the T3 to be come a fully featured GPS Navigator.

In my opinion the only thing missing from the T3 is built in support for Wi-Fi (a Wi-Fi SD card is available). This is not an issue for me as I couple it, via bluetooth, with a 3G mobile phone. This allows me to receive e-mails and have a basic web browser on the move.

Regards

[philjeffs]

Hi, room for a newby?

If you also want to combine a phone, you might want to look at the Orange SPV M1000. Just like an XDA, and fully integrates with all MS Outlook functions. Has bluetooth (for remote ear piece), and will synchronise with base PC while remote from docking cradle (both ways).

Has web browsing, MP3 player, camera, video, movie player software (for reviewing clips etc), and a clever little pop-up stylus keyboard to save using big fingers! Worth a look?

Hope this helps.

Phil

[barry.hynd]

Hi Graeme,

You may also like to consider the smartphone concept. People have mentioned a few above.

The P800 & P900 from Sony Ericsson may also be a good choice for you. They have all the functions of a pda plus it is also a phone.

I like many used to carry about a phone and a pda but now I just have the P800. Maybe people will disagree with me but I feel that the smartphone will slowly ease out the pda. I for example have all my email sent direct to my phone with an automatic text message for new mail. I also have the phone connected via bluetooth to my laptop which ensures internet access wherever I go and also allows me to send text messages etc from my laptop.

I've used many PDA's over the past five years and I keep looking to see if anything can compete with the smartphone. Until now I've seen nothing

[simonread]

I picked up a Navman PDA for around £350.

It combines normal PDA / Pocket PC functions including Word, Excel etc. with a Sat Nav system.

It's great!

Simon

National Business Innovation Centres
www.innovationcentres.co.uk

[10 Yetis]

oh oh oh... can i join in!

I want a PDA that allows me to check email using connection through a nokia 5100 phone. Please... someone tell me what type i need!

I went to Dixons and asked there but the chap just looked at me and asked what a PDA was! I left in discust!

(ps,Dear Admin... i am allow to say Dixons, or shall i change to 'leading high street retailer')

[Ozzy]

I would have to allow you say "Dixons" because "leading high street retailer" could be seen as misleading ;)

[10 Yetis]

Seriously.. one of you techies must be able to give me an answer! Can i connect to something/anything with my nokia 5100?

[DotNetWebs]

1O Yetis

I have had a very quick look at the specifications of your phone. It seems that is a GPRS phone but it does not have Bluetooth of a data cable. This means your only connection option would be infrared. I have had a look at my Tungsten T3 and your phone is not included in the native list of phones. You probably would be able to connect it as a generic GSM phone however you would be restricted to the inbuilt modem which is probably only 9600bps.

In order to achieve a GPRS connection you would also need a logon script for your Network. I am on Vodafone and I could point you in the right direction if required.

In summary I am sure you would be able to connect to a PDA but it might be a bit tricky to set up!

Sorry I can’t give you any more information at this time but I would need to do a bit more research to be any more specific.

Regards

Dotty

[GraemeKerr]

I just thought i'd let you all know that i have gone for the Tungsten T5 and i couldn't be happier. As i have never had a PDA before i'm really pleased with what it is capable of doing! I was tempted by a phone/PDA combo but i'm due a free phone this month from my provider so i thought i would take advantage of that.

Anyway, cheers for the advice.

Graeme

[mdarwish01]

What do people think about the Blackberry. That can go online and make phone calls can't it?

[DotNetWebs]

I haven’t played with a Blackberry myself but they would seem to be an ideal solution for somebody who’s priority was mobile e-mail. The main advantage of a Blackberry is that it will work with multiple existing e-mail accounts. When a new e-mail is received in an existing account it is ‘pushed’ (i.e. you do not need to continually log in) to a single Blackberry device.

Regards

Dotty

[daveashton]

Re the blackberry

Yes its great from email and a phone and now it will also let you use GroupWise i.e. better security, smaller files, fewer virus issues etc rather than the MS exchange client.

It is also v good as a PDA.

The other option if you are looking for a combined unit is the 9600 nokia. V easy to use, has the nokia phone menus and when you open it up has a good sized keyboard and screen.

PS though that phone is new I know 2 people who have got them fro free (based on the 2nd highest O2 tariff) even though they are asking £150.00 + for the phone with any new contract. The rule seems to be find the best price on the net and then add a bit on and go to your carrier to match it.