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My favorite memories are from the Axim "haydays." I was so delighted to find a web site and community that was talking exclusively about the PDA that I owned - the X5. Over the two to three years that I owned it, I loved visiting the forums for tweaks and tips. I had the most fun with the Compact Flash add-ins, like wireless cards and the unforgettable Flypresenter VGA out card. What a hoot!
When the X3 came along, I read all of the hype very carefully, and decided it was only an incremental upgrade. Meanwhile, PPC 2003 came out, and I made a first software step up - along with purchasing another X5 for my wife.
I drooled over the new photos and reviews of the x50 - what a cool machine! And I thought that the new VGA screens were amazing. Aximsite gave me the blow-by-blow as these machines came to market, and I don't know how many times I priced them at Dell.com....
What finally kicked me over was the advent of WM5 - and the x51v. THIS was the machine I was waiting for! With the help of Aximsite - I learned the machine inside and out well before it came out. On its arrival it was such a kickass machine, it was great to be part of the banter, speculation, and even some of the rants over where the PDA was heading, and what we might use a unit with these specs for.
I used Dell.com for some drivers for my units, but got all my real support and information about what to "really do" with the machines from Aximsite. From new ROM features ("Should I upgrade to A12?") to what to do about the damn backup battery notifications, the people here got me up to snuff with my X5 -- and this likewise continued with the x51v.
The site evolution has been great. While I with many others bemoaned Dell dropping out of the PDA market, as this had driven so much excitement and buzz at the site, I have thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the emergence of Mobilitysite. Chris, you read the signs of the times really well -- and you pretty much read my mind as well. While I am still among those who are porting the big heavy PDA and a phone around, I am looking toward convergence, and have been reconfiguring my mobility needs.
I have followed the activity here just about every weekday and many weekends since January 2003 -- ooohing and ahhing over this or that unboxing, reading software reviews, checking specs, enjoying the industry gossip. I know that a smartphone is definitely in my future -- but am still having trouble with the idea of parting with my awesome x51v.
Besides the contests, which have been simply amazing, I have deeply appreciated the in-depth reviews and how-tos. Things that immediately come to mind are the incredible stereo bluetooth tutorials, and menneisys' and ikehiker's fantastic wireless forays. All of the mods and staff deliver incredibly high quality evaluations and walk-throughs. And despite how much quieter the forums have become, the veterans still frequently pop in with just the right answer to some amazingly particular questions.
And, well, Chris -- I can't imagine anyone other than Mr. Leckness at the helm. When we have gone through some sort of controversy or change, Chris has always had the right spin on the situation, a well thought out response, and a decisive judgment call to take us forward. The cooked ROM controversy is a good example, along with the mergers, the reformatting of features and the advent of the blog format, and more.
It is amazing that this site/these sites have been around as long as they have. On the Internet, 6 years is pushing infinity! Thank you, Chris, for the dedication, leadership and sense of fun that keep so many of us coming back. They say, "Don't quit your day job." I say, "Don't quit your night job, either!"
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