Hey folks,
I've noticed that the axim has been taking a beating bigtime in some forums and I had to put my 2 cents. Incidentally, this will be long, so be advised..
re: WM2003: It is bleeding edge technology. Granted the "other" ppc makers aren't experiencing the same problems that dell has but I have a few "observations"
1) axim is/has/was outselling many of the current pda in the same market. Up until the WM2003 issue, many people were flocking to the axim for price, features and design.
2) I think that the axim's popularity grew faster then the company could support it. When MS came out with the upgrade, I think Dell just jumped on the bandwagon just to make sure that they weren't going to lose market value, but didn't properly plan the Rollout. They were too busy selling the devices to properly research issues, and by that time the problem was identified, it was too late. And now people are jumping ship just because they don't want an axim w/WM2003 until it's resolved.
I think <jmho> that people buy/bought their axim for a specific reason/s, their reasons for disliking the axim, didn't change, just their expectations. You wouldn't be reading this or posting on this board, without one <axim>
Those of you who have to have the coolest, fastest neatest toy on the block ran out and purchased the upgrade, and or axim w/ WM2003, without proper research.
Oh sure you may have read the TID's/FAQ's on what OTHER PPC makers were saying about Their product upgrade and just expected the same to be the axim.
Well, It's not. Anyone who has ever put together a PC can expect "problems" dead battery on CMOS, chipped board, bent pins, wrong jumper setting... It's technology. What one manufacturer does with their product can't be held to the same standard as another.
I buy ASUS boards, I like em, good products, and I know fairly well. I've bought others in the past, and paid for my mistakes. For my clients I recomend Dell/Gateway/Micron anyone over compaq/HP. At work, where someone else buys stuff, they buy compaq. And then wonder why it won't work properly.
No one should be expected to be a CompTia A+, or MSCE, MVP, or CNE to support a pda, but if you've been in technology long enough you expect "bugs" with any rollout on any NEW software. You roll the dice, take your chances, and pray to the IT Gods when you upgrade.
If you didn't check the FAQ's, do your research or check with others, and then check/verify again, you only have yourself to blame. Remember WM2003 is going many platforms, phones, as well as PDA's. different motherboards/cpu/ bios combinations all hoping to achieve what MS had promised the OS would do.
Me, I don't work for Dell, <hard to believe huh?> but I do know a good product when I see it.. I've only been on PPC's for about 5 months, after leaving the PalmOS group. I was running a Visor for
3.5 years? before I decided to jump ship and move to PPC.
I wrote a few network apps with a couple of the SDK's <dbase stuff> for the palm @ work. I was apprehensive moving to the PPC format, but I could see what the PalmOS limitations are/were and my needs were changing. Much too expensive to do the same stuff that PPC's can but much cheaper.
But after doing my research, comparing the design, features and price, the axim beat out the Asus, compaq/HP Toshiba, hands down.
Oh, don't get me wrong, I've broken my axim as well. <flashed my bios and trashed my axim, should've check this forum first!> but I received a replacement in 1.5 days. I don't think I could get the same support and turnaround at work if I was running compaq Ipaq's or HP's.. <and we run compaq's @ work>
put simply. you folks all moved from your current PDA to the axim.
Sure, you may now have a PDA not as fast, and or zippy as it's competitors, but you bought it for specific reasons. The PDA <upgrade or OEM> still works, but there are known issues now.
Dell has said they are working on the problem and will push out the patch when it's available. Sit tight and it will come. Enough people I am sure have told Dell about the issue.
OR, request that you get one with the previous OS. If that's not available, install the linux bootloader, but, if you can't wait, , then quit, get your money back and or go back to whatever pda you were using.
If you were using a palm, great go get a new tungsten w/bluetooth. If you were using a compaq, make sure you get the "sleeve" to run both cf/sd/mmc compatibilty. If your on HP, I think the Jornada's only came with MMC support. the Pocket Loox <asus/vayo?> and a plethora of other PPC devices and phones out there that don't have the same issues as axim. Just make sure you keep paying for the same mistakes.
Me, I am keeping my axim. oh I can wait till the WM2003 upgrade issue is resolved before I flash the bios and upgrade to WM2003. I don't need to be the coolest fastest neatest guy on the block. I use my PDA heavily, both professionally and personally. I just can't justify purchasing another PDA to replace the one I have just because it's "slower"
I hope I didn't start a flame war. I am by no means a "troll" this wasn't meant to start something, or to fingerpoint. this was just an "observation" I had.
I am now stepping off my soapbox.
thank you for letting me vent.
Mike