Ppx?

AximLegionnaire · 05-17-04, 05:41 PM

Okay, I know I've already asked this question twice within that one thread where everone is posting their today screens, but know one has answered (not complaining) so I decided to just go ahead and create a thread. So, here is the question: what does PPX do and how does it work? What all can you do with it? Is it easy? Answers to any questions like the ones I have asked will be greatly appreciated.

Oops! someone DID answer at the other thread

sorry. Replies to this thread would still help, I want to learn as much as possible.

Raynne413 · 05-17-04, 07:37 PM

I love PPX. I used to use Pocket Facelift for the full-screen themes, but I now use PPX and haven't looked back.
I have not made my own UIs, so I am unsure how easy that is. However, the basic uses, like installing other people's UIs and using them, are very easy to learn. There are other, more complex features, that take a little messing around with to get used to.
PPX basically replaces the Today screen completely. It skins the background, the user menus, the taskbar, and the menu bar. It has an actual close button, task switcher, etc. It is really amazing everything that can be done.

05-18-04, 09:50 AM

I am thinking of trying it myself. I am currently using Dashboard (and am very happy with it) but PPX looks kind of cool.

craig139 · 05-18-04, 09:58 AM

I have migrated from Dashboard to PPX. PPX, while it has a larger learning curve than Dashboard, is a more flexible skinning program. To see the variety of skins possible, check out www.ppxskins.com

**hnelson59** · 05-18-04, 10:07 AM

i swap between PPX and Dashboard 2.0 - both are great as far as making my Ax look awesome! dashboard is the easier of the two to use. it interfaces well with plug-ins like worldmate and battery pack v 5.3.2, i have used stocks and wether with it also. has lots of great skins you can download.

PPX is fully customizable down to exact placement of icons. it also interfaces well with today plug-ins. the major disadvantage to me is that you must customize each skin you use in PPX. by that i mean plug-in placement, program icon placement, etc. PPX has lots of really cool skins to download. they are currently in beta testing on a new version and are up to 2.33.50, i think (gotta check on that).

to get the full effect of dashboard you have to use wisbar advance or icbar for your top and bottom bar skinning - this eats into memory a bit more than PPX.

that's my mini-review. hope it helps. :D

AximLegionnaire · 05-20-04, 02:04 AM

Thanks everyone!

I have been trying the demo version of PPX with a Windows XP skin, and it's awsome! There is a program called eXPerience which is an XP-like program and when I got the PPX demo I deleted the demo of eXPerience. My only comlaint is that it seems to take up anywhere from 10 to 15 megs to run! Isn't that a little much? Is this a normal amount of memory usage for this program? Also, some of the buttons, or slots I believe they are called don't work on the XP skin, such as RUN and SETTINGS. Is this because it is the demo? I believe the skin is called something like ppXP2.0. Perhaps this skin is not complete. I am able to configure it though. PPX is kind of confusing, but I like tinkering and fiddling until I understand something. It gives me something to do with my Axim. Regardless of this, I think that I'll read the User Manual they have on the PPX website. All in all, I think that I'll be buying PPX.

P.S.- How do you make your own skins?

Raynne413 · 05-20-04, 11:53 AM

I don't have any experience with making my own skins, so I can't help you there. However, I think it should only take around 4-5 mbs of space. Are you installing your UIs to main memory as well?

AximLegionnaire · 05-20-04, 12:31 PM

Hmmm...
It appears that it is the skin I am using. When I switch over to the default demo skin, the memory usage is almost zilch. I'll find out if I have the UI (I only have one so far) in main memory or on the storage card. Which one of these will have the most memory usage? Would someone else be willing the try out the ppXP2.0 (you should be able to find it at the ppx website) to see if it is the problem? Keep in mind that I'm using the demo which is ppx version 2.04 without all of the options.

How do you run UIs from the storage card?

AximLegionnaire · 05-20-04, 05:54 PM

Okay, I think that I'm going to buy PPX. I don't really want to be running it if it's gonna take up 15 megs of RAM, so if anyone has any advice, I prabably won't be purchasing it until 3:00 or 4:00. Again, how do you runs UIs from the storage card, and does that speed things up?
Thanks!

TalonUNT · 05-20-04, 06:36 PM

Trust me, it's well worth the buy at only 9.99 ;) I bought it a week ago and I'm already a fanatic about it.

To run a UI off the SD card, when you "install" the .xui file in PPX, it asks you where you wish to save it, select your SD card. I created a Themes folder on my SD card and then save them there.

AximLegionnaire · 05-20-04, 06:41 PM

Thanks a lot!

NetizenMT · 05-25-04, 03:35 PM

I just got my Axim X5 Friday and so far I love it. I found this site, and saw the post for the Windows XP skin for PPX.

Well I read all the hype, and when I saw that XP skin, I thought "Yeah baby! That's for me!". So I spent the bucks to get the latest version and installed the XP skin. After quite a bit of finagling I actually had it working.

Personally, I didn't see what the big deal was. I thought it was cumbersome to use, and customizing it was a bigger pain than I personally wanted to get into. I deleted it after just a few hours when I noticed that my Ax was running a lot slower than it had been.

Now, that might be just the way I have my Ax configured:
Axim X5 400mhz
256 mb CF card
Other stuff not necessarily related to performance...

I am getting a 256 mb SD card this week, so p'raps I'll try it again. So far, however, I'm pretty satisfied with the normal setup. I would like to learn how to optimize memory usage so my Ax runs at its best, so if you have other ideas, thanks for sharing them.

KLappDOgg · 05-25-04, 03:41 PM

I use Dashboard, its easy and makes the today screen look cool. I understand there are more features with PPX but like you said its a large learning curve compared to Dashboard.

05-30-04, 07:43 PM

There are more than one XP style theme for PPX. The others are being stored on PPXThemes.Com if you'd like to check them out. The size of the theme as well as the ability of the author to optimize is reflected in the ram usage as with most anything.

If you don't want to make your own themes then you can find some at PPXThemes.Com or come to our forums and post a theme request in the forums for someone else to make what you're looking for. I just got done making one for someone and don't mind making them.

As far as a learning curve, you're going to have that with anything and ppx can be kept simple or be very complex depending on your needs and desires. As i said a theme can be custom made for your own needs just by asking in the forums at our site.

if you have any problems feel free to contact us anytime via our email (billy.holland@ppx3k.com), online chat (linked to at our site on the menubar above the forums), online forums at our site, or just browse through our online faq and manual in pdf format to see if you can find the answers on your own.

I think the creation of themes for PPX is fairly simple and very enjoyable and everyone that i've gotten into it has enjoyed it as well.

I hope everyone will give PPX a try but if you're dead set on using something else then i wish you the best as our only goal is to improve your experience with the pocket pc. :)

05-30-04, 07:58 PM

I have used ppX since the old BE300 days, it was the best then and even Better now, bought PPC Version on Day of release. I love it. BTW, Hi Billy.