aroundlsu

(Regarding my other post)

Note: This is my first PDA; I don't know how bad you guys have had it in the past. I do know this 4700 has more power, memory, and hard drive then my first Thinkpad so it should run as well.

Note note: Despite Windows SE I love this device!

1. Stupid minimize button that looks like a close button. I know I can reconfigure it to close but then how would I minimize?

2. One window size; maximized. Why oh why can't I shrink windows and place them around my screen?

3. No taskbar to quickly see and switch between open programs.

4. Tool bar does not hide. We do not have a lot of screen here. Every few pixels would help.

5. Can't save a picture (or much else for that matter) in PIE.

6. Media player 9 totally blows. Can't even zoom in the demo video to fit the screen.

7. Suggest boxes while typing too limited. My Nokia has a bigger dictionary. Interestingly "microsoft" is the only corporate name I can get to come up.

8. Lock ups at least twice a day. Once in two weeks of use required a hard reset after loading a web site (equivalent to a total reformat and install on a regular PC).

9. Can't easily change the desktop picture without taking a tutorial from this forum.

10. Pocket Word doesn't load any of my Word 2003 invoices correctly. Not even CLOSE to correctly.

11. Networking tools suck. Internet/work/my isp/Btvm what the hell? I couldn't even get network folders opened without buying another program.

12. Can't install 99% of programs without a host computer and activesync.

13. Where is the Check for updates now button? What happens when there is a security vulnerability discovered?

That's enough for now. Good day,

-teddy

aroundlsu

14. PIE puts all temporary internet files directly into main memory, eating up RAM.

15. No swap/page file to help deal with memory.

16. No support for multiple users. My g/f likes to play that puzzle game and I'd rather she did it on a limited account.

Folks, I am not asking for a lot. Everything I am writing about I had ten years ago on a Compaq desktop with a 60mhz processor and 16mb of ram on w95. These are BASIC functions.

-t

imported_michael

Oh man... Go ahead and write your own O/S then, if you can.
Multi User O/S on a PDA ????
Maybe you will find another 83 reasons why Windows Mobile 2003 "sucks" as you always state.

__________________
Palm Pilot --> Palm III --> Palm V --> Palm Vx --> Casio Cassiopeia --> Psion V --> iPAQ 3850 --> iPAQ 3970 --> iPAQ hx4700

harleyxlc

Some thoughts, I think 3rd party apps is the answer to most, unfortunately. I, too, am disappointed with the built in apps. They are MS apps and don't even come close to their PC counterparts.

1. Stupid minimize button that looks like a close button. I know I can reconfigure it to close but then how would I minimize?

There is an app out there that lets you choose. For example, clicking the X minimizes, while holding it down brings up a menu that lets you close. I think it was spb pocketplus, but it's been a while.

3. No taskbar to quickly see and switch between open programs.

You can use iTask for this, or the start menu for your most recent. There are also several other 3rd party taskbar apps.

5. Can't save a picture (or much else for that matter) in PIE.

3rd party app, blah, blah

8. Lock ups at least twice a day. Once in two weeks of use required a hard reset after loading a web site (equivalent to a total reformat and install on a regular PC).

This is not normal. Something else is causing this, not SE.

9. Can't easily change the desktop picture without taking a tutorial from this forum.

I didn't think it was that hard

10. Pocket Word doesn't load any of my Word 2003 invoices correctly. Not even CLOSE to correctly.

See above. If you want to drop some cash, but get Word/Excel apps that really work...try PlanMaker and Textmaker.

12. Can't install 99% of programs without a host computer and activesync.

I'd say it's closer to 90%, but that is the developer's fault, not SE.

14. PIE puts all temporary internet files directly into main memory, eating up RAM.

Clean it out more often. You can also change the registry for how much it keeps and where. There are also other apps that will change these settings for you (MemMaid and Tweaks2k2 come to mind).

15. No swap/page file to help deal with memory.

Just because it doesn't have a file for this doesn't mean it doesn't handle temp memory in the same way.

16. No support for multiple users. My g/f likes to play that puzzle game and I'd rather she did it on a limited account.

If you were a good bf, you would buy her an ipaq

imported_michael

harleyxlc,
Nice of you to answer all of those partially unqualified statements. At least one could ASK about a topic instead of throwing around with phrases.

__________________
Palm Pilot --> Palm III --> Palm V --> Palm Vx --> Casio Cassiopeia --> Psion V --> iPAQ 3850 --> iPAQ 3970 --> iPAQ hx4700

Compusmurf

Originally Posted by aroundlsu

14. PIE puts all temporary internet files directly into main memory, eating up RAM. 15. No swap/page file to help deal with memory. 16. No support for multiple users. My g/f likes to play that puzzle game and I'd rather she did it on a limited account. Folks, I am not asking for a lot. Everything I am writing about I had ten years ago on a Compaq desktop with a 60mhz processor and 16mb of ram on w95. These are BASIC functions. -t

14. Buy TWEAKS2k2 and move it.

15. That's funny. EXACTLY WHAT GOOD would that do? A swap file uses disk space as memory. You device has 64mb RAM and THATS IT. The os sees the others as storage, NOT ram and it'll be like that.

16. Not needed. This is an always on device. (Even when powered off.)

Compusmurf

Originally Posted by aroundlsu

(Regarding my other post) 1. Stupid minimize button that looks like a close button. I know I can reconfigure it to close but then how would I minimize? 2. One window size; maximized. Why oh why can't I shrink windows and place them around my screen? 3. No taskbar to quickly see and switch between open programs. 4. Tool bar does not hide. We do not have a lot of screen here. Every few pixels would help. 5. Can't save a picture (or much else for that matter) in PIE. 6. Media player 9 totally blows. Can't even zoom in the demo video to fit the screen. 7. Suggest boxes while typing too limited. My Nokia has a bigger dictionary. Interestingly "microsoft" is the only corporate name I can get to come up. 8. Lock ups at least twice a day. Once in two weeks of use required a hard reset after loading a web site (equivalent to a total reformat and install on a regular PC). 9. Can't easily change the desktop picture without taking a tutorial from this forum. 10. Pocket Word doesn't load any of my Word 2003 invoices correctly. Not even CLOSE to correctly. 11. Networking tools suck. Internet/work/my isp/Btvm what the hell? I couldn't even get network folders opened without buying another program. 12. Can't install 99% of programs without a host computer and activesync. 13. Where is the Check for updates now button? What happens when there is a security vulnerability discovered?

1. Use magic button. I believe it's free.

2. That's what the design specification calls for. Try a program called SEYMOUR. That MAY be spelled wrong. This developer made something similar. BUT, why would you want this? In TRUE vga, the stuff is already too small to read...

3. ITASK is built in... Press the curly arrow....

4. This is true by design specs.

5. IE is lame. Try netfront or soon, opera....

6. Yup, it blows. Try PocketTV or Betaplayer. MP is a hog.

7. You must be using the built in keyboard. There are better SIP programs out there with better support.

8. You have something installed that your PPC isn't liking. I don't have to softreset every day, nor have I hard reset 1 time yet!

9. START, SETTINGS, TODAY... You'll find the option in there....

10. Nope. Textmaker does tho. Planmaker for Excel. The built in ones are a joke.

11. It was originally never designed as a networking device. Hint for you, if you map drives, unmap when you are done....

12. Yeah. You can install on a desktop, then, cancel, find the .cab file and copy it over then install from the PPC if you want. Suggestion, use CABINSTAL to do it tho....

13. No such animal. The OS is customized by the OEM, and only the OEM will provide updates. Here's the update button: "http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/HandheldiPAQ/us/locate/105_6089.html"



If you are looking for a complete "computer" like you have on your desk, give up. NO ppc or palm is what you are looking for. Try the OQO....

Since you are new to the PPC world it sounds like, I'd suggest you do ALOT of reading on the forums and get your answers there first. A post like you did may draw unwanted harassment because you are complaining about things that can't/won't be changed. All your answers are there.

gylman

I think PIE is the biggest disappointment. Everything else we can get in 3rd party apps, but PIE functionally is a fraction of RIE (real IE).

Opera for PocketPC??? where!??!!. I'm off to google it now.

Gyl

Update 5 minutes later..... Opera for Smartphone is in the works, and some betas available. Opera for PocketPC is not on the horizon as best as I can tell.

Oh well, there's only Mozilla to save us now. Works great on my Desktop.....

I fear the market just isn't there for the big applications to bother with Windows SE. Phone based handhelds seem to be more the way of hte future than traditional PDAs like most of us use here.

Sigh. And I don't even own a cell phone (nor plan to).

Gyl

Raiderhp4700

TED OLE BOY,

THE FIRST THING ONE LEARNS ABOUT PDA'S ( and one of the major reasons WE LUV EM.. IS YOU HAVE TO TINKER WITH THEM TO GET THEM TO DO THINGS !!!) ... AND PLEASE DONT CALL THE HP4700 A PDA... IT IS CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED AS A PPC... POCKET PC.. AND IF YOU BECOME AS ADEPT AT SNOOPING AROUND IN IT AS YOU ARE COMPLAINING USELESSLY, YOU WILL FIND THAT ITS EVERY BIT AS POWERFULL AS A MID RANGE LAPTOP, THE ONLY TRADE OFF IS SCREEN RESOLUTION VS. SCREEN SIZE, OTHER WISE, YOU CAN CHANGE,CONFIGURE, AND DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING TO IT. THE CONTROLS YOU SEEK ARE ACTUALLY THERE, THEY ARE JUST IN A DIFFERENT PLACE, SHOWN A DIFFERENT WAY, YOU HAVE TO POKE AROUND IN CORNERS, DEAD ENDS, AND ODD PAGES OF OPTIONS, ACTIONS, VIEWS, ACCOUNTS, ECT.. IN THE POP UP MENUS, TO FIND THE CONTROL SECTIONS FOR MOST THINGS, AS THEY ARE SET AS OPTIONS, INSTEAD OF MULTIPLE CHOICES IN NORMAL WINDOWS. THE POINT HERE IS NOT TO HAVE 20 CHOICES FOR ONE THING AVAILABLE AT ANY TIME, BUT TO CHOOSE
ONE SETTING THAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH AND LEAVE IT THAT WAY, FOR MOST THINGS, ITS ABOUT SETTING UP THE UNIT TO FUNCTION WITH YOUR MIND - EYE - HAND IN THE BEST WAY THAT WORKS FOR YOU, AS CHANGING SOME THINGS, IS MABY NOT DIFFICULT, BUT NOT EASY EITHER. REMEMBER, EVEN THOUGH THESE THINGS ARE NOT NEW, THEY ARE
STILL IN THEIR INFANCY AS FAR AS MICROSOFT THINKING IS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO FROM A MAIN GUI, SOONER OR LATER THEY WILL GET THEIR ANAL MENTALITY STRAIGHTENED OUT.. AND START PUTTING MORE CONTROLS AT THE IMMEDIATE FINGERTIPS OF ENDUSERS INSTEAD OF HIDING THEM IN SELECTION PAGES IN SOME DARK DUSTY CORNER OF A POP UP MENU, START DIGGING INTO THOSE POP UP CHOICE MENUS IN EVERY PART OF THE IPAQ, YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT WHAT IS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE TO DO WITH WINDOWS 2003.... IVE FOUND CONTROLS FOR MOST THINGS THAT OTHERS SEEM TO THINK DONT EXIST, AND IM SURE THAT ITS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO IDEA TO LOOK IN SOME OF THESE PLACES... BUT THERE ARE PAGES AND PAGES OF OPTIONS YOU CAN CONFIGURE...IF YOU JUST LOOK DEEP ENOUGH.. MOST OF THE THINGS YOU COMPLAINED ABOUT ARE THERE...JUST LOOK...AND ALL WILL BE CLEAR GRASSHOPPER...

harleyxlc

Raider, that was the hardest post to read...EVER! Some good thoughts, perhaps if you weren't shouting and used some paragraphs

imported_Dermot81

Originally Posted by aroundlsu

(Regarding my other post) Note: This is my first PDA; I don't know how bad you guys have had it in the past. I do know this 4700 has more power, memory, and hard drive then my first Thinkpad so it should run as well. Note note: Despite Windows SE I love this device! 1. Stupid minimize button that looks like a close button. I know I can reconfigure it to close but then how would I minimize? 2. One window size; maximized. Why oh why can't I shrink windows and place them around my screen? 3. No taskbar to quickly see and switch between open programs. 4. Tool bar does not hide. We do not have a lot of screen here. Every few pixels would help. 5. Can't save a picture (or much else for that matter) in PIE. 6. Media player 9 totally blows. Can't even zoom in the demo video to fit the screen. 7. Suggest boxes while typing too limited. My Nokia has a bigger dictionary. Interestingly "microsoft" is the only corporate name I can get to come up. 8. Lock ups at least twice a day. Once in two weeks of use required a hard reset after loading a web site (equivalent to a total reformat and install on a regular PC). 9. Can't easily change the desktop picture without taking a tutorial from this forum. 10. Pocket Word doesn't load any of my Word 2003 invoices correctly. Not even CLOSE to correctly. 11. Networking tools suck. Internet/work/my isp/Btvm what the hell? I couldn't even get network folders opened without buying another program. 12. Can't install 99% of programs without a host computer and activesync. 13. Where is the Check for updates now button? What happens when there is a security vulnerability discovered? That's enough for now. Good day, -teddy

Nothing's perfect, even on my desktop I use firefox for web browsing and winamp for music but at the same time think all the microsoft office apps are great. Same with WM2003 SE, you replace the apps that aren't that great with ones that are.

Anyway, not going to go through the full list, since others have done so already, but I think the first couple problems can be fixed with Magic Button (http://www.trancreative.com/mb.aspx). Magic Button will let you close apps and also lets you see running apps in the taskbar.

I agree windows media player sucks, make sure to download Betaplayer, it is the best video player and fixes a .net issue that could be causing problems for you (http://betaplayer.corecodec.org/)

For accessing shares on your network, I'd use Resco File Explorer (isn't free though, but great program)

Also as far as your lockups, you probably have some unfriendly VGA apps installed. I'd recommend hard resetting, loading one app at a time and isolating the problem app. You have to be especially careful with today screen plug-ins as they are prone to crashing your system. Off the top of the head, ones that work fine for me are Betaplayer, GSplayer, Resco File Explorer, Magic Button, Weather Panel Today Plugin, Pocket Breeze today plug in...

Anyway, just hard reset, install Betaplayer and Magic Button, using the links above, then work from there.

__________________
Dell X51v + Motorola e815 | HP HX4700 | HP 2215 | iPAQ 3950 | iPAQ 3835

ultimate_pda

Originally Posted by harleyxlc

Raider, that was the hardest post to read...EVER! Some good thoughts, perhaps if you weren't shouting and used some paragraphs

I would have to agree with that.

BTW, a PPC is a type of PDA.

__________________
hx4700 user

Compusmurf

Originally Posted by gylman

Opera for PocketPC??? where!??!!. I'm off to google it now. Gyl Update 5 minutes later..... Opera for Smartphone is in the works, and some betas available. Opera for PocketPC is not on the horizon as best as I can tell. Gyl

The last word I have is that they ARE testing it. Recompiling from smartphone to PPC isn't that hard to do.

I was told to hold on to my "panties" for Mid Feb. I will say I cannot vouch 100% for the source of that tho...

I WOULD like to see Firefox for the PPC and Opera for the PPC...

aroundlsu

First of all, thanks for all of the wonderful responses and help. I'm back at home with my host computer and am able to install software so I'm much happier. lol

There is in fact a version of Mozilla for Windows 2003 SE - Minimo!

http://www.mozilla.org/projects/minimo/

It's official public release is January 26. If you are really smart you can download and install version .1 right now. If anyone here actually figures out how to do that, let me know.

I won't craft a rebuttal, but I'm sticking by all of my previous statements and will make a few clarifications.

1. Regarding swap files, Windows XP allows you to enable/disable them at will and place them on any drive you like. I have a 2gig Microdrive in my Ipaq that could serve this purpose.

2. I know of all the plugins I can get, but be wary of these things. Didn't we learn our lesson wi