So, what device are you using these days?

Julie · 02-09-10, 10:58 AM

I been hanging out here for a while now, starting out with the IPAQHQ forum, which became MobilitySite and then was combined with Aximsite. In my early days, I lurked around Aximsite and learned a lot there, but since I owned an IPAQ pocket pc, I was reluctant to join Aximsite even though I'm sure I would have been welcomed there.

Over the last couple of years we've seen a lot of new devices enter the handheld (for lack of a better word) marketplace. I've seen regular members of Aximsite, IPAQHQ and MobilitySite disappear.....maybe because they've gotten busy with the business of life or maybe because they've moved on to a different mobile device. I think lots of folks drop by from time-to-time to see what's happening here on MobilitySite.

I've stuck with HP IPAQs, and now I've got a bunch of them. My list of IPAQs includes,

IPAQ h1945 (runs windows mobile 2003): Now working as my Kitchen organizer.
IPAQ hx2415 (runs windows mobile 2003se): This one's my workhorse and I still carry it with me just about every day.
IPAQ rx1950 (runs WM5.0 classic): In semi-retirement
IPAQ hw6925 (branded for AT&T & runs WM5.0 professional) - my 1st Windows Phone: This one took a plunge in the porcelian pool a year ago, still works, but is sometimes unpredictable. It's pretty well devoted as the primary GPS device for my car.
IPAQ Data Messenger (runs WM6.1 professional): My sometimes phone
IPAQ Voice Messenger (runs WM6.1 standard) - my 1st non-touchscreen Windows phone. I have to say I am "in love" with this phone. It is light weight, dependable and, once I figured out how to work with the buttons (versus a touchscreen), it is easy to use.
IPAQ HP Glisten (runs WM6.5 professional): My newest addition to the family. I've enjoyed working with the new features of WM6.5, but I'm not in love with this OS.

I've also branched out a little to HTC phones and I've got a couple of those:

HTC Fuze (runs WM6.1 professional): I used this as my primary phone for about a year, and I'm sorry to say its position has been usurped by the WM6.5 phones
HTC Touch Diamond2 (runs WM6.5 professional): I'm really loving this device and it could easily take the place of my trusty workhorse (the IPAQ hx2415).

I've been a Microsoft MVP for the last 3 years, and I'm pretty well vested in windows mobile, got lots of wonderful software and I'm looking forward to seeing what Windows Mobile 7 looks like, although I am a bit concerned about what I am reading on the rumor mill.

I'm not that interested in the iPhone, but I am somewhat intrigued by the Android phones and have even gone out and looked one over. If I decide to look at another OS, it will definitely be the Android...but I'm sure I'll still be enjoying the use of my windows mobile toys too.

kcallahan · 02-09-10, 11:32 AM

Like you I've stayed with WM. Although, both my x50s have WM2003. I've found it does everything I need it to do and more. So, why change? With over 40 years experience with computers I've also learned that upgrading/changing the OS can create as many problems as it fixes. Too many threads here about bricked Axims while trying to upgrade the OS.

I've looked at the HTCs and other WM phones. But, I'm not crazy about an all-in-one device yet. I borrowed a friends iPhone for a few days, and didn't like the phone part. Too many drop outs while my Nokia Flip phone never had a dropped call. I did like the WEB connectivity though and other APPs.

I also want to see what WM7 will be like when it comes out. Hopefully it will be a major improvement. Of course, I thought that with 6, 6.1, and 6.5 when they came out and didn't like the reviews.

**breley** · 02-09-10, 02:00 PM

I switch between my AT&T Fuze, Eten X800, Pantech Matrix Pro, two HTC X7501s and an Axim X51v (though not for phone use).

I'm also intrigued by the android platform and by Windows Mobile 7. I hope the lack of true multitasking is just an idle rumor for WinMo7, though!

doogald · 02-09-10, 02:11 PM

I bought an X5 fairly early on, though I really stopped using it about 4 or 5 years ago. A couple of years ago I bought my first smartphone, a WM Standard, which basically just disappointed me - there are so few decent apps for Standard, hardly anything new, and just complete stagnation. When my contract was up in December, though I was planning to switch to AT&T and get an iPhone (I run nothing but Macs these days), it turned out that it made more sense for us as a family to stay with Verizon, so I switched to an Android phone instead. It's a great phone; I'm really enjoying Android.

Even if WM7 is great I'll probably still never go back - without a Windows PC I cannot believe that the experience will be as good as just having everything Google and simple to update and sync, all over the air.

AKAJohnDoe · 02-09-10, 08:51 PM

I still have a Palm T1, a Dell X50V, a Dell X51V, and even a Seiko DF-2200 and a Casio B.O.S.S. 8000, but use my WM6.5 Tilt2 exclusively.

USMC - Retired · 02-10-10, 06:38 AM

Made the jump to a Droid and happy I did! Great functionality, almost all of the good apps are free and I have internet connectivity just about everywhere! Add in a very good camera and the ability to tether to my laptop for internet and I can’t see why I waited as long as I did.

zacksba · 02-10-10, 05:49 PM

I started at aximsite when the dell X5 came out. I lurked for a while before registering. Here are the devices that I started with. This site is great because I have noticed over the years at other forums, that people are replying more with sarcasm and criticism as opposed to helping people that have questions and such. That is not the case here.

Royal Davinci (not a pocket pc, but this little guy started my obsession)
casio casiopeia (basic handheld)
HP Jornada 547
Axim X5 basic (Sold my Jornada)
Ipaq 5550 (lasted one week, I did not like it and returned it)
Axim X5 Adv (after I returned the ipaq, I bought this and sold my orig Ax)
Ipaq 210
Ipod Touch (sold the ipaq last year and use I the Axim solely for geocaching)

Julie · 02-11-10, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by kcallahan

Like you I've stayed with WM. Although, both my x50s have WM2003. I've found it does everything I need it to do and more. So, why change? With over 40 years experience with computers I've also learned that upgrading/changing the OS can create as many problems as it fixes. Too many threads here about bricked Axims while trying to upgrade the OS.

I haven't upgraded the OS in my windows mobile 2003se IPAQ either for the same reason....also, the device still meets my needs and I have no problems finding software to run on it.

Originally Posted by breley

I hope the lack of true multitasking is just an idle rumor for WinMo7, though!

I've been reading the rumor mill too and I hope most of what the rumor mill is reporting about WinMo7 is wrong. I'm trying to stay calm until I hear verified information about WinMo7 and know for sure what it will do and not do.

Originally Posted by doogald

A couple of years ago I bought my first smartphone, a WM Standard, which basically just disappointed me - there are so few decent apps for Standard, hardly anything new, and just complete stagnation.

It's true that there is not as much software for windows mobile standard devices, and I've had to hunt more to find it, but I've been pleased to find the standard version of many of my favorite applications, that I have installed on my phone (AgendaOne, Total Commander, ListPro, PockeTwit, SKTooks). The standard version applications may not provide the same rich experience as the professional versions, I'm fairly satisfied with what I've got. I have come to view windows mobile standard as the "lite" version of windows mobile.

Originally Posted by doogald

When my contract was up in December, though I was planning to switch to AT&T and get an iPhone (I run nothing but Macs these days), it turned out that it made more sense for us as a family to stay with Verizon, so I switched to an Android phone instead. It's a great phone; I'm really enjoying Android.

I'll be interested in hearing more about your experiences with the Android phone and how it compares to windows mobile. I hope you'll post some informative and comparative threads about it.

Originally Posted by AKAJohnDoe

I still have a Palm T1, a Dell X50V, a Dell X51V, and even a Seiko DF-2200 and a Casio B.O.S.S. 8000, but use my WM6.5 Tilt2 exclusively.

Sounds like we are similar in that we cannot give up our old toys.

Originally Posted by USMC - Retired

Made the jump to a Droid and happy I did! Great functionality, almost all of the good apps are free and I have internet connectivity just about everywhere! Add in a very good camera and the ability to tether to my laptop for internet and I can’t see why I waited as long as I did.

Is the Android your 1st converged device? I'll be interested in reading more of your threads about the Android.

Originally Posted by zacksba

This site is great because I have noticed over the years at other forums, that people are replying more with sarcasm and criticism as opposed to helping people that have questions and such. That is not the case here.

I agree, and it's one of the reasons I enjoy hanging out around here. I've visited other forums where people get downright mean to other members and that's a real turnoff for me.

USMC - Retired · 02-11-10, 02:42 PM

No, I started with an Axim X30. I have posts about the Droid in the Android section.

Julie · 02-11-10, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by USMC - Retired

No, I started with an Axim X30. I have posts about the Droid in the Android section.

Oh, I think you misunderstood my question...is the Droid your 1st PDA/Phone (or smartphone, if that's what you want to call it) device?

pedah · 02-12-10, 04:22 AM

Went from the TouchDiamond 2 to the HD2. 2 weeks ago.

x51
x51v
HTC Tilt
HTC Touch Diamond 2
HTC HD2 daily driver

Wold love to get my hands on an Android device, but I think I'll always be winmo, as long as the recent rumours don't hold true !

USMC - Retired · 02-12-10, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by Julie

Oh, I think you misunderstood my question...is the Droid your 1st PDA/Phone (or smartphone, if that's what you want to call it) device?

No, I've had a couple of blackberrys for work and hated them.

wdement · 02-12-10, 02:52 PM

I'm using a Motorola Droid and I LOVE it!! I love having email/internet where ever I go, phone quality is great, and Google maps is hands down better than my old GPS setup. No regrets whatsoever about switching.

I still use my itouch a lot though.....I play games on it, read books on it, and track my calories on it (at least until I can get "Lose It!" on my Droid) Using the itouch has helped save my phone battery when I'm just puttering around the house.

CodeBubba · 02-12-10, 03:36 PM

Hey Julie,

After about 10 years with Windows CE all the way through WM6.1 I finally "defected" and went to a 3G iPod Touch (32GB) and back to a Motorola SLVR for my phone. I'm putting my Samsung iSCH-760 and Axim X51 up for sale on eBay.

How'd this happen? Well ... a couple of weeks ago I got the "gadget bug" and went out and bought the iPod. Very impressed with the applications for it. Very refined (as compared with the WM counterparts). I bought the thing mainly for fun, not intending to replace the WM device with it. However, after loading up some things and using it I realized after a short time that, hey ... this iPod has everything on it that I was using my WM devices for and more. I bought it mainly to play games on but, dang ... it does everything else too. Going back to the PocketPC felt like going back in time!

As for the phone ... I found that in my situation I just don't need a SmartPhone. I seldom do enough online when not at a computer or near a WiFi that made it worth paying $30/month for another data plan for. So, I bought a SLVR, cancelled the data plan and moved the iPod into the "tricorder" role. Man is it slick. I still like WM - don't get me wrong, but after seeing the applications on the iPod and how they flow, I can see why Apple is beating the hell out of Microsoft in mobile devices. The thing just exudes class.

-CB

nonentity · 02-12-10, 04:24 PM

I moved to the iPhone 3GS a couple of months ago and am smitten, as they say.

I suppose that I have, since my days with the Casio BE-300, been looking for the things the iPhone offers. While I've loved every minute of my time with Windows Mobile and indeed still have an X51v and an iPaq rx3715 (which the kids still use regularly), I really enjoy the freedom and diversity that a converged device such as the iPhone gives. It is by no means unique in the functionality it offers but it is perfect for me. I find the iPhone an altogether sleeker and sexier beast than my Axim, far more user friendly and portable but perhaps lacking in one non-phone related area: expansion. However as I don't use the phone for watching films I have no real need for the amount of memory that others might want. (I hate films!). Like many others I could probably fill the memory with music but as I can't possibly listen to many days worth at one time I don't see the point, so I regularly sync and keep the amount of songs to about 200. I prefer using an image hosting site, Photobucket, rather than keeping photographs on the phone so again that also removes the need for extra storage. I also regularly purge the free apps that I install although that's not really necessary for anything other than cosmetic reasons. Having Pocket Informant for the iPhone is a major plus because I think without it I would have had a problem. For one with as many memory problems, and children, as I have then a fully functional PIM is a must! As for the diversity of the apps available, well I think it is amazing. There is nothing I have needed to date that I haven't found and all but a handful of these apps have been free. I'm not one for playing games but my kids assure me it is pretty good for that kind of thing.

This isn't my first converged device though as I did, for a time, have a Palm Treo 500 but I dispensed with it's services for a couple of reasons. Firstly the lack of touch-screen was a real negative and secondly the battery life was appalling. Add to that the lack of discretion the keypad afforded us with not-so-thin fingers and this meant that it was not the one for me.

It's very easy to say that I think I'll be with the iPhone for a long time but I hope that's the case. Mind you I said that when I got my BE-300.......