Hi newbie here. did i buy the axim for the right reasons?

teaberry · 07-21-03, 12:24 PM

hi folks,

just wanted to say hi and i just bought an Axim X5 (400mhz) version over the weekend. I havent played around much but just ordered a D-Link CF WLAN card and I will be setting up my Linksys wireless router this coming weekend. Last PDA I had was a Palm III that I used for about 6 months and decided to give away as there was not much I did although it was a useful little travel companion.

Anyhow, I bought the Axim because I'm traveling oversea again (Singapore) and I have a few questions. I wanted to store some MP3s or WMAs (about 5/6 hrs worth in cd quality) and perhaps a movie or two as well (Divx? AVI? mpg? what is good format/balance for battery life and space?). I also need to have a world clock program (any freebies?) so I can travel to diff countries and cities in US and have updated time w/o setting my watch. Last, is there a program compatible with AOL instant messenger? Should I just spring for the 256mb SD card for this purpose then or will 128mb ones do for what I need? Thanks all, and before anyone start flaming I will use the search along the way. :)

07-21-03, 12:33 PM

welcome aboard!! we won't flame you--or at least I won't :)

while you are searching, check out the MultiMedia Forum...at the top of the page is a guide on how to do the movies. I'll let others join in and answer your other questions :)

hambalan · 07-21-03, 12:35 PM

for audio, CD quality MP3s (128kbps) will take up 1MB per minute (approx, of course) while WMA at equivalent quality (at 64kbps) will take up half of what MP3 need. So, a 256MB card is good for approx 4 hours worth of music (your 256MB card will hold a max of 245MB, illogical, I know).

As for video, read the excellent guide on this forum about encoding video in DivX format. My previous thread on video size might help

http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showt...ght=video+size

As for world clock, you can change the clock on your Ax from "local" to "visiting" and it should do the trick (start - settings - system - clock; then set the clock to wherever you are visiting).

07-21-03, 12:43 PM

There is a long list of free Clock Apps. worth checking out @ this website... http://www.freewareppc.com/clock/clock.shtml

Mythos · 07-21-03, 12:43 PM

Quote:

I also need to have a world clock program (any freebies?) so I can travel to diff countries and cities in US and have updated time w/o setting my watch.

The default clock om My Axim let me keep track of an other time zone in addition to my home, so you shouldn't need any extra programs for that. Just click on the date in the "today" screen and you can switch to a visiting time zone

ceej13 · 07-21-03, 12:43 PM

Welcome, fellow Aximite. I have a PNY 128MB SD card and I put in about 2 hrs worth of music and a few videos in mine. So you are better off with a 256MB card.

teaberry · 07-21-03, 12:44 PM

WOW...thanks for the so many positive replies guys. I will be sure to try them out. I have briefly read through the Dell instruction booklet and kinda disappointing with lack of info. I left the Axim at home due to its size and I also dont have a data cable at work yet. Any recommendation on durable yet compact case for the Axim (what is the fav choice around here) and also where can I get a portable/small USB cable (3rd party or OEM) for my work computer (I have the big shiny cradle at home). :D

AxiMonkey · 07-21-03, 12:58 PM

Hehehe....cases, cases, cases....where to begin.

Are you going for looks or function? If looks (and a bit of function) Sena and Piel Frama seem to be the biggies around here. They're very nice looking, leather, have pockets for cards and such, and fit the Ax quite nicely.

For function, look at Grindergear and some of the harder cases (Rhinoskin perhaps). Grindergear cases are durable, water resistant, and hold everything you could possibly need them to (literally....everything). Rhinoskin aluminum cases are hard, form fitting, aircraft aluminum. Very protective for pocket use and such.

Cables....go with a USB sync/charge cable. So long as you're about 80% or so on your battery, these cables will sync your Ax while keeping it charged up as well. There are travel kits (I have one by Seidio) that also include a car charger (lighter plug) as well as a wall charger too. Total cost for cable, and the two other chargers should be around 20-25 dollars.

Hehehehe.....and you probably thought you were getting close to being finished buying stuff when you bought your Ax. :) It has only just begun.

07-21-03, 03:58 PM

You can have as many SD or CF cards as you want to carry, so the amount of videos/music that you can take with you is theoretically unlimited.

teaberry · 07-21-03, 04:23 PM

you're right about the spending. Gosh, there's so much to buy. I just got the axim and ordered the CF WLAN card. I was thinking if I ever got a bluetooth phone then i'd like bluetooth CF card as well (then I need a bluetooth PC adapter too!). Then I need all these travel cables, car charger, usb sync cable, the car cradle, GPS is nice too, and memory, memory, memory (and the internal ROM upgrades). ARRRGGGGHHHH....oh and chosing a case (i want something durable and as form fitting as possible to the axim...god know the axim doesnt need to be any bigger :p ). Thanks guys.

techmonkey · 07-21-03, 08:49 PM

I like having a few mp3s on my device. I would say that getting the 256mb card would be worth it. Look at the princing of the CF and SD cards. I have been able to get a couple of low quality movies on on card, but like having the better quality so I am usually stuck with on movie. I have also bought a 6-in-1 card reader. With the card reader I can have the movies and music files on my laptop which of couse has the larger HD and then transfer them to the cards which can be easily played in the Axim.
Best of Luck,

http://www.techmonkeyuniverse.com

Zarathstra · 07-21-03, 10:54 PM

I manage to fit one high quality movie, about 2 hours of mp3's and a good selection of e-books on my 256 meg CF card, plus my daily journal entries. That should be enough for a short flight. For longer ones I woukld recommend you get a couple more cards, or a larger one.

ceej13 · 07-21-03, 10:57 PM

There you go. Get a card for mp3s, a card for movies, a card for misc data files like books, journals, etc. or just get one huge memory card.

AxiMonkey · 07-21-03, 10:58 PM

The other thing to consider is that your CF port also serves an I/O function. Ideally, I'd toss a 256 SD or so in the SD slot--that free's up your CF slot for a large memory card, your wireless card, modem...whatever. Get a 512 or 1 GB CF card for "non-essential stuff" like in flight entertainment, that way you can keep the SD card in place and run apps off of it....basically turning it into permanent storage.

Well, I'm outta here for the evening. The Daily Show calls. :)

bdavis · 07-22-03, 12:50 AM

My case recommendation would have to be the Slipper Case for Axim X5 with beltclip from EB Cases (www.ebcases.com). This case was designed for the Axim and fits like a glove. The belt clip makes getting to your Axim easy.