Zatx

Ok.. I've spent the last 3 days (I know thats not very long compared to most of you) reading several PDA forums and browsing tons of software sites. Everyone expounds upon the fact that PDA's are unstable and need lots of programs to make them do what they should be doing already.

Lets look at this in perspective. I ordered a Dell Axim x51v (hasn't arrived yet) with a 624mhz processor, 64mb ROM, 256mb RAM running Windows Mobile 5. I've read that its unstable, doesnt run full featured windows programs, has lots of compatibility issues, etc, etc, etc.

In 1992 or 1993 (my memory is going) I owned a Dell laptop that was a 600mhz processor with 32mb Ram and was running Windows 3.1 I believe. This laptop ran great. All the windows features worked fully, i.e. Excel, Pwrpoint, and Word. It played what passed for video and I could play games on it.

Why is it that these handhelds with faster processors, more memory, and years of programming expierence, cant run the same programs our PC's are running?

I just dont get it.

glb

If you don't get it? Try running the modern versions of those programs on your old laptop.

stevenator65

Zatx welcome to Aximsite. Anytime there is a new OS introduced there are also bugs to be worked out. There previous OS, wm2003se, was very stable. wm5 is improving. You can't compare desktop programs and processors to pocket pcs. They have different architectures. Don't worry, this will be sorted out soon.

Zatx

But really we arent running modern versions of these applications with our PDA's.. they are trimmed down versions with less features than they had 12 years ago (speaking directly about Excel, Word, and Powerpoint).

graceland

Don't fret too much from at the negative talk around here.

While I'm sure those who come here to complain and want boycott Dell and the like have their specific issues and motivations, I have been very happy with my x51v.

But... I am using it as a PDA. Way back I had a Palm Professional and I used it to keep appointments, todo lists, various references and few games. I am using my Axim much the same way with the added benefit of having a much prettier interface and a nice portable web browser around the house.

Those who think that Palm was Nirvana have selective memories. I recall having reload that from scratch from time to time. But it was often because I loaded some fringe software that itself was not stable and it made the whole unit seem unstable. Often I think that is what happens to people now. They roam around the internet loading every app that says PocketPC next to it and wonder why their machine seems to be a bit flakey. Or they want the Axim to do everything for them and perhaps the software isn't quite there yet.

The bottom line is you will have a nice unit running a recently released OS that clearly has significant changes from it predecessor. When XP was released, it was a year or two before all third party software vendors had their XP versions out. We're just seeing those same growing pains here. I'm sure the OS itself will see it's share of updates in the next year also. And then everyone will be happy...Except those who are whining that it doesn't support the latest 20 Gig wifi--or whatever is the newest thing then.

So take heart and welcome to Aximland!