Does your Windows Mobile device make you more productive?

Julie · 04-07-09, 01:08 PM

This is the question I have been mulling over for a while now. When I bought my first pocket pc many years ago, I wanted a way to carry my data -- mainly my contact, appointment and task lists -- in a nice, syncable, and portable fashion. Then when I got into the Pocket PC I found that it offered a lot more features and functions than that.

I have spent so much time figuring out the features and functions, and tweaking my pocket pcs, that I honestly can't say that they have made me more productive. If anything, they have made me more unproductive. So now, after many years of playing with these devices, I am on a quest to use them to make_me_more_productive.

What do you think? Has your experience with windows mobile helped you become more productive? If so, please share a description of how you have become more productive by using a windows mobile device.

I'm throwing out a challenge to the users here....how can we use these devices to become more productive?

Jogga · 04-07-09, 01:58 PM

What an excellent question :approve:

My answer, in a word is yes! However, allow me to elaborate :)

TomTom, Pocket Streets and Memory Map speed up navigation (so far less time on the road between assignments and less time map reading in the hills)
Similarly, Money means that I can update my expenses as they are incurred and I don't have to try and figure out what the receipts mean at the end of the week :)
BillRate reduces my client invoicing time by at least half and I don't tend to forget to invoice work!
My keyboard allows me to type up notes without booting up a laptop or pc - particularly useful when I'm on site and want fast access to files
I have access to recent email of course (very handy at times!) and I've always got my diary (for making appointments on the fly) and my contacts.

That's productivity, but I also find my iPAQ useful and great fun: Flashcard Whiz and assorted games are great for filling in the odd spare moment practising my French or vegetating, I can view photos, listen to music, watch movies and all the other good stuff we talk about here.

On the whole, I don't think that I would want to go back to paper maps, diaries or address books and I would miss both my X50 and hx2790. I could however, forego my X3 ;)

Gigi · 04-07-09, 07:28 PM

I agree...interesting question.

The only thing I really need a PDA for is its calendar functions, and to be honest, I am still faster scribbling down an appointment by hand than tapping or keying it in. However, for all the "extras" it provides me (checking email on the fly, GPS, etc.), it has made my life more efficient. And when I'm supposed to be productive but am not (i.e., at a meeting), I can always make use of my PDA for ahem...productive...ahem things (e.g., surfing, IM). ;)

srvctec · 04-07-09, 10:04 PM

Excellent question Julie!

I believe I'm much more productive with my PDA than without. I originally got it for work to have access to all the service manuals in pdf format for the dozens of models of equipment I work on daily. It has saved me lots of time not having to go back to the office and grab a printed manual and lug it around with me, plus I can search for a key word instead of thumbing through, in some cases, thousands of pages.

Once I actually had my PDA in my hands and realized all it could do, I transitioned rather rapidly to using it for personal use as well. I use HandyShopper for all my list needs and don't think I could do without that now. I also use it for keeping all my tasks and appointments at hand. I don't use it for email, except for getting on line and checking my email that way.

I also use SpreadCE for all my spreadsheet work and don't know how I would live without that either. I use spreadsheets for organizing all kinds of information for work and personal use. It's so handy to just grab my PDA and enter in the data I need to at that moment and then later sync it to my PC.

I've decided to keep my PDA, even though I will soon be the proud owner of an Eee PC 1000HE (blue) that is supposed to arrive on Thursday 4/9. Since my PDA can be much more easily carried at all times, I will still use it for organizing my life. I will then use the 1000HE for storing and viewing service manuals for work as well as a much easier way to get on line to check email, not to mention the 6-8 hour battery life.

emeraldgirl08 · 04-08-09, 12:03 PM

I pretty much use my PDA for organizing files, playing music, tinkering with, storing movies, and downloading. I bought my PDA because I couldn't afford a laptop and figured since I could get online with a PDA- why not? I winded up winning a deal for two Ax 30s (I sold one to my sister who pretty much put's the word in "use" with hers) My PDA? Well "she" get's spoiled. I've bought cards, a keyboard, a leather case, an extra battery, a nifty red shiny stylus, and screen protectors for the Ax :)

My Ax has been making me proactive in the tech aspects in my life. I didn't know anything about comps not too long ago and now I'm about to tinker and dabble in linux. I even have the book "Ubuntu Kung Fu ." I have the PDF format and have that on guess what??? My PDA. Yeah the paper version would be nice (I do plan on getting that when I get more moolah) but that will wait. It's been a stepping stone for me. I started my career in the health professions, now Iron Worker, and maybe something in the Comp Industry soon :)

**breley** · 04-08-09, 12:50 PM

Thought-provoking question to say the least.:)

I'm contemplating the meaning of "productive".:headscrat Yes, though for me really it is a means of portable information focusing. My mobile devices are a portal to the internet, work or home networks, instant information retrieval for calendar/task and person associated with those tasks, store and read and transmit documents, use as a navigational tool via GPS, and sundry other things. While not strictly necessary, they can (and do), as Gigi mentioned, make me more efficient. Like srvctec, it didn't take long to extrapolate work-related benefits into personal benefits either.

Also, a potential benefit of increasing my familiarity and efficiency with mobile devices is that they also have enabled me to help out other mobile users, hopefully making them more productive in some way.

Julie · 04-08-09, 04:02 PM

Thanks Jogga, Gigi, srvtec, emeraldgirl, & Breley for posting your thoughts and experiences to this thread. I've been tied up with other things and haven't had a chance to review your individual postings - I'll do that tomorrow.

But taking Breley's point about contemplating the meaning of "productive" to heart, I'd like to state what I think of when i consider improving productivity....that is, "Am I able to do more in the same amount of time?" So the question can be modified to be, "Does my Windows Mobile device enable me to do more than I would usually be able to do than if I didn't have a Windows Mobile device?)

Jogga · 04-08-09, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by Julie

Thanks Jogga, Gigi, srvtec, emeraldgirl, & Breley for posting your thoughts and experiences to this thread. I've been tied up with other things and haven't had a chance to review your individual postings - I'll do that tomorrow.

But taking Breley's point about contemplating the meaning of "productive" to heart, I'd like to state what I think of when i consider improving productivity....that is, "Am I able to do more in the same amount of time?" So the question can be modified to be, "Does my Windows Mobile device enable me to do more than I would usually be able to do than if I didn't have a Windows Mobile device?)

Productivity is a ratio, so I would argue that being more productive doesn't necessarily mean "doing more": it could just as easily mean doing the same for less expenditure.

The problem then becomes how one defines the benefit of consequential gain. For instance, using satnav to guide you quickly and safely to you destination is, all other things being equal, faster (and much safer) than trying to read a map while driving. You may not achieve anything more as a consequence of the additional (saved) time, but it is your resource to squander.

Feeling more or less productive may, ultimately, reside on what you do as a consequence of the technology rather than any direct benefit of a given task.

Zaniax · 04-08-09, 10:52 PM

My ax is usually waisting my time - in a funny way: music, games, emails, thread posting
So it's not really productive.

On the other hand it's my extended memory because it remembers birthdays, what to buy, tv schedules, email addresses, passwords and the like.

I have a terrible memory for the names of people

and - discretely - running through the address list in a meeting or seminar has saved me some embarrassments.
In some cases I've even gained a new friend because I've congratulated in due time :)

And if you remembers the names and birthdays of their children you may become a ladys friend

Maybe not productive - but effective

.

kcallahan · 04-09-09, 06:41 AM

Absolutely yes. As already mentioned the calendar and contacts lists. Everything is in one place. Yes, you could use a daytimer booklet. But, how do you sort through contacts to find a category related to just one business? That alphabetical paper address book won't do that. Plus, everytime there a change you have to white out the paper to make the correction. Which is messy.

Taking notes on your PDA allows you to save it electronically. If you take notes on paper, you then file it someplace in a folder or cabinet. Six months later you need to find that information. Now you have to sort thru and re-read six months worth of notes. I take meeting notes on my PDA and upload them to my PC. If I need to find some information the computer search function will find it for me. :approve:

Part of being "more productive" is taking breaks. My PDA can provide some diversions to take my mind off work. Especially when working on a short deadline. :)

A PDA is a tool. A properly used tool can make you more productive whether it be for business or pleasure. :)

spunker88 · 04-09-09, 07:59 AM

It can, if you use it right.

But i end up playing games, surfing the net and using AIM.
So it does the opposite!

Box · 04-09-09, 08:10 AM

The simple answer for me is Yes.

Some time ago I wrote a rather long winded post that explains how my HTC 7500 helps me and it's still true today.

LucH · 05-27-09, 04:11 PM

Since I've got my Windows Smartphone, I tend to miss quite some calls because the thing does not ring or rings too late. In that sense, it makes me save time

In the end, it does save me time, but not as much as my good old Psion PDA used to.

But you can find some good add-on programs, I'm using a database programs and have hundreds of cards with various information in there. That way, when I have my phone, I have about all I need to know, wherever I am (I do make backups...).

CodeBubba · 05-29-09, 08:06 PM

Productive? Probably not as much as it used to any more. I've finally gone to a completely converged Smart Phone which works fine (Samsung SCH-i760). It rolls all of my phone/pocket-PC needs into one device so it is efficient; however I don't pick it up to "play" with it as much as I used to. These things aren't quite the "toys" they were or I'm just getting over playing with them. If they don't do a job for me I get rid of 'em.

-CB :D

AKAJohnDoe · 05-29-09, 08:11 PM

This is akin to the difference between efficiency and effectiveness.

Does your Windows Mobile device make you more productive?

Yes. My WM device empowers me to be very efficient at being ineffective.