Pocket PC problems?

Osiris · 01-23-03, 01:37 AM

Well, I've spent a good few weeks now with my Axim, and I'm quite impressed with what it can do. What I'm not impressed with, is Microsoft. Despite my 400 MHz processor, sometimes my PDA can be quite slow, even doing the most basic functions. It speeds up and down, depending on how much stuff is running in the background obviously. But all in all, the operating system isn't too fast, and not very stable. Thus far I've managed to completely lock up my Start menu twice, once about a week ago, and again today. Right now when I tap my Start menu, nothing happens. So...another hard reset is in order. When the Start Menu is functioning, I do a soft reset about twice a day to fix graphical glitches, menus not showing up, close boxes not going away, etc. This is getting annoying...

Secondly, the operating system is very notably primitive. Even the most basic things are missing from the task bar, and the OS graphics could use some serious work. But really, non-cascading menus? No quicklaunch? No XScale optimizations? No "switcher" built in? No date on the desktop? No switching between open applications? No software based shut down, lock function, or reboots? Seriously, Microsoft needs to wake up.

I realize all of these problems can be solved with some basic software, and that's precisely what I've done. But really, why is this necessary? I do hope the higher ups at Microsoft see all of these great products out there, and learn a lesson or two. The Pocket PC operating system needs some serious work.

With that said, I love my Axim and will continue to use it daily. It's a great product at a great price. I couldn't be happier with it...

red-i · 01-23-03, 02:03 AM

I agree with ya. I'd say this is the windows 3.1 or maybe windows95 equivilant of windows CE. I'm sure it'll improve quite a bit in the next release, however there are limitations in the current gen x-scale processor which slow it down quite a bit. doesn't help matters either.

my biggest surprise was that there (by default) is no quick way to shut down apps unless they ahve an exit / quit funciton.. i coudln't belive this.. thank god for wisbar.

NMkiD · 01-23-03, 02:15 AM

Yeah it kinda sucks, theres a newer version of WinCE coming out soon

I'll post the details on it tommorow.

Pocket Facelift will solve almost all off the probs and frustrations you have. To tell you the truth I'd rather use what I want thenwhat MS would put out anyway.

Laterz Fellas!

Quinn · 01-23-03, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Osiris@Jan 23 2003, 12:37 AM

No "switcher" built in? No date on the desktop? No switching between open applications?

I've never had a lock-up or a slowdown. Mine is fast and stable. Maybe you've installed some less than perfect applications.

As far as the quoted things. They are all there. Just run switcher whenever you want to It's in settings/system or set it to launch whenever the system is on. With it you can switch between open applications and shut down any one of them or all at once. You also get instant access to brightness controls and battery status. As to why you have no date, go to start/settings/today/items and put a check mark next to Date.

There are 3rd party applications that you can get for free or for a minimul sum that will add further flexibilty and options as well, such as cascading menus or quicklaunch.

Quinn

hkoyuncu · 01-23-03, 07:39 AM

Gotta take into account that the OS is not optimized for the X-Scale processor. (You do not see much of a difference running Win95 on PII and PIV either) Hopefully it will get better in upcoming PPC versions. As for the rest I totally agree. But we do not have much choice do we? We'll load the small programs and hope they get incorporated into future versions.

FSC Nitro · 01-23-03, 09:27 AM

I had a TON of problems at first, but it was due to the 500 programs I loaded/unloaded the first few days I had my Axim. I have since done a hard reset and have been pretty picky about what I install and have very few problems now.

Still, I agree that it's not the fastest or most stable OS out there... a tradeoff for all the advanced features I guess. It would be nice to have it all, eh? heh heh

01-23-03, 10:41 AM

Guys.... If we use M$ products, then we just have to leave with those problems. Can't believe you guys still asking for improvements after all these years dealing with M$. :P

01-23-03, 04:18 PM

I am sure we have all had issues with Microsoft in the past, but they still have the best products out there. Pocket PC2002 is way better than the crappy Palm OS and or any other in my opinion. And the operating system I am using right now, Windows XP is the best operating system ever! We have come along way since win 98, crashing evey damn 2 seconds and that stupid damn blue screen......

andsoitgoes · 01-23-03, 06:59 PM

It's true - MS may be horrible, but they're better than the alternatives.

But to note - they have started to take examples from other software companies. They have, built into the OS, the ability to close apps by using the "X" - it just requires 3rd party software to actually interact with the ability.

And hopefully PPC 2003 will make a world of difference. Maybe it'll be the jump from 98 to XP... I doubt it, but at least maybe it'll have a bit more style to it.

As for everything running crap on XScale - well, MS has basically said "To heck with XScale" and that they aren't going to alienate the larger portion of their customer base still using the standard ARM processor and build specifically for XScale - and on that note, it doesn't even look like they're going to lift a finger to do ANYTHING for XScale, it's as if Intel, by releasing the new chipset, pi$$&d MS off, and now it's their turn to give it to Intel...

It's sad, and frustrating - who knows, maybe a nice Linux based PPC OS will come out :D

Nick

Mattman · 01-23-03, 08:09 PM

My Ax was really fast, then I started installing tons of apps. The more apps, the slower the Ax became. I really can't wait to get a card so I can install some of these programs to the card, leaving more precious memory for operation. Thank God I didn't go with the 300Mgz with only 32 RAM and 32 ROM.

Osiris, I really noticed a slow-down after installing Pocket Facelift. Even after un-checking the animated windows, and other options, the unit was still noticably slower. I guess it comes down to personal preference, cascading windows or faster PDA. It is a bummer M$ didn't incorporate much of the features we are used to on the desktop into the OS.

I just wanted to add one more thing. PocketPC 2002 File Explorer is the lamest of all PocketPC 2002 elements. I can't believe M$ released that. Talk about useless. It is a shame you have to install 3rd party software to look at file properties. Resco File Explorer is a must-have app.

All in all, I love my Ax. I don't regret jumping into this PDA world with the Ax as my first PDA. She will always be special, as I will always remember her as my first. I'm glad I saved myself for this marriage between me and my Ax. :P

LeapinLew · 01-23-03, 08:31 PM

This is my first Pocket PC and I was also a little disappointed at first. I was using a Palm and the palm os is so much more stable in comparison. I've ratcheted down my expectations. I realize it's more like my computer running windows then my routers running Cisco IOS.

I love it, just had to get used to it.

01-23-03, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LeapinLew@Jan 23 2003, 06:31 PM
This is my first Pocket PC and I was also a little disappointed at first. I was using a Palm and the palm os is so much more stable in comparison. I've ratcheted down my expectations. I realize it's more like my computer running windows then my routers running Cisco IOS.

I love it, just had to get used to it.

Well the Palms are a totally different animal. The OS that they run is actually a database. This is why everything has to be converted before copying up to the Palm. Some software will never be able to run on a Palm because of the OS. I use ArcPad from ESRI, http://www.esri.com/software/arcpad/index.html, and there are no plans to port the app to Palm because of the file structure.

Racer X · 01-23-03, 10:24 PM

Contrary to popular opinion, I believe that the Palm OS was quite an elegant albeit simple method for accomplishing PIM type tasks, alot more so than PocketPC 2002. For example, I loved seeing today's daily appointments by pressing the calendar button on my Palm VII. When I do this on my Axim, I just get whatever day/week/month it was last opened to. Feh!

That being said, Pocket PC is a lot more flexible in the type of apps it can run, especially multimedia apps. Web browsing is a lot easier (but far from satisfying) and Pocket PC color screens seem a lot better than Palm color screens (although the Sony Clie line may an exception to this). Customizations, themes and skins are also easier and better on the PPC as is intgration with all of Mighty Microsoft's office apps. I love being able to painlessly open PocketWord docs using Word!

Palm did have its advantages. But I've switched and now that I see all the many things that my Axim can do, I can assure you I will not be going back.

P.S. As the resident "geek" in my entertainment related company, I am launching a campaign to get others equipped with Axims and I will also be provided with Danger's Sidekick phone/PDA to test out. WOOT! Ain't life grand?

01-24-03, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Racer X@Jan 23 2003, 08:24 PM
Contrary to popular opinion, I believe that the Palm OS was quite an elegant albeit simple method for accomplishing PIM type tasks, alot more so than PocketPC 2002. For example, I loved seeing today's daily appointments by pressing the calendar button on my Palm VII. When I do this on my Axim, I just get whatever day/week/month it was last opened to. Feh!

That being said, Pocket PC is a lot more flexible in the type of apps it can run, especially multimedia apps. Web browsing is a lot easier (but far from satisfying) and Pocket PC color screens seem a lot better than Palm color screens (although the Sony Clie line may an exception to this). Customizations, themes and skins are also easier and better on the PPC as is intgration with all of Mighty Microsoft's office apps. I love being able to painlessly open PocketWord docs using Word!

Palm did have its advantages. But I've switched and now that I see all the many things that my Axim can do, I can assure you I will not be going back.

P.S. As the resident "geek" in my entertainment related company, I am launching a campaign to get others equipped with Axims and I will also be provided with Danger's Sidekick phone/PDA to test out. WOOT! Ain't life grand?

Believe me, the Palm OS is so simple its perfect for PIM. I just can't do my work on it. I enjoy not lugging around a laptop all day while in the field. Couldnt' do that with my Palm.

SkyVoice · 01-24-03, 05:11 PM

I've got date and time right on my screen 24/7 and delivered to my screen directly via PocketPC 2002. No secondary program. No problems. Many of these secondary programs haven't been optimized for Axim or X-Scale and thus when one loads a load of crap onto the basic machine he/she is in for a world of crap. It is so easy and convenient to blame manufacturers. I don't own MS stock but MS does a pretty darn fine job, IMHO, when it comes to delivering solutions, custom or otherwise. Many of these guys are wonderful geeks and therefore innovators as well as creative thinkers. Don't like what they offer today? Wait until tomorrow and they will change it. It is a great system for the economic engine. But it has some downside from time to time. They (MS) plow a lot of $$$ into research because their bottom line depends heavily upon it for their future growth.

Many of the complaints about what Pocket PC does or doesn't do is generally due to people not knowing what the features are. And, of course, there isn't a great deal of documentation to teach most of us. This assumes we read the instructions in the first place. The old adage still applies, "when all else fails, read the instructions".

I am, for one, grateful that I live in a society in which products like this are avaiable to me and that I have choice. If I don't like something I vote with my dollars. Moreover, I am glad I can afford them. Nice toys... nice solutions... and they actually help me do my work. For me, I am on cloud nine.

As for slow devices. I would rather live with something a little slow than resort to the old way of doing things, pencil and paper and the ensuing mess of files and file cabinets. I know, some are too young to remember those. :-)

Anyway... just a few cents worth from my perspective. Probably ain't worth that but I ain't going public anyway. :-)

Ciao,

Ron