Is the Axim X5 useful to me at all?

[mikesty]

Hey all,

I got an Axim X5 (lowest model, Basic I guess) many years ago for a Christmas present. I regret asking for it, because I never really used it that much, but at the time it was pretty expensive.

Now, it's basically useless. I really want to make something out of it over the summer. I played around with all sorts of freeware junk years ago, and I think I remember getting it to work as a TV remote. That's about it.

Here's what I have:

• Charger
• Connection
• ActiveSync Software (Already loaded, use it on the phone - hate it though)
• SD Cards and a 512MB CF card (family may have stolen the latter)
• Stock Axim X5, no ROM / OS updates of any sort

What I'm going to go buy:
Replacement backup battery so I stop getting that message. I remember I would always get errors for that, and never replaced it. For some reason it never stayed off or something like that.

What I won't do:

• Pay lots for software
• Buy a WiFi card. It's just not worth it.

So does anyone have any advice for an idiot who is very, very out of the loop? I hate to fill up the forums with crap, as I'm sure there is plenty of simple questions people ask over and over again and you're all tired of that.

Here's an opportunity to be creative. I do need some advice on what updates I should perform, if there even are any, but I'd also like some input on what good I can make out of this device, with no wireless capabilities. I'd like to believe I'm fairly adept at stuff, so if you've got any advanced softwares / hacks you think I ought to try, please tell me! I'm hoping I can get some good use out of the IR - my tablet and phone both use it, and I might contemplate using it as a remote again

This device cost my family a pretty penny, and my pathetic spoiled self never took advantage. For the sake of the wee Axim X5, help me make something cool!

[ikehiker]

I suggest you start with Gigi's What Can I Do With My Axim?. It's been updated a bit but it was originally written when the X5 was released and should give you ideas of what is possible.

[zacksba]

well, add some tunes/videos to your memory cards, for when you have some down or travel time.

I still use my X5 for some games.

Under one of the settings, it should tell you what rom/os you are using (either pocket pc 2002 or windows mobile 2003). Others here can tell you if there are any newer rom updates than what you have.

[Auntiem]

I'd get some SD cards which are real inexpensive now and put books or dvds on them. Use it as an enterntainment device. I still think its a better product than a kindle for the price.

[ungluud]

I agree with all of the above posts. I use mine a lot for e-book reading, (novels and bible) games, calender and contacts, and just playing around with the configuration of the today screen.
Also I have a weather program that comes in handy.
Look up the 'sticky' about the best PPC freeware, there is a lot of great programs on there that are useful and fun.

[mikesty]

Is it possible to use it to control a music player on a desktop? It'd be a pretty handy bedside controller. On top of that, I could use a weather program to get weather broadcasts.

[Auntiem]

I would read some of the are we X5ers a dying breed. There's some good comments about what they use there x5 for.

[mckellarj]

First of all you have one of the best Pocket PC's ever made; it's rock-solid, very reliable and easily adapted to any number of uses. Your statement about not enhancing X5 by parting with some money for software enhancements will make it difficult for you to "leverage" the X5 or for that matter any Pocket PC or Smartphone. In my case, my X5 allows me to leave my notebook computer in the case most of the time. The built-in software is a good start -Calendar, Contacts, Pocket Internet Explorer, Pocket Outlook, Pocket Excel (a real gem!) and Pocket Word. To that I've purchased additional software which really allows the X5 to "jam." Included are Phatnotes Pro (by Phatware) - a great way to create/organize notes - built-in "Notes" is somewhat lame), Foxit Reader (for PDFs), the excellent Microsoft Encarta Dictionary for MS Reader (free download), Pocket Slides (by Conduits - yes, you can create Powerpoint Presentations on your X5), Pocket Mindmap (great for putting together/managing projects), Pocket Artist (by Conduits to retouch photos and handy for some nice drawing), PhatPad (by Phatware) to sketch out floor plans, layout schematics for projects and so on with the ability to attach both written and voice notes to those items, Anton Tomov's (now Wizcode) super Pocket Mechanic to keep the X5 "clean-and-mean," and Resco's excellent "Utility" pack which includes a vastly improved File Explorer, Picture Organizer/Viewer and a slick "Yellow Sticky" utility. To all that I take full advantage of the X5 having both SD and CF Slots using a 2GB CF Memory Card for tunes (I purchased Pocket Player from Conduits which gives many additional features than Windows Media Player) and a 4GB SD Card to store a whole bunch of files. The X5 makes a super MP3 Player with additional capability of handling WMA files (yes Pocket Player does both). If that's not enough, I place a Holux GR-271 GPS Card in the CF Slot, and using TomTom Navigator 6 seldom get lost driving anywhere. To all that I have an old Socket CF Bluetooth Card along with BVRP's Phone Tools 5 which allows via my Bluetooth Cell Phone to send/receive email using Pocket Outlook plus cruise the web using Pocket IE. Pocket IE (PIE) is a bit lacking, so I added Multie-IE to add those features lacking in PIE (opening multiple windows, quick URL entry, etc ...). Additionally, I keep a Belkin IR Keyboard in my backpack so when I need to do a bunch of typing, I can do it using a real keyboard. Bottom line - the new Pocket PCs and Smartphones running Windows Mobile 5 an 6 are nice, but an X5 running the right software gets you everything they can do - and guess what (?) you already own the device.
I didn't buy all the software at once, I added it a package at time as I identified a shortcoming and addressed it, and then moved on to the next shortcoming. By the way, there is some worthwhile freeware out there, but to really make the X5 work for you, you will have invest some of your change. The nice thing is Pocket PC Software a major bargain by commercial software standards. There is always a belief you have-to-have the "latest-and-greatest;" well guess what, some of the new stuff doesn't come up to the X5's high standards - like battery life and just being plain rugged. The X5 can make a major improvement in your life if you set it up right and use it. And last to protect my investment I purchased Sprite's excellent backup utility just in case the main and backup batteries die. The only advantage the Windows 5 and 6 devices have over the X5 is they use non-volatile memory, so no worries about the backup battery. If you keep the X5 charged, check the backup battery periodically for condition (after all it's a commonly available CR-2032 - about $3.50 at Radio Shack), and backup frequently, the non-volatile memory advantage of the new devices doesn't matter. Good X5ing! Jay

P.S. Windows Mobile (CE) Software is available to do just about anything going all the way back to Pocket PC 2000.
P.S.P.S. Accessories like the Belkin IR Keyboard are available on the web (Ebay, Amazon, Computergeeks, etc ...) for low cost as they are not for the current devices. SD Cards are inexpensive - get a 4GB to replace the missing 512.

[mikesty]

Thanks a lot. There certainly are a lot of things I can do with it.

It is not so much of that I have issues finding a use for it because it is outdated - it performs all of the basic functions that any palm-type device can do, and then some, but it just lacks the luster and some jazzy functions new things have, like wifi and bluetooth and integrated so-and-so. The issue is just finding a place for it to fit in my life. I'm a college student with little to no effective / disposable income, which is why upgrades, as cheap as they are, are not very effective. The only things I have are some SD/CF cards as they are cheap and work with other devices I have.

I'd love to set this thing up as a GPS, but the truth is, I don't drive anywhere that I would ever need it. I drive a twelve-year-old Mazda with 130K+ miles. Gas is $4 a gallon. If I do find a job for the summer and make $7-8 / hour, I really have to money for cruising either.

I also happen to have a decent MP3 player, so my needs are fulfilled their. As for taking notes in class, my school 'required' all engineering students to buy and use a Tablet PC, and while fun and nice, a bit excessive. I suppose I could carry it everywhere for hand notes, but that's a bit much - I already have a brick of a phone that coincidently runs windows mobile (I didn't buy it, it was some freak loophole upgrade package) so that already takes care of calendaring, alarms etc.

I will find something!!! I really appreciate your enthusiasm - it's good to know there are people who appreciate rock-solid technology like the Axim and don't rush to buy new fancy gadgets.

[bernardm]

maybe you have something that you could trade with someone to obtain a wifi card.

Then, you could sit in class, log in to the wifi campus network, and browse useful pages. Just tone back the screen brightness to conserve battery life for the day. Check email, forums, I don't know.

The CF wifi cards are expensive new, but used, they must be less expensive, and a trade might be possible.

[bernardm]

I guess I'm late.....I just read your original post about not being worth it to obtain a wifi card.

Don't feel bad if you can't figure out how to integrate to your daily life. I have an AX x51v and it just sits in a desk drawer at the office .....where it's been for six months! I removed the battery and put in a sleeve to preserve the battery and eliminate dust or accidental screen scratches.

One way that I see put these to good use is in playing board games, especially Sudoku. Endless boards, levels, and iterations. Purely casual uses for which a notebook/desktop is not necessary at all.

There was a gentleman who explained that his AX is his Spoken GPS Guide for getting around town. You see, he's blind, and the GPS software was specially adapted for blind people. It was very touching to hear how he used hix AX for getting around in Las Vegas on a daily basis.

Beyond that, the AX has several documented uses in Industry-Specific Applications. One such is Retail Servicing / data collection. Companies exist solely to write such applications and syncronizing tools.

The X5 was always considered more 'sturdy' than it's younger sibling (50/51). However, the Symbol models are taking over the market with Toughbook-style PDA's.

[bernardm]

..........

[mikesty]

Thanks. I think I found an interesting use.

Wallet Hacks: Slim Down Your Wallet with Your Phone

I mean, I have nothing else, so maybe I'll try this on the Axim .. haha.

[Rice Lover]

I'm currently using an X5 as well, and I absolutely love it, it's really one of the best PDAs ever made, very reliable, stable, and not a problem to date, something I can't say about the newer PDAs. No, I can't say that it has the performance of all the new, fast, high-end PDAs, but it definitely does the job, and I can't really complain about the performance, it does everything I want it to do. Good luck with it, and I would definitely get a CF Wifi card, you'll be shocked at how nice it is to browse the web, and they can be had pretty cheaply now, or maybe trade something for one, as another member here suggested