X5 For Life - Page 3

PDA_Dude · 03-31-05, 05:22 PM

I'm a Newbie. So new, that I'm still waiting for my x5 to arrive from Ebay. I already bought accessories like GPS, Wi-fi, and I can't wait to play and learn. I get the impression that the x5 is an "Oldie but goodie"? I'm not a power user, just some work notes, Email, and I hope to try out the GPS on a road trip. One question I have, does the x5 have a scratchpad function? You know, a place to write freehand w/ the stylus. My friend has a Tungsten E that has that feature. Any advice on accessories, setup, etc., would be very appreciated. Thanks...

cpjolicoeur · 03-31-05, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by PDA_Dude

I'm a Newbie. So new, that I'm still waiting for my x5 to arrive from Ebay. I already bought accessories like GPS, Wi-fi, and I can't wait to play and learn. I get the impression that the x5 is an "Oldie but goodie"? I'm not a power user, just some work notes, Email, and I hope to try out the GPS on a road trip. One question I have, does the x5 have a scratchpad function? You know, a place to write freehand w/ the stylus. My friend has a Tungsten E that has that feature. Any advice on accessories, setup, etc., would be very appreciated. Thanks...

You can enter notes in using the "scratchpad" feature you are referring too. The built in notes program will handle this. There are also other third-party apps that provide the same functions you are looking for.

kevinseise · 03-31-05, 08:15 PM

I notice my microdrive drains power faster than my CF cards. If that's an issue, go CF .

kevinseise · 03-31-05, 08:21 PM

<strike>"Notes" will do that and it's a stock program.</strike>

Jimyster123 · 03-31-05, 08:32 PM

What's the advantage of a Micro Drive, speed? is it really that much better?

Originally Posted by kevinseise

I notice my microdrive drains power faster than my CF cards. If that's an issue, go CF .

03-31-05, 09:08 PM

I love my X5. No need to upgrade yet. Maybe the next completely new design may get me to change, but as for now I am totally content.

douggie · 04-01-05, 12:18 PM

Even if you want to upgrade, you might want to wait till the WM2005 is out. Not necessary better (won't know until we see the final product), but at least you have a choice. People are saying that even the latest x50v's may not be upgradeable to WM2005...

04-01-05, 01:29 PM

x5 with no plans to go to an x50-anything

kevinseise · 04-02-05, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by Jimyster123

What's the advantage of a Micro Drive, speed? is it really that much better?

Um, I think the original advantage was capacity vs. pricing. The comparable CF cards were pretty expensive when I bought my microdrive. Now, there is very little difference.

As far as power goes, the microdrive has spinning platters like a desktop. They need to spin up to speed befroe accessing the drive. The CF card does not have moving parts. Therefore, the CF doesn't need to draw power nearly as much as the microdrive does.

Also, my microdrive doesn't fit in my digital camera. I found that out after I got the drive of of ebay. Oh well. Good luck!

Nan · 04-05-05, 12:28 PM

I love my X5 and only two things make me even contemplate eventually getting the X50v...usb and screen. If I could get those two things without changing, I'd do it as soon as I could "lay hands" on the money. My X5 has been reliable and I'm not about looks, just performance. I can't think/enter any faster than what I have now! Con is, of course, $$$.
I'm normally a lurker and reader, but will stick in my 2 cents worth on this.
Nan

Telemacus · 04-07-05, 05:42 AM

I had an x5 for over a year and must say I was extremely happy with it. Then I decided to upgrade to an X30... the 620 mh model. I sold the x5 to a friend to get the extra cash that I needed.

Now read this: after just 6 days, I returned my axim x30. The battery life is miserable when compared to the X5. (but ok when compared to just about any other pda on the market, I guess)
The speed? rubbish, I couldn't tell the difference!! (not that I wanted more speed anyway).
And now, the connection thing... I'm not very fond of craddles... they take too much space, I mean if you add up the volume a craddle takes, then the pda, then the cables and everything... you might as well get a laptop instead! (the x5 didn't need a craddle).
Also, the connection wire below the pda in my x30 seemed very weak and sensitive compared to the x5 one.
I'm not saying the x30 or 50 are bad products, but the x5 was just better in all respects except wifi.
I'm now without a pda, making up my mind what to get. I think the wifi capabilities are greatly overstimated: I only wanted it to use it while I was in bed before I went to sleep, but other than that, you might as well use your laptop.
Axim X5 was a wonderful product.
Toshiba has invented new batteries which can be recharged in 30 seconds, but they won't commercialize them till 2007. Until then, I think I'll probably try to get hold of a second hand x5 thru ebay.

keithwnyc · 04-08-05, 04:11 PM

Sure, the new devices coming out are cool and smart, but my X5 works great and dstill oes everything I need it to do. The CF card slot allows me to easily shit-can a cf wireless card (or any other device) once it breaks (with the X50, since it's embedded within the machine itself, you're *$%&# outta luck....). Also, the additional sd card slot gives me endless memory. :love:

The one problem is that it can't handle the new applications written for the ppc 2003 o/s.

But who cares :approve:

skyyfox · 04-10-05, 03:01 AM

I bought an x5 in december 2003 i believe and it has served me well. I have a 512mb cf card filled with all kinds of software... just about everything i have tried with it works great. I have a few pictures on it that i like to show off. I don't think i need all the fancy gadgets out there like a keyboard and all that other stuff. battery life is long. i can take this puppy outside and look over my documents and calendar. wi-fi would be really nice considering i would like to use this on my home network and maybe at the bookstore but i can do without that for now. all in all this has been a really great device for me.

joshua362 · 04-10-05, 09:54 PM

My thoughts...

http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showthread.php?t=79138

Why I had to send her back...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A sad day for me. I packed up my 3 week old X50v and UPS picked it up today.

Thanks to all contributors here for the wonderful content and suggestions on how to optimize the VGA unit. It's drop dead gorgeous with a great D pad and audio sound, but in the end, it just wasn't reliable enough for me. I'm no newbie, I got my existing X5 days after it was released in Nov 2002 and upgraded the OS, added Wi-Fi and BT via the CF slot.

At the end of the day, aside from the display, it just could not match the X5's functionality. I can (and do often) run an mp3 player, a BT GPS, high end aviation software (Anywheremap.com) or Mapopolis, connect to the internet via BT for weather updates and sometimes even run a game. All without special tweaking or attention, just a simple SD card to hold the large databases and maps.

I tinkered often and hard trying to get the X50v to behave using all the memory and install tips. I just think its under powered (and/or main memory challanged) and its very, very fickle as to what software will run on it. VGA and 2003SE must take an incredable toll on it, even a few concurrent programs would grind it to a halt without warning. I still don't think it likes Wisbar, no matter what version.

Lockups, hard resets, WIFI/BT turn on issues, brushing the battery hatch (as in taking it out of a case) would shut it down, no Dell cases for the extended battery (a must), no charge when on a sync cable, etc are some of the problems I experienced.

Please, I'm not complaining, I just ran out of time and energy to tinker with it to no end - I don't think it was ever going to do what I need it to do The X5, with an extended battery is an incredible WORKHORSE, even 2 1/2 years later - except for a crappy D pad/stylus and no VGA.

I fully expect to buy one in the future, maybe after the next ROM or OS release - but not at the full retail price I paid. The VGA does help out in the bright sunshine, a must when piloting or even driving around.

And Dell Customer service is just AWESOME (via the internet - not phone). I ordered it 3pm Tuesday and it was in my house at 10am Thursday - no special shipping. I emailed for an RMA yesterday and UPS was here this morning. No begging or questions, truly an effective "total customer satisfaction" policy.

Thanks for listening. I'll be lurking to see if any of these issues ever get resloved.

Aggie96 · 04-10-05, 10:08 PM

Have had my X5 for over a year. Added a 1 GB CF card and MUGEN battery for longer runtime and it is still running everything I need (GPS, MP3). Been out of the country for the past year so I don't even know what else is out there.