What do you use your Axim for?

[ahearn]

I have a software developer friend who is considering creating some Pocket PC applications.

But he's looked at Handango and PocketGear and seen good useful applications, at low prices, that only have a few hundred downloads in a couple of years. He's seen that utilities and games seem to do pretty well, but not exactly gangbusters.

So he's come to the conclusion that most folks who buy Pocket PCs basically use the built-in apps (Calendar, Inbox, etc.), buy some utilities when they improve on built-in functions, and play a lot of games -- and that the number of people who are actually doing "useful" things is not large enough to invest time and money into developing applications.

I told him I would ask you guys your opinions on this.

Is your Axim a useful tool for you, or just an expensive toy (forget what you told your spouse)?

What is the "killer app" (not games or utilities) that would make a Pocket PC a "must have" device for more people?

[peterbright]

I think a suite of applications that cover the gamut of anything you can do on a pc would be the best bet.

[Raynne413]

The Axim, for me, is mainly for entertainment. I have a great free astronomy program that I use. I use Applian's CoolCalc for my calculator. And I use the built in apps of contacts and the calendar. I also use a formatting and defrag application for my memory cards. Other than that, I just read books and play games.
For me, the app that would be the greatest is a TI-83+ emulator or a graphing/scientific calculator that works like the Texas Instruments.

[ikehiker]

My uses are:
1) PDA functions:
Syncing Calendar between home & work,
Maintaining contact lists

2) remote (from work or home) email access

3) preparation and editing of word documents/excell files

4) review of powerpoint files (for practice of presentations)

5) hearts and a couple of other games (truly last - I'm not just fooling myself).

I don't actually travel a lot but having the Axim for items 2-4 is much better than carrying a laptop through the airport. It was a hassle before 9/11 but became nearly impossible after (pulling a computer out of it's case while standing in line and trying to carry it the last 15-20 feet to the x-ray machines requires at least two more hands than I have.

I've bought some software (NetFront browser because PIE wouldn't let me access about half of the sites I use regularly); IP Manager which helps me maintain network connections at work and home (because ActiveSync is incapable of doing this easily); Intellisync for syncing with Groupwise (work email system); PocketLAN for connecting to network shares; Pocket Explorer because the file manager with PPC has little utility.

So, in summary, I've bought software that takes care of inadequacies in M$ programs. I actually find Pocket Word, Excell, Calendar, Contact list, Inbox, and IA Presenter (for PowerPoint presentations) adequate for my purposes.

[LightningCount]

Originally posted by Raynne413

For me, the app that would be the greatest is a TI-83+ emulator or a graphing/scientific calculator that works like the Texas Instruments.

This was in the works, at one time, IIRC. If not that then a VERY similar graphing calc. I remember getting all excited, ready to whip out my wallet - when I noticed that they hadn't been updated for months, yet had promised the next update "very soon" (I think weeks/days was implied).

[the_joker1973]

I would like some betting software written, As a gambler i would love to be able to keep track of bets won / lost still open. But there is no software:(

[Namo]

I'm a college student, I rely on my Axim for keeping track of due dates, class cancellations, and other events that go on around school. I also use it as an mp3 player, like for walking between classes (it isn't the greatest mp3 player since its memory is so limited, unless you wanted to spend a lot of money on big expansion cards, but it serves my mp3 purposes well). I'm only now beginning to learn about all the great software that's out there which I'm sure I'll find uses for!

[b9_2mr]

I can think of a few good programs that would make my life a little happier. First off, we need a program that could accept Winamp plugins (for file input). For instance, I like playing .SPC/.NFS files on my computer (great on size, and if you don't know what they are, they're songs ripped from SNES/NES games), and I could fit dozens of these things into a small space on my PDA. Unfortunately, there are no players for these file formats on PPC, but there ARE winamp plugins, so if there was a way to incorporate plugins, that would be excellent.

What do I use my Axim for? Well, for starters, every morning it serves as a nice alarm clock (not nearly as persistent and annoying as most alarm clocks:D), it keeps track of EVERYTHING I need to do, between the tasks and the calendar, I have YameCE with FF3/Metal gear/etc..., an HP38/39G emulator, and I type all my notes on it with my wireless IR keyboard. I do other things in between stuff, but for the most part, it serves as a productivity tool, with a few extra games thrown into the mix. I don't use it as an MP3 player much, because I already have one of those, and if you don't want to carry the unit around in your hand while you walk, you have no choice but to stick the unit in your pocket where a little bump could do some random thing on the screen and throw you into chaos (whew!).

How fast does YameCE run FF3?

[kaytie]

I would buy an Axim for my ADHD son who is in High School. Having ADHD myself, I can attest to the facxt that it's much, much easier to have everything in one place where I can dig it up rather than on sixty million pieces of paper! Imagine -- homework could be beamed to the teacher rather than dug out of an overstuffed backpack.

I'd like to see a comprehensive academic suite of applications similar to the one available on Handango....We have two Axims now and would have three if I could see it helping number 2 son keep track of assignments and homework and stay accountable to ME by syncing it every day :)

[enyoworkstation]

Thanks.

[dellaxim2004]

Im in High School and I have several uses. I use it to write my school notes, as a planner, contacts, games (during break), listen to music, encyclopedia, mapopolis and Tech Design. Actually if you think about it a High School student could use a PPC more than another occupation.

[Natcat]

I rely on my Today screen to tell me what I'm supposed to do and the calendar to organize my 2 jobs and schoolwork. I use ListPro for shopping and tasklists. I use Word for my recipes so I can check them while shopping. I keep a digital portfolio of my artwork. I have photos of the spouse and cats. I play chess and solitaire between jobs. Excel keeps track of my expenses. I'm thinking about getting a program from Handango so I can practice writing in Chinese -- it's been a long time since I studied Chinese and my writing/reading is definitely rusty!

I have a separate MP3 player for audio books and music -- and a gizmo that translates it into an FM signal -- really useful since I do a lot of driving and get tired of commercials.

[moore2215]

I use both my x-3 and x-5 for movie watching on the go

[spligosh]

I use my X5 for:

Keeping my work and home diaries up to date.
Listening to audio books through audible.com
Bible reading and bible reading notes (available on avantgo)
Keeping list of tasks and progress
Showing my latest digital photos to friends
Games
Keeping up to date on ppc web sites (through avantgo)

and probably some other things which escape me at the moment.