Why I switched from Palm to Pocket PC and why I 'might' switch back to palm - Page 2

Cole · 12-21-05, 10:58 AM

whirlybird. I suggest you try Pocket Informant and SPB Plus.

The PI is amazing. You will come to rely on it.

The spb plus not only organizes everything on the today screen, it allows you to just minimize apps and/or close so you can keep the PIM open, but no opther proggies. I've found this to be very fast for me, and I use it just like you described.

AKAJohnDoe · 12-21-05, 11:17 AM

Welcome to Aximsite, whirlybird!

whirlybird · 12-21-05, 11:33 AM

Thanks for the comments.
Tried all the things recommended (that I could) – no change
If I had looked harder in the forums before I made the purchase, I think I would have bought a Palm
A few notes…..

Is there another ‘patch’? I have already patched to A04 (available from Dell) – just a thought, is it worth rolling back?

Graphics fly on this thing, once they have loaded.

Just gone into data backup it has taken 3 mins to work out it needs to backup 11397.62Kb of memory!!
I tried to cancel – given up – soft reset – rinse & repeat.

I’m off work now for Christmas, gives me a chance to tinker a little more. I do believe this will only work if I don’t use it to store any data on it - 

I’ve logged an email with Dell tech. support mainly to ensure they know that unless it is fixed I want my money back. – I’d better start reading the return policy.

You people obviously know you PDA’s and I believe none of you are experiencing the problems I’m having because I don’t believe anyone could be willing to put up with these problems.

This may sound like I giving up – I’m not, I will try some third party apps as suggested – I will report back.

Thanks

HemiGun · 12-21-05, 12:19 PM

whirlybird,

I use both platforms (currently an x51v and LifeDrive) and can appreciate some of the things you're saying. As for the additonal space items are taking up in WinMoble as compared to PalmOS, you'll just have to live with it. It's the nature of the beast

The backup times are software related. The backup software from Dell is crappy, Sprite Backup makes a superior program that's in beta for WinMobile 5. It's worth a look http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showt...ghlight=Sprite

As for the slow response time on programs, did you by chance ever use the Odessy WiFi client? It seems that once Odessy has been activated the performance slows to a crawl. Even turning Odessy off has no effect. A hard-reset and avoidance of Odessy is the solution.

What software are you using at work for Syncing your data? I use Commontime mNotes and it's great.

whirlybird · 12-21-05, 12:39 PM

Hemigun,
I did mess around with Odessy
The dell wifi software got me internet but I couldn't access my other computers on my home network, I did try Odessy but that was not successful, I was going to try other things - probably my firewall or router settings.
Anyhow I did hard reset the device before I synced at work so I don't think it Odessy.

Sync software at work & home is Activesync 4.1 update

I'm trying the PI & SPB mentioned in the posts, however this is strange, I syncing and the new programs have installed while the date / task etc are being synced, dates etc are still going now 20 mins! Perhaps it is comparing them to my work calendar.

A figure did appear – now gone, 6609 appointments which I can believe as I use it as a diary.

whirlybird · 12-21-05, 01:11 PM

Hurrah
Early days but it appears as if Pocket Informant has very much improved the calendar / tasks delays and looks gorgeous, also when there is a delay you get timer indicator – so at least you know what’s going on. I tried this all while the unit is still syncing! So it may be quicker when its finished.

I have another problem now though – double appointments, contacts, I had this once with the palm when I synced between work & home, the only way to get around this was to delete all of my records on one computer then reset then sync again. – I’ve cancelled the sync now as I think its doubling everything.

The PI software looks promising, it may be best if Microsoft stick with op systems as the PI guys can wipe the floor with them. No actually why don’t the PI guys write the op system as well!!.

AKAJohnDoe · 12-21-05, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by whirlybird

I'm trying the PI & SPB mentioned in the posts

You might also want to try out iLauncher and MagicButton as an alternative to Spb Pocket Plus. I have all three, but only two are currently installed.

I updated my previous post accordingly.

whirlybird · 12-21-05, 02:57 PM

AKAjohnDoe

Thanks, I used your links, the one that most impresses me is PI after a initial loading, I have now have something nearing what I’m used to. There is still delay’s when going back through a year or so, but I think I can put up with that.
Due to the fact I used the standard palm PIM up to now this has much more to offer than before so I defiantly going to keep trying – I still hope for a windows update as I feel this maybe a memory management problem or something. However I think PI is worth paying for anyway.

I couldn’t get pocketbreeze to work it installed but I can’t find it on the device – perhaps a conflict with the other 3rd party apps, the same with magicbutton – maybe spb plus has taken over! I’ll have to uninstall them and try the others – again thank you and everyone else who has help, I feel that perhaps I haven’t wasted my money.

Anyhow I’m off to battlefield 2 now, I’m going to severely frag anyone with MS in there nick name :)

AKAJohnDoe · 12-21-05, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by whirlybird

I couldn’t get pocketbreeze to work it installed but I can’t find it on the device – perhaps a conflict with the other 3rd party apps, the same with magicbutton

PB is enabled via START/Settings/Today/Items. If you tell it to display too many days in it's Calendar view it will slow you down. I limit it to 30 days myself. Likewise, if you have too many (how many is too many? Dunno.) Today plug-ins enabled it can slow you down. I have 1 enabled: PocketBreeze.

I did feel that there was some sort of conflict with PocketPlus that I could never quite identify; however, circumstantial evidence: I deinstalled PP and no longer have conflicts.

MagicButton takes some getting used to, but once it's set up it is almost invisible.

Finally, since you have a X51V you are on WM5. As far as I am concerned, WM5 is not yet ready for prime time on Dell PDAs.

whirlybird · 12-22-05, 01:11 PM

Disabled SPB, got Magicbutton working, very useful app, using this I can completely close other apps but leave PI open for faster access and it does not seem to slow down the system.

Pocketbreeze runs too slowly and seems to slow the whole system down - only had 7 days to view and it crawled, so I disabled it for now.

Funny that Dell tech support have told me to do a hard reset for the slow calendar access, it must their default message for any piece of equipment.

I don’t suppose you can install wm2003se op system on one of these?

AKAJohnDoe · 12-22-05, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by whirlybird

Pocketbreeze runs too slowly and seems to slow the whole system down - only had 7 days to view and it crawled, so I disabled it for now.

I seem to recall reading a post on the PocketBreeze Forum about slowness on WM5 that is related to a "feature" of WM5 that Dell implemented. I think that there was a work-around. I may be recalling something about PocketInformant on WM5, though.

whirlybird · 12-23-05, 04:48 AM

Last night the thing was switched off with 70% battery and no apps running, this morning the device is warm with no charge, looks as if I'm suffering with the same problems others on the forums are having now.
I have requested a replacement, and explained that if the replacement suffers with the same problems, I want a refund for the device and the accessories that have 'just' been delivered (ordered before the problems started)

Wollombi · 06-12-06, 02:38 AM

Originally Posted by 43de

Truths Revealed:

When you hit the X button, it just minimizes the program... And the app still takes up memory and processor.

You need to get SPB Pocket Plus, which fixes your problem and some other problems: http://www.handango.com/PlatformProd...=50351&R=50351

By default, tap X to really close, slide the stylus from the X downwards to minimuze, and tap and hold the X to bring up a 'task manager'-like box

Or you can get Magic Button for free...

Wollombi · 06-12-06, 02:48 AM

Originally Posted by whirlybird

Last night the thing was switched off with 70% battery and no apps running, this morning the device is warm with no charge, looks as if I'm suffering with the same problems others on the forums are having now.
I have requested a replacement, and explained that if the replacement suffers with the same problems, I want a refund for the device and the accessories that have 'just' been delivered (ordered before the problems started)

So, six months later. How did it go?