Pocket PC Woes

[French`]

Maybe this doesn't belong in an Axim site, per se...but I am using an Axim...so bear with me.

I am brand new to PDAs and actually started out with a Palm TX a couple of months ago. But I decided to give Windows a try because I believe in the long run it will be better supported and will last me longer due to that support.

Having said that, there are some remarkably simple things that my TX can do that I can't, for the life of me, figure out how to get the Dell to do. For example, color coding of categories. On my monthly calendar view the colors are inavaluable...I can tell at a glance if there are birthdays coming up, a holiday, or vacation.

Also, my contacts won't sync and I can't figure out why. It makes no sense...everything else syncs fine.

And maybe it's just me...but the wireless connection stuff has too many levels. And what really floors me...no sync via WiFi???? Why on earth not? I'm with Verizon and they disable all their bluetooth so that's not even an option for me. I really don't want to have to learn how to hack my phone.

At this point I'm pretty frustrated with the Pocket PC. I also think the support is AWFUL. I mean REALLY AWFUL. The documentation is null and the only place you can get decent support is boards like this. That is ridiculous. I see on the Dell forums where people post issues (some the same as mine), and they never get any response. I know it's users helping users, but you would think someone in the IT area of Dell would monitor and attempt to help.

Perhaps you good people can tell me things I'm doing wrong to clear up my initial issues...I really want to like this device (Axim X51V).

And this brings me to my last complaint. Why on earth do I have to apply a DLL hack to get VGA working on my $500 PDA??? I think that is absolutely insane.

I suspect a lot of the issues I've outlined here are Pocket PC in general (not necessarily Dell specific except the VGA issue). I can't figure out why everyone thinks Pocket PC is so great. Help me. Seriously...I would love some objective feedback about why there are so many users that think it's wonderful.

Seems you'd be better off with a Palm from the sound of it.

Seriously.

I used Palm devices from way back to the original Palm Pilot, and the OS is nice and simple, but in the end it was too simple for me.

Also the hardware was always a couple of generations behind, so they began to feel like toys. Then Sony, (the only manufacturer who was at least trying to produce desirable Palm devices) pulled the plug which was the final straw for me.

However, as I said above, it looks like you'd be happier with a Palm device so go for it!

Martin

[Khris]

Everyone has different needs which they require a PDA to fulfill. For myself, my Axim has far out performed any Palm PDA I've ever owned.

[French`]

I appreciate the feedback and ultimately maybe I am destined to be a Palm user...but how about some insight on what exactly the MS OS is doing for you that you couldn't get from Palm? Are you using it heavily as a PIM? What workarounds have you put in place to help with categories (so you can tell at a glance if your calendar is filled with personal or business items)? I actually started out with the Palm Z22 and when I started reading what people were using their Palms for, I upgraded to the TX (because I wanted to do those things, too). So give me some feedback on what you do with your Axim device that makes it so invaluable. I'm willing to learn and I really DO want to like the device.

[jnev]

the biggest thing for me is multimedia. while the newer palms are able to play video, the pocket pc's (esp the axims) have much more powerful hardware to support the video. also, with ppc's you're able to multitask, something that palm has never supported. i do use my axim for pim, but it's not the biggest thing for me. basically a lot of the things i use it to do wold be very hard to perform on a palm. also, most palms only have one SD slot, making expansion difficult.

[Khris]

I mainly use my Axim for multimedia. I have a TV Server at home which I stream to my Axim both at home, and over the Internet when I'm away from home.

I play the occasional game, keep personal appointments only as well as contacts, and web browsing (which a VGA screen is almost necessary for).

[AKAJohnDoe]

Welcome to Aximsite. You will find some of the best support here. My experience on the Palm side is that the best (only?) support was on non-vendor forums as well.

I too converted from a Palm to a PPC this past year. I did it early enough to avoid the additional frustrations of having WM5. If you are interested, there is a thread linked to off of my View MyPDA link that describes my migration.

It can be frustrating. There is a bit of a learning curve. However, after a few weeks I was completely comfortable with my PPC. It is possible to perform all the functions I need on either platform (there is a link on that, too). The X50V is a more robust hardware platform than anything offered in the Palm lineup at this time.

[zernam]

So give me some feedback on what you do with your Axim device that makes it so invaluable. I'm willing to learn and I really DO want to like the device.

My 1st PDA was a Zire 21 that was given to me, which I loved and used alot to learn about the technology. I'm very set in the windows style and the Palm OS (albeit on an older smaller PDA) didn't feel right to me - navigating through the menus drove me crazy - the "Home" setup on my Axim is like this and I never use it. I like being able to modify the look of my Today Screen (desktop) and have that PC feel to it.

I forward personal email to my axim for when i'm at work, keep track of tasks and appts and passwords. It's a constant companion when I take trips to nyc and i'm on the bus or subway (I actually had a homeless lady ask me if I was using a computer and she thought it caused brain cancer ). I watch movies (shrunk from DVD) and practice spanish and play games. When I'm in a place with free wifi I browse... that's about it... since joining Aximsite i've been using it for more and more as I get great advice here - and all the freeware recommendations :approve:

[French`]

Thank you for the replies. AKAjohndoe: I actually did see your postings on your experience and it was one of the reasons I decided to make the switch.

I'm going to keep trying to work with it. The contacts issue is a big hit for me (mine won't sync and I can't figure out why).

Also, I'm really bummed that AS 4 doesn't allow for wifi syncing. This is an issue that I'm not sure I can overcome. Seems I should have bought an Axim X50...alas Dell is no longer offering them.

[Gerk]

As far as colorizing categories and numerous other things, you'll probably best to try an add-on PIM program like Pocket Informant or Agenda Fusion. I've used Pocket Informant for a couple years now and its awesome. Provides soooooo many enhancements for all PIM activities.

What OS you running? I have WM2003 Second Edition on my X30 and syncing wirelessly is not a problem. Not sure if you have WM5??

I also was a Palm user, but made the switch a couple years back and glad I did. I feel there is more growth potential from the Window's-base side.

Good luck,
gerk

[cahcott]

I know what its like. i left Palm two months ago and have had the most frustrating two months possible. When you think of the cost of the device it seems incredible that the reliability, functionality and (official) support can be so bad.
I notice that several of the earlier replies are using the device for multimedia. I am coming to the conclusion that the PPC is for play while the palm is simpler but more effective for work.
I am growing more used to the device now. I have an X51 with all the WM5 problems but I think I got over most of those.
I have bluetooth syncing working with my laptop. I find the handwriting recognition better than palm. I have audible player on the device.
I followed citanic's (?) registry tweaks, upgraded to ROM A04 and its performing reasonably well now. (Funny how your standards drop!) I would try A06 but its so much hassle for what seems like so little benefit. You have to reinstall all your apps.
I solved the category colours by buying pocket informant. I still have not got the weekly calendar the way I like but its ok.
For palm memoes, I bought Phatnotes.
To give more functionality to the today screen I bought SPB Pocket Plus. This is a nifty piece of software - admittedly one that should not be necessary. I am testing SPB Diary today addin and like it so far.
For the web, I like the sites that are pda optimised. Its amazing that some PPPC sites are not optimised for the PPC.
Good PPC sites include this one obviously plus pocketpcthoughts and pocketpcfaq.
I really like listpro (More money!) and I am trialling ewallet and newsbreak.
It looks like we are going to have to buy a good backup programme when a WM5 compatible one is released. Hard Resets put the device back to "out of the box" state.
When buying software watch for deals and discounts. For example listpro and ewallet can be bought bundled.
What I would love is if I could find a migration deal for palm to ppc for my Life Balance and my Leonard Maltins Movie Guide. I hate to have to pay out full price for these again.
When you add up all this you would have the price of an entry level laptop.

[AKAJohnDoe]

Seems I should have bought an Axim X50...alas Dell is no longer offering them.

Actually, they may still be available from the Dell outlet. The X51V is a nice machine. Eventually the WM5 issues will get resolved.

[Carrot007]

> Why on earth do I have to apply a DLL hack to get VGA working on my $500 PDA??? I think that is absolutely insane.

You don't some people just have a different view of 'working' than others.

here's how I see it.

VGA is new to ppc, most apps don't expect it so run in qvga, with wm5 maybe making the fonts a bit smoother.

Some people use hacks to make non vga programs work on vga.

What we need is vga aware programs. Minimo is such and makes browsing on the ppc actually nice, this needs no hack to work.

it is however a very confusing issue, and people saying you need hack to make vga work does not help the matter any.

[French`]

The X51V comes with Windows Mobile 5. So in that regard I guess I have to just be patient. As far as the syncing goes, though...I would love to know if there are plans to bring back wifi. If not that alone would be my reason to go to the X50V. I really like my wifi syncing on the TX. The main reason to get wifi syncing is to get updated stuff on the Axim (weather, RSS feeds, etc.). Maybe there is a way to do this without wifi syncing through the laptop? Is this something that can be done by going directly through the router somehow?

I agree with cahcott...it sounds like the users here are liking the Amix for it's media capabilities. This is certainly something I want, too. But I can already watch movies on the TX and the conversion process is the same (just change some settings but time would be the same). The one thing the TX doesn't have that I'm just not sure I like is expandability. Also, I would really like to get GPS at some point, but it's not a must have right now. With that in mind the PPC definitey has the advantage (as far as I can tell).

I can't stand it anymore! I upgraded to the A06 ROM last week and have had to hard reset my Axim x51v three times already. I just installed Pocket Breeze and it froze my system. AFter a soft reset, my bluetooth light flashes automatically and never stops. Since my system is otherwise frozen, I can't uninstall PB.

I never, never, ever use Bluetooth. Is there some way I can permanently disable or remove it. I've tried removing the Bluetooth link in the Startup folder, but as soon as I close the folder, it regenerates. What is it? A cancer?

Sandra