The end of the Axim line?

Like it or not, I think we are rapidly headed toward your choice of two types of convergence devices.

A mini device, like a flip phone, that goes in pants pocket or purse. With small VGA screen, it can be used for streaming video, PIM functions, there are many parts of the world where people commonly use screens this small for video.

A Treo style device, shirt pocket size, with square or larger VGA screen and thumb board for input. Much like current PDA with built in phone.

These are the two type devices you will choose from in, say, two to three years. Stand alone PDA or cell phone, as we know it today, simply won't be made for one good reason - neither generates the ongoing revenues for a cell company that convergence devices do.

I agree with most of what you say, except there will always be stand-alone PDA's until mini-PC's reach the same size, battery life, and relative price. I believe "micro-PC's" will be the device that will ultimately eliminate the conventional PDA as we know it. Intel is already working on developing this type of device by creating mobile processors that can handle a desktop operating system in a small form-factor device. Smartphones will replace PDA's of casual users as they come down in price.

[Paladin_____]

All good things must come to an end, but I think there will always be a need for Axim type devices, it's the best pocket notepad / drawing tablet / voice memo device I've seen yet.
--Paladin

[rsx]

I had the decision to either buy a smart phone such as the treo or a ppc. I made a forward looking decision by going with the pocket pc because I reasoned that at some point cities would implement city-wide broadband thus allowing me to use skype as my phone service.

My issue with verizon and all the cell providers is not their services but the fact that they stifle municipalities from implementing locality-wide broadband.

The beauty of the axim is that ,using its wifi card, you can connect to the internet and do all the stuff inexpensively(email, telephone, etc) that cell providers make you pay for.

I think they best thing for us axim users to advocate an internet setup that gives our axims something similar to an 'always on' internet.

garp03

Advocate away, but as localities are strapped for cash who will pay for free citywide WiFi? A few will try it, but in addition to installation costs, they will find that upkeep will be prohibitive.

I want a PDA/PMP comb.

You know like an Archos but smaller (in physical size) and have (a hybrid of) WM5/Portable Media player OS.

[medgirl2001]

Advocate away, but as localities are strapped for cash who will pay for free citywide WiFi? A few will try it, but in addition to installation costs, they will find that upkeep will be prohibitive.

My city now has Wifi available in the downtown area. It is not free, though I can't remember the provider. It's an interesting idea, although as I don't work or live downtown it's not something I use. I can see the potential, though, as in many ways being superior to cellular for a mobile internet solution, especially since we don't have anything close to broadband internet via cell phone.

[rsx]

My city now has Wifi available in the downtown area. It is not free, thouh I can't remember the provider. It's an interesting idea, although as I don't work or live downtown it's not something I use. I can see the potential, though, as in many ways being superior to cellular for a mobile internet solution, especially since we don't have anything close to broadband internet via cell phone.

A PDA with WiFi, high speed cellular and VGA screen would be tops as a starter for me. I could use whatever was available.

[silkshadow]

Wow, reading this, I would be ticked if I didn't just get an incredible price for my new Axim. I for one, would love a converged device and look forward to seeing what Dell comes out with. In fact, that was what I was looking for before I ran into the Dell sale. The thing is, I was going to get the O2 Atom, and I was dragging my feet (thankfully, otherwise I would've missed seeing the sale) because of the many compromises I had to make. I mean, with the screen size alone I would have to give up a full 1"+ on screen real estate and around 1/3 screen resolution. Just very painful. If my Life Drive didn't die, I would be holding out for the rumored Asus converged WM5 device that supposedly comming later this year and that would've been a painful compromise as well. Instead, I now will keep my Nokia N90 and my new Axim and sit tight till someone realizes that we want a converged device without scraficing too much from our PDAs.

Man, take even the most top of the line converged device right now: the HTC Universal. Have you guys seen the size of its screen? Its pathetic! Man I would go blind trying to use that tiny screen with VGA resolution! And for like US$1000 thats just ridiculous. Not to mention, for that huge form factor size you get nothing in terms of memory, no CF slot and tons of problems. Give me a decent screen, internal 4+gb or CF slot, plenty of rom (or ram if thats what the OS requires), 2+mpx auto focus camera, triband+3G, a real OS not some cobled together proprietary POS, no or hidden thumbboard, a battery that will last at least one day of light use with bigger battery options for power users, and a decent processor (come on, it has to run Skype and play back MP4, at least). Ideally, add some gaming controls and a processor that can run emus. I would easily pay $1000 for that. And all of this is possible with today's technology. And the HTC universal is selling pretty well at that price point and large form factor, so there's obviously demand for such a device. Whats the hold up? Hope Dell is reading this ;).

[Kipple Master]

Face it, except for the PIM functions (which I consider to be contacts, calender and task lists) the handheld has not become an indispensible tool for the business executive. So far all they've really established themselves as is an expensive MP3 and DVD player. Pocket Word, Excel, Powerpoint and other PC office apps are poor substitutes at best for a laptop. ... its a pain to type/write with a stylus, and finally, battery life isn't real good either. A hassled business exec (and I keep using them because if you don't convince them they're a useful productive tool there is no enterprise use which drives volume, features and prices)doesn't want to carry a phone, Pocket PC and MP3 player. Too much to pack and carry on those quick trips out and back.

Many of the points you raise here are true for the business market. But as a University student Pocket Word and my Axim continue to be a valueable combination not to mention the Axim's PIM functionality. A laptop is simply too bulky and requires an external power source for use over a long period. A PDA is a nice balance between size and functionality. I've run into quite a few other students using Axims but the market is probably still not big enough.

I've also become quite a fast at typing with the on-screen keyboard, but I do have a bluetooth keyboard for anything other than quick notes.

Now, as for converged devices, a friend of mine has an old I-Mate (O2 XDA in other territories) which has a PDA size screen and the thing is lucky to last a couple of hours, compared to my current cell phone which lasts two weeks on a full charge with moderate use. As for the I-Mate's PDA functions, as we all know on a WM2003 device when your battery dies it's a hard reset folks and the battery on his I-Mate would frequently die while he was out of the office. That means re-install your programs and restore those document backups.

yea, even watching tech video's from M$'s Phone/PDA labs about products they keep talking about QVGA devices and smart phones, so as M$ is probably going to own %90 of the smartphone market, then smartphone's it's going to be.

I don't like smart phones for all of the above reasons that others have stated - low battery life, too much stuff for 1 device.

when my x50v dies, I will be getting a micro PC that runs WindowsXP and fits in your pocket, and keep my phone.

[dlweston]

I also do not want a converged device. When I go canoeing I take my X50v in an aquapac, but I do not take my cell phone. I use it with my BT GPS and Memory-Map Navigator to keep track of where we are and make sure we do not miss anything like caves, springs and etc. I am there for fun and turn my cellphone off the second my car is at the campground and it does not get turned back on until I leave the campground. Same thing goes it I go hiking, camping or anything like that. Most times around town I take my small cellphone and leave my Axim at home. I do not want some huge phone to lug around 90% of the time. A lady at work tried one of the combo units. It sucked as a PDA and as a cellphone. She had a BT headset, but it would drop about 20% of the calls she tried to answer. The only two cool things about it was the PDA was the only one I have every seen with 128 MB of RAM and it you slid it somehow to access the thumb keyboard.

[Dickrichie]

I'll miss them.

Well, I still ordered an x51v during the current deal. I figure a converged device at a reasonable price point is still at least 1 year away.
http://www.brighthand.com/article/De...hones?site=PPC

[tigerdaddyjr]

To me, I prefer to have 2 devices instead of one. Let's say I want to go to the beach, I would just take my cell phone with me. If it gets wet or sand gets in there, I can just replace the phone for cheap. If I have a pda/phone device, it could be expensive to replace it. Plus, if I am going to the beach, I don't think I will be using my PDA(at least for me).

You could not have said it better. I have the Nokia N70 smartphone currently and the AXIM X51V. When I am working, I always use the Axim and the phone. The Axim is just so much more useful....when I need to review quotes in Excel, I get the needed screen space. Same file with the Excel viewer on a "smartphone" is so limited to actual view area. And, I enjoy using my media player to play my encoded (DVD to PPC) files on the Axim. If you are into the new mobil TV services, I find that the smartphone bandwidth support lags in most areas I travel, and therefore the video/sound is always "skipping". However, with "SmartVideo" on my Axim, I get great video/ and sound at all of my frequent hot spots. And as you said above, I use my phone where I vacation, etc. My Axim doesn't help much on the beach, or while walking thru DisneyWorld. I'm for keeping these two items as separates.

[Hegemony]

Until they make a smartphone with a VGA screen and a decent processor I refuse to get one. Also, I prefer having a touch screen instead of navigating with buttons.

[picopir8]

No converged device for me.

I learned long ago that they were bad. Telephone/answering, printer/scanners, etc. Usually one component fails and you need to get a brand new device despite the fact that one part still works. Or you have to make comprimises in one area or the other.

Also, I use my Axim to do Powerpoint presentations. The last thing I want is to have the phone strart ringing or show who is calling in the middle of the presentation. The only option would be to disable the phone when doing a presentation. Yet with a separate device, I could have the phone on vibrate and take the call if I see that it is more important than the presentation.