New User. Suggestions? Ideas? :)

Roasted · 10-09-06, 11:05 AM

Well I decided to take a dive and pick one of these up. My schoolwork is getting harder and at work I keep getting more hours so I figured instead of trying to make sense of my notes I'd write all of my scheduling and assignments in the pda. Question was, which one?

I came back to two. The HP IPAQ (unsure of model number) and the Axim X51 416mhz version. After seeing the Axim has 116mhz more + double everything (double ram, double rom) for 75 bucks less I got it. It's supposed to be here sometime today according to UPS - "In transit for delivery".

I've never really used one of these besides tinkering around with one in Circuit City. I did a search and found the top 10 apps thread but a lot of it seems foreign to me.

As a new user, can anybody suggest the best applications for me to get, for whatever reason? I'm also dying for Bejeweled... but my funds are low so that'll have to wait.

What about accessories? I have clear screen protectors on the way from ebay. I found an auction that had precisely sized screen protectors for whichever model Axim I had, just had to specify. I was looking at leather cases and also hard outside shell cases too. Good investment in those? Also, does the Axim come with a cradle? I can't remember if it does, but I don't think I'll need it like some other folks. As long as it has a charger.

Also - little off topic but I have a music video I want to load onto my SD card and play on media player mobile on the Axim. However, the music video for whatever reason is in .VOB format. Does media player mobile 10 support that? I've been trying to find converters, but I haven't come across any free ones, or ones I can use one time as a trial (which is all I'd need). My main OS is Linux, however I do have Windows 2000 Pro loaded too so either OS conversion application for the music video would be great.

rohanch · 10-09-06, 11:26 AM

To play the video I would convert it to xvid format using the program of your choice. For Windows - there is a guide in the forums here - you'll have to adapt some things (e.g. filesize) slightly as it's meant for full DVDs. For Linux you could use mencoder or handbrake or something similar I believe, although you'd have to find the best settings yourself. All the programs you need are free.

You can then use TCPMP to play it back on the PDA. It works much better for video than Media Player does.

If you're looking for software, I'd suggest:
http://www.pocketpcfreeware.com/en/index.php - loads of freeware on there.

mtgeorge · 10-09-06, 05:30 PM

Welcome to AximSite. I am sure you will love your new purchase! Check out user's "My PDA" sections for ideas on what software to get. Also check out this great link from LocutusBorgMan - http://www.aximsite.com/boards/showt...=free+software

AKAJohnDoe · 10-09-06, 05:54 PM

Welcome to Aximsite, Roasted!

Roasted · 10-09-06, 11:58 PM

Thanks for the welcoming!

Any Linux users here? I was on a Linux forum and someone suggested to me I use "ffmpeg" to convert the files in terminal. I couldn't really find the exact directions or line strip I'd need to convert them. Anybody ever use this?

zhaoyun · 10-10-06, 12:33 AM

mplayer/mencoder for linux could decode most av formats and if they could decode it, they can then be encoded into a format TCPMP can read.

Roasted · 10-10-06, 03:42 PM

How would I do such a thing? Can you elaborate a little bit more as far as instructions on what I'd do in mplayer? I'm also told VLC can do this too...

zhaoyun · 10-10-06, 11:28 PM

You use Linux and I suppose you are a more knowledgeable computer user. If you don't have mplayer/mencoder pre-installed, try google mplayer, get it installed, read the man pages and figure out how to do it yourself.

To be honest I am still learning how to make best use of it.

Roasted · 10-11-06, 12:12 AM

I know a thing or two about Linux, but I haven't tinkered around with any converters like this. Hence why I'm confused.

zhaoyun · 10-11-06, 03:02 AM

See here. It would be too long a story to tell (yet off-topic) from installation to usage. Its documentations are self-explanatory though.

mellojoe · 10-11-06, 09:13 AM

Easiest thing for your PDA is to keep it simple. The AX comes with lots of solid usable programs. The calandar feature + task list are my 2 most used programs. Between the two, all my activities are coordinated and as long as I write it in the AX it gets done. And my wife now has a habit of saying, "Put it in the AX, Joe."