Please understand, I like my Axim. Both the Axim X50v and X51v were great values and well ahead of their time when they were introduced, but both are now getting a little long in the tooth. This message is more of a question than a criticism.
Lately , I have been thinking more about the third and final death of this fine device.
The first death of the Axim was when Dell decided that it just wasn't worth dedicating additional monies behind more PDA projects. Smartphones were expanding at an accelerating rate and PDA sales were flattening out. At about this same time, the whole mess of the "first on, and then off" WM5 updates for x50's added to Dell's headaches. It was time for Dell to see the handwriting on the wall.
The second death of the Axim was when Microsoft decided that going forward, they would focus all mobile operating systems for Smartphones and to the exclusion of PDAs with the Windows Mobile 6 OS. Once again, it all came down to a numbers game. Lots more Smartphones and much more potental than in PDAs. I may not have liked this, but I could understand the logic behind it. Go back and try to remember, at that time in hindsight, nobody would have guessed the degree to which Apple would have exploded into the smartphone segment with iPhones. Microsoft was looking at a pretty fat slice of the rapidly growing Smartphone pie back then.
The bootleg systems allowing Axim X51v and some Axim X50 users to breathe new life into their dated Axims revived these PDAs among their loyal following. The Axim did, afterall, have a great screen, super processor and allot of features that made it desirable to continue using. We soon saw a succession of bootleg updates allowing the Axim user to convert his aging unit to Windows Mobile 6.0, then Windows Mobile 6.1. Some members justified installing these OS from bootleg sources by saying that they would gladly have purchased them from Microsoft, if only Microsoft made the new OS for their PDA. Now developers are working on the latest, soon-to-be-released version Windows Mobile 6.5. Some Axim owners are even going as far as sending their Axims to firms that will double their available RAM in preparation for the WM6.5 OS.
We are being told that, besides the improved mechanics of the new mobile OS, going forward, 6.5 is all going to be about the 3rd. party Apps that will be available. Supossedly, Microsoft will sell them in their own marketplace keeping 30% and forwarding 70% to the developer. They are currently promoting this aggressively.
So, my question is this. How do you plan on installing all of these APPs into a bootleg system? It was one thing to justify the OS because there was no PDA version. Do you see Microsoft cheerfully downloading them into a system that they never authorized? Sure... That's going to happen! Furthermore, what about the APP developers? I would be especially interested in hearing from those people who have already taken the big step of upgrading their RAM to 128. What is your thinking on this?
There is something else that is bothering me. There are allot of new high-end smartphones scheduled to hit the stores before Christmas. I have been looking at the advance info for the HTC Firetsone/Leo/ or whatever they decide to call it. I see a more powerful unit that does everything the most updated Axim will do, plus it has a real cell phone, a great camera, a larger screen and a more powerful microprocessor. Of course, downloading 3rd party Apps via the Microsoft Store will be fully legal and encouraged. It would seem to me that the third death of the Axim is less than four months away. Please, somebody point out the flaws in my logic. I don't necessarily like this idea, but I am a realist. Thank You
Last edited by Stu-be; 07-31-09 at 09:40 AM.
Reason: typo
Some people might not buy into the new (updated) pocket pc phone because of price. It also depends on what protocols the phone supports, and that determines which carriers (at least in the US) will carry it. Others would prefer to keep their phone and pocket pc separate (for various reasons). For example, if your pocket pc phone runs out of juice, you are out a phone and a computer. And what do you mean by "Microsoft Apps"? Based on your opinion column, I think the axims will have a "4th life" when someone releases an "easy means" of customizing the rom image for the axim. You can do it by yourself now, but it takes some reading up on to lean how (and asking others that have done it).
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Others would prefer to keep their phone and pocket pc separate
Count me in.
It's mainly a question about availability.
I need a simple and cheap but stable mobile phone.
And my old trusted axim 2k3se fulfills my humble expectations very well and will do just fine - as long as I can get new batteries.
I too up to this point have been one who prefers to keep the phone and PDA separate. If they ever come out with a Smartphone that has a large VGA screen like my x51v and it is being offered by a reliable cell phone service I would consider it greatly. As it stands I don't know enough about what's out there and since Smartphone and Pocket PC went the way of the iPhone, This is the only place I know of that has reliable information about what's out there. When my cell phone contract expires around January, I will seriously look at what is out there and being offered by cell phone companies. Then perhaps I'll place my X51v's next to my Commodore 64 and TRS80 Model 4.
I think the sticky regarding discussion of wm6+ roms covers part of the question you are asking. I will never retire the Ax due to the ability to swap batteries at will. I have limitless power at my disposal. Therefore, I prefer to keep phone and ppc seperate. My ax basically does everything I want, so I see no real reason to upgrade even if they are making phones that are surpassing the Ax. I cant see spending $500+ on a phone to basically duplicate my results. I can comfortably surf, chat, watch movies, listen to music,etc so really even though the Leo might have superior specs, I really dont feel anything compelling me to go out and buy it, I might be in the minority here, but the Ax never really leaves me wanting more.
I too up to this point have been one who prefers to keep the phone and PDA separate. If they ever come out with a Smartphone that has a large VGA screen like my x51v and it is being offered by a reliable cell phone service I would consider it greatly. As it stands I don't know enough about what's out there and since Smartphone and Pocket PC went the way of the iPhone, This is the only place I know of that has reliable information about what's out there. When my cell phone contract expires around January, I will seriously look at what is out there and being offered by cell phone companies. Then perhaps I'll place my X51v's next to my Commodore 64 and TRS80 Model 4.
You can hook it up to an external display and you can use a BT kbd and mouse - so it is essentially a full computer with a built in phone. Unfortunately, it's big and cumbersome and costs over $700. Give HTC some time and I'm sure they'll come out with a better unit at a lower price.
There are smaller devices with more powerful CPUs, 4 inch screens, full-day batteries, scheduled to be running legit versions of WM 6.5 currently on the forseeable horizon. These will have the ability to download the 3rd. party apps scheduled to be offered through MSFT's newly created Marketplace for Mobile Apps.
Yes, HTC will have their Firestone/Leo/or, whatever they decide to call it/ in a few months. Surely they will not be unique. Samsung announced that they also have a 1Ghz CPU intended for mobile devices. There is bound to be allot more competition out there. The way I see it, that is always good for the consumer.
Between my cell phone and my Axim X51v I am set for now. I am in no hurry. Four years has been a phenominally long run for any device here in "Technology-land." My post was only intended as a speculative view of a future that may be upon us much more rapidly than we currently imagine.
My AX (W2k) is for both business & personal use. It meets my needs and I don't see changing anytime soon. As they say - if it ain't broke, don't fix/change it.
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The biggest limitation for me on the Axim platform is the lack of support for WPA2 and it's lack of 802.11g+ support. In theory, having the device on my wireless-N network impacts the performance of the network by virtue of the effects mixed environment on the AP. It's usually not a big problems for me since I don't stream large amounts of data and thus the impact is generally not noticeable. Aside from that, an X50v/51v still is a pretty powerful device and IMHO offers an excellent combination of form factor size, screen readability and performance.
@bigbop: Yes, the X7500/7501 is large and pricey, but I have to admit it's a beautiful device to take on the road with you (HTC: Fix the blinkin' hardware acceleration on the video chipset already, will you??? ;-) )...and paired with a Motorola S705 BT stereo headset with caller ID makes for a handy phone device.
__________________ breley | Aximsite/Mobility Site Review Staff, Administrator | Judge, Smartphone & Pocket PC Best Software Awards 2008 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
The difference between WPA and WPA2 is the level of encryption for the network. WPA was technically a pre-standard security protocol and WPA2 the officially implemented adopted standard. Currently WPA2 is the strongest and least-likely to be hacked (with an sufficiently random password). Speedwise I don't think there's a particularly perceptible difference.
__________________ breley | Aximsite/Mobility Site Review Staff, Administrator | Judge, Smartphone & Pocket PC Best Software Awards 2008 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Please understand, I like my Axim. Both the Axim X50v and X51v were great values and well ahead of their time when they were introduced, but both are now getting a little long in the tooth. This message is more of a question than a criticism.
Lately , I have been thinking more about the third and final death of this fine device.
The first death of the Axim was when Dell decided that it just wasn't worth dedicating additional monies behind more PDA projects. Smartphones were expanding at an accelerating rate and PDA sales were flattening out. At about this same time, the whole mess of the "first on, and then off" WM5 updates for x50's added to Dell's headaches. It was time for Dell to see the handwriting on the wall.
The second death of the Axim was when Microsoft decided that going forward, they would focus all mobile operating systems for Smartphones and to the exclusion of PDAs with the Windows Mobile 6 OS. Once again, it all came down to a numbers game. Lots more Smartphones and much more potental than in PDAs. I may not have liked this, but I could understand the logic behind it. Go back and try to remember, at that time in hindsight, nobody would have guessed the degree to which Apple would have exploded into the smartphone segment with iPhones. Microsoft was looking at a pretty fat slice of the rapidly growing Smartphone pie back then.
The bootleg systems allowing Axim X51v and some Axim X50 users to breathe new life into their dated Axims revived these PDAs among their loyal following. The Axim did, afterall, have a great screen, super processor and allot of features that made it desirable to continue using. We soon saw a succession of bootleg updates allowing the Axim user to convert his aging unit to Windows Mobile 6.0, then Windows Mobile 6.1. Some members justified installing these OS from bootleg sources by saying that they would gladly have purchased them from Microsoft, if only Microsoft made the new OS for their PDA. Now developers are working on the latest, soon-to-be-released version Windows Mobile 6.5. Some Axim owners are even going as far as sending their Axims to firms that will double their available RAM in preparation for the WM6.5 OS.
We are being told that, besides the improved mechanics of the new mobile OS, going forward, 6.5 is all going to be about the 3rd. party Apps that will be available. Supossedly, Microsoft will sell them in their own marketplace keeping 30% and forwarding 70% to the developer. They are currently promoting this aggressively.
So, my question is this. How do you plan on installing all of these APPs into a bootleg system? It was one thing to justify the OS because there was no PDA version. Do you see Microsoft cheerfully downloading them into a system that they never authorized? Sure... That's going to happen! Furthermore, what about the APP developers? I would be especially interested in hearing from those people who have already taken the big step of upgrading their RAM to 128. What is your thinking on this?
There is something else that is bothering me. There are allot of new high-end smartphones scheduled to hit the stores before Christmas. I have been looking at the advance info for the HTC Firetsone/Leo/ or whatever they decide to call it. I see a more powerful unit that does everything the most updated Axim will do, plus it has a real cell phone, a great camera, a larger screen and a more powerful microprocessor. Of course, downloading 3rd party Apps via the Microsoft Store will be fully legal and encouraged. It would seem to me that the third death of the Axim is less than four months away. Please, somebody point out the flaws in my logic. I don't necessarily like this idea, but I am a realist. Thank You
Your second death senario is a little off. The Axim was dead long before MS announced Wm6 as Dell had stopped supporting. It was with the announcement of WM6 when Ms decided to more or less focus on smartphones which you are correct. Aslo remember when WM6 came out there were three version Which included the classic version. This version was for PDA's Also look at HP they realsed their new line of PAD that came out not too long ago.
You can hook it up to an external display and you can use a BT kbd and mouse - so it is essentially a full computer with a built in phone. Unfortunately, it's big and cumbersome and costs over $700. Give HTC some time and I'm sure they'll come out with a better unit at a lower price.
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Actually, except for the phone, the X51v can already do all this.
I regularly use my Ax with a mouse/keyboard/monitor when I go to our overseas offices.
Since my company gives me a phone with global roaming, I really have no need or wish to change to a new device.
The newest smart phones just don't add anything I dont already have.
I think the sticky regarding discussion of wm6+ roms covers part of the question you are asking. I will never retire the Ax due to the ability to swap batteries at will. I have limitless power at my disposal. Therefore, I prefer to keep phone and ppc seperate. My ax basically does everything I want, so I see no real reason to upgrade even if they are making phones that are surpassing the Ax. I cant see spending $500+ on a phone to basically duplicate my results. I can comfortably surf, chat, watch movies, listen to music,etc so really even though the Leo might have superior specs, I really dont feel anything compelling me to go out and buy it, I might be in the minority here, but the Ax never really leaves me wanting more.
After two Smartphones, both Samsung and both excellent devices, I have sold them and gone back to a dedicated cell phone and am anxiously awaiting my "new used Axim" to arrive later this week. I sold my x51v and my x50v about a year ago and now regret doing so. Don't get me wrong, the Smartphone is the future and maybe one day they will build one with the form factor of the Axim and I might then go back to one device. But, as long as I can get and keep the Axim working, I'll stick with it.:)
I have an Axim X51v but the dpad went out and my cell phone died about the same time; so now I have an HTC X7510. Because I have big hands, the device is not all that big too me. I do enjoy the big screen, but wish HTC would fix the video acceleration. I have watched several movies with the device (with a crowd of 4 and no other way to watch video around). If my Axim had not started to wear out and WIFI B starting to be a limitation, I probably would still be using it. It is a great form factor.
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