I find that the pocket pc would actually be one of the best and easiest ways to get someone used to windows, because it's similar, yet very hard to screw up. Removing programs is usually just as easy as putting them in! And no worms or viruses or spyware! If I lived closer to my grandparents I would buy them one just so they could have a "computer" :)
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As I reviewed the replys to my thread, I noticed that there are some who seem to enjoy having a buggy device to "play" with. I think that you have just the candidate in your X50v. I have been involved in computing since the Osborne Executive days. The X50v is my 4th PDA. Believe me, I am familiar with bugs. However, IMHO, there is a difference between a device like a PDA, which has limited ability to modify its basic system and a computer like my home-brew Media Center Edition PC where I control the hardware and the drivers that get installed. I think that any of us would return a DVD player that stopped in the middle of an operation and required a reboot. I feel that a PDA or a cell phone are more like consumer products than a PC is. I expect them to have a basic level of functionality without needing to be tweaked. I think we encourage manufacturers to continue to make buggy products when we don't speak with our wallets. I, for one, don't think the X50 makes the grade. Maybe after a ROM update or 2 I will revisit it. It is a great idea not ready for prime time.
Very well put Tracy. I too love to tweak etc on a computer but there are only so many changes you can make to a pda without voiding the warranty and even more then that just only so mandy that are able to be modified.
Originally Posted by Tracy
As I reviewed the replys to my thread, I noticed that there are some who seem to enjoy having a buggy device to "play" with. I think that you have just the candidate in your X50v. I have been involved in computing since the Osborne Executive days. The X50v is my 4th PDA. Believe me, I am familiar with bugs. However, IMHO, there is a difference between a device like a PDA, which has limited ability to modify its basic system and a computer like my home-brew Media Center Edition PC where I control the hardware and the drivers that get installed. I think that any of us would return a DVD player that stopped in the middle of an operation and required a reboot. I feel that a PDA or a cell phone are more like consumer products than a PC is. I expect them to have a basic level of functionality without needing to be tweaked. I think we encourage manufacturers to continue to make buggy products when we don't speak with our wallets. I, for one, don't think the X50 makes the grade. Maybe after a ROM update or 2 I will revisit it. It is a great idea not ready for prime time.
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I've haven't felt the need to install a single patch or fix for my X50v to get it to work. The VGA implementation is not perfect but I don't fell the need to change it myself. It's not a perfect device but I can't say that the alternatives are any better. For the price, I think that it is an excellent value when compared to other pocket pcs and there will always be room for improvement.
I will agree with the above post I continue to support Axim because they are more for a lower cost. However if comparing two axims and you have a 5x sometimes we get picky and wait for a until to work out its flaws before upgrading. But having an Axim is a must :approve:
Originally Posted by pgh1969pa
I've haven't felt the need to install a single patch or fix for my X50v to get it to work. The VGA implementation is not perfect but I don't fell the need to change it myself. It's not a perfect device but I can't say that the alternatives are any better. For the price, I think that it is an excellent value when compared to other pocket pcs and there will always be room for improvement.
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The Secret of Happiness lies in wanting what we already have!
That is a good point. If these PDAs were any other product, there's no way that people would put up with the "resets" or the fact that it can't do something basic like closing an application when you press x.
But one must also understand that many people are not too keen on publicly criticizing a product that they spent hundreds of dollars on.
It is a little ridiculous that one has to install so many programs and hacks to make the unit work like it should. I actually considered getting a x30, but just decided to get the x50 mid.
I concur. The X50mid is excellent. I briefly considered the X50v but read about too many problems people were having and all the tweaking that seems to be required. The QVGA is plenty adequate for a pocket device. Just lock & load - and the device is up and running; no significant problems at all. This one is a real keeper.
Could you all clarify something for me. My first PDA, an Axim x50 (not VGA) arrives Monday. From my reading of the thread it sounds like the complaint is more about the bugs and tweaks that need to be done to the X50v because of its increased VGA resolution. Comments like - "I always expect this sort of stuff when I am on the front edge of a new generation of device. Sure WM2003se has been around for a while, but I don't expect much software to work great with my 640x480 display. I just don't. And if it does whoopee! I actually don't expect a majority or software out there to support 640x480 for another year or so, when it become much more common" - kind of led me to this conslusion.
Does that mean I should experience less problems and compatibility issues with the mid level X50. I hope this is the case because as I said, this is my first PDA and I'm not sure if I've got the technical skills and know how to be downloading fixes, tweaks, etc. for it to run correctly?
Is it a Axim X50 series issue or more of an Axim X50v issues/problems being discussed here?
You will find that the Axim X50mid (QVGA) runs very solid and works well with just about all, if not all of your applications. You made no mistake buying the QVGA. While the VGA might be cool, I've been noticing a half-and-half (approximately) split among those who have the "v". Those who like it LOVE it - and I'm sure it's slick. There does, however, seem to be a tradeoff between "slickness" and usefulness. If you're into tweaking and tuning your machine then the "v" sounds like it might be a good idea. If you are more inclined to want the machine to just work and get your job done, you're likely to have little trouble with the "mid".
Only one program I had (CEBible) wouldn't run on the Axim, and that had nothing to do with the screen; it was a WM2003 incompatibility. Absolutely everything else I've loaded on this box (and that's a LOT of stuff) runs without complaint.
After owning a Palm Vx for several years, I guess I got spoiled on a simple device that NEVER GAVE ME ANY TROUBLE! My Axim x50v has been about as stable as my old Windows ME machine!
The Palm OS is much more reliable.
Too bad. I do love the thing when it is working like it is suppose to.
Frequent hard resets, soft resets, shortcut icons that just die... Par for the Microsoft course!
The only "mod" I have done is installing the newer graphics driver that was posted on this site. Apparently it makes stuff go faster etc.
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Hello:
I am new to PDA and just bought an X50V. I am planning to install the new ROM update, you mentioned on the above about the graphic driver. Does that driver included in the new ROM. If not I don't suppose you have the link? Much appreciate your helps.
After owning a Palm Vx for several years, I guess I got spoiled on a simple device that NEVER GAVE ME ANY TROUBLE! My Axim x50v has been about as stable as my old Windows ME machine! The Palm OS is much more reliable. Too bad. I do love the thing when it is working like it is suppose to. Frequent hard resets, soft resets, shortcut icons that just die... Par for the Microsoft course!
i hope you did your homework before shelling out hundreds of $$$ on your new pda. wm2003 is undoubtedly the most stable & robust version to date, but it is still crashes much more often than any palm-based pda, and that is a widely known fact. i would dare say that the majority of people that buy a ppc realize that it requires more "user intervention" than the typical palm-based device. and the majority of those people lean toward the ppc platform precisely because of that fact -- ie, they want to tweak the device to their liking, and they are willing to accept that such tweaking potential requires a trade-off in stability
my NR70V never gave me any trouble, either (until it stopped recharging). but once the uniqueness of the clamshell design, built-in keyboard (which i never used) and crappy camera wore off, it got boring very quickly. yeah, my axim requires an occasional soft reset, and sometimes the display has a quirk that disappears on its own. but i am happy to forgive these little nuances in exchange for the vastly increased flexibility & power it provides over my old clie
and although wm2003 has its share of issues, i think it is light-years ahead of windows me in terms of stability...
You will find that the Axim X50mid (QVGA) runs very solid and works well with just about all, if not all of your applications. You made no mistake buying the QVGA. While the VGA might be cool, I've been noticing a half-and-half (approximately) split among those who have the "v". Those who like it LOVE it - and I'm sure it's slick. There does, however, seem to be a tradeoff between "slickness" and usefulness. If you're into tweaking and tuning your machine then the "v" sounds like it might be a good idea. If you are more inclined to want the machine to just work and get your job done, you're likely to have little trouble with the "mid".
Only one program I had (CEBible) wouldn't run on the Axim, and that had nothing to do with the screen; it was a WM2003 incompatibility. Absolutely everything else I've loaded on this box (and that's a LOT of stuff) runs without complaint.
Relax, you made a good choice.
-CB
:approve:
Just an update. Put me in the category of those that prefer the X50v. The X50 mid arrived and I was very pleased however I somewhat regreted not getting the X50v because it sounded like I would benefit from the VGA screen (ie. surf net, view pics and DVD's).
The X50v arrived Monday and it is the hands down choice for me! The resolution of the screen is amazing. Surfing the net is soooo much more enjoyable. Even the on screen keyboard looks better (it is like they completely re-did the look of the buttons or something).
As far as programs go. . . luckily for me every program I had installed on the X50 works fine on the X-50v. The on difference I have noticed was with clauncher and that the tabs holding the icons seemed to zoom in on that part of the screen. I simply went to the VGA optimized thread and loaded Launcher. Funny thing is that I originally loaded launcher on the X50 mid but the icons didin't look very good so I removed it. But with the X50v's screen, launcher looks great so I guess the problems/disappointments with different programs on either the X50 mid or X50v can work both ways.
In my opnion stemming from my experience with both so, the X50v is clearly the way to go.
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Had about enough of Windows Mobile!
