ARGH!!! x50 or x50v?

Puppy · 02-02-05, 10:23 PM

Sort of just thinking out loud here, but if anyone wants to chime in, that would be great :D

I've narrowed down my choice in PDAs to either the Dell x50 mid or x50v...but I just can't decide if the VGA screen is worth the extra $90.

It seems like the x50v is slower, and the VGA thing isn't quite 100% there yet. If I knew for sure that Dell will sell an upgrade to Windows Mobile 2005 for the x50s, I'd just invest in the x50v. But I'm guessing they won't, and that the great GPU will basically just go to waste.

Want to order this tonight while I can do the 15% off + $75 off. Maybe I should just flip a coin :D

I do use my PDAs constantly, and I use a spreadsheet multiple times a day, so maybe I should just go for the better screen...but man, it's $550 when I get it with all the extras I want, versus $460 for the mid.

Wish I could wait for Windows Mobile 2005, but my Clie's screen is getting progressivly worse.

svt4rd · 02-02-05, 10:27 PM

there is an awesome deal on the X50v right now on slick deals. 369.00 shipped just follow the instructions when ordering online. Tax is not included if you are taxed in your state.

kona88 · 02-02-05, 10:31 PM

No brainer. The VGA screen is worth at least $90. Get the v.

02-02-05, 10:33 PM

Sounds like you really want to go with the X50v! If you have the $$, go for it. The vga screen is terrific! :approve:

02-02-05, 10:37 PM

v -- worth it.

ValkyrieRider · 02-02-05, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by Puppy

It seems like the x50v is slower, and the VGA thing isn't quite 100% there yet. If I knew for sure that Dell will sell an upgrade to Windows Mobile 2005 for the x50s, I'd just invest in the x50v. But I'm guessing they won't, and that the great GPU will basically just go to waste.

Wow, lots of assumptions!

1) The x50v is faster at graphics intensive processes, and if run in 'real vga' mode it is no slower than the other x50's.

2) The 'VGA thing' is definitely 100% there. The software hasn't caught up yet. It will.

3) The x50v is arguably the MOST likely model to be upgradable to wm2005. So spending money on a lower model that is less likely to be upgradable, if that is a desireable feature for you, doesn't make sense.

BTW, with the wm2003se OS, the GPU is definitely not going to waste. The video playback and 3D gaming is INCREDIBLE. It can only get better.

Doug

02-02-05, 11:00 PM

if you cant afford the x50v (i know, the extras were what held me back) you won't be dissapointed with the mid.

lawtyger · 02-02-05, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by Puppy

I've narrowed down my choice in PDAs to either the Dell x50 mid or x50v...but I just can't decide if the VGA screen is worth the extra $90.

First got the X-50. Decided I wanted to try the X50v. It arrived tonight! I could not go back to the mid-X50 now because the VGA is so sweet. Definitely worth the extra money in my opinion for the screen alone. Get the X50v!

02-02-05, 11:50 PM

I went with the X50v and love it. Look for the extras on ebay or used. (memory cards, etc) The display is well worth it. Also, with the ROm update, it is really fast as well.

vito357si · 02-03-05, 01:06 AM

check out this post you can get the Dell x50v for 369.01 + free shippin :) http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/mess...&keyword1=x50v and the x50v is the sh!t

Rcher · 02-03-05, 01:15 AM

Get the X50v. 6 months from now you'll forget all about the extra 90 bucks but you'll be happy that you got the X50v. If you get the x50 mid, you'll alway wonder what if.....

Puppy · 02-03-05, 01:23 AM

I went ahead and ordered the x50v, and am effectivly getting it for $349. I'm getting it with Dell's screen protectors (which hopefully I'll be happy with-I like WriteRights fine, and everyone thinks those are awful). Plus an extra pack of stylus (styli?) plus a 1GB Sandisk Utlra II SD card.

It basically only cost me $75 more than the mid version, so I just went for it. This is going to be my first Windows Mobile PDA, and it's a lot of money, so I'm nervous.

A couple of questions if you guys don't mind:

-In preperation for the Axim, can I start copying stuff from Palm Desktop over to Outlook 2003, and then just sync it when I get the Axim?

-Do I need to install anything from the CD that comes with the Axim, or can I just install Activesync 3.8 from Microsoft's site?

-Can I purchase a two year warrenty plus the accidental damage coverage after I recieve the Axim? (Maybe they let you do that at any time before the warrenty runs out?) I've lost my current Clie to a screen break, so if I can buy coverage for that... For sure I'd want a longer warrenty if it turns out I can get WM2005 for the Axim.

I really should have bought this over the weekend when it was 30% off. :( Just an hour ago my Clie's screen is gone totally bonkers and I can barely read it, so I decided to pay the $12 for next day delievery on the Axim :D

If anyone cares, here's my reasoning for getting an Axim. I still think that Windows Mobile is clunky compared to PalmOS (and I was REALLY hoping to wait for the presumably streamlined WM2005), but... PalmOne's hardware stinks. I've purchased 6 Palm/PalmOne PDAs over the years, and all 6 have had major hardware issues, usually right out of the box. (The Handspring and Sony units I've owned have all been flawless.) On top of that, the Tungsten T|5 can't use Graffiti (only JOT, while ironically the Axim gives me real Graffiti!). It has no voice recorder. The screen on the display unit I tried seems to hum (just like the T|E and other previous models). I could go on...

If Sony still made PalmOS PDAs, I'd just get another one of those...but they don't, so I'm stuck deciding between PalmOne's unreliable hardware, or an apperently reliable Axim with a somewhat clunky interface. IMO the HP models aren't worth considering either. They cost massivly more than Dell's Axims, the old, reliable iPaqs are apperently made by the same company that makes the x50. The x50 looks better, and it has higher specs (and faster Intel processors over mostly slower Samsung ones).

I just noticed that at least on paper, the T5 and x50v are almost the same size! I'm kind of expecting it to be clunky, but according to the specs, it's slightly less wide, slightly less high, and slightly thicker (and weighs an extra ounce). I'm anxious to get a hold of this thing and see if it's really that tiny.

AximLegionnaire · 02-03-05, 02:01 AM

It's not hard to do a simple job well... What I'm trying to say is sure Palm might run more stable, but look how much more (and better) you can do with a pocket pc. Palms are still PIM machines, and Pocket PCs are downsized notebooks. Just my $0.02

02-03-05, 07:09 AM

Originally Posted by Puppy

I just can't decide if the VGA screen is worth the extra $90....If I knew for sure that Dell will sell an upgrade to Windows Mobile 2005 for the x50s, I'd just invest in the x50v. But I'm guessing they won't, and that the great GPU will basically just go to waste....I do use my PDAs constantly, and I use a spreadsheet multiple times a day, so maybe I should just go for the better screen...but man, it's $550 when I get it with all the extras I want, versus $460 for the mid. Wish I could wait for Windows Mobile 2005, but my Clie's screen is getting progressivly worse.

i was in exactly the same boat. my clie was not recharging reliably, so i got the x50v. i think the color saturation was slightly better on the clie, but overall i prefer the dell's screen. but i doubt the x50v will be upgradeable to wm2005. its not in dell's interest to provide a huge freebie like that -- dell would prefer you buy another new device from them

Originally Posted by Rcher

Get the X50v. 6 months from now you'll forget all about the extra 90 bucks but you'll be happy that you got the X50v. If you get the x50 mid, you'll alway wonder what if.....

i couldn't agree more. the vga screen alone is worth the extra $$$. plus, you get a faster processor too

regarding the extended warranty, i think you have to purchase it with the device. you can try to hit dell up for the extended coverage after the sale, but i doubt they will go for it

Originally Posted by Puppy

I still think that Windows Mobile is clunky compared to PalmOS...but PalmOne's hardware stinks....If Sony still made PalmOS PDAs, I'd just get another one of those.

yeah, i probably would have stuck with sony too. but they wisely decided we wouldn't pay $1000 for their new clie :rolling:
you got a good deal on the dell, and i promise you won't regret it. welcome to the x50v family :approve:

Puppy · 02-03-05, 11:37 AM

Thanks guys. I noticed that today the discount is only 10%, so to my way of thinking, I only paid $55 more for the x50v. Hey, trying to justify it here :)

Regarding the Windows Mobile 2005 thing, I wouldn't expect it to be free, but I would really like it to be available for somewhere between $30-100. I'll be very disapointed if it isn't, but I'm not going to rant and rave about it like some people do.

sublimaze, I forgot about the charging problem. I had that with a Clie SJ-22 that after a year wouldn't reliable charge anymore. Got my current Clie to replace that, and it's basically been fine until it took a dive onto my kitchen floor two weeks ago.