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PocketPC 2003 Reviewed 167
Sander Sassen writes "Prior to the official launch of the Microsoft PocketPC 2003 platform next Monday, Hardware Analysis puts an Asus MyPal a620 PocketPC to the test and details what new features PocketPC 2003 brings to the table and whether it is worth it to upgrade from 2002."
Ipod Harddrive (Score:2, Interesting)
because harddrives suck. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:because harddrives suck. (Score:4, Informative)
Re:because harddrives suck. (Score:1, Informative)
PCMCIA Harddrive (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:PCMCIA Harddrive (Score:2)
One of the reasons Ipaqs suck is they don't have a compactflash slot. THat means no cheap flash memory, no IBM Microdrive, no WiFi card, no GPS...
Re:Ipod Harddrive (Score:1)
haha (Score:5, Funny)
Please register or login. There are 6 registered and 589 anonymous users currently online. Current bandwidth usage: 1672.32 kbit/s
Good 'ol slashdot.
Re:haha (Score:1, Funny)
Please register or login. There are 8 registered and 756 anonymous users currently online. Current bandwidth usage: 2596.05 kbit/s
Re:haha (Score:2, Funny)
There are 6 registered and 589 anonymous users currently online. Current bandwidth usage: 1672.32 kbit/s
And raise you a:
There are 10 registered and 1169 anonymous users currently online. Current bandwidth usage: 2293.60 kbit/s
Re:haha (Score:1)
Please register or login. There are 11 registered and 1423 anonymous users currently online. Current bandwidth usage: 2692.13 kbit/s
Re:haha (Score:1)
Re:haha (Score:1)
There are 0 registered and 0 anonymous users currently online. Current bandwidth usage: 9501.01 kbit/s
argh...
Re:haha (Score:2)
I've got
There are 7 registered and 2361 anonymous users currently online. Current bandwidth usage: 2890.11 kbit/s
Re:haha (Score:1)
What fun! man wget.
still going (Score:1)
Is that a PocketPC in your pants (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Is that a PocketPC in your pants (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Is that a PocketPC in your pants (Score:2)
Very cool. (Score:4, Interesting)
I just wish somebody would add wireless networking to the things already like they did with the tablet PCs. Those are sweet.
Re:Very cool. (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Very cool. (Score:2)
Perfect for a nice slim pda????
Is it just me or is Microsoft puting in feature-ware or marketingware to fud off palm?
Re:Very cool. (Score:1)
I mean, Windows XP said it could play DVDs too..
they never mentioned you had to buy extra stuff to get it to work.
Re:Very cool. (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Very cool. (Score:2)
It does work.
Re:Very cool. (Score:1)
The Toshiba e740/750 come with built in 802.11b (or Bluetooth in Europe). And wifi CF cards are available for most other pocketpc devices.
Small and Big (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Small and Big (Score:5, Interesting)
Is PocketPC 2k3 Xscale optimized? (Score:5, Interesting)
That's really the million dollar question. PocketPC 2002 is not, and it's a real shame, because it hurts the performance of those 400mhz Xscale CPU's pretty badly.
Yes, but... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Yes, but... (Score:2)
I have an old Casio E125, which has a 150mhz MIPS processor and 32 megs of ram. Video does play, but it is always pretty choppy and never more than 1-3 frames per second which can get annoying but you get used to it. THe author explicitly states the new Xscale optimized unit can play video perfectly... Which is a great bonus.
PocketPC 2003 includes a new version of Internet Explor
Re:Yes, but... (Score:2)
Originally, they said this wasn't such a big deal because the standard was going to be ARM, but now suddenly it is Xscale. Yes, I know Xscale is backwards compatible with ARM but software needs to be written specifically for it to really benefit from the additional speed.
Re:Is PocketPC 2k3 Xscale optimized? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Is PocketPC 2k3 Xscale optimized? (Score:2)
(I suspect they played it safe with the Dell design as it was simply a redesign of the prior unit.)
But, I'm hoping the new PocketPC will help to improve things as well.
Re:Is PocketPC 2k3 Xscale optimized? (Score:2)
And since I'm fairly sure they won't be free, will they at least be discounted?
Price (Score:5, Funny)
Price: +/- 350 dollar, 329 euro
I assume they use "+/-" to mean approxiamately. If not, I'll choose the -$350 option and you can pay me to use this thing.
Re:Price (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Price (Score:2)
+1 Informative, No
+1 Funny, sure
Waffle Iron, you have succeeded in proving that someone needs to chlorinate the moderation pool.
P.S. If you see this in M2, please vote it unfair.
Think bigger (Score:2)
You're thinking small potatoes. I'm gonna go buy thousands of truckloads of these babies and retire.
Re:Price (Score:2)
Not really a review of Pocket PC 2003 (Score:4, Insightful)
Familiar (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Familiar (Score:1)
Familiar is my newest best friend
Opie makes things look good for me
Pocket PC's come not to an end
For Linux on a PDA is FREE!
Re:Familiar (Score:3, Insightful)
XHTML support? Yes! (Score:5, Interesting)
All I can say is ABOUT TIME! I don't even bother trying to do any web browsing on my Dell Axim X5 running Pocket PC 2002. It's just disgusting that they have an IE 3.x based browser running on something so new!
I wonder if we'll see any upgrades to the browser for Pocket PC 2002, or if we will need to purchase a new device with 2003 on it. Let me guess...
Re:XHTML support? Yes! (Score:2)
How about I guess. Let's see... Microsoft makes about $8 on each license for Windows for Pocket PC, which they get whether you buy a new device or upgrade an old one. Microsoft also required all PPC2002 units to have a minimum size of upgradable system flash memory. Now let's look to history: Compaq iPaq Pocket PC 2000 handhelds had upgrades available to 2002, an
Re:XHTML support? Yes! (Score:2)
Aha! At least there's one point in your argument where you're wrong: it really belongs to my employer, so I don't wanna screw it up by trying linux on it (well I do wanna experiment but dont wanna deal with the consequences
Seriously though, it's just my cynicism combined with the fact that whenever something new and good comes out, it seems like it's usually not compatible with what I've got. Oh well. H
Re:XHTML support? Yes! (Score:2)
Or, in my case turn it into a $200 brick. The only Linux distro for PPCs seems to be for IPAQ only (and not those claming to be IPAQ compatable).
Re:XHTML support? Yes! (Score:2)
That's Linux's problem, not Dell's or Microsoft's. Pocket PC is not designed to be an open platform, and it's not marketed as such. If you wanted a Linux handheld, you should have bought one. I was just arguing a possibility, as the platform is fairly consistant across manufacturers.
Re:XHTML support? Yes! (Score:2)
Nope, it's my problem and no one elses. I read that this boot loader would work on Ipaqs and ran across some reviews of this Amigo PD-600C PPC was an IPAQ in sheeps clothing and made the equation that it would work.
Yes, most of the hardware has the same specs, but it seems that most of the hardware is made in completely different ways (like you just said). I really just wanted to throw it out there that since you mentioned loading Linux on a PPC, that
Re:XHTML support? Yes! (Score:1)
Unfortunately for all the PPC suckers, no such thing exists -- Failed ROM upgrade = dead device.
Odd... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Odd... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Odd... (Score:2)
Sloppiest editing I've ever seen. (Score:5, Funny)
Page 1 says "Mircrosoft" will launch the thing, and "thereâ(TM)s some changes"
According to page 2, 2.5G is now "fully supported a offers GSM suspend/resume" while meanwhile, "on the multimedia site of things..."
Page 5 tells us there are "a few welcome extraâ(TM)s" and "we clocked between 10 till 12 hours on the battery..."
Quick, somebody make this guy a Slashdot editor!
Toshiba e355 (Score:4, Interesting)
And for any wondering about the Toshiba e355, I can transfer files fine using Synce [sourceforge.net]
And here are some specs [bargainpda.com] for it.
Microsoft goes out on a limb (Score:5, Funny)
And I heard from MS developers that they were gonna drop Media Player 9 on the PocketPC and go solely with QuickTime.
Next we'll read that MS has wisely adapted pocket versions od Word and Excel rather than WordPerfect and 123.
and MPs? (Score:1)
Palm to iPaq (student view) (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Palm to iPaq (student view) (Score:3, Insightful)
Only problem is, Palm IIIe
Re:Palm to iPaq (student view) (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Palm to iPaq (student view) (Score:1)
>>is the way the file system appears under
>>Windows as a USB hard drive.
The Sony Clie allows you to do such, though only with the contents of the Memory Stick.
B-Berry (Score:1)
Battery life is great too, I find it lasting around 2 weeks, which is amazing considering I tend to read slashdot during lectures =)
Re:Palm to iPaq (student view) (Score:3, Insightful)
Would you care to elaborate? Basically all you said is that it is better. How is it better?
Re:Palm to iPaq (student view) (Score:4, Insightful)
The PocketPC named perfectly, for it is a Microsoft PC that fits in your pocket. We all know what that means. Some good stuff, some not so good stuff...
When I counsel people on buying PDAs, my advice is simple... If you just want a reliable organizer, get a Palm. If you want a tiny computer that can be very powerful (but you are prepared for it to also be very aggravating at times), you should get a PocketPC.
I have a PPC and I will never go back to Palm, but I can sure see why people buy them.
Re:Palm to iPaq (student view) (Score:2)
Re:Palm to iPaq (student view) (Score:2)
- Browse the web?...Palm browsers are better than PocketIE
- VPN?...Palm has VPN clients.
- Office Documents?...Documents To Go does a better job of translating Word/Excel Docs than the PocketWord and PocketExcel.
- PIM information?...Palm is the best at this. Install Agendus and it gets even better.
- Custom Applications?...Palm has thousdands more
- Development?...Palm has many RAD tools and C++ tools.
- Admin Tools?...SSH, Ping, Telnet, etc are available for Palm
Re:Palm to iPaq (student view) (Score:2)
http://www.cs.utah.edu/~midgley/wince/vnc.html
Mind you - it somewhat sucks. Right mouse clicks are missing, but it is there. Terminal Services still works better for win machines.
Re:Palm to iPaq (student view) (Score:2)
Then, I got an iPaq. It's stability leaves something to be d
Re:Palm to iPaq (student view) (Score:2)
We are talking about pda's right?
I originally bought my palm m100 for school. I have sevre ADHD and need a pda to alarm and remind me of projects and to keep track of todo lists.
The palm does this perfectly. I also have FreeBSD integration with the desktop suite and the included software is great.
What I want to know is how long is your battery life? Mine is about 2 months. Can you beat that?
I do not need mp3 playbay, and external dvd support, or the cra
Re:Palm to iPaq (student view) (Score:2)
Re:Try this (if you have a Zaurus)... (Score:2)
Office compatibility? (Score:2, Insightful)
Microsoft should know better by now that Office is top priority.
Re:Office compatibility? (Score:2)
With software out of the box, yes.
When you add third-party software to the picture, no - not by a long shot. See my sig.
Martin Kotulla
SoftMaker Software GmbH
is it possible... (Score:4, Informative)
Re:is it possible... (Score:2)
Re:is it possible... (Score:4, Informative)
Hmmm... I was interested in this since I order 2-4 Axims a week for work. I did a bit of digging around and here is what I found. This was on one of the Dell support pages Dated 17 Jun 03
Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.
Yes, Pocket PC 2003 is real. I do not have a firm date when Dell will begin shipping Pocket PC 2003, or when upgrades will be available, or who will be eligible for free upgrades.
One warning. I have been told that many applications that work in Pocket PC 2002 do not work in Pocket PC 2003. It appears that Pocket PC 2003 is a major Operating System upgrade and that some applications will have to be recompiled for it.
I am at the moment testing a few applications on Pocket PC 2003, and so far I have only found one application, the game Argentum that will not run. I do not have a list of applications that will work with Pocket PC 2003, but I will try to keep you posted about any applications that I have trouble with.
Hope the moderator of that forum isn't too upset that I quoted with out requesting permission, but to the best of my knowldge this is a open to the public site.
It does look like there WILL be an upgrade path, that a ROM for the Axim has been developed (as this moderator had one) and that it doesn't melt your PPC when you install it.
Re:is it possible... (Score:2)
Re:is it possible... (Score:2)
I'm also not to worried about program compatibility, as we home brew all out own software (or 98% of it) - much to the displeasure of our IT department. The thing I'm looking forward to is the improved WiFi support - we have a hard time keeping these able to talk to the server.
Re:is it possible... (Score:1, Redundant)
Are thumbboards supported? (Score:1)
Does anyone know if _any_ PocketPC has a built-in thumbboard like the current Palms, Sony Clies, Handspring Treos, Blackberries et al
To me it is a serious shortcoming and if its not in this release then the PocketPcs devices will fall further behind the PalmOS powered devices
See Palm/Handspring Treo 600 device, the Microsoft SmartPhone is going to be left behind if they don't implement support for a thumbboard.
Cheers
VikingBrad
The big question is: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:The big question is: (Score:2)
So it's hard to say.
Battery life (Score:2)
Rus
Re:Battery life (Score:2, Informative)
"Overall, the Asus MyPal a620 proved to be an excellent PocketPC, with great battery life, easily making it through a full day of extensive use and hours of multimedia playback. On average we clocked between 10 till 12 hours on the battery, which is a little more than weâ(TM)ve seen from popular PocketPC 2002 devices. If youâ(TM)re in the market for an affordable, yet powerful and versatile, PocketPC be sure to give the Asus MyPal a620
I try to be impartial ... (Score:1)
But every time I think of all of the possibilities of an open hand held computing platform, I almost cry when I actually look
at whats being done right now, and in the
near future.
Another proprietary portable operating system
How long have they been getting to where this stuff is actually usable for more than one or two special applications? Then they release something that does video
Whatever
What's the situation with the Phones? (Score:1)
PocketPCs (Score:3, Funny)
(to quoteth my brother)
Re:it is never worth upgrading a microsoft product (Score:5, Insightful)
Most people never actually had a real need to upgrade from paper and pencil. But we did it anyways. Why? Technological innovation makes certain tasks easier and certain situations more enjoyable. Pocket PC 2003 will be no different. There are many things (for both developers and end users) that it will make easier and more enjoyable. Whether it's suitable for you is simply a question of whether these things are important to you. I'd hold off until full reviews of the changes surface before making that decision.
Re:it is never worth upgrading a microsoft product (Score:2, Insightful)
And indeed most people never have upgraded from paper and pencil to PDAs.
Re:it is never worth upgrading a microsoft product (Score:2, Informative)
Re:it is never worth upgrading a microsoft product (Score:2)
They write compatability layers (in nt based kernels) so core OS stays the same while writing a wrapper around the legacy software.
Any weaknesses in Windows would be clearly Higher level developer incompetance.
I live out of mine with pocketTN (Score:5, Insightful)
I agree with you in theory on apps though....Most of our clients could in reality still be on the mainframe with 3270 connectivity and text email, but human nature being what it is...ooooo loook NEW PRETTY LIGHTS and BUZZERS....Droooool
Re:hot grits? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:You mean Internet Explorer for Windows (Score:1, Interesting)
I see this post coming up in meta mod. Expect my vote to be unfair.
Re:You mean Internet Explorer for Windows (Score:1)
moz-opaciy:
You want to talk non-standard compliant, there it is,
See, I'm offtopic for saying that maybe a product released by microsoft wasn't enirely evil. As we all know, this is wrong.
Re:You mean Internet Explorer for Windows (Score:3, Informative)
Actually, a bug was found in CSS2 because of Mozilla's strict standards support (see Netscape's development documents on images in a table for more info).
The nice thing about Mozilla is that its extensions tend to be obvious. TMK, all Mozilla off-standard stuff is recognizable as such, as you have so aptly demonstated (note the "moz-" prefix). Unl
Re:You mean Internet Explorer for Windows (Score:5, Informative)
IE isn't standards compliant because it breaks several W3C standards and doesn't support many of the standards it implements properly. That's a fact I'm afraid. Whether or not the behaviour in IE should be standard is up for debate (though I choose Moz).
IE isn't too bad, outstanding issues which make it a pain in the arse include:
1) Bollocks PNG support. Alpha channel support needs a custom tag (DXImage filter or something similar).
2) CSS box model, width includes margins/padding size.
3) Doesn't support absolute positioning without width/height size: e.g.
top: 100px;
bottom: 100px;
width: 100%;
will result in a box 0px (unless there's content in which case it's the content height) and 100% wide. In mozilla and compliant broswers it is a box 100px from the top of the window to 100px from the bottom.
4) Background positioning from a origin doesn't work (see CSS/Edge for a demo, link is on mozilla.org/start/1.0).
5) CSS 2 content generation support is nonexistant. CSS 2 support in general is hit and miss.
6) No support for W3C event system.
7) Lots of other small issues which slip my mind at present
Lists of CSS support/bugs tend to be fairly easy to find on the net though many are a little out of date.
yeah, but (Score:2, Informative)
All I was saying is that the parent poster should distinguish IE/Mac and IE/Win, since they are different products and they have wildly different levels of standards support.
Pardon the typos, I'm extremely drunk.
Re:Yes... but, the real question is: (Score:2, Informative)
I've run Perl under pocketpc OS. I've heard that Apache, and Python will also run there. There's a java VM for pocketpc. With mono and