PDA Specs

kaister SG

I'm trying to buy a good, mid-range PDA for personal use and notes taking during lectures. However, I don't really know what are the specifications that I should be looking out for.

Any help appreciated! Smile

ditzy SG

I don't know of anyone who would use a PDA to take notes during lectures. Maybe I'm swaku. Laughing

kaister SG

I don't study in Singapore Laughing They don't give notes in my uni and almost everyone uses a PDA or laptop to take notes here.

Having said that, are there anyone who can help me? What are the few stuff I should look out for? Storage space? How do they calculate speed? Memory?

ditzy SG

Woah, that's some serious sh|t man! Shocked So there are people who can use a stylus faster than they type after all. Laughing

kaister SG

Didn't you see mini keyboards attached to PDAs before? Rolling Eyes

ditzy SG

No, I very swaku one. Laughing

davidche SG

labtops better, cheap since you dont need any special functions except for taking notes

PDA is really very hard to take notes, if you choose to type, youll have to learn a whole new way of finger typing.
If you choose to write on the screen of the pda, the whole thing will be damn messy.

ShrodingersCat SG

plus unless every seat in ur LT has a socket point, infrared red or bluetooth keyboards use up the battery of your PDA at a VERY VERY FAST rate.. so if you are going to have 2 lectures back to back and no time to recharge, that's it loh, back to pen and paper.

I use a PalmTX. Got it because the screen was slightly bigger than other models. So far so good. I got it originally so that I can take down notes at the library when I research etc, but eventually decided it was not practical for that. If i were u, I think a laptop has far more mileage.

kaister SG

Wow... didn't know that. Thought a PDA can last for quite long. Thanks so much for the advice!

Besides notes taking, I need the PDA for my attachment to the hospitals too. For easy retrieval of information, I can't use a laptop for that. But I'll take your advice in mind Very Happy

How's the use for your PalmXT so far? Any problems other than battery life?

ShrodingersCat SG

with constant wifi use.. mebbe ... last... 1 - 2 hours? bluetooth IR also taps battery power alot.

If i play lotsa games -ahem- it uses up pretty fast.

if i use it for calendar purposes, my e-reader, referencing a database, the battery can last for several days... even if I am using my e-reader for like 1-2 hours a day...

I didn't regret buying it ba... especially for the e-reader use.. so i dont need to lug my books around anymore.. and I can carry many different books with me all the time to suit my mood, free time, and etc.

ALSO, surfing is not all that 'easy' Pages don't load up the same, and some pages dont load up at all if it uses flash. So far as I know, no flash reader for PDA yet (though I heard they are developing one for Pocket PC but u gotta ask PocketPC users for that) That was one bit of dismay i felt when I realised I could not access some pages, and other pages load up weird. (I am using Blazer Web browser)

lessee wat else.. it isnt all tt easy to find 'FREE' software.. such as for IM and etc... so what was free for ur desktop isn't gonna be free for ur IM.. uhh.. legally that is.

what u CAN do though is browse, edit, view your microsoft word/powerpoint and excel if your PDA package offers Documents=to=Go software. That is pretty convenient. BUt trust me, you wouldnt wanna do full WORD PROCESSING with the pda. u'll kill urself w the stylus.

kaister SG

Wow! Thanks for your advice!

davidche SG

your constant 'wow' may be a potential sacarsm expression. pls beware.

kaister SG

wth... I sincerely meant it...

LazerLordz SG

I gave up using my O2 XDA(T-Mobile MDA in the States?) for taking notes and am now back to pen/paper or laptop.

Be careful,you might get wrist pain from using your PDA too long in lectures.

davidche SG

i know you do. But some ppl might not and this place may end up in flames.

kaister SG

Ohh... did you use a stylus or keyboard? I've heard of O2. Are they any good?

LazerLordz SG

O2's battery life is terrible.. I used a stylus.

davidche SG

Hp's too. Damn farked up, im using a hp 6365.

kaister SG

How bad is bad? Speed? Battery life?

kaobeikaobu SG

no offence.using pda to take down lecture notes is like slicing a big chunk of beef meat with an expensive electric drill.

u get the job done eventually but why nt use a butcher knife instead?