i was going to include this with my previous post but it was getting pretty long and this is fairly off topic.
so i finally did it, i bought a pda. i did lots of comparisons and read lots of reviews (i also found handy on http://www.zdnet.com/ they had short video clips of different devices and in depth reviews). when it comes down to it, for the price, the dell axim x50 seems to be the best for me. i'm going to be taking behavioral health and social services next year for college and i'm wondering if there would be programs (more in physch nursing/aide) that could help me.
things that weren't important to me were a digital camera or internet use because i figure that would cost extra, much like a cell phone and my computer and does all that just fine, and when it comes to writing a lot, i prefer a keyboard (that didn't cost me $80 extra bucks). i also wanted a pocket pc because i read their handwriting thing is better. i tried the palm pilots graffiti thing and i don't want to have to learn how to write a different way just to take a few notes. i'm also used to windows so that's why i went with the ppc. thought the zire 72 was cheaper i wanted a bigger screen and the tuesung (spelling?) 5 didn't have a changeable battery (not without sending it into a shop), and the lifedrive would have been awesome - but too expensive. i like the fact that it uses flash so if the battery dies your stuff is still saved (at least that's how my tech-savvy brother explained it to me). i like the fact that there's a lock function so it won't accidently turn on and waste battery life. and i really wanted a bright colorful screen, i also think i'll use landscape mode a lot more than the regular view. plus the headphone jack works with regular headphones so you don't need an adaptor.
is it safe to assume that pocket word on the pda will have the same type of file as wordperfect 10 on my computer? what about excel for pda and quatro pro 10 for computer? i'm wondering if i'm going to have to buy a program to make them sync.
some of the things i plan to do with it: games :) (i'm hoping to find a good/free texas 'hold em game), personal financing, keeping my work schedule and other plans, grocery list and maybe recipes (does anyone know of any programs - even if for just the computer, that can help me keep these in order/readily available), possibly journal entries, phone numbers and more importantly (cause my cell phone does that) addresses, it comes with windows media player so i'll probably put some mp3's on it (wasn't a need, but it came with it so what they heck), there is a voice recorder which will be great for lectures if they allow it. i was thinking about adding gps but i haven't found any good ones that'll fit my budget so i'll just stick with downloading maps off mapquest from my computer to my pda. it won't be exactly the same, (i won't have any you are here or take a right after this street type of things) but it's free =d .
anyway on the dell site, i didn't add anything if it wasn't free because i found another site with all the extras for less then what they were selling it for. total $254 then i spent $97 more (as opposed to about $127) for a case, screen protectors and extended battery at http://www.aximcases.com . i'll worry about a memory card when the time comes that i'd need it, but i've got a year 'till school and prices would probably be less then.
there's a sale on right now for 35% of the axims plus a free windows mobile upgrade for the new addition that comes out in october. but they may actually have better sales later when they do the whole back to school thing.
anyways, it should be here in about more days. can't wait to try it out.
As for laptops - well - laptops do a LOT more than a PDA, so one does not really replace the other.
I have both - along with a desktop machine to use at home. Again - for me a laptop could not replace my desktop machine, nor could a desk top replace my laptop.
The pda makes things pocket sized, but not fully functional!
hey do any of you know how to turn off the auto update for the free epocrates program - it's just anoying that it comes up every time i activesync and turn on my pda.
I've been lurking around (aka drooling) the PDA sections in Circuit City and Best Buy for a while. I'll undoubtedly buy one before I go to school.
Last night we were looking at the Palm LifeDrive. If I had to choose today, that's the one I'd go with. It had a 4GB (!) memory, it could play video, had WiFi. The guy at Circuit City said that they had other nursing students as well as med students buy it. It looked like it was the one that would best suit my needs.
Try arcamedes (spelling?) or skyscape on the web (not sure of exact web address) but they're supposed to have great nursing programs. I'm just beginning my PDA journey and a fellow co-worker said these sites were great!
gauge14iv, MSN, APRN, NP
1,622 Posts
As for laptops - well - laptops do a LOT more than a PDA, so one does not really replace the other.
I have both - along with a desktop machine to use at home. Again - for me a laptop could not replace my desktop machine, nor could a desk top replace my laptop.
The pda makes things pocket sized, but not fully functional!