PDA bluetooth and all that

Corben Dallas

Hi can anyone advise me on a good (not megabuck expensive) PDA thats bluetooth enabled (can talk to my phone etc) and u can drop loads of memory onto it. Someone says there are only 2 out @ the moment?
Thx.

sirlinux

a compact flash bluetooth card isnt to dear and you can add that onto most of the newer PDA's, if money is no problem try a tosh e740 with wifi and get a seperate bluetooth CF card, and there will still be a spare slot for memory! you can get the e740 with bluetooth instead of wifi.

flywheel

Originally posted by Corben Dallas
Hi can anyone advise me on a good (not megabuck expensive) PDA thats bluetooth enabled (can talk to my phone etc) and u can drop loads of memory onto it. Someone says there are only 2 out @ the moment?
Thx.

ok - if you can hold off for a bit - do

most of the majors are in the process of revamping their lines, HP(Compaq) are due some new iPAQs - at the low and high end, one model is due to have integrated Bluetooth (and/or WiFi).

DELL are bringing out their new devices which is going to have a big impact on the price lines of PocketPC handhelds, they are going to have CF and SD slots in their first units but there was word of integrating wireless BT/WiFi in later models.

Other vendors are also due for integrating wireless (mainly BT) as their next product cycles for the PocketPC.

If not going for an integrated model - the Golden Rule as regarding adding an SD card is BE AWARE of SDIO. Majority of SD slots out there on PocketPC's are SD Memory only compatible at present, they don't have the IO capability of adding the 'intelligent' SD cards (e.g. iPAQ 3800, XDA, the new Dells and others). There are SD Bluetooth cards due out, Toshiba have one and Socket and Anycom are bringing one out (based on the Tosh hardware).

The other option is CF (be aware there are different types of CF Card (Type I / Type II) - most PDA slots are geared for Type II but not all - so make sure if you get a BT CF card it will fit. You have a good few choices here Socket being one of the most popular and giving the option of a CF to PC Card adapter and drivers to enable a laptop (it's also the one compatible with the Nokia PC Connection Manager Software), and Anycom is another.

For the iPAQ there are also two jackets that integrate Bluetooth and provide a free CF card slot, one by Compaq themselves and the other by TDK.

Been using an iPAQ with integrated Bluetooth since Jan and a Palm with the Bluetooth SDIO card for a few months - on the phone front it's been pretty good - (Sony)Ericssons no problems, Nokia's some probelms but sorted with firmware updates on the phone or bluetooh updates on PDA.

Syncing with the PC has been a bit of a different story, PocketPC has been alright for Active Sync connections needed a fair bit of tweaking for some Bluetooth USB Adapters / PC Cards, the Palm HotSync has problems with some Bluetooth USB Adapters/PC Card's software on Win 98.

The iPAQ 3970 is probably the most capable integrated bluetooth Pocket PC out there at the moment. It's their second gen device so they sorted out issues / enhanced the model compared to the 3870. It's kept the same attachable sled/jacket idea and has improvements over the 3870: SDIO "capable" slot, it's screen is better (transflective - so brighter and looks crisper), enhanced IR so you can use it as a remote control, bigger RAM (for the file store so data saved there is safe if you loose powe), and an Xscale processor - faster and less power consumption – but not hugely relevant as the PocketPC OS can’t take full advantage of it yet.

The Toshiba 740 is a nice device - but they had a recall recently (battery issues) and the WiFi it like turning on a power tap. Haven't heard anything on the Bluetooth model yet.

The Loox from Fijitsu Siemens also has integrated Bluetooth but they just re-organised it's product roadmap (dropping the GSM/GPRS module and delaying it's US release) so not sure what it's future path is.

Palm also just released it's new OS5 device with integrated Bluetooth the Tungsten T, had a quick go on one and it has a nice form factor. The OS looks pretty much identical to the last one though but it packs more of a punch as it's got an ARM based processor (from Texas Instruments) so it should do Multi-Media - however it's starting price here is EUR600 - and you will soon be able to get a more powerful PocketPC for half that price shortly...

If you have to get one immediately I'd go for an iPAQ 3970 if you have the cash, or a 3870 if you can still find one (they are cheaper as production has stopped in favour of the 3970) - but make sure you spend the extra on the enhanced warranty CarePaq - it's worth it if you have any warranty issue (bar breaking your screen) with the device you can get a swap out unit (refurbished and checked - not brand new) the next day.

Otherwise - hold onto you cash for some better and cheaper models due out in the new year that either integrate Bluetooth, or you can add a CF card to.

HTH,
Brian G.

Corben Dallas

thx a lot Brian G. that v helpful you know your stuff! it seems to be maga expensive forthe Ipaq from Compaq about €800 for a good one. think i'll wait till next year.

what do you think bout the Sony Clie range of PDA's ?

flywheel

Originally posted by Corben Dallas

what do you think bout the Sony Clie range of PDA's ?

Clie's are seen as the most innovative Palm OS PDAs integrating hi(er)-res screens and multimedia to the platform compared to what Palm Devices / Handspring etc. offered - but they come with limited internal memory and if you are interested in Bluetooth for the Clie the BT Memory Stick is (currently) expensive and would take up the slot where storeage would be needed

The shift to the new Palm Operating system OS5 is underway - the first OS5 Clies announced are the NX range an updated design based on the NR devices (the swivel screen / clam shell form factor)

The improvements are in the OS, processor and a new expansion slot (first marketed for use with a Sony Wi-Fi card). Waiting for benchmarks on the effects to power consumption. The Wi-Fi card is a CF based card and this site suggests that the Expansion slot uses a standard CF bus so if CF card manufacturers get drivers written, their cards should work in this slot also. Will be interesting to see this as most thought the Clies would make the slot proprietary to ensure Memory Sticks were the only memory expansion available.

The Palm OS5 models announced so far have been at the higher end of the market so the price points are up their with the mid to high end Pocket PC devices. Next year the Pocket PC devices should be integrating wireless at a more attractive price.

Since the last post Dell have begun shipping their $200 and $300 devices with talk of an integrated wireless model for next year. HP aren't taking it lying down - they announced their slimline low end model to go head to head with the Dell price-point and a high end (integrated BT and WiFi) to aim at the enterprise.

Brian G

flywheel

just to update - Sony Announced a new Clie, the NZ90 with integrated Bluetooth. It has some impressive specs (built in 2 megapixel camera + flash), but a price point to match (around US $800) and the form factor is begining to bulge a little.

One pretty significant issue is a pretty poor 11MB internal memory available as standard (16Mb with 5MB used for what they call data management functions). An additional memory stick would be a must, wonder if the new Memory Stick Pro (256MB/512MB/1GB cards) will be compatible - expect they would be as the NZ90 is a new device, although Memory Sticks are never the cheapest memory expansion option.

Link to Clie NZ90

main features:
Palm OS5
Integrated Bluetooth
320 x 480 TFT Screen (65,536 colours)
2 megapixel integrated camera
Integraed Flash (wonder about the effect on battery life?)
Memory Stick expansion
WiFi expansion card option



BrianG