Anyone using a smart phone/PDA?

jim cuviello · 10-11-2006, 12:18 AM

Anyone using a smart phone/PDA?

Which one any thoughts on them?

Huligar · 10-11-2006, 12:28 AM

Are smartphone PDA / cell phone combos a good idea?

Are SmartPhones a Smart idea?

Cell phones increasingly add PDA functionality, and PDA companies are fast changing into cell phone manufacturers. Is this a good trend?

I personally have both a PDA and a cell phone, and I'd prefer to keep them separate: I believe that a cell phone does not make a good PDA, and I believe that a PDA does not make a good cell phone. Nonetheless, many knowledgeable individuals and profitable companies disagree with me. Their philosophy is that cell phones need a computer and operating system in order to work, and PDA's work very well in a wireless environment, so why not combine the two into a single hybrid device which reaps the benefits of each?

I believe this is wrong for three reasons:

1. Adding cell phone features to a PDA means design constraints like adding an antenna, speaker, and microphone in strategic locations. For practical purposes, it also requires a phone keypad or PDA thumb keyboard. It likely means a smaller screen, no separate virtual graffiti area, etc.
2. Adding PDA features to a cell phone makes it larger, more expensive, and more fragile. For example, "dumb" cell phones work fine without touch sensitive screens and expansion slots, but touch sensitive screens and expansion slots may be essential for a PDA.
3. Combining the devices into one usually means that the device is tied to a particular cell carrier, or at least to a particular type of cell phone system. This means less flexibility: Changing cell phone carriers means buying a new smartphone (including a PDA), not just a new cell phone. Additionally, upgrades to a cell phone are not in the same league as upgrades to a PDA, because the cell phone design constraints are more restrictive.

The primary argument in favor of combining the two into one is that this provides a beneficial financing model: Instead of buying an expensive PDA with one lump sum payment, people sign a cell phone contract which includes a PDA / cell phone at a lesser price than its true value. The cellular phone carrier makes up this loss through subscription and usage charges.

The TV/VCR Combo Analogy

In my way of thinking, the decision of whether or not to buy a PDA with integrated cell phone (or should I say a cell phone with PDA OS?) is a bit like the decision of whether or not to buy a TV with integrated VCR. These TV/VCR combos are easier to use (no wires to connect separate components), take up less space, and are likely less expensive than purchasing similar components separately.

But, what happens when the VCR breaks or needs service? What happens when Super VHS or Hi-Fi VHS comes out and an upgrade of the VCR is desired? What happens when the customer switches over to DVD's, or even recordable DVD's or a DVR (a Digital Video Recorder, which records a television program to a computer hard drive)? In these cases, the VCR can becomes unused, useless, and even an impediment. A similar case can be made for upgrading the TV: What if a TV of different size or capability (or even HDTV or DTV) is desired?

Summary

In summary, whether to get a cell phone with integrated PDA is a matter up to the user's preferences. The advantages of a separate PDA and cell phone are greater flexibility and more features. The advantages of smartphones are smaller size and lesser cost.

Timm Sowders · 10-11-2006, 06:47 AM

ok my two cents on the matter - other than Jo has put WAY too much thought into this dilema. I have used almost every PDA out there and laptop and cell phone. I have clients in the cellular industry so I get to play with many things out there before they hit the market. I don't like the Palm or the Blackberry. I don't like the palm operation system - it doesn't link well with microsoft's office and outlook. The blackberry doesn't link with them at all and i don't like to pay extra for another service ontop of my cell bill.

I think that the perfect PDA/phone is the Q phone by Motorola. I won't buy one until it has gone thru a couple more versions to work the bugs out. but it is windows - which is a big plus for me. I don't have to pay extra for the internet and my email forwarding or the service. I am a Nextel client and therefore have been trading emails with Motorola's iDen dept that make the nextel phones and have proposed the idea of a Q phone for the nextel system. yea it would have to be a little thicker but that would be worth the trade off. Jo remember that most of the newer PDA/phones have bluetooth and that way you don't have to hold the phone up to your ear and you can still use it while you are on the phone.

I am one that believes that technology can - if used right - can make your day more efficient and give you more free time to screw off. So I do carry a tablet pc, a phone and a pda. they all serve their purpose and quell my inner nerd.

jim cuviello · 10-11-2006, 11:26 AM

What about the Treo? You can open and edit documents. I looked at the Q but the screen is pretty small compared to the Treo and it is not touch screen. The Q is easier to type on and it would fit more easily in your pocket. I am not so much the belt clip type.

StoneBuddy · 10-11-2006, 02:10 PM

I use blackberry daily and cannot complain. I only use it for schedule and email, notes and stuff, but I was turned off of the Treo because a friend in the business told me they seem to be built kinda half-ass.

The blackberry has been very tough, dropped more times than I can count, scratched all to hell, and never missed a beat.

I agree with Timm, the Q is the way to go, but I will wait for it to be tested in real world for a while before I drop 400 on it.

tazlilt · 10-17-2006, 07:31 PM

i use both pda and mobile phone and i find it very easy to live with. I tend not to use advanced phones becuase i use my pda for emails etc.. my phone is only usually for calls and texts occasionally

Eric W · 10-21-2006, 01:13 PM

I have the treo 650, it's smart alright, smarter than me for sure. The phone will do a lot of clever stuff, I just need to sit down and figure it all out. The 700 come out like the next week and it's better for opening attachments.