It's time to buy a PDA!

[roastpuff]

If you are a PC user, go for a used Axim X50v/X51v and a Keyboard of some sort if you want to take notes. One of the best PDA's running around, and with an integral VGA screen and graphics accelerator, it's pretty awesome.

However, for stuff like math and biology/chem, I think pen and paper is best. Can't draw diagrams properly on touch screen.

 

[redshifter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by roastpuff /img/forum/go_quote.gif If you are a PC user, go for a used Axim X50v/X51v and a Keyboard of some sort if you want to take notes. One of the best PDA's running around, and with an integral VGA screen and graphics accelerator, it's pretty awesome. However, for stuff like math and biology/chem, I think pen and paper is best. Can't draw diagrams properly on touch screen.

also pen and paper:
never run out of batteries
never crashes and loses all your notes

 

[nikongod]

Quote:

Originally Posted by redshifter /img/forum/go_quote.gif i'm with wodgy. suck it up and get a notebook and a pen. there is NOTHING better for note taking. save your money instead for college expenses.

i personally liked the tablet (i have a vadem clio) because my handwriting is illegible. i also enjoyed the ability to draw in many colors without looking like a stereotypical engineering student - 1200 brightly colored pens in various point sizes in breast pocket. i just was one.

i have fallen out of the "big PPC" devices for being current, i use a small palm (OLD) for my present needs, but it would not have done squat for me in school.

in short:
go big or get a pen and paper.

 

[redshifter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikongod /img/forum/go_quote.gif i personally liked the tablet (i have a vadem clio) because my handwriting is illegible. i also enjoyed the ability to draw in many colors without looking like a stereotypical engineering student - 1200 brightly colored pens in various point sizes in breast pocket. i just was one. i have fallen out of the "big PPC" devices for being current, i use a small palm (OLD) for my present needs, but it would not have done squat for me in school. in short: go big or get a pen and paper.

i have worked at microsoft for going on seven years now, and i have never seen anyone ever use a pda or notebook computer for note taking at meetings. if they are on their pda or tablet pc they are either looking up something for the meeting, powerpoint, or reading email.

i tried for a while to keep my meeting checklists in my pda, but pen and paper is just better, period.

 

[Jon L]

I really like the Samsung Blackjack
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=1066

It has microSD expansion slot, and I just bought a 1 Gig microSD card for $10.

 

[Edwood]

I've been a Palm user since the original Palm Pilot (I still have it). But Palm has fallen so far behind, I had to jump ship to a Windows Mobile PDA Phone.

I regret it all the time, but my Pocket PC Phone does so much more than a Palm (and even a Treo) does.

-Ed

 

[nikongod]

Quote:

Originally Posted by redshifter /img/forum/go_quote.gif i have worked at microsoft for going on seven years now, and i have never seen anyone ever use a pda or notebook computer for note taking at meetings. if they are on their pda or tablet pc they are either looking up something for the meeting, powerpoint, or reading email. i tried for a while to keep my meeting checklists in my pda, but pen and paper is just better, period.

i do agree with most of that, but i think notes on a meeting are slightly different from a class, it is also a HIGHLY personal opinion in either case.
i can type faster than i can write. also the "flow" of a meeting is not always soo great for a computer checklist which can be harder to setup.

for meetings, i try very hard not to take out my PDA unless necessary to jot down an email address or something. in truith i have not looked at my clio except to reference notes since i graduated.

 

[redshifter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikongod /img/forum/go_quote.gif i do agree with most of that, but i think notes on a meeting are slightly different from a class, it is also a HIGHLY personal opinion in either case. i can type faster than i can write. also the "flow" of a meeting is not always soo great for a computer checklist which can be harder to setup. for meetings, i try very hard not to take out my PDA unless necessary to jot down an email address or something. in truith i have not looked at my clio except to reference notes since i graduated.

Well my point was that, aside from anyone's personal preferences, I have seen a good cross section of IT pro's for almost a decade practically every day, and I NEVER ONCE saw sombody use a pc or a pda for note taking; always notebooks and pens. And these are the people who have access to the bleeding edge of hardware. Take from that what you will.

 

[skev13]

Quote:

Originally Posted by redshifter /img/forum/go_quote.gif i'm with wodgy. suck it up and get a notebook and a pen. there is NOTHING better for note taking. save your money instead for beer.

Fixed!

 

[plainsong]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salt Peanuts /img/forum/go_quote.gif Are you a PC or Mac user? The reason I ask is if you're Mac user, that basically limits your options to Palm offerings for the most part.

Umm, no? There are two Windows Mobile Activesync replacements - Either The Missing Sync, or Pocketmac. I've used both and they have their plusses and minuses, and both are miles better than Activesync.

The only problem with Mac right now is that you have to wait a bit for Windows Mobile 6 support. Those devices aren't even really around yet though, and the more popular HTC options will have WM6 upgrades anyway.

 

[Fallingwater]

Hit ebay, get a Palm IIIx and a foldable keyboard to go. Total cost likely to be <$50, runs for ages on two AAAs, sturdy and you won't cry if it gets broken or stolen.

 

[roastpuff]

Quote:

Originally Posted by plainsong /img/forum/go_quote.gif The only problem with Mac right now is that you have to wait a bit for Windows Mobile 6 support. Those devices aren't even really around yet though, and the more popular HTC options will have WM6 upgrades anyway.

Well, lots of WM6 ROM's are out for the various PPC-phone devices produced by HTC... I recently got a Prophet, and updated to WM6 Smart1 ROM, and it runs great. Except, Missing Sync doesn't want to go, which leaves me unable to sync...

And the Bluetooth stack on the Prophet stinks in WM6 - I can't transfer files via Bluetooth using my MBP.

 

[ls20]

Quote:

Originally Posted by redshifter /img/forum/go_quote.gif i'm with wodgy. suck it up and get a notebook and a pen. there is NOTHING better for note taking. save your money instead for college expenses.

im with you. PDA for taking notes? i know people getting through engineering school without ever owning a personal computer

 

[Fallingwater]

Quote:

there is NOTHING better for note taking.

I beg to differ.
My handwriting is horrible. I can make it readable by writing slowly, but if I have to follow an explanation and take notes on the fly the result is such a mess I myself couldn't read it to save my life.
To me, my Palm and foldable keyboard were a boon. I'd just carry that and take notes faster than anybody using pen and paper could manage (I'm a pretty good touchtypist).
Lots of people kept asking me where they could buy the same thing.

The fact that there are people going through college/university without even using a computer doesn't mean you shouldn't. There are, after all, still people who light fires with sticks, but nobody I know would prefer them to a lighter...

 

[plainsong]

Quote:

Originally Posted by roastpuff /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, lots of WM6 ROM's are out for the various PPC-phone devices produced by HTC... I recently got a Prophet, and updated to WM6 Smart1 ROM, and it runs great. Except, Missing Sync doesn't want to go, which leaves me unable to sync... And the Bluetooth stack on the Prophet stinks in WM6 - I can't transfer files via Bluetooth using my MBP.

The bt stack on my WM2003SE imate Jam also sucks. It basically doesn't work until you install some 3rd party app that mimics the old drivers.... and then it works a charm. I know the roms are out, I just meant officially.

I need to update badly, but I really really want a vga screen, and other than the Athena, it just doesn't seem to be happening for the new stuff coming out.

VGA is possible, why can't we have that?