Durable PDA?

[iwire]

That would be funny to catch Bob whistling "Hakuna Matata" while he works.

The refrigeration contractor I was working near the other day was whistling "Que Sera Sera"

I don't know which is worse, the fact he was whistling it or the fact I recognized it.

 

[khixxx]

I just picked up a Palm Centro. I am with verizon. I can view word, excel, power point and text. I use the excel program to keep track of mileage. Has a voice recorder which is nice. It links up to my outlook for contacts and calender. I use a 4G card for tunes that I play in my car or what ever. I don't really know details on what you can all do with it. I did not get the Black Berry because you have to get the Data plan. I opted out of the data plan for the centro. However I will most likely pick it up in a few months. I have an air card for my laptop. Oh it cost me $60 $110 when it was said and done for the car charger and body glove holder. They throw in a hands free set.

 

[iwire]

How is your call quality on that phone?

That depends on your definition of quality. :grin:

If by quality you mean the ability to understand what the other person is saying then I agree it sucks.:grin:

 

[TOOL_5150]

That depends on your definition of quality. :grin:

If by quality you mean the ability to understand what the other person is saying then I agree it sucks.:grin:

That is exactly it. That must have been fixed with the 8330

~Matt

 

[stickboy1375]

That depends on your definition of quality. :grin:

If by quality you mean the ability to understand what the other person is saying then I agree it sucks.:grin:

How does a product end up on the market with such a major flaw?

 

[e57]

Technically, that is theft of service. Just because its not locked down with a WEP key doesnt mean its OK to use it. Would it be ok for you to walk by someones truck and take a tool out, just because the doors were unlocked?


~Matt

I live in dot com - techie mecca - and most of those who have open networks are doing so for the express purpose of other people using them.... In the expectation that others will do the same and have open networks city wide. Pretty darned grass roots.... Several years ago people sporting T-1's at thier homes and setting up multiple commercial 11.g networks - others just leaving thier DSL and Cable open on the other side of a firewall.

There is also several city supported networks that I hit - and a few pay-to-play subscriber networks that I could hit - but the people wanting & providing FREE internet provide better service IMO - due to it being FREE.... Bandwidth here is dirt cheap - and if you were looking for security - lock it IMO....


SF has long had battles with major companies trying to stop free wifi - but the grass roots effort has been working for some time.
http://gesterling.wordpress.com/2008/01/04/startup-aims-to-revive-sf-free-wifi-initiative/
http://sf.meraki.com/
http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/06/its-official-san-francisco-to-get-free-wifi-blanket-courtesy-o/
http://www.ctnbayarea.org/community-wireless

FYI - mine too is open....

 

[tyha]

do yourself a favor and get the at& t tilt. runs windows mobile, outlook , excel, word and adobe. with slide out tilting keyboard. has 3g wireless and wifi. I have had 2 blackberrys and they dont hold a candle to this thing and i am on the job everyday.

 

[Rampage_Rick]

Finally traded up from my Samsung A920 phone (one of the best handsets ever released for durability and range)

I had looked at the Blackberry / Otterbox combo, probably the best choice for durability on the jobsite.

Last week I finally got my new phone. It's an HTC Titan (a.k.a. 6800, Mogul, etc) Great phone, does just about everything. I've already enabled the GPS, and I've been using Remote Desktop back to my office computer (pretty zippy considering it bounces through Toronto) Presumably does everything that tyha's tilt does, including WiFi and EVDO Rev A.

Unfortunately, I can't find any Otterbox or similar cases for the HTC phones. I just ordered an aluminum case for it, we'll see how that goes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTLdDGscj4s

 

[mdshunk]

do yourself a favor and get the at& t tilt. runs windows mobile, outlook , excel, word and adobe. with slide out tilting keyboard. has 3g wireless and wifi. I have had 2 blackberrys and they dont hold a candle to this thing and i am on the job everyday.

I saw the Tilt on AT&T's website, and it seemed interesting. I never heard anything about it before. The other one that seemed interesting was the Blackjack. I think it's a Samsung, maybe.

 

[peter d]

I saw the Tilt on AT&T's website, and it seemed interesting. I never heard anything about it before. The other one that seemed interesting was the Blackjack. I think it's a Samsung, maybe.

Just go hang around a college campus for a few days, and you'll get all the info on these gadgets that you might need. Heck, you look young enough, they'll probably take you for a student anyway.

 

[mdshunk]

Just go hang around a college campus for a few days, and you'll get all the info on these gadgets that you might need. Heck, you look young enough, they'll probably take you for a student anyway.

Maybe! Actually, I live in a college town, so I might just have to have lunch some day in a college-kid deli or cafe. Those places are strangely silent sometimes with all the kids tapping away text messaging Lord knows who on their phones. Why don't they just dial somebody and hold a normal conversation?

 

[peter d]

Why don't they just dial somebody and hold a normal conversation?

I think it may have something to do with the plans that offer unlimited texting, as well as the ability to "text" while doing things that would not allow phone usage, like sitting in a class.

 

[jimport]

If you like the iphone but don't like the price Verizon has the LG Dare. Verizon rep called it a iphone on steroids.

Just released about a month ago so can't comment too much on it.

 

[mdshunk]

If you like the iphone but don't like the price Verizon has the LG Dare. Verizon rep called it a iphone on steroids.

I'm really reluctant to switch from AT&T. I get fantastic service from them in my area. If the LG Dare is any good, they'll have a jailbroken/unlocked version of it on eBay before long to use with any provider.

 

[jdsmith]

I got a Palm Centro about a month ago because it was one of the cheaper PDA/phones available on Sprint. I'm a plant engineer so I only need a durable device about 1/3 of the time when I'm in the field. There aren't any great options like the Otterbox available for the Centro, so I wouldn't recommend it to somebody in the field all the time.

 

[sparky 134]

I've been using US Cellular for the past 4 years. I love the service but their selection of phones is somewhat limited.

I, too, am at the point of wanting/needing a PDA. I carry two phones now, 1 business 1 personal.

My brother just got a Blackberry from work and so far he is happy with it. I'm on my way to the local US Cellular store to see what's available.

I've got a great phone package (1500 minutes, 49.99/month). They don't offer this package anymore !! But I would need to add the 'Blackberry' package to get email, web, etc. 29.95 or 49.95/month. What the heck, it's a business expense, right ?!

 

[Pullnwire]

Its not mine....Really

Its not mine....Really

That would be funny to catch Bob whistling "Hakuna Matata" while he works.

I have some of my 4 year old sons music on my ipod, for road trips or whatever, and you should see the looks on the faces at the job when "the wheels on the bus" or "baby beluga" comes on my dewalt radio!:roll:

 

[john_axelson]

Depends

Depends

Marc,

Do you feel the need to continue to use the touch screen portion of your Palm? Then you may want to look at the Palm devices AT&T has. Do what others are saying and invest in a case to protect the phone while working.

Good luck, let us know what you decide.

 

[al hildenbrand]

Of those who own and use PDA's every day and also work with tools, what do you use? How's it working out for you? Ideally, I'd mostly like to sync in my Outlook contacts and calendar, along with receive my email.

I have been tempted to get a cell modem - but why buy when you get the milk for free???? But short of "EV-DO" (Spotty and not available everywhere) - I think it would be a big waste o money and drive me stupid with the lack of speed - when a N wifi is boomin' in comparision - and often free.

I started off with a PDA back in 2000. I merged the cell and PDA two years ago with a UTStarcom PPC6700. I'm due to upgrade the hardware on a few months, and I'm looking forward to incorporating the new advances in the hardware.

My PPC6700 is Windows Mobile, WiFi, Bluetooth, still & video camera, mass storage, recorder, etc.

I absolutely will stay with the Windows OS.

I chose it because of the seamless syncing with Outlook (email, tasks, calendar). I am not worried about getting the latest emails until I get back to the desktop and drop the device into the charging/syncing cradle, so I didn't choose the "data package", with its additional monthly fee. Last night's (or the last sync's) refresh of the email list has been just fine.

The full Outlook Contacts list, married with Caller ID, has been awesome.

I have found WiFi browsing on the Web to be reasonably available, but the smallness of the screen makes looking at pages difficult. I would like to access manufacturers installation instructions, from time to time, while in the field, but it is too painful to do on that tiny screen. . .

I picked up a Bluetooth keyboard for the periods when I want to type a lot and not have anything other than the PPC6700. The keyboard folds and stores at an instant.

I have found that carrying the devices on my hips is a formula for mishap.

When I'm not bending over, the shirt pocket has been fine. . .but by far, the thigh pocket on my Skillers pants has been perfect. No otterbox (or equiv.). I have, however, become very good at keeping the flap on the pocket fastened.

 

[tyha]

if you go on e-bay the casemavin has a case for the tilit that allows you to do everything. even slide out the keyboard.