Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC h3600 Specifications download pdf (Page 34)

Micke Gunnarsson 2001-07-19

E-post: [email protected]h.se

7 Conclusions

Before this report I’d never really used a PocketPC device. I have watched other

people in my surroundings playing games with it on lectures at school or repeatedly

taping the display with their pencils while travelling on the subway. I have been using

a PalmV for almost two years (in a similar way) and I’ve been using personal

computers in general (mostly Windows OS) for about five years. My opinion on

PocketPC was before this report based on what I’ve heard from other people and by

comparing that to the way I used my Palm PDA.

The first thing that I reflected upon when I started using the iPAQ was the size and

the possibility to carry the device with me at all time like I’ve been doing with my

Palm. In comparison to the Palm the iPAQ is a bit larger and heavier. I think that the

Palm is easier to carry in a jacket pocket and to take out for a quick look for a

telephone number or some notes made before leaving home. The iPAQ is (when it

comes to sizes) more like a classic agenda, which is more likely to fit in a bag, and

the Palm is more like a small calendar that one can put in a pocket. Another thing that

speaks to the Palms advantage is off course the battery lifetime. I recharge my Palm

twice a month whilst the iPAQ needs recharging every second day on average. A

third thing that made me suspicious to the functionality was the “windows-often-

crashes” reputation. The PalmOS environment had seemed very stable to me because

I’ve almost never had any problems with my Palm freezing or crashing and I’ve been

using a large number of different applications on it.

At first I found it a bit difficult to find as well downloadable software as information

on the PocketPC environment in general. Palm has been around for quite a while now

and there is huge support for it on the web. The iPAQ is a new device with a new

version of Windows CE and a new CPU (StrongArm). But after using the iPAQ a

couple of weeks I have to admit that there is a lot to be found on the web. I don’t

know if it was me getting more experienced on finding the right web pages or the

constant increasing of support for the iPAQ. The first days that I looked for software I

experienced that most programs available only worked on the Windows CE 2.0 and

not on PocketPC but the iPAQ popularity has grown very fast. Even in the short time

that I’ve worked with it I’ve noticed a growth on iPAQ based web pages in areas like

software, discussion forums, accessories and software development.

After been using the iPAQ for a while I’ve come to the conclusion that the iPAQ well

covers the functionality of a PalmOS device. Of course there is still the issue about

weight and battery lifetime and if one only wants an electronic version of a calendar

and a database of contacts the Palm might still be a better solution. To decide whether

one should use a PalmOS or a PocketPC driven device (or a PDA at all) one must

take a deeper look into what functionality one needs as a user and ask oneself for

example the following questions:

• Do I for example want to use the iPAQ as my only device or as a complement

to a laptop?

• Is the superior battery lifetime of a Palm a must have?

• For what will I be using my PDA?

• Is the PocketPC’s larger amount of functionality really needed or are there

alternatives?

• Is there a possibility that my areas of needs might increase?

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