robjame

I have been considering a PDA for some time and I'm ready. I suspect that the under $100 ones you talk about won't really do the job - to access WiFi for emails, Blue Tooth, enough memory to hold travel docs & books, keep a diary, maps, schedules, phrases,subway, etc. Can some of this go into spare memory? Is technology there yet for GPS or only in a car? Is a spare battery necessary? Am considering Dell Axim X50v. Comments? Do you buy an Orange Card for France?

Robespierre

No, the $100 jobs don't have wireless connectivity - but you can still jack into a net-connected PC through its USB port and you're on the air! If you buy a used one (or a <u>new</u> one, for that matter), make sure that you can flash it with the latest firmware. Some early models of every make required a certain amount of tinkering.

You can put anything you want to in any number of flash memory modules - I keep my &quot;travel&quot; programs and data in one, my &quot;flight management&quot; in another, and so on. The more you can offload to SD storage, the more elbow room you give the application in main memory, resulting in faster operation.

There are a number of ways to approach GPS. I have a GlobalSat BC307 (globalsat.com.tw) receiver that plugs into the CompactFlash slot. You may find a USB more flexible.

I carry a spare battery, but the only time I've found it necessary is after I've used the iPAQ during a flight and immediately hit the street. Oh - and the time I left the GPS on by accident.

I don't know the Dell line - check the forums for user reports.

I use carnets, Mobilis, or Carte Orange, whichever is cheaper for a particular itinerary.

Robert2533

The Palm Tungsten C is a self-contained wireless device that works wherever there's a wireless service available. It works fine, but is not cheap.

The Tungsten E, and several other models, have GPS capability with an add on device.

robjame

Thanks for your replies and help.
I am not exactly sure what is meant by &quot;make sure that you can flash it with the latest firmware&quot;.
I note that there are two distinct operating systems. Is one type better - more software available? Do any of the GPS systems allow you to use them while walking or do they require cradles, AC plugs, etc?

Robespierre

The firmware is analogous to the BIOS in a desktop or laptop. It runs the devices. Sometimes (particularly with new technologies like Bluetooth), they don't get it quite right on the first try.

I think that at the moment, Windows PC is winning the software race. Palm OS jumped out to a big lead initially, but they didn't consolidate their gains very well. But there's still a load of stuff for both OSs, and probably always will be.

GPS systems don't require any attachments. See the photos at

<b>http://www.globalsat.com.tw/english/products_detail.php?main_id=5&amp;p_id=9</b>

The middle picture shows a CF model plugged into a PPC.

robjame

Thanks again Robespierre. I have ordered a PDA with MS OS. As you are certainly knowledgable about this, can you give me some tips on software? Do you use MS Reader for EBooks or Acrobat Reader?
Does Streets have maps for Europe?
Have seen iMetro - other top notch stuff free or otherwise?
Any suggestions are appreciated.

Robespierre

I use both Acrobat for graphics (such as public transport maps or scans of travel guides) and MSReader for e-books. Another rich source of travel-related information is the Web. You can snapshot a page and download it to the PPC, then view it with IE.

Pocket Streets doesn't include Europe, but you can get an obsolete version free from

<b>http://www.pocketpccity.com/software/pocketpc/Pocket-Streets-for-free-2003-11-21-ce-pocketpc.html</b>

if you don't want to shell out $10 for the latest features. Note the links to Microsoft for maps and PSConvert.exe if you use Streets 1.0

More maps are available at

<b>http://www.ppc-welt.info/ppc-welt/karten/index.php?dir=europa</b>

Robespierre

Michelin maps for PDA

<b>http://www.shop.viamichelin.co.uk/csasp_index.asp?id=119</b>

I have downloaded the Europe demo, and it seems to work fine for the area around Hounslow (west of London).

Robespierre

Currency converter (updates from European Central Bank web site):

<b>http://www.indecka.com/software/currencyconverter.exe</b>

robjame

Robespierre, thanks again for the help and suggestions. I am running into a terminology problem. Fodors site says that their software works on &quot;devices with an ARM processor, Windows CE 3.0, or Pocket PC 2002/2003 and 32 MB of RAM. iFodor's does not support MIPS or SH3 processors.&quot; My new PDA has, as an operating system, MS Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition. Where does this fall into the the above?

Robespierre

You probably have an ARM CPU if it's a new machine. Test it by downloading and running a freebie for that processor, like the Michelin mapper demo.

ahotpoet

I have downloaded Skype for my wifi enabled pda. Are hotspots on every other corner in Italy?

topcat

All MS Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition Pocket PCs will have ARM-compatible CPUs (probably Intel PXA270).

ahotpoet

Please help!!!!!!!!!!!I have downloaded the maps and converter program and the conversion seems to have gone OK but what application do I use to view the maps?

Robespierre

What maps have you downloaded? Skype is a Voice over IP application.

ahotpoet

Robes
Skype works fine. I may not even get a cell phone What I am having problems with is the Pocket Streets.(http://www.pocketpccity.com/software...-pocketpc.html)

I downloaded and converted the maps and moved them (only the maps)to the pda. The problem is how to view them. What program do I use? Do I put the converter program on the ppc????

Oh please give guidance you techie guru!

Travelnut

Robespierre, is he saying he needs something like Adobe to view the maps?

ahotpoet

Yes that's exactly what I'm saying. Will Adobe do it?

Travelnut

Then he has already answered...

Author: Robespierre
Date: 02/28/2005, 10:51 am
<b>I use both Acrobat for graphics (such as public transport maps</b> or . . . .

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/main.html

Robespierre

# Download Pocket Streets 2001 from the link above - it's a setup program, just run it.

# Download free maps from Microsoft.

# Run PSConvert.exe on your desktop machine and convert the maps you downloaded. Note that you can select multiple files to convert at once.

# Copy the maps to your Pocket PC with Explorer and ActiveSync.

# Run Pocket Streets on your PPC.