I haven't found battery life to be an issue with the iPAQ 2215. I carry a spare battery with me when I go out, but I don't think I've needed it more than once or twice, and that was at the end of twelve-hour days. The iPAQ is running all the time, with the backlight off when I'm not looking at it. I switch it on as I take it out for use.

My GPS works fine whenever I need it. I scribble notes on the screen - at pen speed. Having an email terminal in my pocket is also convenient.

PPCs are handy for storing large quantities of travel data that would otherwise have to be lugged around on dead trees.

Maybe someday, when I have a street map of all of Paris, including all historic sites, tourist attractions, and complete maps of the entire bus, Métro, and RER networks in my head, I'll leave the iPAQ at home.

But I can't foresee a day when I will disparage anyone for choosing to carry one, or not to.

Thanks robjame & Robespierre for the insights on cells & pda!

s

Ys, thanks from me, too.
A co-worker just offered me the possibility of an IBM Thinkpad T30 with software (re-imaged) for around $500-600, 90-day guarantee, and the techie support that a friend can provide (vs. official support from the manufacturer).
So, for now, I'm mulling over the possibilities...

Arrghh. Resist the pull from the dark side.
You realize that it is 2002 technology. Of course it is a completelty different machine with different applications, uses than a PDA. I would suspect that battery will be your main issue.
Check: http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/artic...,102683,00.asp

Robjame: I pulled that website and some other reviews, but haven't read them yet... you cracked me up.

I really need to sit down and figure out what tasks I want to do, where I want to do them, and when...

I really do appreciate getting help from this 'travel' board because you state things in user-friendly terms for me.

We are in the market for a PDA so this post is great!
Thankyou
Rosie ((R))

If you like this one, maybe you'll enjoy http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34474486

One more use for my PDA...I take the SD card out of my camera and put it in my PDA. Then I can view the pictures on a screen that's bigger than the one on my camera.

<i>Zut, alors!</i>

My camera uses XD cards, and the iPAQ has SD and Mini-SD slots. I think I need another camera!

I jus' loves the Internets. That Metro program's jus' gonna be the cat's meow on this next trip. Robespierre, merci bien!

Great information. Is there a really good current model recommended? Thanks.

Just bumping this to the top because this is a valuable thread. FWIW, I took a GPS PDA as well as my laptop. The laptop stayed in the room and be used at the end of the day for tracking expenses, making notes for an upcoming trip report, Internet connecting (though there's tons of Internet caf&eacute;s in France and Italy so it isn't vital if you're just checking up on email and such). I'd download the day's pictures from the digital camera for fear that of something happening to either the camera or the memory. The PDA was our minder as far as schedules were concerned and the Metro program

http://nanika.net/metro

was the cat's pajamas (so who exactly is it that puts cats in pajamas anyway? :))

My only grief (and I may get into it if I'm feeling brave when I do my trip report) was the lack of sensitivity of the handheld GPS I was using. While fine when moving at car speed, when walking it really wasn't up to the task. Now there's probably myriad reasons for this (maybe a high-sensitivity antennae would've helped) but buildings can form a pretty effective barrier to locating one's self electronically in many places in France and Italy and it may not be the best to rely on just one method of navigation.

heck, i thought PDA, was public displays of affection!! That works for me!

The new SiRFstarIII technology pretty much flattens the &quot;city canyon&quot; problem. The issue is the confusion caused by echoes of the signal caused by buildings being received milliseconds after the original. It's the GPS equivalent of &quot;ghosts&quot; in TV. Engineers call it &quot;multipath distortion.&quot;

Too late for me and I think my wife'll pitch the GPS in future if she thinks I'm relying on it. Learn from my experience, young ones! Follow the path that leads to Robespierre! ;)