I would definetly say its better.

>user-friendly interface for the past 23 years
Making people pay extra money for a stup.d new shell on an ancient Unix/Linux system. Using "selected" :D standard PC hardware and then paint everything white so it looks better. If I had to I'd rather install Solaris 10 and this comes for FREE!
I can understand why women buy these products, but men? And they even think they're smart ;-) :D :D

logos -
did you hit the sauce this morning?
That post was offensive to women and made no coherent sense.

Thank you all for an open discussion. It really gives a direction for a confused mind like mine.

As I was not sure which of the utilities I would be using,I had asked the question. So things have bit clarified for me.

Cupid1,Robespierre, Thanks. I understood following:
point number 1. Storing 'n' number of photographs [by my Nikon D-50] can be done by
a)multiple memory cards.
b)have a PPC phone - iPAQ /others.

Point 2. I had read RS and others, where there is a mention of self guides on iPOD. But from the limited responses here so far, it seems, that this utility is not much in vogue. Further, it would not be much wise to move around in the streets with 'white' or 'boring black', whatever gadget, for self guided tour.

Point 3. I would not go for watching video [other than travel related one]even on large screen while on a tour; so small screen of iPOD is of not for me.

Point 4. Music. Yes. We love it. If I don't purchase an iPOD, We might do away with a Sony W800i phone that my daughter is having. [ though originally we weren't going to take it on the tour].MP3 as suggested by Robes here is an option.

Point 5. High end Camera phone with an internet/email has an advantage of immediately sending a photo, provided uploading is easy.

So, may be I think, I will be going for a good smartphone, with or without a good camera.[I will be definitely carrying D-50 with me.] Music is another chapter, then. so may be I will go for an MP3 or my daughter's Sony Er. w800i as another gadget.

'All in one' [---and that too, cheap,] will be a distant dream then.

Questions still lingering in my mind:
1. How much of internet one uses from cellphone?
2. I will not be driving a car. And will be limiting myself to London, Paris and Switzerland. How much one uses GPS under these circumstances?

3. How important is it to have an iPod download of a guide - inside of a museum e.g. Louvre/ Versailles?

4. Which other programs do you install in your cell phone other than the ones provided? e.g. dictionary /translation / google earth etc.

iPhone has not reached our market, as yet. So, I am spared from the tussle.
Thanks all.
K.

It makes perfect sense and fits extremly well into the context :-). Why would it be offensive to anybody saying someone likes pretty things. It's already 4.05pm here. Two more hours of "work" and no Mac (except for the Network cards, but those are in hex) in the whole building. :D

Mac users seem to be the only ones who don't realize that "better" is a subjective judgment.

I wonder if Apple's 7% market share influences this phenomenon.

true "better" is subjective. (though I cant help but point out that it is basically universally understood that Microsoft "stole" a lot of its Vista features/looks from MasOSX. So who thinks who is better).

However, for some users the Mac IS better (it all depends on what you are using the computer for).

I am in the creative industry - where the Mac is used univesally and considered much more conducive to our business (and unique needs).

I also have a Mac at home - where I use it for freelance creative work, and for other creative "hobbies" like making photo books, editing movies, creating CDs, computer art, etc....
I am not doing spreadsheets, making powerpoint presentations or reading books in foreign languages.
For you, PC is better and for me, Mac is better.

I'd like to jump in here because I have had a similar dilema. We have been vacationing in Europe a few times in recent years & have sceduled another trip this June to France. Most of our B&Bs & our apartment have internet service, but I don't want to lug my laptop with us. We also will be driving & thought it might be handy to have GPS. I have used my PDA in the past quite a lot, but it is not capable of accessing the internet. Also, don't want to buy another phone which might or might not be usable in Europe. Is another PDA the way to go & if so, which one do you suggest? Thanks

We just went through this dilemma, Needed new phones and our Cingular plan expired last year. So we bought two phones from Cingular/AT&T (not unlocked) with MP3 capability.

We don't use a phone as a computer, take the laptop if we need that. Our main objective was a good quality phone that we could download music and audio tours on. Camera and video is a nice feature but we won't use it much for that since we already have a small digital camera that we like.

I got the Samsung SYNC, hubby got the Motorola RAZR V3XX. They both are great for what we wanted.

His has the better speaker so we can use it for listening to music in our hotel room. The camera and video camera is surprisingly good for a phone. We bought extra memory cards so we could download our music and walking tours, language lessons, etc. Of course, they have alarms clocks, currency calculators, all the normal bells and whistles (internet capable). Both are Blue Tooth capable so downloading to the phones is a breeze. Had to buy earbuds since they didn't come with those. All together we spent less than $200 for both phones and accessories.

Cingular/AT&T has international roaming plans and since we don't use the phone much when we are overseas this is cheaper for us than buying an unlocked phone and SIM cards for each country.

I love the Acer n311 I have. Esp. because of the 640x480 resolution. The Opera Browser with smart rendering is able to produce most sites just like they'd look on your PC. Wlan, Bluetooth are included. Price is 300€ plus tax in Germany. It's well worth it. Combined with a WCDMA phone it's perfect in areas where Wifi isn't available. Skype works well too.

I was excited to see your post for I am also looking for efficient phone access while in Europe and understand that my stateside new phones will not work- thought I might find an answer here- found frustration - maybe this would help you with the Ipod - I have two ipods and both are video - I have downloaded the tours and agree with one of the replies to be careful of using headphones while touring - you easily lose focus of your surroundings.If I take my ipod, it will be for music and books on tape to pass the down time and will listen to the tours before I go to a place for orientation - for my photos - it will be memory cards and the phone is up in the air. If you are not techie then you may not be thrilled with adding a new skill - personally I love them - personally my husand hates them - that is why I have two! I always travel with my computer but after checking the boards, have pretty much so decided that the internet cafes are out there so I will keep in contact with home from there and ditch the weight.

Thanks Bcirish. iPOD should be good for previewing the tours in a hotel room or during transit. But can that not be achieved by phone with a good memory card as well?
K.

I'm in a non-tech field that would be considered to be ostensibly "creative" but I find myself resisting Mac marketing campaigns.

The unveiling of the Iphone was the most bizarre thing I've ever witnessed -- who the hell were all those young screaming 20-somethings in the audience applauding the mundane features of the iphone? It was so over the top that I think SNL did a skit mocking the whole spectacle. Maybe the Mac is better for particular functions (work just put one into my office) but I find myself skeptical of the Mac cool crap that the corporation keeps spouting. Seems like people are buying into an identity more than a technology, however, talk to me in 6 months and perhaps I too will be a Mac drone.

"...people are buying into an identity more than a technology..."

Well said. Apple is aware of this, I'm sure. That's why they pitch the touchy-feely instead of the nuts and bolts.

All anyone needs in order to make international phone calls for free is a computer with an internet connection, the Skype software and a headset.

If this computer can be carried in a shirt pocket and connect to the internet on open subnetworks via WiFi, so much the better.

My guess is that you may be able to do the download to your phone too - I have used internet on my phone and am not impressed so I usually end up dropping it but it would be worth investigating.

What is it with people and the Mac issue - if there is a product that will fit your needs I don't care what platform it is - I use it but I prefer something that works in both platforms since the world tends to be pc heavy. Keep looking - those who stick with your question seem to have some good insights.

A mac is not a different platform, it's a PC clone with crippled hardware, no hardware driver support for anything else but what Apple offers at an exceptionally high price. Yet they sell very well.

You are very tiresome and apparently quite opinionated- your loss. Guess kamleshrut will make an educated decision from the unbiased input found here.

Finally, man it took ages to get anyone of the Mac fraction to answer here. :-) It's not opinion, it's the facts that some don't want to see... You loose big time for you answer. Keep those white gadgets any try to impress someone with them :D :D

This is 'the' forum for knowledge and fun, too.
Simply great and amusing, too.

I am afraid if counter opinions hurt some one thro' my postings.

Most likely, I will not purchase a new iPOD right now, for this trip.

Will continue looking for a cellphone with good features.
It helps if I can have a good 'camera' inside as well; being handy, it would be of help later in my professional work as a pediatrician also.
Music will be a bonus.
Now I want to concentrate on the softwares and other applications, which can be used thro' this my 'ideal' phone.
Thanks.
K.