This or That or Neither?

Lifestyle Bazaar Talk
1

I’ve the itch, the itch to buy either of these two. But can’t decide which one. Its not for anything geeky or coding. Just something to check emails on hotspots (school, work and home), do some homework, update itenerary and so forth.

Now the debate is which one suits me better given the above info. On one hand if I get the windows PDA i’ve to get all the peripherals (wifi card, qwerty keyboard, adapter, wireless router) then with the notebook, there isn’t much to get except a notebook carry case and a few things here n there.

:konfused:

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Question is which one should I be going for?

2

:hoonh: neither :stuck_out_tongue: cuz u don’t need 'em :stuck_out_tongue:

3

you give me pics of five items - and ask me which of the two you should go for?

I have a few confessions to make:

I never bought one of those little computer thingies with no keyboard. I mean, how do you type?

I don't have a laptop.

Maybe it's because I don't have a car, so carrying is a pain, my commute to work is 10 minutes (walking) and I spend too much time on my backside at the office - using a desktop PC - and at home - using a desktop PC. Both have broadband internet.

I find it hard to imagine buying anything sized within an order of magnitude of a mobile phone if it doens't have GRPS. Do those funny little computers with no keyboard have GPRS?

Of the five pictures for the two choices which make up your dilemma, two of them (that's 40% or 100% depending on your point of view) have Windows logos. Bad sign.

I've been having a 'bad Windows day today' so your timing sucks.

Did you know that Microsoft are involved in $80 million worth of investments in SCO, to fund their legal campaign to destroy Linux?

Ahem, wandering off topic, but anyway...

Well honestly, what a question - PDA or Laptop? Do the laptops have Centrino by the way? May as well catch the latest Intel hype wave. Again I don't have much experience but generally a good bet for a new laptop.

How much are the laptops anyway? Is budget the big consideration?

You say you don't want to do anything geeky (like, say, posting a topic on the Internet about hardware choices) but well if you buy a PDA, will you even be able to read your own topic on it? How much time per day will your non-geeky activites take up, and how comfortable will it be on a PDA?

I don't remember seeing anyone with a PDA who isn't also a company executive or director. Normal people don't need them. You might find it useful to:

  1. Dictate messages to yourself
  2. Manage your diary
  3. Play music (not sure about capacity)
  4. Surf the web a bit.

Emailing - yeah but think about input.
Homework - it will be your perfect excuse not to do it!

Well it's all a very personal choice, but if money is no object go for a laptop (or go for a budget laptop, they go out of date so quickly anyway you may as well just accept it).

If money is tight, it doesn't sound like you have a compelling case for either.

But it's a very personal decision. Not many people buy PDAs compared to PCs, laptops or mobile phones.

One question that may help: what is your attention span like? If you buy a new toy and the novelty wears off quickly - there is a material risk that you may fail to fully integrate it into your lifestyle - and this will not be covered by the manufacturer's warranty.

4

The choice between a PDA and a notebook?

These are two very different machines for two very different uses. PDA is actually a PC Companion. If you have a main PC, where you can have all your information, then you can use a PDA to carry your required info with you. If you have a lot of data entry to do, then PDA is frustrating... unless you relish typing with two thumbs. PDA is designed essentially as an output device i.e. read the info you have there. Direct data entry is superficial - preference should be to sync. So you can't use it effectively without having a regular PC with it, sitting in your room.

Notebook is a full fledged PC on its own. You can do all data entry right there, surf the net with ease, and do everything you wanna do with a computer.

So, the short answer is, get a PDA only if you already have a main computer and will use the PDA only to look up information. Else, get a notebook.

5

Informative response Faisal.

Boys like their toys - of that there is no doubt - Boys also like to look authoritative - intelligent, wealthy, cosmopolitan - and sophisticated - this is where the PDA comes into its own...

Aside from the above though - the PDA does have several practical advantages over the Laptop - firstly when you take your laptop out with you - you don't just take your laptop - you take the laptop, the charger, an assortment of removable media from the desktop session of the previous night, spare batteries, linking cables, and unless you live on another planet, you'd better take the family Kalashnikov with you ... just in case.

secondly - the PDA is generally handier than the laptop. Should you wish to access a file, load an image, make a quick note, etc. You can generally have it done on your PDA before your laptop has even booted.

Then there's the charge issue - An average PDA will last a few days on a single set of batteries. Try finding a laptop that even comes close!

6

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Faisal: *
. If you have a lot of data entry to do, then PDA is frustrating... unless you relish typing with two thumbs. .
[/QUOTE]

or u can get the collapsable keyboard to do some data entry :)