Fossil Abacus AU5005 Wrist PDA with Palm OS - Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)****14-month followup****

The good: Case, strap, and screen all in great shape despite daily wear. Has survived miscellaneous drops and brief immersions in water with no apparent damage or effect.

The annoying: Needs charging daily. The screen is still small! When I ride my bike on a bumpy road, the Palm OS crashes, and if I don't notice quickly and reset it, the battery goes dead (and then I have to re-enter all the setup data, and reload it). Lately it has been crashing badly (total restart) every couple of days, for no apparent reason.

********

Below is the original Nov. 2005 review:

I bought the Abacus PDA a couple of weeks ago, mainly to replace the shredded memo pad I'd been trying to keep in my pocket, and to synchronize smoothly with my Microsoft Outlook system at work. Overall, it's everything I expected and it has become my almost-constant companion.A few specific comments:

- Battery life: The biggest problem with it. The battery life bar shows empty after two days, even though I only use the PDA function a couple minutes a day. Maybe it's like a gas gauge, and you really have another day before it dies? If you set it so the LCD display turns off when not in PDA mode (instead of showing the watch face), the life goes to about 4 days. By having the watch application running, you can see the time by simply pressing the enter button. Charging seems very fast, however, and it doesn't seem like you have to have it plugged into a computer to charge. Sadly, it did not charge from my laptop; it had to be plugged into AC.

- The watch is pretty big. Notice that nowhere are the dimensions shown in the specs? The actual size (ignoring the band) is 2.25" long x 1.88" wide by 0.50" thick, more or less. It's also quite heavy, with the stainless case. Display is 1" square. It looks kind of bulky on my fairly large wrist; it would look absurd on my wife's slender wrist. But those of you who carry purses everywhere can get a normal-size PDA.

- Entering data is hard with the tiny screen. Amazingly, the keyboard works pretty well, though I had to run the digitizer calibration option a couple times before the letters I hit lined up with the ones on the screen. However, they're hard to see in dim light, and the touch screen doesn't respond as predictably as I'd like, sometimes giving a letter and sometimes not. I tried Jot briefly, with moderate success, and may try it more later.

- You can look things up entirely with the buttons (no stylus), which is great.

- I wish it was waterproof; I have to take it off at the health club, etc. But I've dropped it on concrete, banged it into a bunch of things (it's a lot bigger than my old watch, after all), and washed my hands while wearing it (oops!), getting it wet, all with no apparent damage.

- Syncronization with Outlook was a breeze to set up, and takes only a couple of seconds. Now I have about 500 contacts, my schedule, and a dozen lists on my wrist. Plus a calculator. Cool!

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Sony Clie PEG-UX50 Handheld Review

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(More customer reviews)I have had an older Sony Clie for a few years. I was thoroughly impressed with that one. It served me well. I then had to replace it, and was solidly leaning toward another Sony product. The features of the UX50 series impressed me very much. But it does have some shortcommings.
Pros:
* Small size. Without a doubt, this is a great unit that fits nicely in my shirt pocket.
* Beautiful screen. It is clear and bright. It is a bit smaller than the older unit, but it is perfectly legible.
* Lots of internal memory. This means I can record a bunch of voice memo's or quick low-res pics from the built in camera w/o using a memory stick.
* Toolbar. There is a little toolbar along the side next to the silk to pull up commonly used features quickly. (like clock, speaker and memory stick media info)
* Built in Keyboard. I love it. It even has a backlight. Not too difficult to use, unlike smaller kbds on other units. The keys are slightly raised.
* Landscape working environment. The "silk" is along the side, and when not being used, the silk can be hidden giving an expanded screen to show text or other items in the silk area. This widescreen mode is a much more efficient use of screen real-estate.
* New handwriting recognition. Decuma is very natural, and has a very good recognition rate. But... see below...
* Rotate/Swivel screen.Use the unit as a micro-laptop, or as a micro-tablet.
* Bluetooth and WiFi. Very easy to setup and use.
Cons:
* This unit only works in landscape mode. I prefer holding the unit in my hand in portrait mode. There doesn't appear to be any setting in software to change this.
* The design favors wireless hotsync, since USB cable is very awkward to plug into side of unit.The cradle should provide the USB connection, and when inserted in the cradle, the USB connection is passed through the cradle (one less wire to insert)
* The battery life is terrible on the UX50 (even compared to the three year old unit I replaced). Perhaps the keyboard light uses up much more energy.
* The memory stick and stylus can come out too easily. I have nearly lost my stylus twice. The end of the memory stick protrudes just a bit too far, and can be easily unlocked.
* New Graffiti is difficult to get used to after a few years of proficiency with the old Graffiti.Some of the strokes are not as easy to use. Perhaps I'll get used to it, but my entry rate is significantly slower.
* Decuma takes up a large amount of screen space when used. There doesn't appear to be any way to shrink it. Also when in wide screen mode, decuma still only uses 2/3 of the screen (the rest of the screen is unusable)
* Decuma should be used in Portrait mode (replacing the Silk). This would free up more screen space, and would still be natural.
* The speaker mute feature should have a timeout, so I can mute for only 1/2 hour or so while in a meeting, but then get my audible alarms afterward.
* Cannot "type" special symbols from the keyboard. I use the bullet symbols all the time, but must enter them using graffiti.
I like the unit. Everybody I show it to is very impressed. The hardware is well designed. If they come out with software that fixes some of my above issues, then I would wholeheartedly recommend this above any thing else presently available.

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Product Description:
The PEG-UX50, a new Clie handheld from Sony, is a personal entertainment communicator. It is extremely portable, at 6 oz. (including stylus), and features integrated wireless LAN (802.11b) and Bluetooth interface. The high-resolution TFT Color Display (480 x 320 dots, 65,536 colors) has swivel screen design. The automatic data back-up feature backs up data to non-volatile memory (16MB). There is a dedicated internal media memory (29MB) for storing multimedia content. Other features include a built-in 310K pixels CMOS rotating camera with 3x digital Zoom (JPEG, 640 x 480 resolution), built-in QWERTY-layout with a wide-pitch keyboard with backlight, video recording (MPEG-4 compatible, 30 fps, 160 x 112), and playback. Other features include:*Dedicated Application Buttons for Launching Web Browser, Mail and Date Book Applications.*Integrated Memory Stick Slot. (Compatible with Memory Stick Pro Media)*Center Jog Dial Navigator with Back Button*Built-in Voice Recorder with Adjustable Recording Sensitivity (Built-in Monaural*Built-in Audio Player (Compatible with MP3 and ATRAC3 audio formats) *Polyphonic Audio Alert Feature*Key Applications (CLIE Mail, World Alarm Clock, etc.) Pre-installed in the ROM*Bundled with Decuma Input Handwriting Recognition Software (Decuma AB).*Bundled with Picsel Viewer Software (Picsel Technologies, Ltd.) for Viewing Native*PowerPoint, PDF and HTML Files*Rechargeable Lithium-ion Polymer Battery (Internal)Box Contents: Clie Handheld, Charger Cradle, USB Hot Sync Cable, AC Power Adapter, Hand strap, Retractable Stylus, Installation CD-ROM, Instructional Manual, Graffiti2 Card, End User License Agreement

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HP iPAQ hx2495b Pocket PC (FA674B#ABA) Review

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(More customer reviews)Okay, so I bought a brand spanking new hx2495b. One of the first things I did was install a SD card. Then the problems started. Fairly frequent soft boots required to get the thing to turn on. Battery dead (0%) from full charge over night. Not too often, but a couple of times in the 2 weeks I had it.

Emailed hp support about the problem (I did forget to mension I had a SD card installed) and they, of course, recommended doing a ROM update. Okay, I just got a brand new unit, why should it need a ROM update all ready? I go and locate the update, down load it and go to install it. Sure enough the update they wanted me to install was the exact same version all ready in the silly thing! Like that is going to do any good, duh?

Then I notice one of the things the ROM update was suppost to fix is a lock up and battery drain problem when an SD card is installed. Humm, maybe they haven't really fixed that. So, I pull my SD card and whad ya know, all the problems went away!

Well, I really don't need the SD card, so I can live with that, but I'd wish they had said something about it! Even though I forgot about the SD card being in there, they should have realized the problem when I said the battery went dead over night! I can't be the only one to have this problem. Guess they don't want to admit there is still a flaw in the programming. A year after it was suppost to be fixed!

So, I'd recommend if you don't need an SD card, don't put one in. If you do need it, pull it out when your not using it.

One other thing to keep in mind is when you turn the PDA off, it doesn't really turn off. The display goes out, but a lot of stuff is still running inside. This is so it will come back exactly where you left off when you turn it back on. That's nice, but if you don't have it on a charger, it will drain the battery in 3-4 days just sitting around. Maybe not a big deal to most people, but I want to use the thing to keep a trail journal while hiking the Appalachian Trail, and I could go a week between towns and AC power. Guess I'll have to lug a solar charger along too if I want to use it.

Other than the problem with the SD card and not really turning off when its off, its a great little gizzmo. Solidly built and otherwise works great.

Oh, one other thing you might want to know. The instructions aren't clear about this. Activesync likes to turn it's self on all the time. The way to stop this is to set it to manual sync only. Unfortunetly, the button to access this command is not available if you have it set for USB sync. To set it to manual sync only, you have to set up a server connection first.

Start activesync (if it isn't already running!)
Menu > add server source
enter a dummy server address like 1.1.1.1
enter some other dummy info into the next blocks it wants you to fill in
then go back to menu and click on schedule.
Now select manual sync in two places.
Go back and delete the server connection.

Now active sync will only come on when you want it too.

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Product Description:
The HP HX2495B Ipaq Pocket PC lets you take your favorite songs, videos, and Web sites everywhere you go. Compact and versatile, the Ipaq offers just the right mix of performance, security, connectivity, and expandability. Thanks to the integrated 802.11b wireless LAN, you can surf the web at your local Wi-Fi hotspot, keep in touch with friends and family via email, and download videos and songs in minutes. Take the Ipaq with you, and you'll never be out of touch.


Compact and versatile, the HP Ipaq Pocket PC lets you take your favorite songs, videos, and Web sites everywhere you go. View larger.

Equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology for reliable connectivity.

HP ProtectTools lets you use a PIN or password to control access to your Ipaq.

USB 2.0 desktop synchronization cradle makes it easy to transfer files to and from your PC. Special Features
The Ipaq features wireless connectivity with integrated Wi-Fi 802.11b and Bluetooth, as well as an expansion slot compatible with Secure Digital (SD) cards. It's powered by an Intel PXA270 processor running at 520 MHz. It also features the Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 premium edition software for Pocket PCs. To help you enjoy more vivid music videos and movies, the 3.5-inch display features 16-bit color transflective for more than 65,000 colors. The Ipaq also contains 256 MB total memory, so there's plenty of room to store all your data. The integrated microphone, speaker, and stereo headphone jack offer a clear, enjoyable audio experience. Plus, the Lithium-Ion (1440 mAh) battery is both removable and rechargeable, which saves you money.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Ipaq
Ipaq offers a world of personal, professional, and entertainment options at your fingertips. View and edit Microsoft Office documents like Excel charts and Powerpoint presentations, including custom animations and slide transitions. Save time and remain up to date by using the USB 2.0 desktop synchronization cradle, which enhances file transfer speeds and synchronization of information between your PC and Windows Mobile-based device. The persistent store feature lets you protect data when your device runs out of battery power, while the HP ProtectTools (in collaboration with Credant Technologies) lets you use a PIN or password to control access to your Ipaq with encryption so that your data is protected should your Ipaq get misplaced or stolen. Enjoy images and slide shows using the HP Image Zone software for Pocket PC, and wirelessly print documents, e-mail, brochures, and photos to a Bluetooth-enabled printer. You can also easily transfer files to your Ipaq by communicating with other Bluetooth-enabled devices, and create personal area networks using peer-to-peer communication.
Additional Benefits
The Ipaq, with its soft, rubber sides and slip-free grip, is easy to carry. You will also appreciate the faster, more flexible playback with enhanced audio and video file formats using Windows Media Player 10. While surfing the Web, get where you want to go fast with the five-way navigation button and four application launch buttons. Expand your capabilities as your needs grow, using the Secure Digital (SD) card slot, and keep the display clear and free of scratches with the included plastic flip cover.
Warranty and Customer Service
The Ipaq comes with a one-year limited warranty. You can also rely on HP's renowned total care service and support, which J.D. Power and Associates has recognized as consistently providing "an outstanding customer service experience."

What's in the Box
HP iPAQ hx2495 Pocket PC, USB desktop synchronization cradle, removable/rechargeable lithium-lon battery, AC adapter, charger adapter, stylus, protective plastic flip cover, product information guide, and getting started disc.

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HP iPAQ 4150 Pocket PC Review

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(More customer reviews)I have had this IPAQ for several years now and it has more than served its purpose for me. Just recently however I wanted to add more memory to it and went to Staples to buy a 4 GIG SDHC. When I inserted the card into the unit,it still had the same amount of memory as before. (You can check this by clicking on SETTINGS/System/Memory and then click on STORAGE CARD.) So I called up HP and after they checked their records, they told me that that this unit can only take up to 512MB !! I was then put thru to their parts department and asked if they even made 512MB SD cards anymore. They said no they didn't, but that it could be specially ordered for only $228!! For that amount of money I could easily buy another unit, forget the card. I couldn't believe it. So I researched online and found a user who was using a 4 GIG SD card in his IPAQ 4150 with no problems. I read that since the Windows Mobile 2003 runs with FAT32, there should be no reason why it can't handle SD cards with 2 gig,4 gig, etc., when you need that extra memory. The only difference was that you have to use a NON SDHC card. The HC stands for High capacity which uses a different architecture. So, you have to use the standard 4 GIG SD card without the HC on the label. I ran back to Staples and found a 2 GIG standard SD card from SanDisk (they didn't have the higher 4 GIG on the shelf or I would've bought that one) for only $14.99 plus tax and when I inserted the card in the unit, it showed the increase in memory just fine! I wanted to pass this along so that you don't get discouraged when you need that extra amount of memory and are told that it can't be done. I'm still cringing at the thought of buying only 512 MB of memory for $228! It's unbelievable what people will try to con you into. In any case, this has nothing to do with the unit itself. I am now a very happy camper indeed!

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Product Description:
Hewlett Packard iPAQ h4150 Optional Battery Extended. This is a 3.7 Volt, 2000 mAh, Li-Ion Optional Battery . Dimensions: 2.04 x 1.46 x 0.43.100% OEM compatible.

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Palm T|X - Handheld - Palm OS Garnet 5.4 - XScale 312 MHz - ROM: 128 MB color TFT ( 320 x 480 ) - IrDA, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Review

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(More customer reviews)MEMORY

I upgraded from the Tungsten E2 because it didn't have enough memory to run some of my drug references. They would run, but very sluggishly.

128 Mb is plenty of room for all my data. I added a 128 Mb MMC card on top of that for extra space. I store all my contacts and schedule there as well as my drug references and some photos and I added some children`s games. The system runs faster than my Tungsten, even with more data and software.

The flash memory feature is really a necessity and I wouldn't recommend anyone go without it. One of my colleagues doesn't have one on hers and whenever she forgets to charge it, she loses all her data.

GRAFFITI

There is no dedicated writing area here, unlike with the Tungsten. You have the choice of writing on the application itself (which causes problems sometimes, because I `d activate things I didn't want to activate) or tapping an icon and bringing up a writing area resembling that in the Tungsten. I found Graffiti to be less sensitive in TX than in my Tungsten. I have to press the screen harder and it makes more errors than in Tungsten. With Tungsten, I could use my fingernail or a pen to write, but with this, I often found only the tip of the stylus would do and I needed to press down for it to really work.

BATTERY

Battery life is impressive. I could go for days without charging. I consult it quite a bit when at work. Of course, if I spend an hour playing a game, the battery will run down, but it does hole its charge well.

I did once have a Palm with a charging cradle. Unfortunately, neither this one nor the Tungsten came with one. I would much prefer that to a cord plugged directly to the wall, but it's a minor nuisance.

SCREEN

Because it doesn't have a dedicated writing area, the screen size is bigger, which makes it nice for viewing photos. I love how they look on my TX. Nice and bright with no distortion.

COMPATIBILITY

There were some programs that worked on my Tungsten that were incompatible with my TX. I think that's a problem with many computers and software, but I did find I had fewer compatibility problems with the Tungsten.

WIFI

I tried it a few times and at first, I thought the system was so slow. It couldn't make a connection and when it did, it took forever. Then, I went to McDonald's, which must have a very fast connection. Was I ever wrong to think this little unit couldn't handle WIFI. I just have to go where they have more oomph.

SUMMARY

Overall, the TX is a nice PDA. Of the ones I've owned, I'd choose this one again, if only because it can handle my drug references. It would be nice if it were compatible with some of my software, but we can't have it all. Were it not for the compatibility issue and the more difficult to use GRAFFITI, I'd give it 5 stars. Because of it, I can only give 4. Still a nice PDA.

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Product Description:
Palm Tungsten TX HandHeld PDA 312MHz 128MB Palm OS Garnet 5.4 1047ML. Product may differ from image shown.

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