Last week I wrote that I was looking for a travel computer. Most people would call it a PDA, but I think they are much more than today. PDAs have gotten so powerful that they can replace a laptop in some instances.
I kept an eye on Craigslist last week and found what I think was a particularly good deal. This Dell Axim x50v was just $225. That includes state-of-the-art components including an amazing screen, a screaming processor, bluetooth and wi-fi connectivity. It runs on Windows so I can use Skype, Slingbox, and even Minimo, a small version of Firefox that appears to run Google Maps.
You don’t have to look too hard to find the same device cheaper than $225. In fact, I almost bought one for $140, but I was a little too late. The reason I jumped at the $225 one, was that it came with a GPS system. The system, a Garmin GPS 10, that can run $200 when you include the mapping software.
I found a portable bluetooth keyboard for around $60. I especially like that I can use it with my Treo 700P, should I need to. It looks like my travel computer is complete. I had budgeted between $250 and $300 for it, so I’m very happy to come in at $280. I’m tempted to sell off the GPS unit and software for around $80-100, but for now I’ll hold onto it. It will be interesting to see how much actual use I’ll get out of this travel computer.
I think you will be pleased. As I mentioned before I am quite happy with an x51v. The GPS might be quite cool to play with.
Lifehacker also had an article about making the PDA XP like. I might have to try one of these, since I have never been quite happy with any theme I could make.
http://www.lifehacker.com/software/how-to/make-windows-mobile-more-like-windows-268180.php
I use Pocket Informant as my GTD software package
Sounds. Awesome. I would like to see it in action sometime.
Why wouldn’t you just get a cell phone that can do that AND be a phone? I have had my Cingular 8125 for a year now, and a smartphone before that. I will never go back to a regular cell phone again. I have an Axim x50v too, but once I got my 8125, it was useless. The Cingular 8525 is a great phone too, the upgrade of mine. They both have everything the Axim has, WiFi capable, bluetooth, 400mhz cpu, plenty of onboard memory and expansion slots for more. They might be a little more, but you really do get more all around.
I have a Sprint Treo 700P which is great – except for when I travel outside the US – it’s internet connection is basically a paperweight. I could move to Cingular, but they’d have to offer me 500 minutes, unlimited text message, unlimited data, free calling to other Cingular carriers (Sprint gives me free calling to their customers), 7PM nights, free weekends, all for $30/mo. to match the deal that I have with Sprint. Oh and they’d have to buy out my current contract. It seems like a bad idea to base a phone service and phone for something that I do so infrequently.
(My Axim is 624mhz as well, and it’s great at rendering web pages which is the problem I find with the Treo 700P.)