Graphic interface: Palm OS vs. Pocket PC

[pumpkineater]

Hi all,

I am trying to decide whether to get a new Clié SJ22 or an iPAQ 1910. As far as I can see from pics around the net, the Pocket PC graphic interface is way way way more nice and clean than Palm OS. To me the difference is so big that I am beginning to think I have seen "biased" pics. It's almost like comparing MS-Dos to Windows 3.1.

For example, just look at http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/daily-comparison-palmos-pocketpc1-article.html for an idea of what I mean.

I have heard that Palm OS are a bit stuck as an OS, but does this include its graphical interface as well?

Am I way off line here or have I misunderstood anything. Is the new Palm OS 5 (which comes with the forthcoming Zire71) more graphically nice maybe?

Thanks for any thoughts on this matter.

/Peter

[Caleb_pearson]

the pictures you see on the palm in that link is from datebook 4, I would have to say you can get a better looking interface now, palm is getting much nicer looking.

[mmmm_beer]

If you want pretty go with PocketPC if you want functional, intutive, and easy to use then go with PalmOS. PalmOS as shipped by Sony and the latest PalmOS 5 devices have some very high resolution screens, just like the PocketPC. It would be more up to a developer to add the eye candy to make it pretty, but I personally rather have functionality that fluff.

Instead of just looking at pictures, I really recommend you go to a Best Buy or some other store, where you can actually play with both, to see if you really like the interface. I have had a PocketPC and switched to PalmOS and couldn't be happier.

[PalmGearJenn]

Hi Pumpkin Eater,

While I do think that the PPC has some graphical advantages over the Palm I don't think that this review is still accurate as far as graphic capabilities considering it is dated 11/24/2000 the Palm OS moves pretty fast as far as graphics. Sony users now have Hi Resolution as well as High Resolution+ which is Virtual Grafitti. Facer is cartainly a pretty today page and is entirely skinnable Facer (http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?&prodID=43849) I'm sure the other ClieHeads will weigh in on this one soon.

[Tixx]

Originally posted by mmmm_beer
If you want pretty go with PocketPC if you want functional, intutive, and easy to use then go with PalmOS. PalmOS as shipped by Sony and the latest PalmOS 5 devices have some very high resolution screens, just like the PocketPC. It would be more up to a developer to add the eye candy to make it pretty, but I personally rather have functionality that fluff.

Instead of just looking at pictures, I really recommend you go to a Best Buy or some other store, where you can actually play with both, to see if you really like the interface. I have had a PocketPC and switched to PalmOS and couldn't be happier.

Just so people know, Sony has higher resolution than PPC in almost all cases.

[Tixx]

You do have to remember that programs need to catchup to the use of the faster processors being used by the Palm OS. Most pics you will see have programs designed for 16-33mhz processors vs. the new 200mhz processors now available. So we will see graphic advancements becoming more and more prominent

[ratman]

Before I start, I would like to say that I am not anti-Microsoft and depend on their software development suites for my livelihood, but genuinely find Pocket PC's difficult to work with.

I would agree that many Pocket PC applications do look 'prettier' than the standard Palm OS apps, but unless Microsoft were to do something pretty drastic to make their PDA applications more useable I would not consider a Pocket PC over a Palm.

Microsoft have taken the approach of trying to port their desktop applications to a PDA and haven't considered the vast differences in how PDAs are used in comparison to desktop PC's when designing the apps.

Having said that if I were to buy a Pocket PC it would have to be the Dell Axim over an IPAQ. I have worked with a few IPAQ's in my time, most recently the 5450, which on paper is a very nice device (fingerprint recognition, bluetooth, WLAN all built in), but even with its 400MHz processor it still felt slow when launching applications and since HP took over Compaq the technical support for the IPAQs does not seem to be anyway near as good as it used to be.

If I were you I would go with the Clie SJ22 (or NX70V if you want high performance and 320x480 res) with its higher screen resolution and wealth of applications that you can buy to further inhance the interface, bringing it up to and beyond Pocket PC levels.

[Drachen]

As a PPC user that's recently gone back to Palm, I have to say that WinCE definitely looks better than any version of Palm OS I've seen, including os5 on my NZ90. With such a high resolution, I'm sorry it wasn't better skinned. That's all it is, really. Check out some of the HiRes+ apps pre-installed on the Clies. They look as good or better than anything on a PPC. Most Palm applications were designed to be run on OS3 or 4 as well as 5.

Just make sure that the unit you buy can run the programs you want and the peripherals you need. The HP is limited to SD/SDIO expansion cards and the Sony to just memory sticks. Otherwise, they're pretty comparable.

[Importluva]

the 1910 is not sdio meaning that it can only take sd MEMORY cards.

The PPC interface is pretty, especially the today page. THat is the only thing that I miss about PPC.

[Drachen]

Doh! You're right. I could have sworn the 1910 had SDIO. No wireless connectivity is a bad thing.

[Rick 098]

Originally posted by Importluva
the 1910 is not sdio meaning that it can only take sd MEMORY cards.

The PPC interface is pretty, especially the today page. THat is the only thing that I miss about PPC.

Get today!(free today page that can be mnapped to the calendar buton and when you press button again it goes to app set to calendar button in prefs.)
Or facer!(everyone knows what that is!)

[legohead]

Do you spend more time watching nature programs than experiencing the real thing? More time laughing at TV jokes than joking around yourself? More time watching TV sex than making love yourself? Then there's something you're missing. Television isn't real, but the addiction is. TV TURNOFF WEEK APRIL 21-27, 2003.

Fortunately, I solved that problem a few years ago. I finally started to totally ignore the TV.

NOW... i've got another problem. I'm glued to this computer! Next I'll be glued to my PDA. When will I get ahead of these machines- they're taking over the world!!!!

[Rick 098]

I couldnt survive a computer turnoff week! Tv, yes, Computer, no.

[cbulock]

Originally posted by Rick 098
I couldnt survive a computer turnoff week! Tv, yes, Computer, no.

Same here!

[orol]

neither could I :-)

[jamesj1k]

Considering that I make my living on my computer, I would lose a weeks worth of pay and have LOTS of e-mails to answer after that week.  Over 400! YIKES :-)

James

[ratman]

To be honest James you will probably find that 95% of office workers rely on their PC's inorder to carry out their jobs. If everybody adhered to keeping their PC's turned off all week businesses would loose millions. If thats the case perhaps Computer Turnoff Week should be made an International Holiday!

Sounds good to me :)

[wbdjr]

Originally posted by pumpkineater
Hi all,

I am trying to decide whether to get a new Clié SJ22 or an iPAQ 1910. As far as I can see from pics around the net, the Pocket PC graphic interface is way way way more nice and clean than Palm OS.



As someone who owns both a Palm and a PocketPC.....get a Palm. The interface for PocketPC is AWFUL. Windows grafted on a PDA....and it doesn't work. Palm's interface is much more clearn and clear.

Palm's are also far more reliable. PocketPC's crash left and right....AND THAT'S JUST WITH THE BASIC APPS FROM MICROSOFT. (Big surprise, right? It's just windows with stuff stripped out.)



I have heard that Palm OS are a bit stuck as an OS, but does this include its graphical interface as well?



Then you've heard wrong. Stuck? They just released OS5, for example. The interface is improved in minor ways, but if you're just after flash-bang, as opposed to consistent interface, you may want to rethink your priorities.

Don't just go buy what the hardware vendor SHIPS either. Realize that you can find replacement programs (on either platform) for anything you don't like. But also realize that

a) Palms are far more stabe
b) Palms are available from more vendors
c) Palms have FAR, FAR, FAR more software available for them than PocketPCs.

Am I way off line here or have I misunderstood anything. Is the new Palm OS 5 (which comes with the forthcoming Zire71) more graphically nice maybe?


What do you mean by "graphically nice". Don't go for a pretty face....go for USABILITY. Go to a store. Try them. Think about how you are going to USE them.

[dorr1]

I only gleaned the article, but the Palm unit was a IIIC (unless I missed something). Pretty old stuff. I would like to see the same test with the current line of PDAs. How about a Sony NX, or NZ?

[X Destruction]

You know, if there was a way to make colorize also make gradients in certain regular program areas... That would make the interface a little cooler. Maybe palm could also make some buttons whatever they would be at the top toolbar. In the top toolbar there's only the title, I bet they could at something at least up there. The Palm OS' interface is not based on pretty looks, it's based on getting things done fast and having programs that are productive. I don't need fancy looks, but gradients would be pretty cool.

[PDH LA]

There are developers that are coming out with some amazing looking programs for the Palm. Contacts 4 and Zlauncher are two notable examples. Check out the screenshots on Palmgear of Contacts 4 to see what is possible - scroll down to see how beautiful the Palm OS can be - it's just up to the developers to write the code.

http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?prodID=47659

[hansschmucker]

Add. Contacts as well as ZLauncher make heavy use of standard PalmOS functions to build these interfaces. It's not like all is new. Basically, the great and _very_ simply to use gfx functions are allready a part of PalmOS!