UX? or just more tripe

[DennisOS2]

Ooooh ! Please! not another post without a real PDA to bash! These UX machines are lame for sure.

[pstoppani]

tripe
1. The rubbery lining of the stomach of cattle or other ruminants, used as food.
2. Informal. Something of no value; rubbish.

[DennisOS2]

Originally posted by pstoppani
tripe
1. The rubbery lining of the stomach of cattle or other ruminants, used as food.
2. Informal. Something of no value; rubbish.


PDAs MUST evolve. Cameras are simplistic. It is time to add meaningful functions to the PDA ................ or do not add anything!! Communications is the next best addition. Phones, modem whatever. That will bring meaningful additions to the PDA. Let's move forward!

[pstoppani]

I want my phone to be a phone, that is it; nice and small that I can carry everywhere.

I want my PDA to be a PDA, that is it. Big screen, lots of features, and I carry it occasionally.

Putting the two together begets garbage devices.

UX are perfect PDAs that work great with a nice simple/small phone with Bluetooth. Finallly we get a decent landscape PDA.

What more do you need/what?

[Eddy]

I agree on the phone being a phone thing, and a PDA being used just as a standalone PDA.
Just me. :p

[n2ifp]

No one is forcing you to buy one, is there?

[pstoppani]

Originally posted by n2ifp
No one is forcing you to buy one, is there?

Nice example of tripe :rolleyes:

[Sneezy]

I think, if I am reading this thread correctly, that people are complaining because PDAs aren't evolving, and it's not evolving because there is no built-in modem or phone on the UX.

Well, I had an HP palmtop with a built-in modem. It was huge. It was definitely the intermediate size between a palm and a laptop. I don't know if that's a good thing.

And how can you say PDAs aren't "evolving?" Three to four years ago, our only choices were monochrome, 2-4 meg, expansionless sync-to-your-computer rollodexes. The UX is the first palm to have portrait mode, a usable keyboard, built-in WiFi and bluetooth, all in a 6 oz package. That seems like evolution to me.

I agree, however, I could give a ratz azz about the camera. It just tacks on $100 bucks to an already expensive device.

[Unregistered]

Personally, I like the idea of cameras on PDA's. As my use of my PDA evolves I find myself collecting data constantly. From a communication standpoint you can make a much bigger impact on people, at times, by backing up a point you are making with a simple photo. And as I take notes to remind myself, or compare things, the photos have been very helpful.

A picture is worth a 1000 words, as it has been said, and sometimes I have found this to be true, saving huge amounts of time as I try to describe an event or problem to someone through e-mail. Just snap a photo and refer to that. You can easily can clear up any misunderstandings.

It isn't for everyone, of course, but luckily there are so many different PDA's to choose from.

[DennisOS2]

Originally posted by pstoppani
I want my phone to be a phone, that is it; nice and small that I can carry everywhere.

I want my PDA to be a PDA, that is it. Big screen, lots of features, and I carry it occasionally.

Putting the two together begets garbage devices.

UX are perfect PDAs that work great with a nice simple/small phone with Bluetooth. Finallly we get a decent landscape PDA.

What more do you need/what?
There are examples of functionality fusion / technology fusion everywhere. The garbage as you so eloquently state comes NOT from the fusion of technologies, but the poorly conceived implementation of those technologies. I guess, then, you own ONLY a Palm III? Certainly not a color model, certainly not a model with a camera? Do you own one that plays MP3? A Clie? Of course not. Because those technologies are antithetical to the PDA as the term originated.

So, just buy a cell then. No one is forcing to buy the combo ....... or one with a still camera, video camera, mp3 player, WiFi, BT, voice recorder, etc. Undoubtedly you have a different gizmo for each of those technologies ........ and of course a cell phone, too. No, your position is ..... 'I have what I want ........... that's all that anyone needs'. The technology exists to to have built-in cellular capabilities. Someone can certainly devote one or possibly two models in an entire line to that added functionality ............. then let the marketplace decide.

[Unregistered]

"
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by n2ifp
No one is forcing you to buy one, is there?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Nice example of tripe "


Hey, tripe is how you get your post count high!!!! Take a look if you don't believe me ;).

[Unregistered]

some people only believe in open discussion if and only if you agree with their opinions :). if you don't, then you get a smart a$$ answer.

[lostether]

Sometimes people post their opinion as fact, and believe in the philosophy that if it isn't right for them, it shouldn't be made at all. This is all part of the fun on Cliesource.

[Omnitron]

Not everyone WANTS a cellphone PDA - I for one have had such bad luck with cell phones that I will have no interest in them whatsoever. No matter how many gimicks they stick on them -- INCLUDING PDA features.

I want my PDA to be a Organizer/Computer first and foremost. Allow me to store and process information in as many ways as possible. Camera/Wireless is okay, but not neccessary. It does allow access to visual information per above.

But on a scale of 1 to 10, Cell features rate a negative googleplex in my book.

[pstoppani]

I in no way intended to say that there should not be combined phone/PDA devices. I simply wanted to say that I didn't want one (I've owned several and they all sucked in more than one way). I have yet to see one that doesn't either suck at being a phone or suck at being a PDA, that is one reason I want to keep them separate. The other is because I need my phone to be highly reliable and every PDA/Phone that I've used is basically as unstable as the PDA (Palm OS, Symbian, Pocket PC); they crashed often.

There are plenty of PDA/Phone combos out there and indeed I don't buy them (however, I play with them extensively at work). I also think the Sony's Clie group generally believes in the separation of phone/PDA; probably mainly because there lots of ways a PDA can connect wirelessly, especially in Japan where there are lots of choices not only in phone companies but also in WiFi and PHS (which is a big reason why the Clie's have the CF slot; there is no single good choice of wireless access). However, bluetooth is becoming popular enough to rely on it as a way to connect to a phone/modem. I'm suprised and very pleased that they chose to build in WiFi into the UX.

Anyway, I'm always for "to each is own" and I'm sorry if my original post sounded like I was pushing my opinion as fact; that was not my intent.

Later,
Pete

[pstoppani]

Dennis, since you asked: I own an NX80 and before that I owned (NZ90, NX70, NR70). I also have an SJ20 and an iPaq. I have Verizon's LG6000 camera phone. So, no, I don't have a device for each function. However, I do carry a separate 3MP camera when I need one since I find the camera's in the PDA's (even the NZ90) quite poor compromises.

As you say, when fusion is done well and/or makes sense, it is convenient, fun and useful. However, fusion of technologies isn't always practical to implement nor a good thing either.

There are several factors that make it hard for me to envision a good implementation of phone and pda fusion any time soon.

- To be useful (for me), a phone needs to have easily accessible buttons with have tactile feedback. Maybe when LCD screens have tactile feedback I'll warm up to a phone/pda.

- To be useful (for me), a PDA needs a stylus and a large screen. Unfortunately, this large size makes it tough to take with me to many family outings where all I have is a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Maybe when they figure out how to fold up a screen I'll warm up to a phone/pda.

Maybe I should start wearing those baggy shorts that seem to be popular these days :)

[jaimejr66]

Considering the advance Buzz on the Upcoming Treo 600, The concept of a PDA/Phone is not entirely Dead.

To add GSM Phone capabilities to a device like the UX would not have added much weight or Complexity. That would have made the UX the Ultimate Road Warrior PDA. Able to connect to any available network. Phone, Wi-fi or Bluetooth.

Given a choice I'd rather just carry one thing.

[aithir]

Different people->Different needs.
Me I could use a GSM Phone + PDA, only if it was Bluetooth Enabled and I could used it with a bluetooth headset. Otherwise imagine holding your PDA next to your head talking to it...Not very nice sight.

[digital330]

trend i see is,
1. cell phones will replace palmtops
2. palmtops will replace laptops
3. laptops will replace desktops

so UX is the future of palmtops... they must achieve laptop replacement status to survive.

[Hakaida]

Well, perhaps ultimately, a converged device will become the standard we all use. But, for the moment, we don't have one device that can do each function as well as the individual components. As one said, even the NZ90's camera doesn't function as well as his dedicated 3MP digicam.

As another said, hey, if you don't like the UX, then don't buy it. But why bash it? Just because it's not right for you doesn't mean it's a bad idea. Look at the popularity of the thread posted by sonicboy, who owns a UX50 and was posting his impressions of it. Obviously there is great interest in the device and if you read the posts there, you'll see how many even just on this forum want to buy one.

If you DID have one device that would do all the things that you'd like as well as each individual component and still fit in a form factor satsifactory to all it's functions, phone, pda, camera, etc., the thing would probably cost more than you'd be willing to pay for it and then you'd be complaining about how much Sony is charging for it. As it is, there's far too much of that. Hey, if you can't afford it, or you don't like it because it doesn't do what in your opinion is the next stage of pda evolution, then as another user said, don't buy it. No one is twisting your arm.

All things will evolve to meet the needs of the market, with the advances of technology. Remember the first cell phones? Those huge Motorola bricks that cost hundreds with service that cost $$ per minute? Now, look at the new Motorolas, Sonys, Nokias, Samsungs, etc. And, they're either free with service (or reduced in price) with the minutes to $ ratio the reverse of what it was in the days of the original Motorola bricks.

My opinion is that the UX is a very nice PDA. With the advent of more and more hotspots, the built in WiFi is a nice touch. Barring that, you could pick up a Sony Ericsson t68i or similar for next to nothing w/activation and you can connect via the built-in Bluetooth. Is that the perfect solution. Not for some, but look around at the alternatives.

Is it expensive? What new technology isn't? The crowd who go for Zire 71's probably aren't going to be drooling for the UX50, and vice versa. The whole reason that there are so many different models is because there are so many different tastes and so many different needs and budgets. If not, we'd all be happy with one pda.

Why don't we go to constructive criticisms rather than senseless bashing tripe.

[DennisOS2]

Originally posted by pstoppani
(I've owned several and they all sucked in more than one way). I have yet to see one that doesn't either suck at being a phone or suck at being a PDA, that is one reason I want to keep them separate. The other is because I need my phone to be highly reliable and every PDA/Phone that I've used is basically as unstable as the PDA (Palm OS, Symbian, Pocket PC); they crashed often.

There are plenty of PDA/Phone combos out there and indeed I don't buy them (however, I play with them extensively at work). I also think the Sony's Clie group generally believes in the separation of phone/PDA; probably mainly because there lots of ways a PDA can connect wirelessly, especially in Japan where there are lots of choices not only in phone companies but also in WiFi and PHS (which is a big reason why the Clie's have the CF slot; there is no single good choice of wireless access). However, bluetooth is becoming popular enough to rely on it as a way to connect to a phone/modem. I'm suprised and very pleased that they chose to build in WiFi into the UX.

Anyway, I'm always for "to each is own" and I'm sorry if my original post sounded like I was pushing my opinion as fact; that was not my intent.

Later,
Pete
Not a problem .............

I actually haven't owned a PDA/phone. Felt none of the available models were worth owning. The current Palms or the Clie's have the freatures but not the correct form factor. Again, I go back to one of the orginal claims from Palm about OS5 ............ tight integration with cellular technology. They must have thought there was a market. Indeed, the right package might cut into Blackberry sales from the true businessman road warriors.

One of the business periodicals just ran an article about the next big marketing push for PDAs. They stated it will be right at corporations for a wide variety of employees. They won't be looking for cameras, that's for sure. WiFi, BT, and true mobile functions.