Got my dell axim x50v!

[tungsten t5]

got my x50v yesterday and all I can say is I love it! No screen whine, 640x480 is waaayyy better, there are way more option to input info: with no extra software there is an option to write any where on the screen, use the on screen keyboard, there is even an option with no extra software to use graffitie from palm! windows has so many more options to customize it than palm. You can over/underclock with no xtra software. wi-fi 802.11b, blutooth 1.2 love it!!!!!!!

[xpan]

One question. How reliable are the alarms/reminders? I count a lot on daily reminders and I have heard many bad comments concerning alarms that never go off..

Can you do this test for me, please?

Thanks for your time.

[arizona cactus]

i also have a x50v, and pretty much the alarm problem is fixed. in addition, tweaks2ks is an excellent registry hack that also has an alarm fix option. don't forget to look into the extenteded battery, and sync/charge cables. due to the large power consumption, you typically have to usb charge with the unit off. there are also 3-in-1 stylus available, and several case options.

[iboar]

I got an iPAQ 2215 over a year ago and the wow factor was huge. I now chunck rocks at Palms. I can only imagine the wow factor of your new Axim.

Personally, I think PalmSource should change it's name to GottaHackItSource, because to get PalmOS to do much you gotta hack it! :cool: But as you say, PPCs right out of the box do so much more.

[xpan]

i also have a x50v, and pretty much the alarm problem is fixed. in addition, tweaks2ks is an excellent registry hack that also has an alarm fix option.....

you see, "pretty much" is not enough. When I say "reliable" I mean sth like: set & forget solution.

[Dragwyr]

And this is in the Tungsten category why?

Not to nit pick or anything but I am wondering.

[Jonahan]

And this is in the Tungsten category why?

Not to nit pick or anything but I am wondering.

Because he originally had a Tungsten, and when he announced that he was getting the Axim, several people asked him to post about it.

[CLOS420]

chuck rocks at palms....made me LOL at work

[arizona cactus]

Quote:
Originally Posted by arizona cactus
i also have a x50v, and pretty much the alarm problem is fixed. in addition, tweaks2ks is an excellent registry hack that also has an alarm fix option.....


you see, "pretty much" is not enough. When I say "reliable" I mean sth like: set & forget solution.



well, let me put it to you this way -- i personally have never experienced the alarm problem. i also have had no less or no more problems with active sync than i have with palm/sony desktop. i was (and still am) a long time palm os user (going back to p3), but the last 3 pdas have been ppc's (h4530, mio 168, x50v: and still have my nz90). the x50v so far is the best pda i have owned. the cf slot has been great for CF gps and CF to memory stick adapter for moving/viewing pictures, and i also have a hitachi 4gb microdrive with movies viewed with betaplayer. battery life has not been a problem (plus, i have a mugen 2200 extended battery and the socket battery charger as well). but there is no "best" for everyone; everyone has different needs and tastes. for me personally, the best is x50v for now. i also only paid $334 with a $40 stackable coupon and 25% discount.

[tungsten t5]

thanks jonahan for backing me up. Well right now i'm testing the battery by watching shreck 2. Wow it's amazing. That 640x480 screen. I think that the 2700g graphics accelerator really need some juice. Also no overclocking is needed here, and the video plays with no flaws. I will tell you how long the battery lasted when the processor was at 624mhz, 520mhz, 208mhz. see you later.

[tungsten t5]

by the way it seems that beta player plays 2-3 times faster than mmplayer.

[STBXXL]

by the way it seems that beta player plays 2-3 times faster than mmplayer.

Are you aware, that BetaPlayer is now also available for PalmOS? It's called TCPMP (The Core Pocket Media Player). You can find it here: http://corecodec.org/frs/?group_id=53. The forum for this brandnew player is here: http://corecodec.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=PNphpBB2&file=viewforum&f=25. It's being ported by the same guy who wrote BetaPlayer (which later on will be renamed to TCPMP). It's still in pre-Alpha version, but I can tell you that's it's v e r y fast and also stable already (not a single crash so far).

Good luck with your x50v. I'll stick with my T5 since I'm very happy with it. :D

Cheers.

[palmdoc88]

I have a T3, T5 and a Dell Axim x50v.
My PDA of choice for daily work is now......... the T3. Its the best. Fast, simple and great for daily PIM.
The Dell certainly has the wow factor and can run some programs not available on PalmOS (like Pocket Skype) but it is SLOW and SLUGGISH - I guess because of the VGA screen, even at 625 MHz.
The T5 would have been ideal for me but I had to give it up for now as the NVFS memory leak bug is getting to me and the T3 is much more stable.

[bvkeen]

you see, "pretty much" is not enough. When I say "reliable" I mean sth like: set & forget solution.

xpan,
I had a problem with alarms with my e800, but have had no problems at all with later model devices (first an hx4700 and then the Dell x50v).

There are some utilities you need to install to help ensure that there are no problems: CheckNotifications, ClearNotify, and WakeupTweak, all of which are freeware and which have an extremely small memory footprint. As noted above by someone else, Tweaks2k2 is also a good tweaking utility.

I, too, MUST have functioning alarms, which I guess is one reason I've always had a Palm device around the house "just in case." But, I've had no alarm problems at all with my Pocket PCs during the past year and a half or so. Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition seems to improved the problems. And, like noted earlier, the utilities I mentioned are good insurance (I wouldn't try doing without them - some say you can get along without them now and some say you still need them, but I don't like to take chances).

BTW, I LOVE my x50v and I also LIKE my T5.

[bvkeen]

I have a T3, T5 and a Dell Axim x50v.
My PDA of choice for daily work is now......... the T3. Its the best. Fast, simple and great for daily PIM.
The Dell certainly has the wow factor and can run some programs not available on PalmOS (like Pocket Skype) but it is SLOW and SLUGGISH - I guess because of the VGA screen, even at 625 MHz.
The T5 would have been ideal for me but I had to give it up for now as the NVFS memory leak bug is getting to me and the T3 is much more stable.

My x50v is not at all slow and sluggish. It's extremely fast. I just leave the processor in the Auto mode, which means it doesn't even run at the full 624 MHz a lot of the time.

[tungsten t5]

ok with the processor on auto the battery was at 34% when shreck was done playing. now I will try 520mhz.

[applejosh]

I have a T3 and an rx3715. I really like the PIM functions of the Palm platform (having used them for a number of years), especially when you add DateBk into the mix. (Yes, I have Pocket Informant and Agenda Fusion, along with PocketBreeze, and it's still not as nice in most respects as the Palm side.) I like the connectivity options on the iPAQ. It's just easier to setup and connect to whatever hotspot you're at. The T3 (with sluggish wireless card) isn't nearly as easy, and the battery life while using it is dreadful (thank goodness for the PTG sled), which I expected, but still... I don't watch movies all that often (rarely), and I use my iPod for music, so those functions are secondary at best.

I have had numerous problems with alarms on the PPC side of things (most recently this morning). I've tried all the fixes and hacks and such, and I still get alarms that don't go off first thing in the morning. The T3 is much more reliable (although still not infallible) in this respect. The sad thing is I really don't have that many alarms or event triggers in my alarm queue.

Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses. It depends on what you're expecting out of a PDA which platform works best. One of these days I'll make a choice and go with one or the other, but I'm still waiting for that killer PDA. (I don't think the Life Drive or Tungsten X or whatever they're going to call it will be the one.) IMHO, Microsoft needs to fix the alarm issue once and for all, and PalmOne/PalmSource need to get cranking on some revolutionary ideas (the internal hard drive might be considered one, but I hate to think what it will do to battery life and speed (eg. rotational latency) compared with flash memory (even if it's only 512MB flash because of costs)). But I digress...

[bvkeen]

I have a T3 and an rx3715. I really like the PIM functions of the Palm platform (having used them for a number of years), especially when you add DateBk into the mix. (Yes, I have Pocket Informant and Agenda Fusion, along with PocketBreeze, and it's still not as nice in most respects as the Palm side.) I like the connectivity options on the iPAQ. It's just easier to setup and connect to whatever hotspot you're at. The T3 (with sluggish wireless card) isn't nearly as easy, and the battery life while using it is dreadful (thank goodness for the PTG sled), which I expected, but still... I don't watch movies all that often (rarely), and I use my iPod for music, so those functions are secondary at best.



applejosh,
You hit the nail on the head. The Palm PIMs are unbeatable, even compared with Pocket Informant, Agenda Fusion, and PocketBreeze (I, too, own all of them). Both platforms have their pluses and minuses. I would expect to have one of each device for a good long while. I've never understood people ranting and raving about how superior one platform is to the other, almost as if it were a religion to them, as both platforms are really good and I'd be happy having either one.

Sorry to hear that you are still having trouble with alarms, and it sounds like that sometimes happens to you even with the T3. I noticed the problem when I had a T3 and it appeared to me that it was "caused by" Fonts4OS5. A strange connection, if true, but I do know that the problem never occurred when Fonts4OS5 was disengaged and it did sometimes occur when it was engaged. BTW, I have not encountered this problem on my T5, even with Fonts4OS5 engaged (of course, the version of Fonts4OS5 that I now have is several versions later than the one I had on the T3). Something to think about.

[applejosh]

Sorry to hear that you are still having trouble with alarms, and it sounds like that sometimes happens to you even with the T3. I noticed the problem when I had a T3 and it appeared to me that it was "caused by" Fonts4OS5. A strange connection, if true, but I do know that the problem never occurred when Fonts4OS5 was disengaged and it did sometimes occur when it was engaged. BTW, I have not encountered this problem on my T5, even with Fonts4OS5 engaged (of course, the version of Fonts4OS5 that I now have is several versions later than the one I had on the T3). Something to think about.

Interesting. I do have Fonts4OS5 installed, and I think it's the latest version (although I'll probably go back and check now). I always have it enabled, so I guess that might be the cause. Missing an alarm is still very rare on my T3 (whereas the iPAQ seems to miss about half of the ones that occur in the morning). Sometimes I think I should just get one of those little Sharp Wizard things and forget about all the "toys" that come with an advanced platform like PalmOS or PPC, but then I remember I'm a geek, and I must have all the bells and whistles. :)

I was thinking about breaking down and getting a T5, but I don't know. I like the form factor better (plus better battery life), but the memory arrangement still has me concerned, plus all the power accessories and cradles I've collected for the T3 would instantly become useless (universal connector my a**). I know there were some "improvements" made to the T5 (and E2 I think) that made a new connector "necessary," but I wish PalmOne would realize that I'd upgrade more often if I didn't have to buy all the accessories again. (I do have the Universal Wireless keyboard, so I don't have to get another one of those. If only we could defy the laws of physics and come up with a wireless power supply. Funny aside: http://www.computerworld.com/departments/opinions/sharktank/0,4885,100753,00.html)

[bvkeen]

Interesting. I do have Fonts4OS5 installed, and I think it's the latest version (although I'll probably go back and check now). I always have it enabled, so I guess that might be the cause. Missing an alarm is still very rare on my T3 (whereas the iPAQ seems to miss about half of the ones that occur in the morning). Sometimes I think I should just get one of those little Sharp Wizard things and forget about all the "toys" that come with an advanced platform like PalmOS or PPC, but then I remember I'm a geek, and I must have all the bells and whistles. :)

I was thinking about breaking down and getting a T5, but I don't know. I like the form factor better (plus better battery life), but the memory arrangement still has me concerned, plus all the power accessories and cradles I've collected for the T3 would instantly become useless (universal connector my a**). I know there were some "improvements" made to the T5 (and E2 I think) that made a new connector "necessary," but I wish PalmOne would realize that I'd upgrade more often if I didn't have to buy all the accessories again. (I do have the Universal Wireless keyboard, so I don't have to get another one of those. If only we could defy the laws of physics and come up with a wireless power supply. Funny aside: http://www.computerworld.com/departments/opinions/sharktank/0,4885,100753,00.html)

Before I forget it, I liked the funny aside.

A few things:
(1) Regarding the problems with the alarms on your iPAQ, one thing that I do that "they" say is helpful is that I turn on my x50v within 30 minutes after getting up, while I'm having coffee, and give the day an overview. "They" say this power-on before the first alarm time is useful. (On the days when I'm using my T5 instead, my routine is the same, but the T5 doesn't "need" to have this done - I do, for me.) Of course, you're up the creek on this if you rely on the iPAQ alarm feature to wake you up.

Another thing that I have done is to only sync the past few weeks of appointments (on my x50v) plus future ones. Of course, I sync all appointments on the T5 because the Palm OS doesn't have an alarm problem. So, perhaps these things will help you.

(2) I prefer the T5 to the T3, now that I have the T5, because of battery life, being able to use drive mode, and so on. Its memory management can use some upgrading, but, as long as you put compatible apps on it, it will do fine. I have very few crashes out of it. About the only time it crashes is when I have TextPlus "AnyWhere" turned on and do a hotsync. It's not an all the time thing, but I do wish TextPlus or Palm would address (I really think the ball is in TextPlus' court on this one). However, until I got through the phase of figuring out which apps really worked and which ones were crash prone, I was regretting that I had sold my T3. It was a splendid device. The ONLY thing I did not like about it was its battery life. (BTW, the battery life on the x50v sux, but at least it can be replaced, and I use the extended battery instead of the original one now, so I get decent battery life out of it.)

(3) I finally got a WiFi card for the T5. It arrived today and I have installed it and tested it out. In my view, the jury is still out on whether WiFi'ing is better on the T5 or the x50v. I suppose that after I have really compared both for a while that I will conclude that each has pluses and minuses. That seems to be the way things go with PDAs. You'd think this technologically advanced world that we supposedly live in could produce a perfect PDA. I guess there are always critics of anything, though, and I'm often in the critic camp instead of reflecting on how great it is to have what I have.

Good luck with the alarms. If I were having the problems with the iPAQ that you are, I would dump it, because I very much depend on the alarm feature to help me out. But, that's me - not everyone has the same needs in this area. But, I can tell you that I will switch to Palm "for good" if I get another Pocket PC that has alarm problems. There's no excuse for it.

[applejosh]

Before I forget it, I liked the funny aside.

A few things:
(1) Regarding the problems with the alarms on your iPAQ, one thing that I do that "they" say is helpful is that I turn on my x50v within 30 minutes after getting up, while I'm having coffee, and give the day an overview. "They" say this power-on before the first alarm time is useful. (On the days when I'm using my T5 instead, my routine is the same, but the T5 doesn't "need" to have this done - I do, for me.) Of course, you're up the creek on this if you rely on the iPAQ alarm feature to wake you up.


I have Sprite Backup run everyday at 5:30, and I've thought that this would be enough (since it does wake up all the way), but lately, that theory's gone down the drain. I don't depend on it to wake up, but I'm not exactly a morning person, so sometimes I don't think about turning the device on when I wake up. On those days I do have half a wit about me, I will dock the thing on my home computer before the first alarm sounds (which is generally a reminder for me to give my dog an antacid so I don't end up with stuff on the carpet upon getting home at night) and all is right with the world.

Another thing that I have done is to only sync the past few weeks of appointments (on my x50v) plus future ones. Of course, I sync all appointments on the T5 because the Palm OS doesn't have an alarm problem. So, perhaps these things will help you.


I would, but sometimes I need to look up past appointments so I can tell a client that yes, I did do that on such and such a date, and it was them not listening to my instructions on why something failed.


However, until I got through the phase of figuring out which apps really worked and which ones were crash prone, I was regretting that I had sold my T3. It was a splendid device. The ONLY thing I did not like about it was its battery life. (BTW, the battery life on the x50v sux, but at least it can be replaced, and I use the extended battery instead of the original one now, so I get decent battery life out of it.)

This would be one part I really wouldn't enjoy, and one reason why I haven't taken the plunge. I just don't have as much time as I used to for troubleshooting. (And my rx3715 has fantastic battery life with the standard battery.)


(3) I finally got a WiFi card for the T5. It arrived today and I have installed it and tested it out. In my view, the jury is still out on whether WiFi'ing is better on the T5 or the x50v.

I also recently got the wifi card. I'm pretty darn disappointed with the performance so far. I haven't nailed it down to it being the AP's, the card, or possibly the programs and "hack-like" apps I run, but it's not a whole lot better than going through a bluetooth connection for me.


Good luck with the alarms. If I were having the problems with the iPAQ that you are, I would dump it, because I very much depend on the alarm feature to help me out. But, that's me - not everyone has the same needs in this area. But, I can tell you that I will switch to Palm "for good" if I get another Pocket PC that has alarm problems. There's no excuse for it.

Yep. That's one of the reasons I haven't dumped the T3. It's pretty reliable, and the iPAQ just isn't. The problem is I like all the eye candy that comes with the iPAQ (Wisbar Advance 2, PocketBreeze, etc.), and its wireless connectivity just seems to work a whole lot better (and easier). It's funny; the PalmOS seems to do simple things better (calendar, etc.), but makes more advanced features overly complicated (wifi, etc.), while the PPC makes simple things (calendar, etc.) overly complicated and the advanced things easier.

[bvkeen]

applejosh,
A huge amen to everything you said in your last post!

[Verxion]

applejosh is absolutely correct. As an owner of MANY pdas (ppc, palm, linux pdas, etc.), I see it like this:

Palm is for getting PIM right, and everything else is a pain

Non Palm just flat CANNOT do PIM right, but most everything else is really nice.

If you like the glitz and glamour, go for PPC, they give you "bang for the buck". Just don't use them for PIM.

If you NEED PIM support, get a Palm - pretty much any Palm, and then just take anything you can do past PIM as a "wonder that it even worked". As long as you aren't expecting non PIM stuff to work, you will be pleasantly surprised from time to time. :)

It is all a matter of having the appropriate level of expectation.

-Verxion