LaserProUSA

Not to start an equivelent Windows vs Mac war of words here in the PDA world but I just posted this on Pocket PC Thoughts and would like to see what my fellow Clie users think.

Well I have both of the top of the line PDA's from the Pocket PC 2003 (iPAQ h5555) and Palm OS v5 (Sony Clie NZ90) camps. In my experience with the Palm OS for the last 3 years I feel for business uses it is a superior platform. For gaming, entertainment and traveling in general the Pocket PC is superior. With that said there are a few PPC2K3 features that if present in PalmOS5 I probably would not have even considered the PPC2K3.

Allow me to elaborate.

Multitasking: One primarily being the multitasking, very effective when on the road, conducting demos, dealing with customers, etc. The need to switch between open apps with open docs is essential. PPC2K3 does this well, but I must give it up for the Palm platform's speed in instantly opening apps but as you'll see in my direct comparison below Mapopolis shows where this just simplyh isn't good enough.

Multimedia: Secondly although Sony has done a good job of creating a multimedia Palm PDA it pales in comparison to the PPC2K3 camp. Such as proprietary audio player that places ALL MP3's into ONE folder for playing. The PPC2K3 allows me to use multiple folders to organize and even allows playlists (I just wrapped up the Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire book via Windows Media Player. That is on 16 folders for each CD). The viewer included is slow, the movie rec works well and the player plays them well but don't try to view actual movies. The conversion process is time consuming, cumbersome, quirky and most times unusable. Voice record is pretty good and I have always been pleased with it, that is until I used Notes in PPC2K3. With the ability to write a regular note, record voice or draw it is simply superior. Only need to add an alarm feature as in BugMe for Palm OS. That would make is the undisputed best note taker I've ever used.

Internet: Surfing the net on the Palm is adequate and quick using NetFront 3 to many sites create messages that NetFront cannot handle the amount of images so most surfing is without images on. Bummer when I have the LAN card connecting to my access point via Cable Modem. Should not be a problem. Email is the same across both platforms but I cannot understand why all the Palm OS versions I've tested (about 1/2 a dozen) and the email built into PPC2K3 don't allow for filtering. I spend more deleting spam than I do with constructive messaging.

Gaming: I've tested a few apps on the PPC2K3 that are not even available on the Palm OS. The graphics are impressive and the gaming experience is really good. My kids love this feature alone. I have quite a few games on my Palm OS MS storage device for those leisure times but after seeing the very impressive graphics on PPO2K3 and the overall experience they are coming off. Nuff said.

Palm has thousands of apps for it that are extremely well written. If PPC2K3 had an equivalent to ZLauncher (launching application), Agendus Pro (contact management), SCMgr (Sales Manager), Bonsai (Full-featured outliner), Docs To Go (Word, Excel, PowerPoint editor), and a few traveling apps that I have I would seriously consider moving completely away from the Palm OS. Unfortunately the only app I've come across that makes the Palm version look pathetic is Mapopolis. If all the PPC2K3 apps were written that well Palm would go by the wayside as WordPerfect, Lotus 123, dBase, Netscape, Novell (amongst many others) did. Palm better wake up as in only a 3 years or so PPC has caught up with most that Palm had to offer.

Data input: Well there is only one keyboard for the NZ90 and I have it (Targus PA870) but the weight of the NZ90 is simply to much. I type around 65+ wpm and hit my keys rather hard. Over the years I've killed at least a dozen keyboards from my heavy handed abuse (can't be helped ) so this keyboard although works well cannot hold my heavy NZ90 well and securely. The iPAQ on the other hand has keyboards from Targus, Belkin, GoType, the new flexible FX100 and who knows whoelse. Soon to be more I can safely assume hopefully a bluetooth one (can only wish). Oh finally the Graffi (Block Recognizer on PPC2K3) is quick and easy on the Palm and I've played with the new Decuma (No real equivalent on the PPC2K3) Jot by CIC (Letter Recognizer on the PPC2K3), onscreen keyboard (Similiar on the PPC2K3) and even one that tried to translate the cursive onscreen (Transcriber on the PPC2K3). With the exception of Graffiti and the onscreen keyboard the other input methods are third party solutions with Decuma only available on the new NX series Clie's. On the PPC2K3 I found much to my surprise and appreciation all those methods built-in with a virtual writing area (Virtual Grafiti on select Clie models) and choosing your input of choice is quick and easy. That was impressive. Noticeable also is that the virtual writing area is available to ALL apps as it is built into the PPC2K3 OS, on the NZ90 apps have to be written to take advantage of it, costing 1/3 of the entire screen area if not written for. BTW even though the NZ90 has a built-in keyboard whereas the iPAQ does not I've never used the built-in keyboard on the NZ90.

Screen: I would never have thought this possible but the iPAQ seems to be a brighter white than the most impressive NZ90 screen (the NZ seems to have a slight blue tint, never noticeable until placed next to the iPAQ). Of course I never run the NZ90 more than halfway to conserve battery life but the iPAQ at the halfway mark is significantly brighter. Although I appreciate the high resolution 320x480 on the NZ90 now I realize that the text on some apps are simply to small, Mapopolis is a good example. Now the NZ screen is almost the same size (T3.25" x W2.25") as the iPAQ (T3.125" x W2.25") but the iPAQ only has a resulution of 320x240. The brightness, ClearType and crisp display in general makes this a strong contendor to the spendid displays that Sony has always put out. I must admit I am rather pleased with the display and quite satisfied.

Speed: The iPAQ has 400 MHz Intel XScale technology based processor vs the Sony Clie NZ90 200 MHz Intel XScale technology based processor. So techinically speaking the iPAQ should be twice as fast, right? Wrong! Factually speaking the units run about equivalent in moving throughout the operating system, launching applications, switching between apps, etc. In processing computing intense applications there definitely will be a difference in speed. The only app on both operating systems that I have that can give an apple to apple comparision is Mapopolis (can you tell I use this one alot?) Computing a route from my house to Mandalay Bay (I live in Las Vegas) the distance of 21.3 miles. The timing was simply amazing. On the NZ90 I simply counted 1001, 1002, 1003, etc. and I got all the way up to 50 seconds before the computation was complete and my route was ready (I even tried a new overclocking app and my time was reduced to 30 seconds). On the iPAQ I barely completed 1001 and the route was done. The is f@#$%^&g impressive. Completed in under a second, WOW! OK, in processor intense applications the speed is incredibly faster.

In my most humble opinion the following are what each top of the line PDA brings to the table.

HP iPAQ h5555: Great for video, audio, mapping, gaming
1/ RealPlayer & Windows Media formats can be played perfectly
2/ MP3 has an excellent playlist in the above apps
3/ Excellent for audio books (I have 65 MP3 books on a 40GB HDD)
4/ Mapopolis is simply AMAZING. Verbal commands on routes. I tested it with directions and purposely went of route. The software guided me back onto the correct path ON THE FLY. I was blown away. Connected to my Emtac BT GPS unit quickly and flawlessly.
5/ Multitasking is extremely valuable on a PDA. This lacks on Palm. When creating direction on the Palm is you leave the application you MUST reprocess the directions again upon reentering Mapopolis
6/ Half as thick as my NZ90 and 3oz's lighter
7/ I've had an NX70 stolen so the Biometric Fingerprint Reader is a huge +
8/ Quick and easy accessible On/Off bt & LAN
9/ Built-in LAN
10/ Large assortment of accessories and compatible with previous iPAQ models (3800, 3900, etc. series)
11/ I really like the Today screen being the default HOME. Nothing I've seen is like that on Palm
12/ Less expensive ($649) than the NZ90 ($799)

Sony Clie NZ90: Excellent for business uses
1/ Super fast. iPAQ is twice as fast (400mhz) with 8x as much memory (128mb) but the NZ90's speed (200mhz) is virtually the same as the iPAQ (probably due to the well written Palm apps and the memory (16mb) is well utilized due to these small yet powerful Palm apps
2/ Apps are better written, more logical and open/close instantly
3/ Very stable. Unless experimenting with hardware altering apps (hacks, overclocking and the like) never have to reset the Palm (I may reset once or twice a month)
4/ Highly customizable
5/ Built-in 2MegaPixel camera with built-in flash (I use this quite extensively)
6/ Built-in Bluetooth, but had to purchase separately the LAN card (another $150 investment)
7/ Built-in MS slot (Memory Stick, Magic Gate & Memory Stick Pro compatible), I have a 512mb MSPro stick
8/ Built-in CF slot. With the right driver I can use my 1GB CF card also
9/ Built-in microphone, speaker, jog dial, hold button
10/ Feels sturdy and durable in hand compared to the iPAQ that I feel like I may break

Overall I still stand by my earlier statement that the Palm OS is better suited for business purposes and the Pocket PC is better suited for audio, video, gaming and mapping.

In conclusion, make your choice based on your needs, requirements, budget, and what each platform brings to the table to meet those specifications only you can determine. Not on operating system or mine is better than yours BS.

Now that you've been educated to each his own

__________________
Visit LaserProUSA.com home of "The Best Laser Engraver Ever Made!"

tonyreynolds

Very interesting comparison.

I'm back in the Palm camp, having just purchased a mint NZ90 ($500, with 256MB CF card and Eurware CF driver + extended warranty...).

The main reason I switched back is the simplicity of PIM use on the Palm platform versus the PocketPC. I'm tired of having to navigate through multiple screens to write a simple memo or enter an appointment. I conceed though, that until recently I never really used the Notes app on the PPC, and I've found it to be extremely POWERFUL. I haven't heard of a Palm notes app that has a "recognize" function that will convert handwritten notes to text, not perfect, but as accurate as your handwriting.

I have found the NZ90 to be AMAZINGLY FAST. Far faster than the J565 I used to have, or the J548 I've been using 'til now. Most apps, as noted, open INSTANTLY, so multitasking is really not an issue for me. I usually only use one or two at a time anyway...

I agree that even the J548 is a FAR, FAR better MP3 player than the NZ. WMP is easier to use and as noted I can play files from multiple folders, only limited by the size of my memory card. Explorer on the PPC leave ClieFiles IN THE DUST. It's so much more intuitive and easier to user. I can move ANY file ANYWHERE.

The NZ screen is amazing, and I use it turned way down in brightness, to perhaps 15%. I like being able to turn off the backlight when using it in bright conditions, something I could do with the J565, but not with the J548 or with ANY PocketPC 2003 device that I know of.

The keyboard is great, and it's another reason why I purchased the NZ. I'm finding that it's even great for entering appointment info, in tandem with the stylus. It would be great if it were backlit, but perhaps the 'new' NZ, whenever that appears... There is no PPC that has a built-in keyboard. HPC's don't count: they're too big and they run an old OS.

The thing I'm struggling with right now is Microsoft Office connectivity. I have a few spreadsheets that I would like to run on the NZ as I have on the Jornada. I haven't yet been able to get any of the Palm spreadsheet apps I've tried to open one of the files form the Jornada, even when using a 'conduit'. PocketPC uses a conduit as well, but it's nearly transparent to the user: it's simply part of ActiveSync.

I haven't tried Docs to Go yet. That's next. One thing that's killing me is that the main machine I use for Hotsyncing the NZ is an IBM Thinkpad taht has Lotus Smart Suite installed instead of Microsoft Office. I may need to install Office to get the functionality I need...

Each platform, as I've been saying for years now, has it pluses and minuses. The main reason I went with the NZ was for the PIM functions and the camera (I'm an avid amature photographer...)

If I have to keep the Jornada as an MP3 player, I'll do it. It'll play with the screen off for 7 hours and I can put 4 hours worth of easily accessible music or Audible content on a single 256MB CF card. It'll also work great for the extensive Microsoft Reader .lit library I've accumulated. I haven't found a Palm eBook reader yet that will read .lit files.

All that to say that I LOVE the NZ90 and for what it does, the size doesn't bother me at all...

Tony

__________________
Current PDA: Apple iPod Touch, 8GB

Past PDA's: Palm Personal, Palm Pro, Palm IIIx; HandEra 330; HP Jornada 525, 548, 565; Treo 90; Sony Clie NZ90, TG50, Toshiba Genio e550G, Sony Clie TH55, iPAQ hx4700

_____________________

the perfect PDA has not yet been invented - TR

eric2002

Nice comparrison:

One very big, very BIG reason I have chosen the NZ over any other PDA, -the 2 mega pixel flash camera!!!

lostether

To start with I absolutely LOVE my NZ90. I also own a Toshiba E740, which is a very nice PPC, although with no where near the screen quality of the Ipaq or the NZ. However, there are a couple problems with the PPC that have kept me from every relying on it as my main PDA. The main is instability, the PPC is unstable, and takes far too long to do a soft reset. It also fatally crashes, requiring a hard reset, way too often, probably 10 to 1 over the NZ. A friend has the Ipaq 5555 (I think, PPC2003?) and I have managed to crash it on a number of occasions. Very frustrating.
Oh yeah, there is no PPC that can compare to watching a movie on the NZ90 in landscape mode 480X320, it is just amazing.

lostether

Oh yeah, one other thing. Given the file sizes of applications on the PPC 128 meg ram seems equivelent to 16 meg on the Palm.

JwY

can u tell me about battery life for the ppc?
just wondering
like normal usage and just listening to music with everything off

dstabb

Very interesting comparison. Let me add my few cents, having managed some development on both Pocket PC platforms and Palm OS. I have an NZ-90 personally, but the test PDAs were a Toshiba 335, and a Dell on PocketPC side, and a Clie 665C and a Tungsten T on Palm.

While the stock PIMS on Palm are much better than on PocketPC, I use ACT! as my contact manger, and there is no equivalent on Pocket PC. ACT! is simply the best sales management tool available for any handheld. In manages notes, follow-ups, forecasts, results, alarms, series activity, custom data fields, and has multiple field lookups.

If you are working in a developer environment, such as Satellite Forms, there are a few things that presently work better on Pocket PC, notably scrollable tables.

I suspect that the speed issue you find with Mapopolis is NOT native processor speed, but some code within the Palm version of Mapopolis that is working via some emulation code leftover from OS 3 and 4 and the Dragonball processors. I'd expect that to change soon with an update from Mapopolis. I've not yet bought that program, and would be very interested in hearing the results if you bring the issue to their attention.

Bluetooth keyboard ... I've had that wish, but am not holding my breath, particularly not on the PocketPC side. I used Microsoft's bluetooth mouse and keyboard with a laptop, and Microsoft's implementation of bluetooth on XP, much less PocketPC is very lame. I do not think they use the Widcomm drivers, and services over bluetooth are noticibly lacking.

I use the QuickOffice suite now. I like it better than Docs to Go, and it has FontBucket support, so there is less change in document appearance when I stay with a font family available on all platforms. QuickOffice has a few tabular conversion issues, but is now able to read NATIVE office files, which is very good. I used Docs to Go when I was using the Tungsten T.

You did not mention backup capability, which is far better for Palm OS. You can easily move from one device to another or upgrade without out losing data. Try restoring on PocketPC, or upgrading from a Toshiba to an Ipac.

Finally, the NZ-90's two slots were a deciding factor for me. Some PocketPCs also have two card slots - I think the Dell had two.

I like to be able to do a presentation off of the PDA using Margi's Presenter to Go. I want to be able to store a number of the actual presentations on the CF card in the wireless slot (I use Eruware's driver) and put the presenter XVGA hardware in the Memory Stick slot. This will let me do complex presentations or keep several in stock.

____|)avid

__________________
When I started computing, it was so long ago, we didn't have 0s, all we had were 1s.

christopher754

Tony-As a recent iPac user convert I have been extremely impressed with Docs to Go for Office connectivity. In my expereience over the last 2 weeks it has been flawless.

Chris

VICBCCA

Tony:

As a matter of interest, I have converted both my spreadsheets and docs from Office 2000 to Smartsuite 2002 and I am using DataViz Ver. 5.004 (587) with very few problems. I am using workbooks of linked sheets between 4 & 8 on average, and out of 11 workbooks I have three that come up with a message "this file is locked" . I had the same problem with Office 2000 and it usually was a formula or iteration problem.

Although I would rather not use Outlook, I use it when on the road along with DataVizMail becasue it will open most attached docs.

Currently on board an NX70, soon to be on a NZ90 ( or maybe I will wait for the next generation NZ?)

Importluva

If you haven't tried a new PPC (with the WM2003 and xscale @400mhz) then you'd be VERY surprised at the speed differences.



Do you mean like turning off the backlight completely? Kind of like when You press the Power button down on the clie for 3-5 sec and the backlight turns off? Yep, my HP2215 does that, and I think all Pdas do that now...




I do miss my keyboard, but there are some HPs coming out with an integrated keyboard, lets see what happens

Importluva

I can see how pictures would have an advantage, but movies...I never noticed better quality with my NX. Actually, I'd say that with all of the FREE options for my pocket pc, I've had a infinitely better experience with movies on my PPC. and I don't know what other peeps are doing to their PPCs, but mine has been pretty solid...not as solid as my old visor, but then again, what is?

Importluva

Do you have any basis for your ignorant remark, or is it just another thing that PALM lovers love to say about PPCs? I have more programs on my ipaq in main memory than I did with my NX and I still have over 35 mb left over-oops, that STILL looks like that is 3x what the NX has...

Importluva

First off, I will tell you that I have an Ipaq 2215. And I have no clue how they did it, but I consistently get like 5 hours of usage and still have around 20-30% battery life remaining-and that is with heavy emulator and movie use. I drove to champaign, and I used my PPC as my MP3 player-and I got like 7.5 hours of use (screen off) and still had around 41% battery life remaining. Truly amazing. Battery life on my ipaq has been so much better than my NX-and I have so many more uses for it too. You know how Palm always USED to have advantages with battery life? Well, not anymore, PPCs blow the newer ones away, especially the power hungry clies. And don't even start with the NZ90

lostether

No, I usually don't like to attack defenseless people, you have enough problems on your own. However, I have owned an IPaq and still own a Toshiba E740. Truth is often painful.