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Author	Topic: Möbius 2002 Article Comments
Judie Administrator Posts: 891 From: San Angelo, TX USA Registered: Jun 1999	posted 10-24-2002 10:09 AM Post your comments here on Möbius 2002. http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/mobis-2002-article.html Just click the POST REPLY button on this page.
Scott R Junior Member Posts: 6 From: Simsbury, CT Registered: Oct 2002	posted 10-24-2002 05:25 PM quote: Originally posted by Judie: I feel like what I owe them is fairness in my reporting. What I owe you, as Gadgeteer readers, is honesty and full disclosure. I believe that I was able to accomplish both with this article. Well said. Let me be the first to tell you that you accomplished it in spades. Not only was your article the most exhaustive in disclosing the value everything involved in the Mobius trip, it was also the most exhaustive, period. Great job! Scott [This message has been edited by Scott R (edited 10-24-2002).] [This message has been edited by Scott R (edited 10-24-2002).]
The Wraith unregistered	posted 10-24-2002 06:43 PM 'What makes this Pocket PC so interesting is the fact that the V35 has a brilliant 3.5 TFT screen, runs on an X scale processor, has 32MB ROM and 64MB RAM, includes and SD/MMC slot, a jog dial, weighs only 4.2oz, uses a 4-way directional pad, has four launch buttons, comes with a cradle & sync cable. WHEW! While it only comes with a 900mah battery, Viewsonic is saying you should be able to get 8-9 hours battery life. Hmmmm. Not bad for a PDA that retails for $299.00!" The Dell Clemente has all that plus a CF slot, 48 MB ROM, and a 1440 mAh battery. MSRP is $299.
Judie Administrator Posts: 891 From: San Angelo, TX USA Registered: Jun 1999	posted 10-24-2002 07:11 PM Scott - exhausting in a good way, or exhausting in a bad way? Wraith - That is an excellent price on the new Dell. Does anyone have the size specs for this Pocket PC, though? I can't remember seeing that stated in all the things I have read about it. If the following link to Brighthand is correct, Dell may even be introducing a model for $199. Talk about breaking a price barrier! I guess there are a lot of Pocket PC surprises in store for us. http://www.brighthand.com/article/Dell_PocketPC_Rumors Judie :0) [This message has been edited by Judie (edited 10-24-2002).]
Seane_B unregistered	posted 10-24-2002 07:28 PM So, what do I have to do in order to be part of Mobious? Do you think I'd be elligible if I already work for Microsoft?
Holo unregistered	posted 10-25-2002 02:03 AM Judie Thanks for your review! Viewsonic is touting that the V35 is thin - is it significantly thinner than your ASUS? Can you give a thickness estimate please? Thanks Steve Notley
Judie Administrator Posts: 891 From: San Angelo, TX USA Registered: Jun 1999	posted 10-25-2002 04:22 AM Holo - The Viewsonic is just about the same thickness as the ASUS/Zayo (which is very thin already). I think you would be safe looking at these comparison shots of the Zayo to other Pocket PCs for thickness: http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/zayo-review.html The Viewsonic actually weighed a little bit less than the Zayo. Judie :0) [This message has been edited by Judie (edited 10-25-2002).]
mclaugh unregistered	posted 10-25-2002 05:15 AM The Verizon employee you mention (Randy Walker)- is he an employee of Verizon, or Verizon Wireless? Did he give you any specific info on his job function or anything? As a Verizon employee, I'm fairly curious to know which employees are allowed to go "play" with the gadgeteers- I would love to find a position in my company that works with PPC's, especially in some sort of testing capacity.
Judie Administrator Posts: 891 From: San Angelo, TX USA Registered: Jun 1999	posted 10-25-2002 08:03 AM mclaugh, Randy was with Verizon Wireless. I looked back over my notes and I couldn't find his specific job title. Sorry! Judie :0)
jmpage2 unregistered	posted 10-25-2002 01:14 PM Wow, and I thought that I drank a lot of coffee... how many lattes did you have while in Washington Judie? 10? 20? 30? HAHAHAHAH Anyway, nice write-up... I was seriously tempted to get the new Toshiba E330 but now I think I'm gonna have to wait for the new Viewsonic and Dell units coming out in December before making my mind. The Dell will be the one to beat, but it's quite a bit bigger and heavier than the little E330 or V35 (or your Razor). PS, Diedrich's coffee is 10X better than Starbucks!
Judie Administrator Posts: 891 From: San Angelo, TX USA Registered: Jun 1999	posted 10-26-2002 08:33 AM jmpage2, I am a caffeine addict. If I have my way, my method of delivery is either a cold diet coke or a well made latte. I need a caffeine fix every hour, on the hour - sometimes more. It's sad, but it is my only "bad" habit. I can't wait to see the Dell Pocket PC. It sounds like it will be a FAB device, I just hope it isn't too big. Looking at the pictures I have seen, it looks like it may be huge. Hopefully not, though. I have never even seen a Diedrich's, but if I come across one I will remember your recommendation. Judie :0)
plainsong Member Posts: 19 From: Helsinki, Finland Registered: Dec 2001	posted 10-26-2002 05:22 PM When I grow up, I wanna be just like you!
plainsong Member Posts: 19 From: Helsinki, Finland Registered: Dec 2001	posted 10-26-2002 05:27 PM I hit enter before I was done.. oops.. Anyway, great report, but now I'm just jealous. Gear and bags, and just being in a place where you can really get your geek on. It sounds like you had a blast but learned a lot too. Is it any wonder that the two top Gadgeteers on the net are female? Not to me, it's not.
icruise unregistered	posted 10-27-2002 06:44 AM I appreciate the fact that you have been honest in telling what Microsoft has spent on you. But what do you think Microsoft's motivation for all of this is? It would be naive to think that they are doing all this out of the kindness of their hearts, but they seem to be preaching to the choir -- the people attending are already pretty firmly in the Microsoft camp.
Judie Administrator Posts: 891 From: San Angelo, TX USA Registered: Jun 1999	posted 10-27-2002 07:49 AM icruise, I believe that Microsoft's motivation is this: if a reviewer does not have a particular PDA running the Pocket PC platform, then they won't personally know what it can do. If they don't personally know what it can do, then they will never recommend the PDA. Microsoft basically "plants" these "seed" PDAs so that we (the reviewers) have an opportunity to use these PDAs - understanding that we can't go out and buy every one. Does that help? Judie :0)
The Wraith unregistered	posted 10-27-2002 10:04 AM According to Dell's product slides, the Clemente is 5.1" long by 3.2" wide by 0.7" thick. This is about the same size as a Casio E-200, and only a little larger and 2/5 thicker than the Zayo. And yes, there will be a $199 Clemente, almost identical to the other save that it will have 32MB RAM, 32 MB ROM, and a 300 MHz processor. There's also a rumor going around that Dell it testing a Windows XP Embedded PDA, but that's just a rumor and even if it's true it doesn't mean they'll market it.
The Wraith unregistered	posted 10-27-2002 10:09 AM P.S. I forgot to mention that the weight is listed as 6.5 ounces. Not an ultralight, but worth it I think when you factor in all you're getting.
Judie Administrator Posts: 891 From: San Angelo, TX USA Registered: Jun 1999	posted 10-27-2002 10:13 AM Wraith, I would certainly be interested in checking out the Dell, especially if it is around the same size as the Casio. Thanks for the specs! I have read rumors about the Windows XP PDA. I wonder if maybe that might be something like the Tiqit Eightythree...lot's of exciting things coming up, obviously. Judie :0)
jmpage2 unregistered	posted 10-27-2002 12:02 PM Yes there is a lot of excitement about the new Dell units, the new Viewsonic V35 and the new Ipaqs. All of these should have super looking TFT displays and at least reasonable battery life. I was really considering jumping ship and going to a Palm PDA but one day in the store playing with them really convinced me otherwise (not a flame, just an observation). The frustrating part is putting up with an already outdated 3760 Ipaq every day that gives me fits (the 750mah battery is killing me) and knowing that I won't have good choices for it's replacement for at least another month!
jmpage2 unregistered	posted 10-27-2002 12:05 PM Wraith... do you have a link to those specs?
The Wraith unregistered	posted 10-27-2002 06:48 PM I'm afraid I don't happen to have a link to the (correct) specs, though I do have the product slides if you'd like them. Here's an exact recap of what the slides list, my comments in bold: 185g (6.5 oz) 130 x 80 x 17mm (5.1" x 3.2" x 0.7") Power Button, 4 Application Keys, 5-Way Navigator button, Jog Dial, Record Button, Headphone mini-jack Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 Premium This is the standard PPC OS. Intel PXA250 XScale 400MHz Processor or 300MHz Processor The 'or' bit is in red, referring to the low-end device. Brilliant 3.5" TFT 240x320 QVGA 65K Color Transflective LCD 64MB SDRAM or 32MB SDRAM Again, 'or' in red 48MB Flash ROM or 32MB Flash 'Or' in red 1 Compact Flash Type II Slot 1 Secure Digital Slot IrDA Port 1440mAh Li-Ion Removeable Battery with Backup Battery Built-in Microphone and Speaker 2 LED's Errent apostrophe included for accuracy's sake Bluetooth supported via Compact Flash Type II Card Wi-Fi 802.11b supported via Compact Flash Type II Card USB Cradle with 2nd primary battery charging slot Ships with USB Cradle, AC Adapter, Protective Jacket, Extra Stylus, System Documentation, E-CD (SW Apps & Docs) Special addons include a 3400 mAh extended battery, foldable keyboard, snap-on thumb keyboard, replacement primary batteries, a travel sync cable, replacement styli, and a leather case.
jmpage2 unregistered	posted 10-27-2002 08:08 PM Thanks much for the info. New Dell units should be very tough to beat. I am currently torn between Palm Tungsten T, Viewsonic V35 and the new Dells.
The Wraith unregistered	posted 10-28-2002 03:04 PM quote: Originally posted by jmpage2: Thanks much for the info. New Dell units should be very tough to beat. I am currently torn between Palm Tungsten T, Viewsonic V35 and the new Dells. If I were you, I would probably lean towards one of the Dells. A brief analysis: Tungsten: Normally, I'm a proponent of the Palm OS, and the Tungsten T is very cool and compact, but it has a few drawbacks. They selected Bluetooth over WiFi or giving the user a choice--and without a CF card slot it would be extremely expensive to connect it to a WLAN. This may not be a big deal, but for a high-end model, especially asking what Palm is, they should allow maximum versatility. While it has the hardware to play MP3s, they didn't bother to include software for it in the box. I'm afraid that between Palm and Sony, to get a good PalmOS device one would have to wait for HandEra to release something. V35: My BS detector goes off when I look at the V35. Granted, I haven't investigated every inch of it, but the 'THINNEST, LIGHTEST, AND MOST POWERFUL' attitude they have stamped all over their PR stuff seems unsupported, particularly considering that it runs only a 300MHz processor. I also don't get a good impression of any marketing department that feels they have to type in all caps to get attention. Between the rhetoric, the processor, and the lack of a CF slot, I personally would pass this one up. They seem to be taking the HP-Compaq route: make a feature-poor device with a great screen and try to sell it to the ill-informed corporate crowd. Clemente: The only serious downside I can see is whether or not Dell will be able to support the Clementes--but I can't see them giving the amount of effort they've put in, stirring in high points from other PPCs as well as some new options, if they're unable or unwilling to produce a quality device and properly support it. Given that there aren't any unforseen surprises, I'd put money on the Dells as the most feature rich devices for the price. Of course, your mileage may vary, and what you use it for defines what device you need. If I can help you any further, please let me know.
Tritan Member Posts: 108 From: MI,USA Registered: Sep 2000	posted 10-29-2002 02:27 PM Nice article like always Judie.Keep up the fair reporting . I think microsoft was trying to buy some good reviews. I have always found your reviews on target and fair. thanks ------------------ May the Palm be with you!!

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