Now now, guys, he's a wee tot of only two posts. Cut him some slack.
cranedave, you walked into a minefield. This is a topic of great debate and passion on this board, you can use the Search function top-right to find many many threads that have argued this to *DEATH* already. Go pop one of those up, peruse the various positions, and then feel free to add your two cents to those discussions. Starting Yet Another Apple PDA Thread doesn't serve much purpose.
Go pop one of those up, peruse the various positions, and then feel free to add your two cents to those discussions. Starting Yet Another Apple PDA Thread doesn't serve much purpose.
Yes, and as soon as your bring up an old thread be prepared to be flamed again fro bringing the dead to life. Its a zombie-thread-free zone around here.
Trust me, I have to use them all the time. In order for the iPaq not to suck it would require:
1) new software
2) new form factor
3) Non-abysmal battery life (everything they claim is a blatant lie, especially if you're running any sort of wireless)
4) Handwriting recognition a la the late model newton.
That's not all that much work, but there's really no reason for Apple to partner with HP over this, since there are hundreds of easily acquireable (for Apple) companies that make custom XScale chipsets, ready to go. A company called Strategic Test makes a particularly alluring module that is basically a PocketPC on an SO-DIMM. Beyond the Xscale board, which as I have shown is easily available, Apple would have to do the same 4 things if they partnered with HP.
The XScale is a pretty nice chip, though. It's better for PDA development than anything IBM has at the moment, and is likely to have in the near future.
Some people want a small tiny form factor that fits in their pocket, ala Palm.
Problems:
1) too frickin' small to write on efficiently. Graffiti doesn't count, it's a horrendous hack.
2) too frickin' small to view large documents efficiently. Ever tried viewing a Word document on a PocketPC? Scroll right, then back left, then down, repeat. Sad.
3) tiny screen makes current desktop OS designs a royal pain, needs its own dedicated OS and philosophy (what killed Newton)
Good things:
1) great for looking up small bits of data
2) fits in pocket
Some people want a larger form factor, like a Newton 2x00.
Problems:
1) isn't as portable or light
Good things:
1) you can work on actual documents of decent length, with lots of text input
2) A5 width allows for reading a full page width with only scrolling down - much nicer
3) much more like a regular computer, something like OS X would almost make sense
Now the problem is that the first market is already *very well filled*. I don't see how Apple could add much there at the moment.
The second market the public isn't fond of, apparently, since 90% of the people I talk to all want the size of a Palm, but the functionality of a laptop. Sorry folks, not going to happen.
Which leaves us stuck... one market Apple would have a questionable amount to add and distinguish themselves, from what would be a hellacious amount of development, and the other possible market (the one I think makes much more sense as a device) doesn't seem to be large enough. (Not to mention that the crappy tablets have soured people on the whole idea for the time being... going to take a while for the perception to recover.)
The XScale is a pretty nice chip, though. It's better for PDA development than anything IBM has at the moment, and is likely to have in the near future. [/B]
The PXA255 and 270 are very good. They have a few steps of a lead on the 405LP, which draws about the same current (at the same voltage) but lacks the rich peripheral support the XScale has on its die. I think, performance-wise, they are about the same.
There's a little company called RIM, that has a product called a BlackBerry that is kind of the industry standard in pocket-sized devices. It does what you want it to do - communications (email, attachments, phone, calendar, contacts). If you combined that with an iPod you'd have a truly greater device.
Anything less from Apple is, quite frankly, unacceptable.
Comments
Originally posted by cranedave
Is it only me or do anyone else feel that Apple should come out with a PDA or bring back the Newton? Would it be great to run 100% mac environment!
I would certainly buy one, but no.. I don't feel that Apple should do this.
Originally posted by cranedave
Is it only me or do anyone else feel that Apple should come out with a PDA or bring back the Newton? Would it be great to run 100% mac environment!
Try the search button... Its free! *Points to top-right corner*
cranedave, you walked into a minefield. This is a topic of great debate and passion on this board, you can use the Search function top-right to find many many threads that have argued this to *DEATH* already. Go pop one of those up, peruse the various positions, and then feel free to add your two cents to those discussions. Starting Yet Another Apple PDA Thread doesn't serve much purpose.
LOVE IT!
It's my first PDA/Smartphone and I didn't realize how much the Palm OS is like Mac System 7.
Originally posted by Kickaha
Go pop one of those up, peruse the various positions, and then feel free to add your two cents to those discussions. Starting Yet Another Apple PDA Thread doesn't serve much purpose.
Yes, and as soon as your bring up an old thread be prepared to be flamed again fro bringing the dead to life. Its a zombie-thread-free zone around here.
Then maybe Apple can rip off an iPAQ!!!!
I would love to run a 100% OS X, notebook to PDA environment...
I know making an iPAQ into OS X fully compatible is not that straight forward but weirder things can happen....
I VOTE OS X on an iPAQ!!!!!!!!!
Make it happen Steve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Trust me, I have to use them all the time. In order for the iPaq not to suck it would require:
1) new software
2) new form factor
3) Non-abysmal battery life (everything they claim is a blatant lie, especially if you're running any sort of wireless)
4) Handwriting recognition a la the late model newton.
That's not all that much work, but there's really no reason for Apple to partner with HP over this, since there are hundreds of easily acquireable (for Apple) companies that make custom XScale chipsets, ready to go. A company called Strategic Test makes a particularly alluring module that is basically a PocketPC on an SO-DIMM. Beyond the Xscale board, which as I have shown is easily available, Apple would have to do the same 4 things if they partnered with HP.
The XScale is a pretty nice chip, though. It's better for PDA development than anything IBM has at the moment, and is likely to have in the near future.
regardless I would love an Apple PDA running OS X, so would other people, but no one would admit it here... muhahahaaaaaaa.......
Problems:
1) too frickin' small to write on efficiently. Graffiti doesn't count, it's a horrendous hack.
2) too frickin' small to view large documents efficiently. Ever tried viewing a Word document on a PocketPC? Scroll right, then back left, then down, repeat. Sad.
3) tiny screen makes current desktop OS designs a royal pain, needs its own dedicated OS and philosophy (what killed Newton)
Good things:
1) great for looking up small bits of data
2) fits in pocket
Some people want a larger form factor, like a Newton 2x00.
Problems:
1) isn't as portable or light
Good things:
1) you can work on actual documents of decent length, with lots of text input
2) A5 width allows for reading a full page width with only scrolling down - much nicer
3) much more like a regular computer, something like OS X would almost make sense
Now the problem is that the first market is already *very well filled*. I don't see how Apple could add much there at the moment.
The second market the public isn't fond of, apparently, since 90% of the people I talk to all want the size of a Palm, but the functionality of a laptop. Sorry folks, not going to happen.
Which leaves us stuck... one market Apple would have a questionable amount to add and distinguish themselves, from what would be a hellacious amount of development, and the other possible market (the one I think makes much more sense as a device) doesn't seem to be large enough. (Not to mention that the crappy tablets have soured people on the whole idea for the time being... going to take a while for the perception to recover.)
Originally posted by Splinemodel
...
The XScale is a pretty nice chip, though. It's better for PDA development than anything IBM has at the moment, and is likely to have in the near future. [/B]
How about the 405LP?
Originally posted by Not Unlike Myself
Wow, mini sized porn. (unless of course it was midget porn in which case it would be about normal size on the LCD)
classic.
Originally posted by shabbasuraj
If HP can rip off the iPod...
Then maybe Apple can rip off an iPAQ!!!!
I would love to run a 100% OS X, notebook to PDA environment...
I know making an iPAQ into OS X fully compatible is not that straight forward but weirder things can happen....
I VOTE OS X on an iPAQ!!!!!!!!!
Make it happen Steve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HP is now ripping off the iPod? That's rich.
Originally posted by heinzel
How about the 405LP?
The PXA255 and 270 are very good. They have a few steps of a lead on the 405LP, which draws about the same current (at the same voltage) but lacks the rich peripheral support the XScale has on its die. I think, performance-wise, they are about the same.
Anything less from Apple is, quite frankly, unacceptable.
But I'll repeat the admonishment above to use the search function on "Apple PDA." You might learn something.