Handhelds/PDAs - Palm vs Zaurus vs others - Opinions? Experiences?

[Ben Scott]

On 3/20/07, brk <gnhlug at karas.net> wrote:
>> But wireless carriers universally see any cell phone, and all the data
>> on it, as *their* property.
>
> If you get one of those horrible Sidekicks, then yeah, T-Mobile owns/
> controls your data.  With the Treo, 99% of whats on it never goes
> over the carriers network.

  That's not all I'm getting at (though it is part of it).  I object
to the whole attitude wireless carriers have.  They want everything
locked in to them, owned by them, controlled by them.  Ideally, they
want to charge me every time I press a button, take a picture, or
think.  It's Microsoft all over again, but with annoying ring tones.
I don't care if you can sometimes find a solution that doesn't
automatically stab you in the eye.  I want no part of it.  I vote with
my wallet.

> Although you don't want to hear it, I too prefer 1 single device.

  (1) You can do whatever you want.  My requirements are for me and me
alone.  But they are my requirements.

  (2) I would prefer a single device.  Forces outside my control lead
me to choose multiple devices.

> I've looked a lot at the Zarus models, they suck (IMO).

  Yah, I'm getting that impression.  They seem more like a powerful
toy.  Certainly, not something designed for everyday things first
(i.e., PIM).

>>  I also don't want to have to switch PDAs just because I switched
>> wireless carriers.
>
> Get something that uses a SIM card.

  Neat in theory.  Not so good given all the mutually incompatible
networks out there.  For example, the phone I have from work is
Nextel.  Swapping SIMs between Nextel *models* doesn't even always
work.

  Even given compatible networks, I know the carriers sometimes do
things to defeat cross-brand compatibility.  While I know they don't
always do so, and I understand there are sometimes ways around the
lock-in, see above about my thoughts on wireless carrier practices.

-- 
"One day I feel I'm ahead of the wheel / And the next it's rolling over me"
                                                  -- Rush, "Far Cry"