I Sold Out to Microsoft...Again.

MICROSOFT STRIKES AGAIN...
I've been a die-hard PalmOS user from the days of yore. My first handheld was the Handspring Visor Deluxe and I rocked it until it just wasn't sweet anymore. Like many computer users, I just didn't want to give Microsoft any more of my money. But just like all the other times I tried to avoid Microsoft (somebody say Netscape, Word Perfect), that time ran out. Microsoft and Dell actually got it right this time.

I started business school this fall and my time management has become critical. All of the school's email is run through a Microsoft Exchange Server. I'm at school all day and away from my computer (you don't really need a laptop at my school surprisingly enough). But early on I figured out that I had some holes I needed filling: (1) I needed more access to my email than just checking it between classes at the computer terminals; (2) I needed constant access to my schedule which was always changing.

Palm Handhelds, while really great, don't integrate with Microsoft Products very well. You can get them to work using third party software, but even then it's still an approximation. I use Outlook for my email client (pretty much a school mandate) and needed something that was a little better with keeping all of my appointments in one spot. My Sony Clie TG50 (the best and worst PDA I've ever owned - I'll get to that another time) was dying. So the time came to find a replacement. But which one to choose? I (grudgingly) decided that I probably needed to investigate a PocketPC. I had heard that the new OS is much improved (and it is) and that Wireless provided the extra versatility that I needed.

DELL AXIM = BEST VALUE
I have a small business account with Dell and I already knew that the Axim's were the cheapest high-power PDAs on the market that used PocketPC. I looked around the Dell site and found the X30 for $365. This included the 624MHz processor and Wi-Fi. I compared it with HPs (> $600) and was struck by the price difference. The Dell models are hands-down the cheapest PocketPCs that include Wi-Fi. I ordered the Dell and managed to get a 1 GB SD Card for storage (you can get these pretty cheap now through various vendors).

EASY TO USE
I managed to quickly get set up and start syncing my calendar and contacts list (imported from my Clie). What surprised me the most was how similar the Calendar application was to the Outlook Calendar application on my laptop. It's easy to read a daily or a weekly calendar. The Email client is easy to read and scroll through as well.

The cradle, however, is on the large size. I'm not sure why, but it *works*. It also has an annoying blue "Dell" light that is actually pretty bright in my bedroom. Sometimes I have to put something over it to keep it down. I think Dell offers a USB power cord option. I actually think this is a better option than a cradle from the standpoint of desk space and versatility. I also have a car power socket that has a USB plug in it. So I could also charge it while I'm driving.

WIRELESS
I had to jump a few hoops with the university computer people, but I finally managed to register my wireless card and get on the school network. I'm still having some problems actually sending emails from my handheld (which I'm assuming is a mistake on my part in setting everything up), but I definately can receive them. This is a big help between classes because I can get my email quickly and get to class to get a good seat. If the class takes a turn for the boring, I can actually reply to a few of them. Internet Explorer works pretty well too. The rest of the internet, however, doesn't really work on small screens so that is the only real drawback with that application. But the browser combined with the screen size are still good enough to check my Yahoo! Mail.

COMPARABLE SIZE
One good thing about the Palm devices is that they were always smaller than the PocketPCs. I was surprised to find that the Dell Axim was about the same size as my Clie. It's a little wider and slightly taller with the WiFi antenna. But it still fits in my same case I was using for the Clie. It's also not any heavier.

MULTIMEDIA
This version also includes a full version of Windows Media Player 9. This has afforded me the big WOW factor with my friends. I have a Windows Media clip of the Dave Chappelle show (The Rick James skit) that I play to everyone. The motion is great and the display is clear as a bell. If only I could actually get Cable to it, it would be great. I can also play my good old MP3s on it so I can keep using it as my regular portable MP3 player.

SOME DRAWBACKS
There are some drawbacks to this device, however. First, I can't deactivate the screen like I could with my Clies. This lets me play music without wasting the battery on the display. The stylus feels more bulky than the Sony's as well. Even though it's pretty small, it's still just a bit more combersome than some of the other Palms (most notably the m500). So there are some basic nicities that I've gotten used to.


Overall, this is the most productive PDA I've ever owned. There are some new designs out that offer the same versatility and value too. I can much more rigorously keep track of my ever-changing schedule and keep up with my commitments. This is a much needed sense of balance during such a period of change and uncertainty.