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Laptop Vs. PDA --- How To Choose?

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  #1  
Old 11-20-2007
TechSpot Member
 
Location: Virginia
Member since: Nov 2006, 94 posts
System specs
Laptop Vs. PDA --- How To Choose?

Below is what I am looking for....

Something with FAST bootup time
WIFI
Web access
FTP Capable
Text Editor Capable of saving files in mulitple extentions (.php, .txt, .htm)


So I was looking at the Windows PDAs, do they have...


WIFI
Web browser
text editor that can save in multiple formats
FTP software?


But then I was lookping at laptops....

Is their a laptop that has a FAST boot-up, (under 30 seconds from cold boot)
Runs XP or another stable OS
WIFI
has a kinda small size (body and screen)
Is very durable, can tolerate being tossed arround with out body breakage or hard drive crash.


Are their products that can do that?



Thanks!



--Daniel L
  #2  
Old 11-20-2007
GameJunkie72792's Avatar
TechSpot Booster
 
Location: Cocoa, Florida
Member since: Dec 2006, 357 posts
System specs
Look at the VIA OQO They are pricey but worth a look.

http://www.oqo.com/store/shop.cgi/op/op_index.html
  #3  
Old 11-20-2007
Nodsu's Avatar
TechSpot Evangelist
 
Location: Estonia
Member since: Feb 2002, 9,431 posts
System specs
The distinction between ultramobiles and PDAs is rather blurry..

Keep in mind with a PDA:
- you want a huge one (in a PDA sense) with a proper keyboard and screen if you intend to do any text editing that involves more than 20 characters.
- it is hard to find free software for these things and the selection is limited anyway
- in-device storage is rather limited and you would probaby have to invest in an additional storage device (the PDA would have to support memory cards or USB storage)
- wifi may need an additional card - make sure you don't conflict with the previous point

For laptops:
- since you are comparing with PDAs, you probably want an ultramobile
- it's getting harder and harder to find anything with XP
- 30 seconds bootup is pretty much impossible unless you intend to keep the system virgin (no antivirus, firewall or any other resident software). One can always use sleep modes instead of poweroff of course.
- make sure you can fit at least 512 megs of RAM in there
  #4  
Old 11-20-2007
GameJunkie72792's Avatar
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Location: Cocoa, Florida
Member since: Dec 2006, 357 posts
System specs
I figured the OQO is the best of both worlds
  #5  
Old 11-20-2007
halo71's Avatar
TechSpot Maniac
 
Location: Augusta, GA.
Member since: Jun 2005, 1,290 posts
IF what you list in your post are "THE" most important things to you. Then I'd go with a PDA. I can tell you from experience that I would stay away from the HP PDA's. Have had numerous problems with them from several different models. Other's in my office had very similiar if not the same issues. We ended up switching to Dell PDA's. And I can honestly say that the Dell PDA's have really stood up with no issues!

This is what I have now.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Dell%20A...e=user-reviews
  #6  
Old 11-21-2007
TechSpot Member
 
Location: Virginia
Member since: Nov 2006, 94 posts
System specs
Thank You

OK, thanks everyone for your help! I now have a few things to work with...



--Daniel L
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