Which PDA: Palm Tungsten C, HP iPAQ 3715, or other? (VANITY)

I'm planning on buying a high-end PDA for remote WWW access, e-mail, and general fooling around. (IOW, I want to be able to freep anywhere. :-) ) I've narrowed my search down to the Palm Tungsten C or the HP iPAQ 3715, but I'm unsure which one to get. FWIW, all my previous PDAs have used the Palm OS, so I'm really not familiar with the capabilities and limitations of the Pocket PC OS.

Any freeper input, including suggestions of other models, would be appreciated. Built-in WiFi is a must; a camera would be nice.

Slinger:

I have been pda'ing for a few years now. I started out with a Palm III, then IIIxe. I made the switch to Pocket PC (PPC) in 2001. If you're thinking about switching, let me tell you, it's not like they say. That is to say, operating a PPC is not like operating your windows pc. The apps work completely different. There is a learning curve. I had become so dependent on my Palm, and had so many apps on it that I used often, the learning curve for me, was steep.

IF you do make the switch, may I suggest (since you're looking a high end stuff) you look at this:
http://www.pdagold.com/hardware/detail.asp?DeviceID=154

I have the Pocket PC Phone Edition, the predecessor to the MDA II that I linked to. The price of the II has come down to about 500-600 now, so I'll get one soon. They started out early this year at about 1000. The II has WiFi and Bluetooth as well as GPRS and infrared built in. With these, you have full connectivity (nearly) all the time. Plus, you get a fast processor (400 mhz)and huge storage capabilities. (196MB) And, of course, a cell phone. Now you only have one device to lug around.

I guess, if you get a phone edition, your cell company will make some difference to you. Although you can but these outside of the cell co's and get them "unlocked" so they will work on any compatible system. If you live and/or travel to places mostly along interstates (or about 50 or so miles away) T-Mobile has the best plans available. If you mainly care about speed, Verizon has the fastest system now, but only in select areas. T-Mobile's unlimited data plan (with a cell contract of one year) is only 19.99 per month. Verizon and others is 79.99 per month or on a per usage basis. (expensive)

You can get a phone edition Palm also. The Treo (650 ONLY) is a very good unit. I have a friend who had the 230?, and the 600, both couldn't deliver on the promises made, BUT he now has a Treo 650 and loves it. Hope this helps ya'.

:O)

P

Thanks - this is exactly the kind of info I've been looking for. I've gotten pretty used to PalmOS myself, so the learning curve warning is good to know.

I would rather NOT get a phone if at all possible - home phones are intrusive enough. WiFi is pretty widespread these days (especially in the kind of places I visit), so I don't think this will be a big problem.

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