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  • PHeller

    Sept. 10, 2008 6:50 p.m. PHeller Reader

    Two questions for ya all:

    I've got a phone. It does what I need it to do. It small. It's light. It takes a beating. Its cheap.

    I'd like a PDA. Something to keep on me to remember dates, keep notes, maybe even record lectures, browse the internet. The iPod touch does all that and looks trendy while playing your favorite music. I've got a car stereo with an ipod connection built in. I've got an iPod mini. It works, but its getting old and glitchy and only holds 7gigs. It stays in my car because I'm afraid to take it anywhere. The scroll pad doesn't always work anymore.

    Will the iPod touch work as a competant PDA?

    Also, my book bag has been trusty for almost 10 years, but its zippers are starting to give up. I use it for hiking, riding, and school, but its two strap construction is hard on my shoulder without hip support.

    Any suggestions for a not-huge daypack/backpack/bikepack/school pack that is comfortable to wear hiking but doesn't look straight from the military like some of the MAXpedition stuff?

  • Sept. 10, 2008 7:02 p.m. mistanfo Dork

    Well, I ordered a backpack today, but I don't think that it matches one of your requirements, since it was designed for the military: http://www.rideicon.com/product_details.jsp?category=1667&id=7047

    I'll be interested in hearing what people say about the Touch though, since I'm considering one for similar purposes.

  • ignorant

    Sept. 10, 2008 7:08 p.m. ignorant UberDork

    for the backpack I look at www.sierratradingpost.com

    and

    www.rei-outlet.com

    Look for reviews and what is on sale.. HA!

    I guess I wouldn't buy anything without a hydration sleeve or pocket now..

  • Tommy Suddard

    Sept. 10, 2008 7:45 p.m. Tommy Suddard

    I've been using my iPhone as a PDA (it replaced a Palm Lifedrive) and it works great. On a related note, I know where you can get a good deal on a used Palm Lifedrive.

  • confuZion3

    Sept. 10, 2008 7:46 p.m. confuZion3 HalfDork

    Get an iPaq (Compaq was earlier and HP took over later ones). It runs Windows Mobile. It's an absolutely fantastic PDA. If you can get one with Blue Tooth, then you're doing well. Even better if you can get one with Wi-Fi, although you can get a tiny card that plugs into the memory slot anyway. You can pick one up for $35.00 on e-bay with styluses, a cradle, charger, and software easily.

    The text recognition is fantastic. You write, and it becomes text. And unlike the Palm systems, you don't have to make one stupid little letter at a time in a tiny text box. You can write in cursive or print and see what you're doing.

    Need a calendar? The iPaq has a great calendar that will keep going long after you do. Voice recorder? Got it. Like solitare? Alright. And if you don't feel like writing, it even has a little keyboard feature that turns the bottom part of the screen into a little keyboard.

    Music: Check Video: Check Pictures: Check Microsoft Office: Check (Word, Outlook, Excel) Data storage: Check

    You're not looking at much information though unless you buy a large memory card (mine uses MMC / SD).

    I've had mine for almost 7 years and the battery still lasts longer than my iPhone battery with the same usage. I've dropped it several times and it still works. I made it through every job I've ever had, a year of high school, four years of college, and a year in the regular work force without any trouble. And when I thought I finally killed it a couple months ago, I was heart-broken. But it works again for some reason, so I'm happy.

    Otherwise, yeah. The iPod Touch will make you very happy.

  • Apexcarver

    Sept. 10, 2008 8:34 p.m. Apexcarver SuperDork

    later IPAQ's can be used for MAX-Q Data

    I have one that i stole from my mom (she never used it) and it gets used for data acq and awesome universal remote (yeah, it can remote control about anything).

    only problem is that if the battery dies then it dumps all my programs and i have to reinstall the MAX-q software and get a new activation code

  • seann

    Sept. 10, 2008 8:46 p.m. seann Reader

    I berkeleying love my REI ultralight back pack. It is a very light day pack with a hard plastic spine for an internal frame and a hip belt. I got it for geologic mapping were I spend around 6 weeks at a time hiking 5 to 10 miles a day and need to carry gear for the day. I needed something super light that would support nearly all the weight on my hips because my back is weird and I get back pain quick if I try to support weight on my shoulders. They aren't the most fashionable things and they are top loaders which isn't the most convenient but It was perfect for what I needed.

  • PHeller

    Sept. 10, 2008 9:52 p.m. PHeller Reader

    Seann, can I have your job or maybe a contact point of the place where you work?

    I would love that job!

    (I'm a Environmental Geography major)

  • MitchellC

    Sept. 11, 2008 12:16 a.m. MitchellC Reader

    I've heard a lot of good things about timbuk2 bags. Pretty standard equipment, but supposedly well-made and with good ergonomics. I have an over-the-shoulder pack that I wear to school, and it's realllly annoying when standing up to pedal; it slides out front in the process. The timbuk2s have a chest strap that better keeps it in place.

  • bastomatic

    Sept. 11, 2008 7:47 a.m. bastomatic Dork

    For just a regular school-type backpack, I like the Ogio brand. They have been durable, well-padded for a laptop, and nice pockets for just about anything.

  • alfadriver

    Sept. 11, 2008 8:04 a.m. alfadriver Reader

    Some of you may recall me asking the same question about a year ago, when my Compac PDA finnally died.

    I was hesitant to get an iTouch (same thing as the phone, but without the phone and camera)- as I needed something sync up with Outlook, and at the time, I had not heard of things that do.

    I ended up with a Dell X51v, which went out of production 6 months earlier- and really love it. Brand new in box, and it works really well. Standard Windows Mobile, and you can rip movies to watch while travelling.

    In the mean time, I have heard that there is now a lot of stuff available to make an iPhone just like a typical PDA.

    I'm still a little hesitant on the touch screen that can't use a stylus. But that's just me.

    Spend some time shopping around- find an Apple store and mess around with one.

    Real PDA only machines are very, very rare now. I think HP probably the only one making a new line, outside of Palm.

    Eric

  • Xceler8x

    Sept. 11, 2008 9:39 a.m. Xceler8x Reader

    Got a Crackberry 8100 about 2 yrs ago. Love it. It's not windows mobile but it does what I need it to.

    industry standard for email use. Can sync with Google Calendar using google's gcal application. I used it's voice recorder feature to send myself vocal notes. Other models can be had with a full QWERTY keyboard. Can attach to any enterprise level network. Reliable, rugged.

    Downside is it's pricey.

  • seann

    Sept. 11, 2008 10:29 a.m. seann Reader

    PHeller wrote:

    Seann, can I have your job or maybe a contact point of the place where you work?

    I would love that job!

    (I'm a Environmental Geography major)

    message sent.

  • Sept. 11, 2008 10:35 a.m. skruffy Dork

    My iphone is my pda. Now that I've got activesync setup with my exchange server I rarely need a computer when I'm out of the office.

    Everyone tends to hate on the iPhone because it's popular. Use one for a day and you'll never want anything else. The only things I don't like are the glitchy web browser (it tends to crash about once a day randomly) and lack of flash support.

  • bluej

    Sept. 11, 2008 11:08 a.m. bluej Reader

    I bought an Eastern Mountain Sports branded pack for my freshman year of high school. Initially I purchased it because it was not super expensive (probably around $60-$80) and had the biggest honkin zipper out of all the ones i'd looked at and was tired of it breaking and spilling my school books and supplies all over the street/walk/whatever. over two years after graduating college I still use it just about every day. it's been used for hiking/camping/travelling/toolbag/ummm, just about everything. zipper still works. it has a waist belt and chest strap but they aren't the best, however it was the bottom rung bag about a decade ago. lots of straps on the outside for tents, sleeping bags, shoes, etc.. I'm sure ergonomics have progressed since then as well. if there is one nearby, I would definitely check them out.

  • alfadriver

    Sept. 11, 2008 3:25 p.m. alfadriver Reader

    skruffy wrote:

    My iphone is my pda. Now that I've got activesync setup with my exchange server I rarely need a computer when I'm out of the office.

    Everyone tends to hate on the iPhone because it's popular. Use one for a day and you'll never want anything else. The only things I don't like are the glitchy web browser (it tends to crash about once a day randomly) and lack of flash support.

    I have no issues that it's popular. Just at the time, there wasn't a way to make it a real PDA. There is now, and more than likely, unless there's something magical about the new HP's (whenever mine goes out in a few years), I'll replace it with an iSomething.

    My only real issue with the iPhone is the camera. They are very, very much frowned upon here at work (some buidings have crush rules), so the iPhone would be a problem as a real PDA. The iTouch, OTOH, would be fine.

    I almost got one just because they were so darned cool.

    Oh, well. I still like my Dell.

    Eric

  • Xceler8x

    Sept. 11, 2008 9:44 p.m. Xceler8x Reader

    alfadriver wrote:

    some buidings have crush rules..

    As in they crush them instead of giving them back?

  • alfadriver

    Sept. 11, 2008 9:49 p.m. alfadriver Reader

    Xceler8x wrote:

    alfadriver wrote:

    some buidings have crush rules..

    As in they crush them instead of giving them back?

    If they catch you in some building with it, yes. If you remember to turn it in at recpetion, it's ok.

    But turning a PDA in at reception makes it kind of useless for a work tool, eh?

    E-

  • PHeller

    Sept. 11, 2008 9:55 p.m. PHeller Reader

    The Ipod touch looks pretty darn cool...but at 229 for the 8gb...yikes...

    I can get a paper planner for free...but then that wouldn't be nearly as cool.

  • rebelgtp

    Sept. 11, 2008 10:31 p.m. rebelgtp HalfDork

    Seann sounds like some of the stuff I do, but then I get to take a dog with me . I'm certified as a conservation detection dog handler. Basically if you want proof of a biological specimen to located in a given area we can find it, in a noninvasive way.

    We cover an average of 10 miles in a day depending on terrain. During my training we were in the middle of a rain forest, at one point the brush was so thick that I was standing a good 4-5 feet off the ground because I was actually on top of the brush , my dog was somewhere below me snaking his way around in the brush. During that training I crossed a log laying across a chasm, went over a 40 foot cliff, busted up my ankle and had the best time of my life. We get jobs doing field research around the world. I'm back in school now finishing up my degrees (Biology, geology, anthropology and history yeah I'm a glutton for punishment) then back into the field with me, well in the field during summers as well .

    Oh here is a picture of my old detection dog Max when we were doing our certification training.

  • PHeller

    Sept. 11, 2008 10:36 p.m. PHeller Reader

    Wow...you both have awesome jobs.

    I'm so jealous.

  • rebelgtp

    Sept. 11, 2008 10:42 p.m. rebelgtp HalfDork

    PHeller I basically just fell into mine. I'm family friends with the trainers and they normally train clients in pairs. Well they had one person cancel and still had someone coming. They asked if I wanted to get certified (for free) so that they would have someone to work with their client. So I took the two weeks off work, and made the trip to get my certification, which has eventually lead me back to school to get my biology degree.

  • PHeller

    Sept. 11, 2008 10:42 p.m. PHeller Reader

    Oops, despite some older rumors you can now edit calender events on the touch.

    Also, the Word Processor "Notes" sucks.

    Currently no way off attaching a USB keyboard yet either.

 

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