WinCE vs Palm OS: Read & decide which is best.
Feb 09 '00
I am a 2 yr user of a WinCE device, my opinion about them: horrible.
I use a 66mhz Everex A15, which is faster or the same than all the other PalmPC's that are black and white screen (mono) and dont have a keyboard. It has about a 2-4 day rechargeable battery in it. I have programmed for the WindowsCE and been watching this industry heavily for over 3 years.
The basic argument between WindowsCE and PalmPilot is the same as the argument between Windows and Linux. Windows is relatively easy to operate (but not support), it crashes a lot and uses lots of resources and is slow and programs are expensive. Linux is harder to set up, NEVER crashes, is FAST, and the programs are free or VERY cheap.
You decide what you want....the answer is simple in my opinion: I know Windows as a crashing, slow, expensive OS....why would I want a PDA that does that?
The added advantage of the PalmPilot though is that over 5 million people think that they are easy to use. I know people that DONT use computers but that love the PalmPilot.
I will keep my WindowsCE device until the Handspring Visor or PalmPilot make some small changes. Then I will upgrade to the only PDA OS option there is: Palmpilot.
The reasons I dont like the PalmPilot:
1) My Everex WinCE Vibrates to remind me of appointments. PalmPilots cant do that...yet...Handspring's should be able to do this in the future.
2) My Everex WinCE has repeating alert reminders for appointments. PalmPilots (my friend's anyway) only display an appointment alert once and then stop. I want an alert like the WindowsCE that keeps popping up every 5 minutes until I turn it off or until 20 minutes goes by.
3) My Everex WinCE puts a contact's birthday automatically into my calendar. The PalmPilot doesnt automatically do that.
4) My Everex WinCE has more visual space. PalmPilots have valuable space taken up with the space you can write in. I believe PalmPilots makers made a bad decision and that people should be able to see things in that space.
The reason NOBODY should buy a WindowsCE device:
1) Battery life is less than 6 hours of real use. This means you need to carry a charger with you in your pocket. Everyone who has a cell phone with a 24hr or even 48hr standby knows how annoying it is when the battery goes out.
2) Lack of speed. They are just soooooooooooooooooooo slow. The newest ones and fastest ones are still 5 times slower than a PalmPilot. The OS is the problem. The WindowsCE devices have 133Mhz or faster processor chips, the PalmPilots have 16Mhz processor chips. Even with a chip that much faster, the PalmPilot is STILL faster. Not just a little faster, but significantly faster. Dont believe me? Go to a store and try it out. Microsoft should be embarassed. That is like an olympic runner being beaten by a snail in a 1 meter race.
3) Everyone has the PalmPilot. Want to exchange business cards? Simply transfer it via infra-red to the 5 or more Million people all over the place. There are less than 500 thousand users of WindowsCE devices. I personally have never met anyone with one. I have met over 100 people with PalmPilots though.
Still think WindowsCE is the way to go? Good, support that diminishing minority! Everex and Philips disagree with you, they stopped producing their WindowsCE devices because they were losing money. No more of Philip's Nino. Additionally, Everex made Compaq's WindowsCE device. So you may be having to say goodbye to Compaq as well.
The only real decision you need to make now is which PalmPilot or Handspring device to choose. And whether Handspring's modules will be out.
That is all.
Nathan
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Epinions.com ID:
nsnook
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Member: Nathan
Location: Parsippany, NJ USA
Reviews written: 12
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:
Computer Consultant for Small Business Professionals with less than 10 partners. Home users as well.
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