If I were more paranoid, I'd suggest it was the new "bad design element you throw in to see if the client is paying attention."
Wash: Captain, didn't you know kissin' girls makes you sleepy? Mal: Well sometimes I just can't help myself.
'Our Mrs. Reynolds'
Buffistechnology 2: You Made Her So She Growls?
Got a question about technology? Ask it here. Discussion of hardware, software, TiVos, multi-region DVDs, Windows, Macs, LINUX, hand-helds, iPods, anything tech related. Better than any helpdesk!
Theodosia - Jul 17, 2006 11:10:53 am PDT #8521 of 10003
'we all walk this earth feeling we are frauds. The trick is to be grateful and hope the caper doesn't end any time soon"
Gris - Jul 17, 2006 4:36:27 pm PDT #8522 of 10003
Hey. New board.
Jessica, I'm gonna be honest: Windows Mobile has a LOT of flaws, but at this point I think the flaws in Palm's ANCIENT OS are probably worse, overall. But I still am sticking with the Palm Treo for one reason, that I'm guessing might apply to you as well: without easy access to a Windows machine, installing software on a Windows Mobile PDA is an enormous pain in the keister.
You see, the vast majority of Windows Mobile software is distributed inside Windows-only EXE install files. This despite the fact that there is a perfectly servicable (if a bit primitive) method for installing Windows mobile files that is cross-platform. Some providers will provide access to these CAB files with a bit of digging, and others will send them to you if you request it in an email, but it's a pain, and the install process is not exactly simple.
Of course, for software that you only really have to install once, that's fine. But I never got Vindigo to work, despite tons of tinkering with Missing Sync, and it's not formall supported. Zagat guides would need to be updated yearly, with all of the obnoxious emailing for the updated CAB that entails. And I simply couldn't easily tinker with my programs the way I like. Thus, I sold my Windows Mobile PDA and bought a Treo 650.
If you have a Windows PC available that you can use for installation (and if you want, syncing Vindigo) then Missing Sync does a perfectly good job syncing the actual address book/contact stuff. If that's easy for you, I'd recommend going for a Windows Mobile phone (though make sure to play with it and read up on it before buying). It will also let you shop for Windows Mobile software that IS supported by Macs. But if it's going to be a constant frustration, like it was for me, then you'll want to stick with palm.
Jessica - Jul 17, 2006 5:54:12 pm PDT #8523 of 10003
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
But I never got Vindigo to work, despite tons of tinkering with Missing Sync, and it's not formall supported.
I discovered today that Vindigo actually now exists in a download-to-your-phone version, which would bypass that whole issue nicely.
But as for the rest of it, blech. Plus, the Treo 700p is just so damn nice.
Tom Scola - Jul 18, 2006 12:51:36 am PDT #8524 of 10003
Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.
I've got a 700p. It is nice.
I can't justify the cost, though. Sorry.
le nubian - Jul 18, 2006 3:44:24 am PDT #8525 of 10003
"And to be clear, I am the hell. And the high water."
it is true that the Palm OS is really ancient. God, I wish they would just get a new one out.
Tom Scola - Jul 18, 2006 3:47:19 am PDT #8526 of 10003
Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.
It's ancient, and flaky, but they really do pay a lot of attention to making it easy to use and intuitive.
le nubian - Jul 18, 2006 4:08:43 am PDT #8527 of 10003
"And to be clear, I am the hell. And the high water."
yeah, with some help from 3rd party software developers...
§ ita § - Jul 18, 2006 4:17:08 am PDT #8528 of 10003
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
Which is how it should be done, really.
My big beef with the Treo is that at least when I researched it before, there wasn't a way to do voice-activated dialing.
Jessica - Jul 18, 2006 4:29:30 am PDT #8529 of 10003
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
I can't justify the cost, though. Sorry.
What would you recommend as an alternative? (I've got bonus money to spend, so justifying the cost is really more a question of picking a device, rather than deciding whether or not to buy one. My Clie is on its last legs, and I'm not getting another non-phone PDA.)
Tom Scola - Jul 18, 2006 4:35:26 am PDT #8530 of 10003
Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.
Since the 700p just came out, you might be able to get a good deal on a 650.