AnandTech PDA reviews?

[AndrewKu]

Hello All,

AnandTech is considering to review PDAs. How do you want us to approach reviewing PDAs? Benchmarking comes to mind, but we don't have any specific suite in mind to benchmark PDAs. The problem also comes to point if we compare Pocket PCs and Palms... Do you guys want benchmarks, if so which ones (processor, built in storage, external storage, etc...)? Naturally, battery life would be important. Do you guys want to see us take apart PDAs like we do with notebooks? Open to suggestions and ideas.

 

[firtol88]

I would be very interested in this...

my main areas of interest lie in communication capabilities (i.e. wifi and marginally bluetooth) and PC connectivity/integration (access to resources/programs/files...)

 

[Bryans]

Id like to see wireless connectivity, quality of fit and finish, usability of built in keyboards (if any) and built in text recognition system, and battery life addressed. Disassembly pics would be good also.

PDAs might be much harder to review than other components. It is hard to quantify the subjective things that make one person pick a PDA over another. But, if you give it a try i will certinly read the review.

 

[nodoubts2k]

You could also go with a multimedia aspect, the battery life while playing mp3s, video playback (if any, and if so quality), any screen visibility problems, memory (for expansion of mp3s). Thats all i can think of ATM.

 

[Shalmanese]

It depends on usage as well. For a vast majority of people, the typical apps never even touch the barest potential of their CPU. For example, I would estimate that 90% of my PDA usage would be either reading ebooks or reading AvantGo. I'm far more concerned with stuff like ergonomics, battery life, screen quality and ease of use.

 

[InlineFive]

I personally don't own a PDA but I would like to see some comparisons. Of course comparing Windows PocketPC 2003 to a Palm is a bit unfair.

I would also like to see an article on a TV-Tuner comparison. Image quality, processor usage, audio quality, syncing quality, ease of use, etc.

-Por

 

[firtol88]

If we're putting in requests how about an external sound shootout i.e. USB(1.1 and 2) and firewire solutions from Onkyo, M-Audio, Creative...

I have yet to run into anything like this anywhere!!!!

I sure that if you posted a similar thread with this subject matter you would receive many more responses.

 

[rneff50]

I think that comparing PalmOS to WinCE/PocketPC would be very interesting. How about times for scwitching/loading applications. Restart times? Sensitivity of digitizer? [bold]and Durability![/bold]

 

[ultimatebob]

Test Battery Life, Battery Life, and Battery Life! When it comes to Pocket PC PDA's, I can't think of a more important option to test. Sure, a bright color screen fast processor and built in Wi-Fi are nice options to have, but they aren't very useful if your battery dies while you're on the road!

 

[aka1nas]

I would like to see usability tests with the apps and OS, as well as battery life and specs. Also, how about a Flash card compatability/performance test shootout of some sort further on down the road?

 

[ArchStudent]

Perhaps a brief history on the PDAs and Palm Pilots. Where the idea came from, the various designs over the years, and where they look like they will be in the future.

Different types of Operating Systems and the look and feel of them (Windows CE, Pocket PC 2002, Palm OS, KC Menu II, XPOD, eXPOD,etc.).

I own a Casio BE-300 that I picked up brand new for a song, and it has replaced my old pen and paper organizer. I even managed to obtain KCMenu II which gave it a really nice look, and it has a Apple X OS theme (Aqua colours).

It would be nice to see what the very first PDA model looked like, and who made it as a nice history leson

 

[Busithoth]

I've had a few PDAs, and the most important things I can think of to test are battery, speed, expandibility, and ease of restoring information.

I'd like to see my pocketpcphone get dissected and explicated like a chipset does here.
Explain how the thing works.

 

[firtol88]

Pocket PC/Phone now those I find very interesting!

 

[Hoplon]

Side by side feature comparisons.
Aplication benchmarks.
Battary life.
Software compatability.


Those are the only features that are the most important to me. Taking them apart is pointless unless their are upgrades available.