Help me find the right PDA?

[alexgeek]

Hey guys I've got about £240 to spend on a PDA..
I've never bought one before and I'm hoping someone can recommend something within my price range that:

Has WiFi
Has a browser
Can run .NET apps
At least 2GB storage spaceAlso how much disk space do PDAs usually have roughly?

Thanks :angel:

[wiifanatic]

iPod Touch, can do all that except .Net Apps.
Prob is its €299 (i think), so meh.

[alexgeek]

Nah running .NET apps is important.
I'd like a windows PDA.
Thanks though.

[Templarian]

http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/handheld/PC/1/storefronts/FB041AA%2523ABA

This one is your best bet. PDA's are not ipod's you use SD cards to place all your programs/music. Back when I had mine I used 2 2gig sd cards one for music and one for gameboy games/worms world party ect... But now the cards are way cheaper and larger.

Back when I developed .net apps it was quite fun as long as your good at remembering which namespaces are mobile or desktop.

//edit, I wish the ipod had .net support would make app development so fast and simple... but till then we have to learn some sdk.

[alexgeek]

Woah, I think you found the perfect one. Thanks!
I might ask a friend's friend to buy it from dubai as you have about 20% off anything technical.

Does a lot of the .NET framework work on PDAs or is it really limited?

SDK? For iPod linux?

[alexgeek]

So for that one, should I get a 2/4 gb flash sd card?

[Templarian]

Everything important in the .net framework is in it. And online there are usually ways around it if you need it to work with the framework. Don't worry I doubt you will have problems with it.

(I think I may start to dev for the ipod touch soon if it proves to be easy... I know its not as simple as the .net framework, but as long as its like any C syntax language I should be able to do it).


SDK? For iPod linux???? SDK is just: Software Development Kit, nothing to do with linux.

//edit, your 2nd post:

meh matters what you want to do... if your just doing simple .net stuff your never going to fill a 2gig. If you want to use it for music/video get a 4gig.

You can put GBA games on it and play them if you get bored (some PDA's don't allow multiple input on their buttons which suxs, one reason I want to use my iPod to play gb games).

[alexgeek]

So I have a basic System.Windows.Forms application that reads an XML file and displays it.. that would work fine on it?

Sorry, I thought you couldn't use applications on iPods unless you ran them through iPod linux.
I tried SDK once.. personally it looks like a messy version of C++ mixed with C#.

Yeah I could see the problem with GBA emus. There's only about 5 buttons on the front (and what looks like a d-pad) so I guess it's hard to map the keys.

I wonder if you can warddrive with it :D

[BS]

Get an Asus Eee if you looking for mobile computing. It has a 2-8 gig SSD and a SD card slot. The Eee also has a 7 inch screen, wifi, and a full keyboard.
It also runs Xandros Linux.

[alexgeek]

interesting.. a tiny laptop.
Seems to run on linux, can it run windows too?

[wiifanatic]

linux = no .net, thats what he wants, and before you say mono, that does not work good enough for Real Apps.

[BS]

Yes, It can run XP. You might need and external disk drive to install it though.

[Templarian]

I feel like I should explain something.

Its actually called Compact Framework .Net

or CF.net in MSDN if it is in the CF.net then it will have a small symbol that looks like a pocket pc.

Is there really a reason you need to run it on a mobile device? I'm kind of confused what your goal is.

[alexgeek]

Oh that's what it is? I saw it mentioned somewhere and I thought it was something stupid like ColdFusion .NET.
It's not a specific application i want to run on it. I want a PDA but when I get one if the only applications it could run were a calculator and a stopwatch.. there's not much point having it.
The sub-laptops look impressive but they're too big really and for their size you'd expect better specs.

[Templarian]

No, I've never been limited making an application for a pocket pc. The one I linked has almost twice the processor speed as mine so you could code pretty crapily and still get nice smooth results.

//edit:

You know you can't develop for Windows Mobile on the Express Edition (Although for me its a free software).

[alexgeek]

I found this on the british site: http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en/sm/WF06a/21675-21679-21679-21679-297609-80594387.html
I think it's the same? I'm gunna but it in a min.

[Templarian]

You missed Woot.com yesterday 6.99 for 2gig SD card. But yea a 6gig or 4gig should be good enough.

[alexgeek]

Well this seems a like a good offer too. http://www.ecost.com/detail.aspx?edp=36985016
I wonder if they ship to UK.

[Templarian]

really good price if you can get.

[BS]

I posted a thread in the review section about the Asus Eee. Check it out!

[alexgeek]

At this time, eCOST.com only delivers to locations within 50 United States of America and Canada.
Looks like I can't get that awesome deal.
Any brits here know of any good places? Or american sites that ship to UK for a low charge?

[BS]

Amazon.com

[alexgeek]

Amazon.com
Bought an 8GB. £20 w/ posting. :)

[alexgeek]

So while I'm waiting for it to arrive..
I can't use express you say? I have to buy something to develop for it?
If you could point me in the right direction for the development studio and emulators that would be great :)

[Templarian]

Any version of Visual Studio higher than Express can develop pocket pc applicatons. Just find the Windows Mobile SDK and install it (with Express version it will give you an error saying it does not detected a compatible version of VS).

After VS2008 Professional (Team or some other one) is installed simply create a new project and select Windows Mobile Application and everything is set. You will find development pretty much just like desktop development except fewer core components. I've actually never dev for a WM 6 application nor used Visual Studio 2008 for development of them.

Your device will probably come with CF.net if it doesn't just download it off of the site and install it. Make sure you install CF 2.0 (i think its still the highest version).

[BS]

Can you install Google's Android on it, even though its not a cell phone?
www.android.com

[alexgeek]

Any version of Visual Studio higher than Express can develop pocket pc applicatons. Just find the Windows Mobile SDK and install it (with Express version it will give you an error saying it does not detected a compatible version of VS).

After VS2008 Professional (Team or some other one) is installed simply create a new project and select Windows Mobile Application and everything is set. You will find development pretty much just like desktop development except fewer core components. I've actually never dev for a WM 6 application nor used Visual Studio 2008 for development of them.

Your device will probably come with CF.net if it doesn't just download it off of the site and install it. Make sure you install CF 2.0 (i think its still the highest version).
Thanks mate, downloading the ISO now.

[Templarian]

Well Visual Studio Pro is now free so it would be best to download that as you can get the latest updates.

:) (unless your not a student then nvm).

[alexgeek]

Well Visual Studio Pro is now free so it would be best to download that as you can get the latest updates.

:) (unless your not a student then nvm).
I'm a student but not a college student (im 14), I dont think that counts does it?

[Templarian]

Nope.

[alexgeek]

I think i have to pay to be a subscriber to get it.. that's hundreds! Damn you M$.

[kirupa]

The .NET Compact Framework is really cool. I spent a good part of my time in college coding for it. It is very close to WinForms :)

If you just want something to just test out your apps, you can emulate a PDA on your machine for free (provided you have VS): http://blog.kirupa.com/?s=compact%20framework