PDA??? Phone???

[bryanboi]

I wanna buy P900 but at the same time i was also thinking about a PDA. Can someone tell me the difference between a PDA and a phone like P900??? And why is it that i cant find anywhere in a PDA review thats talks about the colour of the PDA. Example in phones they will state things like the phone has 64K colour. And most of all does a PDA have all the function of a phone??? Things like sms, mms etc. Help is appreciated. Thanks

[Tommy Kellerman]

Hi bryanboi!

A main difference between a PDA and for example the SE P-series is that a PDA often requires additional parts to work as a phone i.e. a "jacket" or a CF-card will be required along with a special software - enabling you to use your PDA as a phone, maybe even with Internet access through GPRS for example. A portable handsfree is mainly used as means of (voice-)communications. In the Pocket PC and Palm standards, an impressive line-up of software is globally at your disposal - either free, try&buy, shareware or just plain buy(and try =) ).

The P900 however, is a hybrid. It isn't just a phone, it isn't just a PDA - it's both! More examples are the Qtek 1010, the old Motorola Accompli or the Nokia Communicator Series. A smartphone, a communicator, it combines the strenghts of both sides. Even though the software-market isn't as extensive as in the PDA-case, Symbian (which among others the P900 runs on) developers and associates continuosly develop applications and games for the platform, which in the Series 60-case also applies newer generations of Nokia-(smart)phones. Please do observe that a smartphone not necessarily is the same as a PDA/Phone-mix. In some cases "all" you have is a phone with enhanced Internet and/or camera capabilities, without the PDA touch.

IMHO the PDA is used to straighten out your life...
Organize it with a digital filofax or bring your office as you go (whereever you go). If you want to add Internet capabilities - sure, either use a phone along with it thru IR or Bluetooth, no problem.

Want voice? No problem - get a CF-card or a jacket, with a portable HF.

Want just one unit, no fuss and all (plug'n-) play? Get a P900... Good to go! Hooyah!

[Hjorten]

Or get a XDA II.. That's a Real PDA wiht zillions of programs combined with a phone.. The ultimate PDA/Phone IMHO,,,...

[saliquincer]

but maybe not compatible with many devices!

[lord nicon21]

i have a p900 they are cool but the software and hardware need to grow.


i'v never used a true PDA so i can't tell you which is better.

[Shiranai]

PDA: Operating system like PalmOS, Windows etc., no phone-keypad, mostly touch-screen operated, big screens.

Smartphone: A mixture of PDA and phone. Operating system like Symbian/Windows + phone-keypad and functions of a phone, usually bigger than a mobile.

Mobile Phone: Common mobiles, mainly phone function + built-in extras like MP3 player or Java, no operating system, no touch-screen.

(Like mentioned above, P800/900/910 are an extra category. They are between Smartphone and PDA, cause they have a touchscreen.)

[mindkiller6610]

Mobile Phone: Common mobiles, mainly phone function + built-in extras like MP3 player or Java, no operating system, no touch-screen.

Every mobile phone has its own operating system.

[Shiranai]

Yes, I mean like "extendable" operating system like Symbian or Window$ mobile where you can install additional programs.

(Also java does not count to this, cause java is a program, not an operating system and java apps are very limited in size and functionality)