Denys Beauchemin <[log in to unmask]> wrote in message news:<[log in to unmask]>...

> Symbol Technologies is another PocketPC device maker, which I missed in the
> last post.

I work for a company that does a lot of business with Symbol, and I'd
like to point out that *most* of what they sell as far as their
palmtop-turned-barcode scanner devices are actually PalmOS, not
PocketPC.  They only recently started using PocketPC devices, in
addition to PalmOS that they've used for a while now.  It remains to
be seen which will be the more successful product line, but I suspect
that the PalmOS ones will meet the needs of the users better than
PocketPC devices - those needs being reliability, long battery life,
and simplicity.

They even make a barcode scanner for visors :
http://www.symbol.com/products/consumer_systems/consumer_csm150_flyer.html

The PalmOS scanners :
http://www.symbol.com/products/mobile_computers/mobile_palm.html

Most of what they actually sell, however, are *not* handheld
conversions of consumer products.  They are Spectrum designed units
that run DRDOS and use 'Spectrum 24' 802.11 wireless 11Mb networks.
That said, they do seem to be pushing PocketPC more now, dealing a
minor blow to PalmOS.

I've been looking to buy a handheld device and will likely opt for a
PalmOS device of some kind.  Most of my work is in programming and the
openness of the PalmOS environment appeals to me, as I want to do some
tinkering with programming the palmotop.

Only 2 factors really bug me about PalmOS devices right now : Most
have no built-in MP3 playback, and are very limited in RAM.  To fix
that it seems I have to buy some fairly pricy add-ons, which negates
the price advantage of PalmOS.  It also means I may be in some kind of
plug-in swap hell, since I plan to use it with a GPS device while
attached to my motorcycle.  Sure would be nice to be able to use it as
a stereo at the same time.  I'm still trying to figure out what the
best deal is in a palm device that can do GPS+MP3+internet/cellular
access without having to swap cards constantly.


Cheers,
Dan

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