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Thread: Electronic hand-held gadgets - will someone enlighten me?

  1. #1

    Electronic hand-held gadgets - will someone enlighten me?

    Will someone explain to me in simple to understand terms - what is the difference in some of the newer handheld gadgets I hear about?

    Treo?
    Hand-held PC?
    Pocket PC?
    BlackBerry?
    PDA?
    PalmPilot
    SmartPhone?
    Sidekick?
    IPod?
    MP3 Player?

    Some play music, some are phones, computers, internet machines, word processors, etc. Some are more than one thing right? Some are the same but brands? Are the computer ones wireless or are they a cell service?


  2. #2
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    That's a complex question. The Apple Newton was the first "PDA" (Personal/Portable Digital Assistant) - the first hand held PC's. Then came the Palm Pilot - both basically did the same thing: electronically stored personal address books and calendars. Developers created software for the devices so one could play simple games on the devices. People loved them so the developers kept developing and technology kept growing and changing. Then came the cell phones with more developers getting even more creative.

    Research in Motion (RIM) created the Blackberry - the first portable device to make e-mail available anytime, anywhere. People loved the Blackberry, Palm felt threatened and created the Treo - basically a Palm Pilot that was also a cell phone.

    The came the iPOD - the first portable MP3 player - all they do is play music that you download from the Internet; wireless devices are coming this Xmas.

    Blackberry, Palm, Treo, and phone companies felt threatened, but saw that they could combine the technology into one device. So, today you have phones that are PDA's, PDA's that are phones and also play MP3's and surf the internet. etc. The sidekick is a PDA/phone and I think it also plays MP3's.

    What the devices does depends on the hardware & software. I carry a Palm (Palm dropped the "Pilot" off their name years ago). It has my personal address book, calendar, games, ebooks, photos, plays MP3'S. With a WiFi attachment I could event get e-mail on my Palm, although I'm a purist and like my Palm to just have my life in it. I'll use a real PC to surf the 'net and don't want to have to pay yet another wireless provider for e-mail on my Palm.

    Not sure if this answers all your questions, but I tried.

    Edit: For a really techie intensive article on the history of the PDA: http://www.snarc.net/pda/pda-treatise.htm

    Little Ms. Mitzi Mitts
    Our Photo Albums are
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    In memory of my beloved fur children, Goldie, Mishi and Mitzi.
    Rest in peace and play hard at the Rainbow Bridge.
    Goldie: 9/5/88 - 4/10/03
    Mishi: with us from 5/5/03 - 7/13/07
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  3. #3
    Theres a lot of things to cover in that list ...

    Here are the main category definitions as I can see them:

    MP3 Player: A portable device for playing back MP3 audio files

    Hand-held PC: A Handheld PC, or H/PC for short, is a Microsoft term for a computer built around a form factor which is smaller than any standard notebook PC or laptop (it is sometimes referred to as a Palmtop).

    PDA: Personal Digital Assistant - any small digital device that can combine computing, networking, data storage and/or cell phone (and sometimes other uses too.). Originally just personal organizers, the lines have blurred a little bit with more technology whereby they have started including cell phone, camera, and other technologies.

    SmartPhone: A smartphone combines the functionality of a Phone and PDA. Originally started as a phone, with the increase in technologies they have become much more than just that and now include cameras, data storage, email, messaging, and many other options.


    Now, from the rest of your list, those are all brands or models -- i have put together a quick PDF sheet roughly outlining what each one seems to have (i don't have any of these, so I can't make a judgement on the usability etc.).

    The sheet covers:
    - A quick comparison chart outlining features, etc.
    - An image and web links to each of the products you've listed, that way you can get an idea of the look and feel for the model.


    I'd advise going to Best Buy, Circuit City, Future Shop, the mall (etc. etc.) to get a feel for these things -- pick them up, play with them. Decide what featuures you want, and what you can afford. Talk to people who have these devices, and see what they have to say about them. Use google to look at the forums for these devices, and see what problems / good points they have (its a pretty big expenditure of money, so you want to be sure what you're getting!)


    Hopefully this is useful for you


  4. #4
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    Brighthand.com has the most comprehensive forums I've seen. When I have problems with my Palm or want to see what new, fun things other users have discovered, I go there for answers. It's another fun, very nice community of geek-minded people.

    Little Ms. Mitzi Mitts
    Our Photo Albums are
    Here and Here
    In memory of my beloved fur children, Goldie, Mishi and Mitzi.
    Rest in peace and play hard at the Rainbow Bridge.
    Goldie: 9/5/88 - 4/10/03
    Mishi: with us from 5/5/03 - 7/13/07
    Mitzi: with us from 4/19/03 - 1/23/10

  5. #5
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    Wow, Redhedd, I am impressed! You are quite "techy" aren't you?

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by RedHedd
    The came the iPOD - the first portable MP3 player - all they do is play music that you download from the Internet; wireless devices are coming this Xmas
    Actually they're not just an mp3 player, they do more than play music. The music you play on your iPOD can be from a CD that you bought in the store or music you got online. They play music files other than just mp3 too. An iPOD can also be used to transfer files from one computer to another. You can download and watch music videos and TV shows on the newer iPODs.
    - Kari
    skin kids- Nathan, Topher, & Lilla


  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by kimlovescats
    Wow, Redhedd, I am impressed! You are quite "techy" aren't you?
    my unofficial job title is "tech goddess"

    P.S. Blue Frog - That's a great chart! Thanks!!

    Little Ms. Mitzi Mitts
    Our Photo Albums are
    Here and Here
    In memory of my beloved fur children, Goldie, Mishi and Mitzi.
    Rest in peace and play hard at the Rainbow Bridge.
    Goldie: 9/5/88 - 4/10/03
    Mishi: with us from 5/5/03 - 7/13/07
    Mitzi: with us from 4/19/03 - 1/23/10

  8. #8
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    I was going to settle on getting an Ipod, but not right now - too much $.
    You're the one sure thing I've found so you better stick around...
    Best Fireman in da House´10
    dedicated to the kindest,loveliest and always helpful man that one would be honored and proud to know........R.I.P. Dear Phred

  9. #9
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    Here's the Sidekick 2:
    http://www.bargainpda.com/assets/3301.jpg
    That's what I have now. It's got a complete internet browser (like being on dialup) No popups though because the javascript isn't that advanced, thank goodness. You still get popups for pms, though. The Sidekick 3 is out and it's a lot better. I plan on getting that one soon. It's got the capability of Blue Tooth (hooking up to your computer without any wires) MP3s and now be uploaded and played. There is also the addition of MSN Messenger which wasn't on there before. I've also heard it's a lot faster. I hope they have better ringtones, too.

    9/3/13
    I did the right thing by setting you free
    But the pain is very deep.
    If only I could turn back time, forever, you I'd keep.
    I miss you


    I hear you whimper in your sleep
    I gently pet you and say, no bad dreams
    It will be alright, to my dog as dark as night.

    Fur as dark as the night.
    Join me on this flight.
    Paws of love that follow me.
    In my heart you'll forever be.
    [/SIZE]



    How I wish I could hold you near.
    Turn back time to make it so.
    Hug you close and never let go.
    11/12/06




  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by KBlaix
    Actually they're not just an mp3 player, they do more than play music. The music you play on your iPOD can be from a CD that you bought in the store or music you got online. They play music files other than just mp3 too. An iPOD can also be used to transfer files from one computer to another. You can download and watch music videos and TV shows on the newer iPODs.

    You can also watch movies if you buy them off intunes. Its a new feature

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by RedHedd

    The came the iPOD - the first portable MP3 player - all they do is play music that you download from the Internet; wireless devices are coming this Xmas.
    Are you sure? My brother was the owner of a rather unattractive MP3 player MANY years before Apple came out with the iPod. I believe the reason iPods have been so popular, however, is the fact that they're so user-friendly and deliciously colorful and sleek looking.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Giselle
    Are you sure? My brother was the owner of a rather unattractive MP3 player MANY years before Apple came out with the iPod. I believe the reason iPods have been so popular, however, is the fact that they're so user-friendly and deliciously colorful and sleek looking.
    No, not sure - I'm not an Apple person.

    You all who are using your phones and sidekicks to surf the net - what are your wireless bills like? YIKES! Don't they charge per mb transferred? That would hurt me big time.

    Little Ms. Mitzi Mitts
    Our Photo Albums are
    Here and Here
    In memory of my beloved fur children, Goldie, Mishi and Mitzi.
    Rest in peace and play hard at the Rainbow Bridge.
    Goldie: 9/5/88 - 4/10/03
    Mishi: with us from 5/5/03 - 7/13/07
    Mitzi: with us from 4/19/03 - 1/23/10

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by RedHedd
    No, not sure - I'm not an Apple person.

    You all who are using your phones and sidekicks to surf the net - what are your wireless bills like? YIKES! Don't they charge per mb transferred? That would hurt me big time.
    I can answer that! A friend of mine owns a Sidekick 3 via T-Mobile and I'm pretty sure her monthly bills hit around 80$. What people will do for electronics

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by RedHedd
    No, not sure - I'm not an Apple person.

    You all who are using your phones and sidekicks to surf the net - what are your wireless bills like? YIKES! Don't they charge per mb transferred? That would hurt me big time.
    I pay $20 a month for unlimited internet. I get 600 anytime minutes and my bill is around $77 a month. Not to shabby at all for all you get. Can't wait to get the Sidekick 3!

    9/3/13
    I did the right thing by setting you free
    But the pain is very deep.
    If only I could turn back time, forever, you I'd keep.
    I miss you


    I hear you whimper in your sleep
    I gently pet you and say, no bad dreams
    It will be alright, to my dog as dark as night.

    Fur as dark as the night.
    Join me on this flight.
    Paws of love that follow me.
    In my heart you'll forever be.
    [/SIZE]



    How I wish I could hold you near.
    Turn back time to make it so.
    Hug you close and never let go.
    11/12/06




  15. #15
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    Ouch! $70 - $80 for your cell phone? Yikes! That would hurt! For me, my phone is just that - a phone. If I want Internet I use a PC. I know, I'm old fashioned and CHEAP or is that frugal?

    Little Ms. Mitzi Mitts
    Our Photo Albums are
    Here and Here
    In memory of my beloved fur children, Goldie, Mishi and Mitzi.
    Rest in peace and play hard at the Rainbow Bridge.
    Goldie: 9/5/88 - 4/10/03
    Mishi: with us from 5/5/03 - 7/13/07
    Mitzi: with us from 4/19/03 - 1/23/10

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