PSP or PDA

ledhed

So this x-mas I prety much have no clue what I truly want and I figure that either a PDA or PSP would be nice. I am just looking for any personal pros/cons

michael_w

It depends on what you want to do.... A psp is awesome for gaming and depending on what verson you get it is possible to get different cracks to do things like run emulators so that you can play other console's games as well as play psp games that have been loaded onto the memory duo pro card or w/e. The screen on the psp is beautiful. The fact that it's huge is great and all but keep that in mind when you go to stick it on your pocket. Basically if you want to game get the psp...

As for PDA's... I'd relly suggest you get something that runs on windows mobile or pocket pc 2003 (or newer) instead of a Palm or similar pda that doesn't run it. Windows Mobile is basically like a pocket version of your computer. With my pocket pc I can do so many more things than I had ever thought it would do. If I'm in a hot spot I can access the internet, go on msn, use remote desktop and control my computer at home... all sorts of cool things. You can also use it as a touch screen home theater remote if you really want to.

The gaming aspect of PDA's / PPC's isn't super great but I have a Super NES emulator for some classic games (I grew up playing them so they're fun for me... maybe not your taste?), a playstation one emulator and a couple other random games.

Both the PSP and PDA's will play movies, music and all that fancy stuff as long as you have the storage space to hold such media. I use my pocket pc to watch the occasional movie at school or other random places, which is handy. The sound quality for using it as an audio player will depend on what you rip your music at. It's not a really noisy source but it isn't too bad.

Pocket PC's and PDA's have really evolved from being more than just a calender and an electronic organizer. The Palm PDA's that run on that operating system (bah can't remember the name of it) is really more geared to the older style where it is just productivity related stuff. I find the Pocket PC 2003 and Windows Mobile is more like windows on your home computer where it is a bit easier to use and is more adaptable to what you want to do.

Hope that helps any.

btw if you do decide to get a Pocket PC lemme know and I'll make up a zip file with a wack of programs and files that might be useful. (might not be quite legal but we'll see )

Shizelbs

I have some PPC files you might be interested in too. I love my PDA to death. I'm sure the PSP is cool, but my PDA is essential.

ledhed

Im leaning towards the PDA (probly a Dell X51v ) because of the functionality, and because I will be in college next year. The psp is intriguing because I do enjoy quick simple videogames and I have played the emulators and the layout of the keys is perfect. I'll probably get the PDA and possibly a GPS unit and a 4GB Microdrive. Also, does anyone know of a PDA that has USB host capabilities?

bknauss

PSP battery doesn't hold up for extremely long. Don't know how long it would hold up while mostly on standby.

Shizelbs

I do not know of any PDA with USB host capabilities, and yes I have looked for one. Its a shame they don't have one yet.

If you are going to college, your choice is simple then. Get the PDA. Michael W and I will hook you up with some nice software. You can still get your game on with it, the games just might be a little more remedial. You'll love the X51. Watching movies on it will be awesome.

Ah, I could go on and on. Get the PDA. I think they are selling for a pretty good price right now too. I have a friend thinking about getting one too.

ledhed

Thanks for all the info and the software offers, Shizelbs and Michael. I have been leaning towards a PDA for awhile. Now just to convince the parents

michael_w

You might also consider ordering something like this (link) I've personally never tried one, but if you want to use your pda for college stuff it might be handy to be able to type notes or work on a project.

Nice pick on the dell there... it'll be beautiful watching stuff in 480x640 res. I'm jealous

ledhed

hmmm, that does look nice. Might have to spring for that a little bit later. I am still working on Wooing my parents with it.

Shizelbs

I have a Targus IR keyboard, and its awesome. It even has a little stationary 'mouse' device that works pretty well to be honest. There is some latency issues, so you can't type as fast as you normally would, but it makes for a very nice and portable alternative to a laptop.

nadams

I would definitely go with the PDA! Seems kind of odd, I suppose, considering I'm in the PSP's target market. But for one, I'm more interested in productivity that being able to play games, two, you can still play games, and three, I hate Sony, their advertising tactics, and their rootkit laden CDs.

Demiurge

Question I would ask is this...Why do you want a PDA and why do you want a PSP? From my perspective I don't see the big deal with PDAs. They seem more like a gadget that doesn't offer a whole lot other than a little extra organization and to check the net when you're not around a computer. Thing is, I never need to get on the internet that bad. PSP? Well, depends on how much you like to game when you're out and about. They give you the visuals and the playability with this sytem, but then again, you'd need to be a gamer to really get full value from this.

If it was me, I'd go with the PSP. I've owned both, and still do own my PSP. It's nice to have along when you're sitting around bored waiting on someone or for an appointment, etc. PDA was merely a gadget. I found a pad and paper more helpful and easier to use.

Good luck in your decison.

Shizelbs

I know as a recent college graduate having a PDA would have been very nice all those years.

Demiurge

Definitely is nice to have, no doubt, if you're going to use it. I could never use the thing right and I was having a hard time with the little pen device. I ended up just stopping using it. Now I just have my note pad attached to my windshield in the car and use the comp. at the office to keep track of stuff. Didn't mean to make it sound like they're useless, because they're really handy. Just wish I would have used a little foresight before purchasing it.

Shizelbs

I'll admit, PPCs are in comparison lame, without a bunch of software that makes them much more user friendly and intuitive. I hated mine until I installed SPB Pocket Plus. Its program that replaces the existing today screen. Once I had that, I basically wanted to use my PDA for everything.
However, I agree, if you are not inclinded to use it, its a waste. I think there is a requisite nerdiness for a PDA.

BIZILL

can you post on club polk whilst sittin' atop the can with a psp? i can and do with my pda.

Demiurge

BIZILL wrote:

can you post on club polk whilst sittin' atop the can with a psp? i can and do with my pda.

No, but you are comparing apples and oranges, really.

BIZILL

:cool:

ND13

Bill, we really didn't need to know that you post whilst pinching a loaf or whatever your doing on the turlet.

BIZILL

psp owners cannot claim they've never played in the middle of relieving theirselves.

Shizelbs

Oh, another thing. You can play games on your PDA, but it will look like you are organizing things to your professor.

I don't think you can go wrong either way.

I don't use my PDA while dropping a deuce. I'm too afraid I'll drop the thing straight into the bowl.

Demiurge

BIZILL wrote:

psp owners cannot claim they've never played in the middle of relieving theirselves.

They definitely cannot... :cool:

BIZILL

i'd still like to have a psp someday as well. but that amount of money will be better spent elsewhere. perhaps apply it to a new xbox 360 down the road.

Demiurge

BIZILL wrote:

i'd still like to have a psp someday as well. but that amount of money will be better spent elsewhere. perhaps apply it to a new xbox 360 down the road.

Something about being able to bash some skulls in with GTA on a whim when I need a break at work from bad vendors.

michael_w

You can actually access the internet with a PSP but it's a little more of a hassel. From what I've heard using the wi-fi built into the psp is pretty useless for just browsing the internet simply because it is so slow. I can't remember is sony has actually released psp versions that can access the internet without using the wipeout pure hack thing... They are planning on releasing a version that uses the wi-fi for more than gaming but right now you just might have to use the exploit.

Your experiance with a pocket pc / pda will be as good as what you put into it. If you leave everything the way it came to you it'll suck. Using different plugins and programs like ones from SPB make things so much better and easier.

okiepolkie

I posted a new thread before reading this one, so it looks like some of my questions have been answered here.

As far as USB hosting, you are saying that you can not download anything using the USB port, right?

I would like to be able to download remote control codes without having to drag my laptop around with me. I know the handhelds can transfer files between the unit and a computer, but that won't help me with this problem.

If it can't do that, then I don't think I need a very fancy unit. Basically I'll need one that can store information, and occasionally surf the web.

Zach

michael_w

The only removable media pocket pc's work with is whatever slot it has built into it. Mine only takes sd cards but there are others that take different types. You could transfer those remote control codes to a computer using either a usb cable from the ppc, infrared (into your laptop?), bluetooth or if you had one of those memory card reader thingies then you could just pop the card out and stick it in that.

okiepolkie

I guess I didn't explain that very well in this thread. I program quite a few Harmony remotes for clinets. I usually do this at home, take it to their house, and try it out. Usually, after a few days, they will call me up and ask me to add something or just do a little tweaking on the remote. Much of the time, I don't carry my laptop with me, so if I could download the update from Harmony's website, then download it from my PDA to the remote-via a usb cable-then it would make it save me some time.

I still need something other than paper, since I seem to misplace it(or my wife does), so I am still going to get one, I just don't know WHAT to get.

Sami

This is something I've been using lately at work, pretty cool now that I've got used to it. I never used much other than actual calls on my cellphone but these are getting to be more PDA's with cellphones than cellphones with added functionality.

http://www.nokia.co.uk/nokia/0,,82900,00.html

Before that I used one of these. Not bad either, it has its negatives and plusses but I'm starting to like the above better and better.

http://www.nokia.co.uk/nokia/0,,85235,00.html

Then there of course are these, which I haven't had the chance to experiment with.

http://www.nokia.com/nseries/index.html?loc=inside,main_n92&lang=en&country=R1
http://www.nokia.fi/puhelimet/puhelinmallit/770/

Pretty many to choose from:
http://www.nokia.co.uk/nokia/0,8764,18062,00.html
http://www.nokia.fi/puhelimet/puhelinmallit/tulossa.html

Shizelbs

Okiepolkie, yes, you can download to the PDA as you described. When I said no it can't I was thinking, you can't plug USB devices into it. Say, its not an option to plug my USB gamepad into it and use it for game. Also, the PDA won't have the USB cable, the cable is on the docking station.

ledhed

Well, okie, I have no expierience with Harmony remotes but, if you are trying to plug a remote directly into the PDA then it will not work unless the PDA has USB hosting capabilities.