Looking for a new PDA

[Cyrix_2k]

Well, I hurt my iPaq h3955 today. I dropped it flat on the screen and it cracked it a bit. Thankfully it only affected the top left & a small spot on the left of the screen, so it is still 100% useable. Anyway, I'm looking for a replacement since I wanted a newer one anyway.

Here's what I want:

- Needs to have Blue Tooth (for that the cool projection keyboard thing :D)
- Needs to have decent battery life. I use it to take notes on, so I need about 4 hours at a slow processor speed & dim display
- Needs to be viewable outdoors. As long as it's as good or better than my iPaq, I'll be happy
- I want a VGA screen
- MUST be atleast as durable as the iPaq. It will take a spill one time or another.
- Price is key. I am not made of money, so I want something cheap.

Right now, I'm looking at used Dell X50Vs. Does this sound like what I want?

[gt24]

Right now I am holding off for an upgrade because there isn't too many VGA screen devices that I do want... and my current device is keeping me happy.

If you want an upgrade, you might want to hunt down Windows Mobile 2005. If you do want that version of Windows Mobile, the X50 is not for you... since it works badly with that OS. The X51 would be a ton nicer. As for battery life, Dells are usually on the weaker side (but aftermarket batteries can change that quickly) and as for VGA devices... there isn't all that many.

This gives you an idea of the VGA devices that are out there, current ones anyways. It does list devices not sold in the US (meaning you would have to import them if you wanted them).

http://www.firstloox.org/VGAppc.htm

If you find anything interesting, let me know. I am trying to keep an eye on these devices as well but as of yet my X30 is keeping my attention.

[Cyrix_2k]

Looks like either the HP hx4700 or Dell X50v is my best bet right now. I could care less for WM5 - 2002 is fine for me. I just want a fast, VGA, bluetooth capable, mildly durable PPC with decent battery life. I'm leaning towards the hx4700 but it's more expensive & I hate HP since they screwed all us older iPaq users after the merge with comcrap.

[rainless]

Looks like either the HP hx4700 or Dell X50v is my best bet right now. I could care less for WM5 - 2002 is fine for me. I just want a fast, VGA, bluetooth capable, mildly durable PPC with decent battery life. I'm leaning towards the hx4700 but it's more expensive & I hate HP since they screwed all us older iPaq users after the merge with comcrap.

I recommend the HP. You'll have an easier time finding accessories. I once left the charger for my Acer PDA at home and they don't even HAVE Acer PDAs in America. It would've been hell on earth with a dell too. But HP has it covered. That becomes very important if a cradle breaks on you, or even if you need a stylus... your battery goes dead. You really REALLY want to be able to just walk into any shop and pick it up. I can't stress that enough. I didn't think it would be important, but it really really is.

[Cyrix_2k]

I recommend the HP. You'll have an easier time finding accessories. I once left the charger for my Acer PDA at home and they don't even HAVE Acer PDAs in America. It would've been hell on earth with a dell too. But HP has it covered. That becomes very important if a cradle breaks on you, or even if you need a stylus... your battery goes dead. You really REALLY want to be able to just walk into any shop and pick it up. I can't stress that enough. I didn't think it would be important, but it really really is.
I just use it for (high)school so that's not a huge consideration for me. I actually haven't had a stylus for my iPaq for over a year. I will take this into account though since I will be using it in college, atleast for a while. Currently, I'm bidding on an X50v but only have about $170, so I'm most likely going to lose. I get paid Friday & my budget will be upped to ~$250 then which possibly puts me in the running for an hx4700. I also have private job that I haven't been paid for yet that would yield an extra $40 and three more jobs lined up. I don't want to spend too much on a gadget, especially considering that my current PPC does most of what I want just fine.