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The future of PDA's

ejb190

ejb190

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Apr 5, 2002
1,410
333
At the intersection of Indy Cars and Amish Buggies
With the rise of smart phones and even the iPad's launch, what does the future hold for PDA's? What I'm referring to are non-phone digital devices. Things like the old Handsprings, Palms, and iPAQs. Will the Windows Mobile Classic platform survive? The iPhone/iPad OS seem to be more focused on Web based applications.

Here is my problem. At work we have been trying to shift from paper to a PDA based system. Web based solutions are not an option - not enough cell coverage in rural areas. I'd love to have the ability to run FileMaker Pro on a handheld, but the ability just isn't there yet - and might never be. The iPod Touch with Bento is a step in the right direction, but I don't think it will be rugged or robust enough for what we do.

Any thoughts about where this technology is heading?
 
either one of those can't really handle files that well. you can only use apple's apps for alarms and such since nothing else can run in the background.
 
steve knight said:
either one of those can't really handle files that well. you can only use apple's apps for alarms and such since nothing else can run in the background.
Click to expand...

I was actually being a bit flippant with that answer. :)

To be honest, the traditional PDA is all but dead, thanks to the smartphone. It appears HP is still making the traditional iPAQ, but that may be the last hold out. That iPAQ is running Windows Mobile 6 Classic, so I don't know if that will do what you need. Windows Phone 7 is coming later this year, but I don't know much about its abilities yet.
 
maflynn said:
You what's funny, i never considered or thought of them. I think of PDAs, I think of the Palm pilot or the HP/Compaq iPaq.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I used my Touch as one for a while. I haven't been lately since I just got an Android phone, but the Touch served well as a PDA. Most people aren't going to be typing up huge Word docs or spreadsheets, but it does great for contacts and calendars.
 
They have a future?
I haven't used mine for an awfully long time, it could have its use but all my other electronics make up for it now. Though nothing could be the infrared application that learned commands. Was fun walking past pubs switching the TVs off remotely. Simple minds eh :eek:
It was good for college too.
 
You're probably going to look at Tablets or MIDs.

Smartphones could still work. I know my apps on my Nexus all still run without a data connection. They just don't get anything new. I can still use any offline app to my liking (I'm still surprised at how data centric Blackberries are, my GF used one without a data plan and it was effectively a dumbphone, even with builtin wifi).
 
i still see Public Displays of Affection all the time...

oh wait, the Personal Data Assistant. they've been gobbled up by smartphones, and about time too, imo.

too many gadgets to carry around as it is.
 
When I was a kid, I always thought those Sharp Wizards were awesome. We've come a long way.

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