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iPod touch Touch is now a PDA, not just an iPod

Mixalis

Mixalis

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 16, 2007
24
0
Europe
With 2.0 software and a clutch of applications, the Touch is now a straight competitor for PDAs such as Palm and Windows Mobile. Yet it continues to be marketed as a glorified media player. I think this rather undersells the capabilities. Prospective purchasers will see a big-screen iPod and, perhaps, not associate the device with PDA functions. The Touch with 2.0 gives most of the capabilities of the iPhone but in a slightly thinner package. For those who don't need the phone facilities and are content to rely on wifi, the Touch is a very sensible choice and not a second-best offering.:apple:
 
Mixalis said:
For those who don't need the phone facilities and are content to rely on wifi, the Touch is a very sensible choice and not a second-best offering.:apple:
Click to expand...

I totally agree with you. I work for an APR (Apple Premium reseller) and this is a sales line I take with a lot of customers. Now with OS V2, even more so.
 
There were couple of reasons why to buy iTouch. 1st was, of course music (I'm a music addict), 2nd thing was that I need some kind of PDA, to go to internet outside of house (there is of course internet cafes, but they cost. Wlan don't), wrote notes, use calendar and so on. Okay, I can write notes on my phone, but there is some limits with it.
So, then I think, iPod Touch wold be good for me, and now couple days ago (few days before 2.0 come out) I bougt that. And it's good.
 
I agree that the Touch is more than just an iPod.

Apple likes to keep consumer choices simple, so having introduced the iPhone brand and concentrating media attention to it seems more effective than promoting both the Touch and iPhone having PDA capabilities.

Also, selling something that is "more than an iPod" seems a better value than "iPhone without the phone"

I think the plan is people with go to stores for iPhone and be introduced to the Touch, if they say they want to keep their current phone.
 
It was better for Apple to introduce the iPod Touch as an iPod first, rather than some multi-fangled mobile PDA-type device.

Going forward, we'll see what happens. The first crop of apps was great, but I am looking forward to better and deeper over the next few months. If so, I'm sure Apple will begin promoting the other capabilities of the iPod Touch (but will always make sure to tout its multimedia features.)
 
the ipod touch is more than an ipod but it’s no pda yet, where’s the spreadsheet or word processor, i could go on but won’t
 
seeny said:
the ipod touch is more than an ipod but it’s no pda yet, where’s the spreadsheet or word processor, i could go on but won’t
Click to expand...

I suppose it's what you want from a PDA. Personally, I never used spreadsheets or WP apps on WinMob devices, but it was nice to know they were there if you wanted them. I am sure that it won't be long before there is everything we need from the Apps Store. After all, we're only three days into it and the current list is already impressive. It would certainly be nice to have a word processor or, even, a decent text editor, and a spreadsheet would be a bonus.
 
For me the touch is my PDA. FINALLY!!! Last Christmas I got the 16GB model figuring I could jailbreak it and get my ebooks on it (which I had on my Palm and made it indispensable) but I was disappointed big time. I am not a geek but love technology so trying to figure out how to jailbreak it and get my ebooks working just was too frustrating so I just turned the 16GB into my music server to my home theatre. Now with 2.0 and all the apps I decided to try again and bought the 32GB version. Now I am ebook heaven I have 3 of the ebook reader apps installed on it and all work great. I have put my Palm out to pasture. Now on my work day commutes I can read a book while listening to music or play a game of spider solitaire. Check my appointments on iCal and a host of other stuff. I couldn't be happier. Its much smaller than the palm and I was able to find a nice leather case that can hold 2 credit cards so I can just pop the touch in my pocket anytime I leave my house. :apple:
 
I bought the 8gb Touch for the sole purpose of using it as a PDA. It works great. I'm tempted to get a 32gb, but, I have a 60gb touch wheel that works great as well, so I use that as my main music player.

With the introduction of Apps, it's gotten much better to use. Now, if Steve would be so kind to erect WiFi towers, and charge $20/month for unlimited usage, he'll have us bowing at his feet...
 
Marketing the iPod Touch as a PDA device will confuse maters and will make reviews focus on the PDA functionality and compare the touch with other PDA's. As it stands the iTouch is a media player that can also do all this other stuff... that way its so not confusing to someone non-techy.
 
As far as I'm concerned, the touch was always a PDA. I ditched my Palm device the moment I got the touch. Now, it's far more than a PDA.
 
SimonTheSoundMa said:
I agree. Touch is also useless without user storage and bluetooth to be used as a proper PDA.
Click to expand...

"useless"? That's putting it rather strongly don't you think? With WiFi and MobileMe it's arguable that bluetooth syncing is a relic of the past. With up to 32 GB of storage I'm not sure what competitor offers more, even with the option of using removable storage. Even if some competitor offers slightly more, it's certainly realistic to consider the iPod touch a valid competitor.
 
The extra features are what sold me on buying one for my wife. Its a handy little device that sits in the drawer now collecting dust.
 
I think things are moving along, but it's still not quite a PDA.

Cut/paste and file management would be a good step in the right direction, after all, my first non-Palm PDA (HP Jornada 540) that I got back in 1999 or 2000 had these.
 
megatronbomb said:
I think things are moving along, but it's still not quite a PDA.
Click to expand...

The point I was making, which I suppose must have been unclear, is that the definition PDA is not so precise. It means different things to different people. For me the touch functioned as a PDA the first day I owned it last year. For others, it will never be a PDA until it runs a spreadsheet and a database.
 
The touch is definitely starting to steal my attention from my blackberry. It is way more fun to use, and as long as there is wifi, it is way faster.
 
IJ Reilly said:
The point I was making, which I suppose must have been unclear, is that the definition PDA is not so precise. It means different things to different people. For me the touch functioned as a PDA the first day I owned it last year. For others, it will never be a PDA until it runs a spreadsheet and a database.
Click to expand...

More importantly, I think we both want it to be functional as a PDA (however we define it). I get frustrated by the unfulfilled potential. :)
 
This whole thread is ironic. I remember dozens of posts where iPod fanboys got irritated if you suggested the Touch should have the iPhone apps, a better calc, or more useful apps. "It's an IPOD after all!"

Without bluetooth I rarely use my Touch for music or audio of any sort. The new calc will come in VERY handy, and when more specific apps start showing up it may replace my laptop all together. Someone needs to figure out how to get it to print to a wifi enabled network printer. They need to get it to sync wirelessly. I'll agree that at this moment it's a better PDA than my old Treo is, but just barely. There's room for improvement, and I love that about it. It's got legs.

Now they need to redesign it so we can replace the battery ourselves. Any month now those original Touch batteries are going to start to fail. As attached to it as we are getting, when it becomes a $300 paperweight there will be heII to pay.
 
4DThinker said:
Now they need to redesign it so we can replace the battery ourselves. Any month now those original Touch batteries are going to start to fail. As attached to it as we are getting, when it becomes a $300 paperweight there will be heII to pay.
Click to expand...

It will never become a paperweight unless you allow it to be one. There are already several places offering battery replacement service.
 
I find it pathetic that its gotten that a iPod think an IPOD! can now compete with Blackberry, Palm, Windows Mobile like really look at how pathetic it is on those company's part... They really have to get there act together. because apples going to dominate the Phone market just as fast as they did with iPod. I say by 2010 we wont be able to go out and NOT see an iPhone because I cant go out and not see someone with the famous white apple earphones. Trust me just wait.. market after market apple will dominate.:apple:
 
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