Make something cool from my Axim

February 9, 2009 6:26 PM

What cool thing could I do with my old Dell Axim Pocket PC?

I have a fully functional Dell Axim Pocket PC. There is nothing wrong with it and I would like to use it for something other than to take up space in a junk drawer. (Can't seem to sell it to anyone.)

Any ideas on something really cool I could use it for?

posted by jseven to Computers & Internet (11 answers total)

You should be able to run Linux on it.

I had a iPaq which was similar and running Linux on it was a fun way to learn the ins and out of Linux on small devices. It also seemed faster than Win CE on the hardware.
posted by bottlebrushtree at 6:44 PM on February 9, 2009

ebook reader.
posted by damn dirty ape at 6:50 PM on February 9, 2009

I just setup my dad's x51v as VOIP phone over the holidays. It worked really nicely.
posted by globotomy at 6:54 PM on February 9, 2009

Get the Skype client for Mobile devices and use it as a phone if you have a wireless router in your house.

That's worked well for me in the past with an old Toshiba PDA except for the fact that you have to hold it upside down because they placed the speaker on the bottom and the mic on top.
posted by Man_in_staysis at 7:29 PM on February 9, 2009

I used to use mine as a universal remote, but now I use it for nothing. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.
posted by box at 7:34 PM on February 9, 2009

Sell it to a pilot who can load aviation GPS software on it.
posted by Thistledown at 8:08 PM on February 9, 2009

Go to handango.com and get a trial copy of Pocket Stars. Use the PDA as a Pocket Stars appliance.

MeMail me for more handy info on this. I am not affiliated with Handango or Nomad Electronics.

But I flove Pocket Stars! I have it on my iPAQ 3650, which is otherwise retired. I'm still happily using my iPAQ rx1950 and separate cell phone, but if I ever move to a combined device, I'll keep the rx1950 and use it AND the 3650 for Pocket Stars.
posted by jgirl at 8:25 PM on February 9, 2009

Use it on a robot.

(I've seen a project somewhere where a PDA was used to control the robot and to display a face where you'd expect to see one, but I can't find it now)
posted by hattifattener at 10:08 PM on February 9, 2009

Use it as an mp3 player in a car.
posted by primer_dimer at 5:45 AM on February 10, 2009

Ah, the Axim. I used to have one until I left it on the roof of my car and then drove off. I used it quite a bit as a portable video player. There are many programs that will do the conversion. You can put Wikipedia on it. You can emulate old video games, although the Axim controls stink for gaming. Some of the Popcap games translated well to the Axim. I played a lot of Bookworm, and Scrabble. As mentioned above, you can use it as a universal remote, as long as you have the model with the good IR (mine had the short range one). The thing I probably miss the most is Leonard Maltin's movie guide for PPC, which also doubled as a movie collection database. It was great to take to the library or video store. I miss my Axim *sniff*.
posted by Otis at 7:58 AM on February 10, 2009

Otis, couldn't you get one on Craigslist or eBay?
posted by jgirl at 10:32 AM on February 10, 2009