Recommend a small portable computer!

December 30, 2004 11:41 AM

I need a wireless mini-computer that can connect to AOL instant messenger, play MP3s, surf the web, and word process (removable keyboard is fine). Hopefully something with a windows operating system (windows CE?). I know nothing about pocket PCs or palm pilots or anything smaller than a full fledged laptop, anyone help me out?

To clarify I am looking for links/info on new products to buy (if any exist!) and not for someone to sell me theirs used.

posted by outsider to Computers & Internet (14 answers total)

Have you thought about a low-end tablet-PC?
posted by signal at 11:50 AM on December 30, 2004

I 2nd the thought that a tablet PC sounds like what you want although be warned that they are relatively new and carry a price premium over similiarly equipped laptops. The Microsoft marketing page for Tablet PC has a list of hardware providers.
posted by mmascolino at 11:54 AM on December 30, 2004

Palm and PocketPCs are the two leading contenders in this area. Different manufacturers make different devices running PalmOS and the PocketPC OS, but unlike Microsoft, Palm makes devices of to run its own OS as well.

Palm is more of a PDA, in that it's meant for easily switching between data entry/retrieval tasks, whereas PocketPC is more toward a miniature PC for doing all the stuff you had in mind. PocketPCs are a Microsoft initiative and run a version of Windows CE called Windows Mobile. There's very little out there in the PDA market other than those two.

Your best bet, of course, is PocketPC. There are some nuisances and shortcomings (for example, programs merely minimize when you hit the "X" button and you have to go into the task manager to close them) but it's quite nice overall, quite like using a PC with a really tiny screen. Dell's Axim and HP's iPAQ are the most popular types. As always, try uBid, TigerDirect etc. before you resort to buying from the company ;)

Lately, there's also a new generation of miniature tablet-type PCs that run Windows XP (eg the OQO; others). You may want to check those out too.
posted by abcde at 12:12 PM on December 30, 2004

Response by poster: Someone mentioned to me the new sony PSP console will have wireless capabilities, does anyone know if you will be able to connect to the internet with them (even in just a messenger or online gaming capacity) or just other PSPs in the area? Looks like the rest of this is going to be out of my price range ;-)
posted by outsider at 12:17 PM on December 30, 2004

He seems (I'm guessing) to want something smaller than a tablet, which is why I suggested the new handtop things. Technically the interface (touch screen, optional keyboard etc.) is like a tablet, but most of them run XP rather than XP Tablet because XP Tablet was mostly designed for higher resolutions.

Incidentally, the cheapest PocketPCs are like $350 (and don't offer much less than the best ones), which can't be too bad for anyone looking for a new PC of any kind.
posted by abcde at 12:20 PM on December 30, 2004

http://del.icio.us/tag/handtop
posted by airguitar at 12:23 PM on December 30, 2004

If you need a reason for justifying a big purchase, you might consider a Pocket PC with a built in phone. In the UK you can get these with a contract, making the upfront cost very low.
posted by toby\flat2 at 12:34 PM on December 30, 2004

Indeed: location and budget?
posted by Mossy at 1:02 PM on December 30, 2004

I've seen one of these in action and they're quite nice. The NYT did a write-up on them as well.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 1:22 PM on December 30, 2004

I like my Axim wireless with a folding keyboard for snagging emails and word processing, and it can play MP3s as well. But I am really hankering for a Pocket PC/phone combination, some of which will work with a bluetooth keyboard.
posted by LarryC at 1:25 PM on December 30, 2004

Do you mean wireless in the wi-fi or the cellphone sense?
posted by cillit bang at 1:40 PM on December 30, 2004

Response by poster: I dont want anything thats a cell phone or requires monthly contracts. Basically a small, handheld device i can surf the web on and listen to music with. Hell, I guess it dosent even really need wireless internet, just internet capability.
posted by outsider at 2:07 PM on December 30, 2004

Sharp isn't selling the Zaurus in America anymore, Sony's not selling their sweet high-end Clies, and the Simputer is still India-only AFAICS. Those would have been my first suggestions if only it would have been feasible for you to get them.

Any of you europeans have experience with the Symbian devices?

And what about Sidekicks -- can you get those from anybody besides T-Mobile yet? (I've heard really deeply negative stuff about the Sidekick experience via T-Mobile.)
posted by lodurr at 2:26 PM on December 30, 2004

Any pocket pc or palm with wifi and/or bluetooth should fit your requirements. IM apps are available for both, as are word processors and web browsers.

I've gone from palm to pocket pc, and I'm reasonably happy. In fact, I've just purchased a new Dell Axim x50v that has a gorgeous VGA (480x640) display, 2 memory card slots, a headphone jack, wifi AND bluetooth built in. It was about $425 shipped.

For web browsing, you probably want something high-res, so I would not personally look at lower-end palms or pocket pcs. Same goes for viewing images or doing much reading on the device. This is why I upgraded to the new vga device.

I would also figure in purchasing a 512MB or larger memory card for whatever you get so that you can store a reasonable number of music files.
posted by gkostolny at 4:43 PM on December 30, 2004