On PDA/Phone Combos

Seems like the fashion today is for a phone with built in PDA (usually Palm OS or Pocket PC). I have used a few of these and they have left me underwhelmed both as phones and PDAs.

Usually the combo device has a bias, maybe it is primarily a phone that has PDA functionality - such as the Samsung I330, or it is a PDA with a phone built in like the Toshiba 2032SP (aka the Audiovox Thera). While you might think therefore that the device probably succeeeds at its main task to the detriment of its secondary task I often find that the device ends up as the master of none.

A device that is primarily a phone will usually have too small a screen to be a good PDA and as a good phone size is smaller than a good PDA size the controls will be fairly cramped and hard to work with. On the other side a device that is primarily a PDA is usually way too big to carry about in your pocket and ergonomically not very comfortable when held up to your ear (if indeed it is even designed to be used up against your ear, which the Toshiba/Audiovox isn't).

No, I am afraid I buck the trend towards the combo device and stick to two devices and the technology that binds them together - Bluetooth. I carry a phone that is really good at being a phone and a PDA that is really good at being a PDA.

My own personal preference is for a SonyEricsson T68i phone on the AT&T service and an HP/Compaq Ipaq 3970. Both devices have Bluetooth, so the Ipaq can take advantage of the GPRS service of the phone to access the internet where I can sync my corporate email and calendar information, todo's and contact lists as well as browse the web.

Getting the two devices paired to talk together is fairly easy and you don't have any of the driver installation nonsense that plagued me with earlier attempts to mate my Ipaq to a Sierra Aircard where I had to download and install several sets of drivers to my Ipaq before it would deign to talk to the Sierra.

If I should decide to replace the Ipaq 3970 with the newer Ipaq 5450 then I don't have to throw away my T68i or worry about having to get my wireless service transferred to a new device, I just pair the two devices and away I go.

I'll let you into a secret - I have another PDA - a Palm Tungsten T - it is a Bluetooth device as well and of course I can use the T68i to provide internet connectivity to the Tungsten as well. I also have a Bluetooth enabled laptop, and yes, I use the T68i to provide internet connectivity for that too.

The good thing is, when I want to upgrade my PDA I don't have to upgrade my phone (and the service that goes with it), and when I upgrade my phone I don't have to upgrade my PDA.

I live in Florida, and when I want to make a quick trip to the store wearing my T-shirt and shorts I just drop my T68i into my pocket and off I go. I've tried dropping the Toshiba/Audiovox into my pocket and it nearly succeeded in dragging my shorts down around my ankles as well as being very uncomfortable in the car.

Another advantage I have found is when you are attempting to do some work in a hotel room where your computer location does not give you a good wireless signal to your AIrcard or other PC Card in your computer. WIth the T68i and Bluetooth I can lay the phone on the window shelf where I get a reasonable wireless signal and can sit on the sofa on the other side of the room and utilize the better positioning of that phone via the Bluetooth connection.

One of my pet hates with cell phones is trying to add new contact names and numbers. Those small restrictive keypads turn it into a real chore. I use Bluetooth to enter the names on my PC and have them sync to the phone. Nothing new in that, you have been able to do that with Infra Red for years, but the real beauty is when I am out and have added a number manually ot the phone, when come back home and walk into the living room my PC senses the presence of the phone immediately and automatically syncs the new number. I love that. I have always thought that sncing should be an automatic process, not something should have to trouble myself with remembering to do.

One final use for Bluetooth and the one that tends to look the most impressive. With a Bluetooth phone like the T68i and Bluetooth on your laptop you can use the phone to control, say, a Powerpoint presentation on your laptop - you can move to the next slide by nudging the volume control on the phone - very nice!!!!