reccommendation on used pocketpc

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

I am looking to purchase a PocketPC to use for some auto diagnostic software
but it seems that the new ones are really expensive, over $400, and
unfortunately I can't afford that.

I am not familiar with PocketPC's and was wondering if someone could
recommend a model, preferably HP, that is slightly older than top of the
line, but still good enough to provide some longevity.

Cost is a major factor so I am not sure what a good place to look for a used
unit.

The software I am going to use is made by AutoEnginuity,
http/www.autoenginuity.com/index.html and the other I am looking at is
from Scantool.net

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

--
Tony

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 19:47:31 -0500, "TM" <nospam-abc@nothing.com>
wrote:

>I am looking to purchase a PocketPC to use for some auto diagnostic software
>but it seems that the new ones are really expensive, over $400, and
>unfortunately I can't afford that.
>
>I am not familiar with PocketPC's and was wondering if someone could
>recommend a model, preferably HP, that is slightly older than top of the
>line, but still good enough to provide some longevity.
>
>Cost is a major factor so I am not sure what a good place to look for a used
>unit.
>
>The software I am going to use is made by AutoEnginuity,
>http/www.autoenginuity.com/index.html and the other I am looking at is
>from Scantool.net
>
>Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

If you're looking at OBD software, there are freeware programs out
there. You just need to buy the right cable and typically make sure
that your iPAQ can support RS232 (serial cable). From what I've heard,
the commercial software usually just combines the reading of the OBD
information with the database of what the codes mean from the
manufacturers. If you don't mind these two parts being separate, you
can just get a cable and find the software for reading the signals and
get the codes from the manufacturers or online.

I haven't tested this information, but it's been what I've been told
by others and my research seemed to confirm it.

With that in mind, used stuff can be found on ebay, but you might also
consider buying refurbished from HP.

http/www.hp.com/sbso/buspurchase_refurbished.html
http/www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/generic_landing.do?landing=outlet_store

For longevity, I'd just say buy one that has Windows Mobile 2003 SE,
XScale, bluetooth, 64+ MB of mem, and wifi is a bonus. I don't know if
the availability of Media Player 10 upgrades is any indication of what
products will be offered future windows upgrades, but if so, the
following look good for longevity:

HP iPAQ rx3000 Series
Dell Axim X30
Dell Axim X50 Pocket PC

---
Mark A.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

write down what you are going to use it for, and make sure your PDA will
support those options

this is how i decided:
i wanted :
- SD Card (now I used a SD card with 512MB)
- Compact microdrive (I use a 2.0 Gigabyte Microdrive)
- a good processor (mine has intel 400MHz)
- WiFi 802.11b
- good battery life

why PPC and not Palm OS:
- because it reads windows based files (especially .CHM ebooks)
- I have near 100 Ebooks (CHM format, not PDF or other types) of all kinds
of languages (Oreilly books, SAM'S teach Yourself this and that); these are
computer books that I use to carry with me everywhere and are not possible
to be read on Palm OS (some of these are more than 700 pages)
- I wanted internet access
- I wanted FTP access to work from anywhere and edit websites that I created
- I wanted to be able to program on it
- I wanted to listen to music on it
- Wanted to view movies with it
- Carry my notes (previous codes I wrote in C, PHP, Perl. Javascript, etc
and lecture notes from University) for reference

all of this means that I needed a newer PPC
i chose Asus A716 (the best choise at the time)


you make a list like this, and put a checkmark besides what you want

that might mean that you must wait a bit and save some money (trust me it's
worth it to have patience)

 

[dw]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

I would not buy a used ppc. You don't know how many times it was
dropped/thrown againt a wall, etc.

I'd look at new. Not all are $400.00

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

Fantastic. I really appreciate the info.

Thank you
--
Tony



"Mark A." <-mark@-spamstopshere.com-> wrote in message
news:7kjk31pu5kfvkrfug7ug5loip99f3e4j90@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 19:47:31 -0500, "TM" <nospam-abc@nothing.com>
> wrote:
>
>>I am looking to purchase a PocketPC to use for some auto diagnostic
>>software
>>but it seems that the new ones are really expensive, over $400, and
>>unfortunately I can't afford that.
>>
>>I am not familiar with PocketPC's and was wondering if someone could
>>recommend a model, preferably HP, that is slightly older than top of the
>>line, but still good enough to provide some longevity.
>>
>>Cost is a major factor so I am not sure what a good place to look for a
>>used
>>unit.
>>
>>The software I am going to use is made by AutoEnginuity,
>>http/www.autoenginuity.com/index.html and the other I am looking at is
>>from Scantool.net
>>
>>Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks
>
> If you're looking at OBD software, there are freeware programs out
> there. You just need to buy the right cable and typically make sure
> that your iPAQ can support RS232 (serial cable). From what I've heard,
> the commercial software usually just combines the reading of the OBD
> information with the database of what the codes mean from the
> manufacturers. If you don't mind these two parts being separate, you
> can just get a cable and find the software for reading the signals and
> get the codes from the manufacturers or online.
>
> I haven't tested this information, but it's been what I've been told
> by others and my research seemed to confirm it.
>
> With that in mind, used stuff can be found on ebay, but you might also
> consider buying refurbished from HP.
>
> http/www.hp.com/sbso/buspurchase_refurbished.html
> http/www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/generic_landing.do?landing=outlet_store
>
> For longevity, I'd just say buy one that has Windows Mobile 2003 SE,
> XScale, bluetooth, 64+ MB of mem, and wifi is a bonus. I don't know if
> the availability of Media Player 10 upgrades is any indication of what
> products will be offered future windows upgrades, but if so, the
> following look good for longevity:
>
> HP iPAQ rx3000 Series
> Dell Axim X30
> Dell Axim X50 Pocket PC
>
> ---
> Mark A.
>

 

[agent_c]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

eBay is your best friend:

http/cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38331&item=5760099985&rd=1

A_C


On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 19:47:31 -0500, "TM" <nospam-abc@nothing.com>
wrote:

>I am looking to purchase a PocketPC to use for some auto diagnostic software
>but it seems that the new ones are really expensive, over $400, and
>unfortunately I can't afford that.
>
>I am not familiar with PocketPC's and was wondering if someone could
>recommend a model, preferably HP, that is slightly older than top of the
>line, but still good enough to provide some longevity.
>
>Cost is a major factor so I am not sure what a good place to look for a used
>unit.
>
>The software I am going to use is made by AutoEnginuity,
>http/www.autoenginuity.com/index.html and the other I am looking at is
>from Scantool.net
>
>Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

Well that auction ended, but I will take a look for others. $200 is a
little more than I can afford right now
Thanks
--
Tony



"Agent_C" <Agent-C-hates-spam@nyc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:e0pm31hrjth24cdudla6jr0fr8hl2ja7s5@4ax.com...
> eBay is your best friend:
>
> http/cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38331&item=5760099985&rd=1
>
> A_C
>
>
> On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 19:47:31 -0500, "TM" <nospam-abc@nothing.com>
> wrote:
>
>>I am looking to purchase a PocketPC to use for some auto diagnostic
>>software
>>but it seems that the new ones are really expensive, over $400, and
>>unfortunately I can't afford that.
>>
>>I am not familiar with PocketPC's and was wondering if someone could
>>recommend a model, preferably HP, that is slightly older than top of the
>>line, but still good enough to provide some longevity.
>>
>>Cost is a major factor so I am not sure what a good place to look for a
>>used
>>unit.
>>
>>The software I am going to use is made by AutoEnginuity,
>>http/www.autoenginuity.com/index.html and the other I am looking at is
>>from Scantool.net
>>
>>Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

"TM" <nospam-abc@nothing.com> wrote in message
news:uH8VVQ1KFHA.244@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
| I am looking to purchase a PocketPC to use for some auto diagnostic
software
| but it seems that the new ones are really expensive, over $400, and
| unfortunately I can't afford that.
|
| I am not familiar with PocketPC's and was wondering if someone could
| recommend a model, preferably HP, that is slightly older than top of
the
| line, but still good enough to provide some longevity.
|
| Cost is a major factor so I am not sure what a good place to look for
a used
| unit.
|
| The software I am going to use is made by AutoEnginuity,
| http/www.autoenginuity.com/index.html and the other I am looking at
is
| from Scantool.net
|
| Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks
|
| --
| Tony
|

The program may not be too taxing so you may be able to get a new entry
level model. The only thing I would suggest is being very careful that
any interface cables work with the proposed machine- for example not
all ppc's properly support a serial port - some not at all.

Have you tried emailing the software suppliers for a list of compatible
machines (There may be an inexpensive entry level model on such a list)
or explaining that you are interested in the software and can they
recommend a low cost ppc that is compatible? This could lead to a sale
for them so they will probably help.
Not all ppc's are $400 and whatever the cost they have a similar basic
specification, just be careful it has the correct interface capability-
processing power may be almost irelevant.