Discuss Pocket PC devices here.
Aug 16th, 2011, 3:38 am
Hi,

I need a pocket pc (not phone) for GPS, video watching, note taking (resistive screen for handwriting recognition), and word/excel/powerpoint, maybe a little bit of games as well. I narrowed down my choices to the Samsung Mondi and LG Fathom. Keep in mind, both would be used without the phone module.

Both have 256 MB RAM, but I would assume I can get more usable RAM from the Mondi, because WM6.1 takes less to run than 6.5 on the Fathom.

Also, as I understand, hardware-wise the Mondi is just a giant Omnia II without the phone module.

Which one would you recommend? How does the 800MHz ARM11 compare to the Snapdragon at 1000MHz for my tasks?

Many thanks!
Aug 16th, 2011, 3:38 am
Oct 16th, 2011, 7:37 am
Its now October so I assume you made up your mind - which did you choose?

For me, first of all the Samsung Mondi is unavailable in Australia - I can't even find it on eBay. However, the main clincher for me to choose the Fathom was price - shipped from the US it was only US$120 brand new, in retail packaging. I haven't got it yet but bought from a reputable seller. The reviews are rather mixed, but most seem to be fixated on Windows Mobile as a downside, which for the mainstream it probably is - but for specialised fields and geeks, is still a decent if not aging mobile OS.

I always find that typing on a keyboard, even a small one like the Fathoms, is faster than trying to handwrite.

I don't know too much about the processors unfortunately. But snapdragon's 1st gen (which I think is the one the Fathom has) is a great processor as far as WinMo devices go - we were stuck on relatively slow processors for a good 3-4 years I think (somewhere around 2005-08 was where processors sort of stagnated, from memory)
Oct 16th, 2011, 7:37 am

In the graveyard...
HTC TyTN II
Mio P350
Casio EG-800 - Pocket PC 2000, MIPS 150mhz processor, 32MB RAM, 32MB ROM, CF Slot, IrDA - AU$117
Oct 25th, 2011, 7:22 am
Ended up purchasing both, as I got the devices for less than 1/3 of the original price of each when they first came out...brand new. I was shocked at the prices - Windows Mobile is really dying off I suppose.

Anyhoo, the Fathom is extremely fast - the snapdragon really shines. I think that this is the best phone out of all windows mobile devices, as it is not only fast, but also has a keyboard, and unlike the HD2, a RESISTIVE screen with a stylus, which is really what Windows Mobile was set up for.

The Mondi is slower at everything, but one thing that really shines for it is the huge screen. It is very easy to work with documents on this device, as well as browse the web, but it also has compatibility issues with games and software that work flawlessly on the fathom. Still, it is the best phone-less PDA out there, and beats the last iteration of iPAQs by including a physical keyboard, camera, gps, WiMax, huge screen, better speakers, faster processor and finally a kickstand.
Oct 25th, 2011, 7:22 am
Nov 2nd, 2011, 5:42 am
Yeah, my Fathom came in a couple of days ago and it's great - appreciate the fluidity of the platform.. though I feel the 6.5.3 layout is a bit restricted compared to the other ones - it really feels like they tried their best to make it seem as user friendly as possible, but as a result I feel that things are harder to get to, and there's no X button for applications - so need to install that.

It's a little bit annoying though that although it has 256mb ram - significantly more than my old TyTN II - it still manages to run out of memory quite quickly :\ I'm not sure what the problem is, maybe when I have more time I'll try and figure it out.
Nov 2nd, 2011, 5:42 am

In the graveyard...
HTC TyTN II
Mio P350
Casio EG-800 - Pocket PC 2000, MIPS 150mhz processor, 32MB RAM, 32MB ROM, CF Slot, IrDA - AU$117
Nov 6th, 2011, 2:13 pm
detour wrote:Yeah, my Fathom came in a couple of days ago and it's great - appreciate the fluidity of the platform.. though I feel the 6.5.3 layout is a bit restricted compared to the other ones - it really feels like they tried their best to make it seem as user friendly as possible, but as a result I feel that things are harder to get to, and there's no X button for applications - so need to install that.

It's a little bit annoying though that although it has 256mb ram - significantly more than my old TyTN II - it still manages to run out of memory quite quickly :\ I'm not sure what the problem is, maybe when I have more time I'll try and figure it out.


Try chainfire autoclose patch, it can be easily found through google on xda developers. An excellent piece of software that allows to set your limits to say 3mb of ram when programs start to close. When I first got the fathom, it would not even let me open 3-4 programs at a time. I set my limits to close programs at 3 mb and stop closing when I have 5mb. That really helped me with Fathom's aggresive memory management.

I believe it was a 2 part install - first autoclosepatch, and then extreme settings, which allows to set your limits lower.
Nov 6th, 2011, 2:13 pm
Nov 13th, 2011, 9:15 am
Thanks :) I also tried an older piece of software called WkTASK from my old list of cab files I had on the TyTN II - it worked well with the pre 6.5 layout where the start button was at the top-left because it basically gives you not only a close button but also all your currently open programs; like the standard Windows desktop taskbar! I've not had problems after that, and it's a lot easier to multitask with the ability to access any of the programs open with one tap on the program's icon in the taskbar. It kind of wrecks the 6.5 layout though, I can't see the time on the top-right anymore haha. oh well, no big loss.
Nov 13th, 2011, 9:15 am

In the graveyard...
HTC TyTN II
Mio P350
Casio EG-800 - Pocket PC 2000, MIPS 150mhz processor, 32MB RAM, 32MB ROM, CF Slot, IrDA - AU$117