Pocket PC phones??????

[Cowboy Medic]

I have Verizon as my wireless provider and I was looking on their website at the Pocket PC phones. I have been toying with the idea of a pocket PC or a Palm pilot type device for a while due to the amount of emergency drug programs and medical protocols and stuff that are available and would be handy to have with me in the ambulance.



Anyway, my questions are these.



1. What can you guys tell me about them from your own experiences?



2. What are the main differences with Pocket PC vs. Palm?



3. I have read on the forums about guys using palms for checking computer codes on the trucks and stuff could I do that with a pocket pc?



4. Are there certain things I should be looking for if I want to invest in one?



5. Can you get mapping software that will work with GPS? or can you get ones now with GPS in them?



Thanks to anyone who has any experience or knowledge about these things. I like to think of myself as pretty savvy about technology but this is one area I have never looked at, so any stories that can give me ideas on pros and cons I would appreciate.



Jon

 

[klenger]

I have the Kyocera 7135 phone/Palm PDA from Verizon. I use it as a phone and mostly messaging. I can connect to my email via pop3 and send and receive long text emails. I also use the address book a lot and the calander to some extent. I like it. It operates with Palm IV software (I think).



Here's a link to Verizons phone page. You need to scroll down to the 7135. I bought it from the customer service group for $400 when it 1st came out. They gave me $100 off because I am a nice guy.



http://www.verizonwireless.com/ics/plsql/pf_start.intro?p_section=EQUIPMENT

 

[HoleshotHolset]

My experience with cell phones that think they are other devices is this:



You'll make sacrifices - you either end up with a bad PDA and a good phone... . yadda, yadda, yadda.....



If you can afford to skimp on either - more power to you, but make that one of the deciding factors... . which do you need more often?



Putting all of your eggs in one basket is another downside - if it "codes" then your up the creek with no phone or PDA.



I'd also like to see a phone/PDA handle incoming calls..... what if you're looking up how much Narcan (sp?) to give a druggie who O. D. 'd and an incoming call comes in simultaneously? If the devices were separate - the answer is simple... . ignore the phone and keep on using the PDA.



Consolidating both devices could cut down on clutter and chances of loss... . but having a big honkin' (BHCF/PDA ? ) cell phone/PDA to carry around when you're off duty isn't my idea of a good time.



That's my $0. 04 worth - (inflation)... .



Matt

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Originally posted by HoleshotHolset

BHCF.



That's my $0. 04 worth - (inflation)... .



Matt

Yesh yesh dat's funny yah

Ishn't Dat Veird ?





Sometimes you just have to draw the line. I can often talk on the phone AND have to fire off some info on the PDA and thats when you need both seperate.



Side note:



Most pocket PC's are windows CE based. ..... Imagine the error messages and fatal exceptions that happen when an invalid called ID happens. Or better yet when you DROP a download.



Windows has detected a lost connection with the host ftp site and was here only a seccond ago. Please check your pockets and try again



Or better yet intergrated aol / voice recognition software.

You recieve a phone call which boots you off line with a "Goodbye" and that triggers the phone portion to immediatly hang up.