I have not yet got my pocket pc, but has been ordered so should arrive on
Tuesday.
Have ordered an Acer N50. I chose this mainly because it was inexpensive
but also has wifi built in.
The OS is windows mobile 2003 (so not the latest?)
I have a few questions that perhaps you all could help me with if you can
please.

Do I need an antivirus, if so is there a good free one available that is
recommended?
When downloading software, do I have to choose a particular version? like
for example I see some versions for ARM and some for another. I don't know
which processor I have yet, but I assume the two do not work together?
Is it possible to upgrade to the latest windows mobile or is that not
recommended due to hardware restrictions? I have browsed around and cannot
even find the chance to purchase the newer windows 5 anyway. (maybe tired
eyes not working).

Any other tips for using a PDA? (its my first PDA).

To any users of the Acer N50 out there, can anyone please confirm that it
does actually have wi-fi built in out of the box? I am a bit confused as
the product specs state it on the website I purchased it from (plus other
websites), but the downloadable manual from Acer suggests using a wi-fi SD
card. I will be very displeased if I have to buy an extra just to get wifi.

thanks all, sorry for all the questions.

Becky

>
"Beck" <beck@none> wrote in message
news:45733e9a$0$8718$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
>I have not yet got my pocket pc, but has been ordered so should arrive on
>Tuesday.
> Have ordered an Acer N50. I chose this mainly because it was inexpensive
> but also has wifi built in.
> The OS is windows mobile 2003 (so not the latest?)

But a lot better than the latest at quite a few things. (hot debate at times
here about it)

> I have a few questions that perhaps you all could help me with if you can
> please.
>
> Do I need an antivirus, if so is there a good free one available that is
> recommended?

Nope

> When downloading software, do I have to choose a particular version? like
> for example I see some versions for ARM and some for another. I don't
> know which processor I have yet, but I assume the two do not work
> together?

Download the arm or more to the point 2003 version

> Is it possible to upgrade to the latest windows mobile or is that not
> recommended due to hardware restrictions? I have browsed around and
> cannot even find the chance to purchase the newer windows 5 anyway.
> (maybe tired eyes not working).

A 2003 PPC runs best with 2003. Upgrades are only offered by the
manafacturer and can be flakey.

>
> Any other tips for using a PDA? (its my first PDA).
>
> To any users of the Acer N50 out there, can anyone please confirm that it
> does actually have wi-fi built in out of the box? I am a bit confused as
> the product specs state it on the website I purchased it from (plus other
> websites), but the downloadable manual from Acer suggests using a wi-fi SD
> card. I will be very displeased if I have to buy an extra just to get
> wifi.

Beats me, the spec schhet should know.

>
> thanks all, sorry for all the questions.

NP

>
> Becky
>
>
--
Brad Leyden
6° 43.5816' S 146° 59.3097' E WGS84
You haven't seen a stolen election yet, just wait for PNG in 2007.
Correction it won't be stolen, it will be purchased wholesale.
To mail spam is really hot but please reply to thread so all may benefit (or
laugh at my mistakes)
>

"Brad Leyden" <bradleyden@spammail.com> wrote in message
news:u0neY6yFHHA.3268@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>
> But a lot better than the latest at quite a few things. (hot debate at
> times here about it)

Thanks Brad. Which thread is that? I would be interested in reading it

It is to do with memory speed and usually the speed in which contacts are
retrieved.

The ROM is slower than RAM bet neither is what it purports to be in either
operating system.
In 2003 ROM was usually a small section used to store some data that didn't
die when the battery went heels up.
In WM5 Rom is used as a hard disk storing all files and RAM is used in a
more conventional sense for program execution.

In 2003 RAM was used for almost everything - most installed programs were
put there, the pim and mail was there, programs were executed there, great
snappy fast response was had by all. One drawback, loose power through flat
battery or a loose connector and it is the same as format c: /y great fun on
a weekend or on the road.

In WM5 Ram is used as a place where apps are run, When you run a program the
information is fed from the SLOW as a dead horse ROM into RAM where it can
be used just like in windoze (but not really, scratch disk etc...). All
applications are installed to ROM , no more power worries, take the battery
out and leave it for a week, reinstall it and you're where you left off. One
drawback getting the information from ROM into RAM where id can be used and
manipulated quickly can be slightly slower, add a businesses contacts
database (my database is a full draw of business cards and I haven't yet
digitised it) of say 3000 fellow employees and clients, suppliers etc... and
it starts to seem like you are beating the afore mentioned horse..

A quick Google groups search on the words WM5 and Bluetooth headset would
reveal some real treasures, I am led to believe that the main problems have
been repaired but it was colourful for a while.

--
Brad Leyden
6° 43.5816' S 146° 59.3097' E WGS84
You haven't seen a stolen election yet, just wait for PNG in 2007.
Correction it won't be stolen, it will be purchased wholesale.
To mail spam is really hot but please reply to thread so all may benefit (or
laugh at my mistakes)
>
>
"Beck" <beck@none> wrote in message
news:457358bc$0$8714$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
>
> "Brad Leyden" <bradleyden@spammail.com> wrote in message
> news:u0neY6yFHHA.3268@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>
>>
>> But a lot better than the latest at quite a few things. (hot debate at
>> times here about it)
>
> Thanks Brad. Which thread is that? I would be interested in reading it
>

"Brad Leyden" <bradleyden@spammail.com> wrote in message
news:e4uoqt0FHHA.4712@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> It is to do with memory speed and usually the speed in which contacts are
> retrieved.
>
> The ROM is slower than RAM bet neither is what it purports to be in either
> operating system.
> In 2003 ROM was usually a small section used to store some data that
> didn't die when the battery went heels up.
> In WM5 Rom is used as a hard disk storing all files and RAM is used in a
> more conventional sense for program execution.
>
> In 2003 RAM was used for almost everything - most installed programs were
> put there, the pim and mail was there, programs were executed there, great
> snappy fast response was had by all. One drawback, loose power through
> flat battery or a loose connector and it is the same as format c: /y great
> fun on a weekend or on the road.
>
> In WM5 Ram is used as a place where apps are run, When you run a program
> the information is fed from the SLOW as a dead horse ROM into RAM where it
> can be used just like in windoze (but not really, scratch disk etc...).
> All applications are installed to ROM , no more power worries, take the
> battery out and leave it for a week, reinstall it and you're where you
> left off. One drawback getting the information from ROM into RAM where id
> can be used and manipulated quickly can be slightly slower, add a
> businesses contacts database (my database is a full draw of business cards
> and I haven't yet digitised it) of say 3000 fellow employees and clients,
> suppliers etc... and it starts to seem like you are beating the afore
> mentioned horse..
>
> A quick Google groups search on the words WM5 and Bluetooth headset would
> reveal some real treasures, I am led to believe that the main problems
> have been repaired but it was colourful for a while.

Thanks for the information. So if I lose battery power it formats the
machine? :-/

At 04 Dec 2006 10:59:50 +0000 Beck wrote:

> Thanks for the information. So if I lose battery power it formats the
> machine? :-/

Brad used "format" as an analogy, but yes, all data is lost on pre
WinMobile-5 devices.

Keep in mind, however, many WM 2003 and prior devices used a secondary
backup battery, usually a lithium "coin" battery, and all were programmed
to go into a "sleep mode" when the battery was really low. In sleep
mode, the device wouldn't allow you to turn it back on and use it until
recharged, saving the last few % of battery life for retaining data.

"Todd Allcock" <elecconnec@AmericaOnLine.com> wrote in message
news:el1kuh$439$1@aioe.org...
> At 04 Dec 2006 10:59:50 +0000 Beck wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the information. So if I lose battery power it formats the
>> machine? :-/
>
> Brad used "format" as an analogy, but yes, all data is lost on pre
> WinMobile-5 devices.
>
> Keep in mind, however, many WM 2003 and prior devices used a secondary
> backup battery, usually a lithium "coin" battery, and all were programmed
> to go into a "sleep mode" when the battery was really low. In sleep
> mode, the device wouldn't allow you to turn it back on and use it until
> recharged, saving the last few % of battery life for retaining data.

HI Todd,

I take it you mean all data being worked on at the time is lost? Not
actually all data on the machine? Just like if my PC shut down whilst in a
document I would lose any changes since last save?
That I can live with, I am sure the machine will tell me when it is low. It
will be used only for internet, email and photo backup anyway so I will not
be using it for anything important.

On Sun, 3 Dec 2006 21:16:11 -0000, Beck wrote:

> Any other tips for using a PDA? (its my first PDA).

Free software:

- The Core Pocket Media Player (TCPMP)
<http://tcpmp.corecodec.org/>

(Site seems to be down at the moment.)

- tdLaunch (taskbar)
<http://www.nakka.com/soft/ptools/>

- Total Commander
<http://www.ghisler.com/pocketpc.htm>

- Magic Button (close programs for real; [x] doesn't close the program;
only minimize, so the program stays open in the background)
<http://www.trancreative.com/mb.aspx>

- CabInstl (for installing CAB-files where you want and without deleting
them)
<http://s-k-tools.com/index.html?m_util.html>

- PocketDivXEncoder
<http://divx.ppccool.com/>

Download the EXE to your PC; program is used to convert movies to PDA
size.

--
HP iPAQ h2210 | Brando Workshop Protector Plus | HP Leather Belt Case | Kingston CF 1 GiB |
SanDisk CF 256 MiB | Sandisk SD 1 GiB | D-Link DBT-120

No - you will lose all data if your battery runs down. Unlike on a PC.
It might come with a Backup program, but if not use Spb Backup , and backup
to a SD card. As well as this backup, you can backup to your PC every time
you sync.

looking at the specs, I see both Wifi and Bluetooth are integrated.

Laura

--
Laura Rooke
MVP - Mobile Devices

At 04 Dec 2006 17:20:27 +0000 Beck wrote:
>
> HI Todd,
>
> I take it you mean all data being worked on at the time is lost? Not
> actually all data on the machine?

No, all data on the machine (again, we're talking about pre-Windows
Mobile 5 devices- WM5 has "persistent storage," the memory is essentially
flash memory and persists without battery power.)

> Just like if my PC shut down whilst in a
> document I would lose any changes since last save?

No, you'd lose all documents and all user-installed programs. PPCs don't
have hard disks to write to- everything: programs, data and all are
stored in volatile RAM, that requires battry power to refresh.

> That I can live with, I am sure the machine will tell me when it is low.

It will. Backups are a good idea as well.

"Beck" <beck@none> wrote in message
news:457458dc$0$8724$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...

> I take it you mean all data being worked on at the time is lost? Not
> actually all data on the machine? Just like if my PC shut down whilst in
> a document I would lose any changes since last save?

Nope.

All data stored in RAM on your Pocket PC will be erased. And all additional
applications that were installed into RAM as opposed to flash ROM. RAM
contents in the PPC 2003 units is maintained by a slight trickle of
electricity from the battery. Once the battery's been drained, there's no
more trickle, no more maintanence of data, and no more data. Under normal
use, if you sync the PDA every day or every couple of days, this shouldn't
be a problem since it charges while in the cradle.

If you're going to be travelling, take a charger with you.

> That I can live with, I am sure the machine will tell me when it is low.
> It will be used only for internet, email and photo backup anyway so I will
> not be using it for anything important.

If you're going to be using it for photo backup, that'd likely go onto an SD
card, and won't get erased if the PDA starves to death. Also keep in mind
that wireless internet access drains your battery nice and fast.

I had a few joyful experiences of near heart-attacks before I learned to
charge my old Toshiba every couple of days to be on the safe side. <grin>

I love the hardware separation between RAM and storage space on WM5 devices.
Storage space is flash ROM, similar in principle to an SD card, and doesn't
get erased.



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

"Laura" <nickyrooke48@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:e4OGu%23$FHHA.3780@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> No - you will lose all data if your battery runs down. Unlike on a PC.
> It might come with a Backup program, but if not use Spb Backup , and
> backup to a SD card. As well as this backup, you can backup to your PC
> every time you sync.
>
> looking at the specs, I see both Wifi and Bluetooth are integrated.

Bloody hell I bought a lemon then. I didn't realise this. I just thought
anything on the card will be stored no matter what, unless corruption
occurred.
I bought this particular one because it had wifi included and that was what
I was looking for most. I had no idea the OS would be a downer.
Well I suppose for the price, really I cannot complain. It was under £150
which is cheap for a PDA with wifi. I guess I just have to be very careful
and do regular backups.

"Todd Allcock" <elecconnec@AmericaOnLine.com> wrote in message
news:el2v3f$sce$1@aioe.org...
> At 04 Dec 2006 17:20:27 +0000 Beck wrote:
>>
>> HI Todd,
>>
>> I take it you mean all data being worked on at the time is lost? Not
>> actually all data on the machine?
>
> No, all data on the machine (again, we're talking about pre-Windows
> Mobile 5 devices- WM5 has "persistent storage," the memory is essentially
> flash memory and persists without battery power.)
>
>> Just like if my PC shut down whilst in a
>> document I would lose any changes since last save?
>
> No, you'd lose all documents and all user-installed programs. PPCs don't
> have hard disks to write to- everything: programs, data and all are
> stored in volatile RAM, that requires battry power to refresh.
>
>> That I can live with, I am sure the machine will tell me when it is low.
>
> It will. Backups are a good idea as well.

Well the initial shock has worn away now. Photos would be my only concern.
I am going away in a couple of weeks and planned on using it as a backup.
However I also plan on buying wireless for the week (only 20 euros) so I
just need to rework my plan. Take photos from camera/phone. Upload through
wireless to my FTP server. Permanent storage there :-)

"Paul in Toronto" <swampyfern********.com> wrote in message
news:4574f610$0$8373$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...
>
> "Beck" <beck@none> wrote in message
> news:457458dc$0$8724$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
>
>> I take it you mean all data being worked on at the time is lost? Not
>> actually all data on the machine? Just like if my PC shut down whilst in
>> a document I would lose any changes since last save?
>
> Nope.
>
> All data stored in RAM on your Pocket PC will be erased. And all
> additional applications that were installed into RAM as opposed to flash
> ROM. RAM contents in the PPC 2003 units is maintained by a slight trickle
> of electricity from the battery. Once the battery's been drained, there's
> no more trickle, no more maintanence of data, and no more data. Under
> normal use, if you sync the PDA every day or every couple of days, this
> shouldn't be a problem since it charges while in the cradle.
>
> If you're going to be travelling, take a charger with you.
>
>> That I can live with, I am sure the machine will tell me when it is low.
>> It will be used only for internet, email and photo backup anyway so I
>> will not be using it for anything important.
>
> If you're going to be using it for photo backup, that'd likely go onto an
> SD card, and won't get erased if the PDA starves to death. Also keep in
> mind that wireless internet access drains your battery nice and fast.

Wow now I am a tad confused. So anything stored on the card is not erased?
Well can't I make sure that all data is installed onto the SD card and not
the built in rom/ram ??

Data on the SD card will not be lost. And you can store your files and
programs there, but OUTLOOK data (Calendar, Tasks, Notes, Contacts, Email)
is synced to main memory and you cannot change this.

Is it too late to cancel this order or return it ???


--
Laura Rooke
MVP - Mobile Devices