Phone as PDA w/o phone network

[Rosepond]

I recently upgraded my computer to Windows7. So I can no longer sync
my PDA to Outlook. I am a senior living in a rural location and have
no need for a $40+ a month "do anything" cell phone access. I do have
a tracfone that does the job. A friend recently told me that I can get
a smartphone and it will sync with my computer and that I don't need
phone access to use a smartphone as a PDA. Does anyone here have any
knowledge and suggestions? Thx.

[r***@pen_fact.com]

On Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:22:07 -0700 (PDT), Rosepond

Post by Rosepond
I recently upgraded my computer to Windows7. So I can no longer sync
my PDA to Outlook.

Are you sure? What PDA do you have?

Windows 7 includes WMDC (Windows Mobile Device Center), which replaces
ActiveSync as the tool for synching Windows Mobile PDAs and cell
phones. If you have a 64 bit version of Windows 7, that may be a
problem (I'm not sure). Same for Outlook 2010. I'm also sure how well
WMDC supports older PDAs, and not sure what "older" means

Post by Rosepond
I am a senior living in a rural location and have
no need for a $40+ a month "do anything" cell phone access. I do have
a tracfone that does the job. A friend recently told me that I can get
a smartphone and it will sync with my computer and that I don't need
phone access to use a smartphone as a PDA. Does anyone here have any
knowledge and suggestions? Thx.

Definitely possible to use a smartphone as a PDA without using it as a
phone. I think I've seen a GSM (more below) smartphone that wouldn't
work without a SIM, but that was an older model; I'm pretty sure most
GSM smartphones issue a warning if they start up without a SIM, but
are otherwise fine. The CDMA (more below) smartphones I've used work
fine with the radio off.

If you do decide to buy a smartphone, you can buy a used one for a
reasonable price without going through a carrier, and can thus avoid
getting stuck with a contract you don't need.

You could also get a used Windows Mobile PDA.


GSM/CDMA Details:
I _think_ all modern cell phones use one of two technologies. Sprint
and Verizon in the U.S.A. use CDMA; each of these phones needs to be
programmed for a specific phone number, and can't be changed easily.
AT&T and T-Mobile in the U.S.A. and (all?) carriers in the rest of the
world use GSM; each of these phones uses a SIM to tie it to a phone
number and a specific network. A user can easily move a SIM physically
from one GSM phone to another, although phones that are "locked" to a
network will only recognize SIMs that are locked to that network.
(This is definitely not one of my better descriptions, but I fear any
attempt I make to clarify will be even worse:-(

-----------------------------------------
To reply to me, remove the underscores (_) from my email address (and please indicate which newsgroup and message).

Robert E. Zaret, MVP
PenFact, Inc.
20 Park Plaza, Suite 400
Boston, MA 02116
www.penfact.com

[Todd Allcock]

Post by r***@pen_fact.com
On Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:22:07 -0700 (PDT), Rosepond

Post by Rosepond
I recently upgraded my computer to Windows7. So I can no longer sync
my PDA to Outlook.

Are you sure? What PDA do you have?
Windows 7 includes WMDC (Windows Mobile Device Center), which replaces
ActiveSync as the tool for synching Windows Mobile PDAs and cell
phones. If you have a 64 bit version of Windows 7, that may be a
problem (I'm not sure). Same for Outlook 2010. I'm also sure how well
WMDC supports older PDAs, and not sure what "older" means

WMDC supports WM2003 through WM6.5. That probably covers most Pocket PCs
still in use- those sold in the last seven years.

IIRC, 64-bit Win7 isn't a problem, but 64-bit Outlook 2010 is. Outlook
2K3, 2K7, and 32-bit 2010 will sync. MS has no plans to "fix" 64-bit
2010- IIRC, the "official" fix is to install 32-bit OL even on 64-bit
Windows.

Post by r***@pen_fact.com

Post by Rosepond
I am a senior living in a rural location and have
no need for a $40+ a month "do anything" cell phone access. I do have
a tracfone that does the job. A friend recently told me that I can get
a smartphone and it will sync with my computer and that I don't need
phone access to use a smartphone as a PDA. Does anyone here have any
knowledge and suggestions? Thx.

Definitely possible to use a smartphone as a PDA without using it as a
phone...

<snip>

Excellent overview- I've got nothing to add. If the OP tells us what PDA
he's using, we can probably advise further.

[Zimmy]

Post by Rosepond
I recently upgraded my computer to Windows7. So I can no longer sync
my PDA to Outlook. I am a senior living in a rural location and have
no need for a $40+ a month "do anything" cell phone access. I do have
a tracfone that does the job. A friend recently told me that I can get
a smartphone and it will sync with my computer and that I don't need
phone access to use a smartphone as a PDA. Does anyone here have any
knowledge and suggestions? Thx.

Consider an iPod touch. It will sync Contacts, Calendar and Notes with
Outlook via iTunes. No contract and you will have access to thousands of
iPhone apps. It has WiFi and will do a great job of browsing/email via
its lovely touch screen. Oh, and its also an iPod.

Z

[Zimmy]

Post by Zimmy

I recently upgraded my computer to Windows7. So I can no longer sync
my PDA to Outlook. I am a senior living in a rural location and have
no need for a $40+ a month "do anything" cell phone access. I do have
a tracfone that does the job. A friend recently told me that I can get
a smartphone and it will sync with my computer and that I don't need
phone access to use a smartphone as a PDA. Does anyone here have any
knowledge and suggestions? Thx.

Consider an iPod touch. It will sync Contacts, Calendar and Notes with
Outlook via iTunes. No contract and you will have access to thousands of
iPhone apps. It has WiFi and will do a great job of browsing/email via
its lovely touch screen. Oh, and its also an iPod.
Z

Oops sorted my dates the wrong way round!

Z