FAQ’s about the Pocket PC

The Pocket PC has been evaluated based on its benefits and drawbacks for various users. There are certain criteria that should be considered when looking at the benefits and uses of this machine. The first criteria to look at when evaluating any tool or space is, "Who is more likely to use it?" When thinking about this, it is also important to consider how easy it is to use, what types of writing can be composed using it, and what spaces can be accessed using it. It is a good idea to compare it to similar products and to look at the cost of the product and product accessories. It is important to consider the initial purpose of the technology versus how it is actually used as well.

Who is more likely to use the Pocket PC?

The Pocket PC is for everyone, especially writers. It has gotten an especially good reputation among business professionals and the computer savvy. Much of this is probably due to the fact that it is so simple to use (Please see more about general uses in my blog post "What the Heck is a Pocket PC?). If you can read, type, and use a stylus (the pencil like device used for the touch screen), then you should be able to use the Pocket PC. It has a version of Windows, and it is a lot like using a regular desktop computer. I had never seen one before, and within 10 minutes of playing around with it, I felt like an expert.

How easy is the Pocket PC to use?

While anyone can use the basic programs, there are some more complicated applications that can be added on that a person would have to learn how to use. The Sprint PPC-6700 is my Pocket PC of choice, and it comes with a book that explains how to do all the basic programs. The book contains step by step instructions, is well organized, and is very easy to understand. You actually only need the book to look up specific tasks since most of the things the machine does can be figured out just by playing around with it.

What types of writing can be composed and what types of spaces can be accessed with the use of this writing technology?

Please see my previous blog post, "The Pocket PC: Let the Serious Writing Begin". In that post, I go into detail about the many uses of the Pocket PC for professional writers.

How does The Pocket PC compare to similar products?

It is really hard to say because it depends on the product it is compared to and the model of Pocket PC. The model that I personally have the most experience with is the Sprint PPC-6700. I personally don't have experience with many other Pocket PC models, but I have tried out devices that do similar things and was not impressed. My biggest complaint about similar products is the keyboard and the size. Many similar devices are just too bulky to be practical. The Pocket PC is small because of the way it's designed. The keyboard slides into the machine so it can be pulled out when it needs to be used. This makes the machine smaller without compromising screen size. This design also allows the buttons to be made square and a little bit bigger than they are on some of the other phones. That makes it much easier to type using the keypad.

Okay, I want to buy one. Now how expensive is this thing?

I'm not going to lie. They don't come cheap. However, you don't have to be Donald Trump to buy one. They run anywhere from about $200-$700. The cheaper ones, of course, do not double as a cellular phone. My husband paid about $600 for his Sprint PPC-6700. It doubles as a cell phone, so there is also the cost of the cell phone plan and users would also need to add on a Sprint PCS Vision Plan to be able to connect to the Internet. The cost of these would vary according to the plan and the promotions going on at the time. It usually costs about $55 a month for a simple cell phone and vision plan-$40 for the voice plan and $15 for the added vision. This would be for about 500 anytime minutes with free nights and weekends.
www.sprint.com/business/products/phones/ppc6700_allPcsPhones.jsp

What accessories are needed to use the Pocket PC?
Fortunately, even though it is a little expensive, the Pocket PC comes with pretty much everything needed. It has a stylus built into the phone that can be pulled out and used, and ours even came with a protective black case. Everything needed for basic use comes with it. There is an endless number of things that a user could add onto it. In fact, there is a whole magazine devoted to use of and accessories for the Pocket PC. For those interested, it can be viewed at the following site:
http://www.pocketpcmag.com/

What was the initial purpose of the Pocket PC versus how it is actually used?
I think the Pocket PC is being used in the way that it was intended to be used. It was intended to be used as a mini handheld computer, and today that is what it is used for. I go into more detail on the history of the Pocket PC in my blog post "Food for thought: the history of the Pocket PC." Please see that post.