iPhone as PDA

[motoxpress]

What are the main weaknesses of the iPhone as a PDA? I am really hoping to consolidate everything (Phone, PIM, and iPod) onto one device and the iPhone would be a great way to go. What is it missing? I realize it won't be perfect at everything but, it seems to cover most things well. I think the biggest weakness for me will be the storage space.

-mx

 

[Brianstorm91]

Well at least the calendar works now!

 

[rogersmj]

What are the main weaknesses of the iPhone as a PDA? I am really hoping to consolidate everything (Phone, PIM, and iPod) onto one device and the iPhone would be a great way to go. What is it missing? I realize it won't be perfect at everything but, it seems to cover most things well. I think the biggest weakness for me will be the storage space.

-mx

It works pretty well for me. I just wish you could keep separate calendars on the thing (one for Personal, one for Work, etc) but my BlackBerry couldn't do that either.

Storage space will be the biggest weakness for you??? Are there 16GB or 32GB PDAs out there I'm not aware of??

 

[Phil A.]

It really depends on what PDA type functions you want. Here's my take on the strengths and weaknesses of the PDA type functions within the iPhone:

Excellent
Web Browsing
Email
Clock / Alarms

Good
Calendar

Average
Note taking
Calculator


Poor
Reading Office Documents

Very Poor
Editing Office Documents


For me, the main things I want out of a PDA are web, e-mail and calendar so for me it works great as a PDA, but ymmv.

 

[ceiph]

i think he means 8 gig ipod

 

[dacreativeguy]

I'm hoping that Notes, Todos, and a password manager program become more usable when the API is released.

 

[motoxpress]

It works pretty well for me. I just wish you could keep separate calendars on the thing (one for Personal, one for Work, etc) but my BlackBerry couldn't do that either.

Storage space will be the biggest weakness for you??? Are there 16GB or 32GB PDAs out there I'm not aware of??

Not that I am aware of but, I do have a 30 gig iPod which is what I was referring to as a total replacement device.

So, my multiple calendars in iCal won't translate? That would stink

-mx

 

[motoxpress]

I am not really panicked about office docs but pdf docs would be very helpful.

I have started using the notes features of iCal more now as I attach dates with tasks anyway. Will this translate to the iPhone?

-mx

 

[silbeej]

As far as i know the iPhone can handle office documents as well as pdf's. I personally still use my old Sony Mp3 player, just because it is habit, but as far as everything else, i love how it works. I had a treo before, so i know all about the smartphones, and the iPhone pretty much tops the lot. It does everything that i could want it to do, besides having about another few days of battery life, but then again, there is no solving that. I really don't think i will get another phone until the next iPhone comes out, and even then i will stick with my current one.

 

[rogersmj]

Not that I am aware of but, I do have a 30 gig iPod which is what I was referring to as a total replacement device.

So, my multiple calendars in iCal won't translate? That would stink

-mx

Ah, I thought we were just talking about PDA functionality. I too have a 30 GB iPod but I use it in tandem with my iPhone...in fact, I've never played music with my iPhone. I just use all its other functionality. Part of the reason is that I really only use my iPod for music when I'm in the car, since (a) the iPhone can't hold all my music, and (b) I don't want to have my iPhone plugged into the car in case I need to use it as, you know, a phone.

You can sync all your calendars to the iPhone (I sync four to it), but they all appear mushed together on the iPhone itself -- all on one calendar. And then when you add an event on the iPhone, it defaults to one calendar, so you'll have to manually move that event in iCal after you sync if the default isn't the right spot for it.

 

[McGiord]

When you have it out of the box:
- It doesn't have a To Do list or tasks app, you'll have to use an online app for this or jailbreak and use a 3rd party one (currently these ones don't sync with your desktop).
- Multiple Calendars like iCal: doesn't show the categories or names, but it sync all of them.
- PowerPoint attachements aren't viewable on the Mail app.

Despite this if what you want is to consolidate all your devices into one, test it in an store and you'll decide what is best for you.
Hopefully soon the official iPhone SDK will allow us to obtain all what is missing.
________
Custom 500

 

[motoxpress]

Yea, I guess I will just have to be patient a little longer. I have a razor that is on it's last legs and I am starting to wonder about how long I have before it is no longer useable.

-mx

 

[vrillusions]

My biggest gripe is the notes app. I had a palm before and I used the notes app with categories extensively. I would make a category for each "context" (think GTD methodology). So I would have a @work category that had a bunch of notes that were tasks for me to do when I was at work. I could reorder each note and if I needed to be more descriptive I would have the first line say something like "update servers" then the rest of the note would say which servers to update. So really categories, and reorder notes, and I'd be happy. Although the note syncing needs to get better to.