I have recently decided to purchase a PDA-type device. I would like to have one that uses Windows CE. I would also like to get an iPod-type device in lieu of a new CD player for my home (I live by myself so sharing music isn't an issue). Is there an option that would result in purchasing (and subsequently carrying around) only one device (rather than two)?

Thank you for taking the time to read my question.

Daisy

You can use most PDAs as mp3 players but you cannot have nearly the ammount of storage or battery life that actual mp3 players have and at a much higher cost. If you don't mind not having thousands on you at all times you can probably get by with a 256 or 512mb flash card in your pda loaded with songs. That would be the most cost effective solution. Flash cards larger than 512mb are EXTREMELY expensive and the CF card hard drives suck battery life like crazy.

<A HREF="http://www.folken.net/myrig.htm" target="_new">My precious...</A>

Not really. Only if you need high speed , or Ultra high speed cards is it expensive (and even then 1GB of 60x for under $80US!). And when it comes to MP3 playing you will get little benifit from HighSpeed memory, because it's not a race to read/write, and therefore it's not a lag issue or a battery issue unlike cameras etc. The only time you will benifit from the higher speed is when you are loading the card with music, not when you are playing from it.
I have 32x as my lowest, but that's because I swap them with Cameras and use them as Thumb drives (thanks to the Jump Drive). However 1GB of 'slow' CF/SD is actually alot cheaper than my first 256mb 32x was, heck now I can get 512mb of SanDisk UltraII for less.

Prices from NewEgg

<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-180-610&depa=1" target="_new">Here's 1GB of SD for $69</A>
<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-160-051&depa=1" target="_new">And 1GB of CF for the same price</A>. (<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-171-073&depa=1" target="_new">SandDisk CF is $73</A> )

Heck even <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-155-264&depa=1" target="_new">High Speed 60x 1GB of SD is $74</A>

And <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-171-074&depa=1" target="_new">2GB @ $133.99</A> is $4 more expensive than my original 256mb SD 32x.

Prices are Low, D4MN LOW!

I use 512mb of Panasonic 9/10 (MB/s not x) high speed in my Palm Phone, and it works GREAT for playing MP3 (except when I go through a tunnel and lose Network and it pauses the player for 1/4 second. I can fit about 100-120+ songs on that card (even with a few games and pics on it too) and that is a fair amount of tunes at 128mb/s quality.

<b>Jargonista</b>, I would say this though, just about every MP3 playing PDA will have lesser sound quality than the dedicated MP3/WAV/WMA/Vorbis/etc players. Most have Bass issues (mine's not that bad really with a slight tweak of the EQ [only need a VERY tiny boost of the 60 & 150hz ranges] I get ok quality), and they will never be quite as good as a dedicated player, and likely none will be anywhere near as loud (handy for poorly transfered tunes). But considering I hear that the iPOD also has Bass issues (but is among the loudest without amplification) you may find a PDA to be fine for your needs depending on your tastes. The MOST important thing is to get good Software. I have a friend who has a CE based PDA and really the main thing to look for is a player that has a good equalizer (5 band at least IMO for good sound shaping) AND also something that automatically turns off the LCD when playing after a brief time, as many leave the screen lit the ntire time (which is silly). She hasn't found it yet, but it's likely clearly described/linked in a forum somewhere, but I'm not gonna look for her. Thankfully my player has shuffle, 7 band Eq, Good playlist editor and track/title info, and still plays when I close the clamshell (thus turning off the LCD). And while battery life is still and issue, it'll go for a good 4+ hours without worries, and more if you've got good lithium (4 hours on my phone only depletes the battery to about half and that's while acting as a phone too!)


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK

Holy crap, I hadn't looked at the prices in a little while so I assumed they hadn't changed much. Boy was I wrong!
I'm goona buy me one o those right now, that is dirt cheap!

<A HREF="http://www.folken.net/myrig.htm" target="_new">My precious...</A>

Yep it's surprising.

I just wish they were this cheap when I had the Kodak DCS 14N for the summer last year. I really could've taken advantage of that kind of space.

The Amazing thing is that there's 8GB CF cards out there from LEXAR. Imagine when those come down to the sub $200 range. Entire DVD on a CF card, no compression.


- You need a licence to buy a gun, but they'll sell anyone a stamp <i>(or internet account)</i> ! - <font color=green>RED </font color=green> <font color=red> GREEN</font color=red> GA to SK