I want one… (next year when my contract is up )

My requirement in a phone consist of dialing and talking… I don’t want a camera and a million stupid ringtones. Even a bluetooth headset is too much, as it tuns into just abother device I need to charge and carry around.

If there was a magical device that merged my cheapo Nokia 6030 cell with my axim, I’d be there. The current converged devices still have smaller screens and lower resoultion than my Axim, so I keep hoping and waiting….

Camera and ringtones = same here, not worried about those at all. In terms of ‘magical’ devices, I think the new HTC Hermes / TyTN looks very very good – screen won’t match the Axim, but form factor and ergonomics go a long way on that one …

I’ll probably get a Cingular 8125 when my contract is up, unless something better comes along… those darn NDAs

But I’d still be hard pressed to ignore my axim, the screen is just so much nicer. Like you though, i’d make it a special purpose device. Probably stuck in my car as a GPS navigation device and MP3 player

I’ve “converged” as it were to an 8125 as well. Honestly it just got to be a pain in the you know what to bring along all the stuff to keep both of them (phone and pda) running if I was going to be gone from the house for an extended period of time. I had a charge cable for the car for both my Axim and my Razr, and one for each at home and work as well just so I could carry less stuff.

Now? 1 cable – usb-to-usb. Good to go. I have a data plan that lets me get email/web all day no matter where I am (no farting around with the BT stack on the 51v) I just clikc sync and I’m off to the races.

Do I miss my Axim? Yes … and no. I miss the power and I miss the screen. There’s nothing better than a nice VGA display for sore eyes. The 8125 has a great screen by the way, just not VGA.

Anyway, if you get a chance to get ahold of an 8125, I would do it. There’s only one way to find out if converging is right for you – and that’s to try it.

Netsyd – your experience is real similar to mine – 8125, less stuff to carry around, and syncing all the time without any major effort (are you using DirectPush?). I don’t miss the Axim, because I still use it very regularly in the evening – have just slimmed down to one device for work every day.

Am I the only one who went from converged device (HTC Himalaya) to Axim X50v + UMTS Cellphone combination finding that I’m happier with this than converged device?
And when I want to go to use UMTS/HSDPA it’s less expensive? When I lost my cellphone it won’t be so big deal and it won’t be expensive? When I’m going to club or pub, the lightweight cellphone is more pocketable and I have everything that’s really needed (contacts, calendar, tasks) with me also?
Am I crazy or I really don’t understand that convergence craziness?

Beecher – I’m sure there are plenty of people with similar experience / views to yours. I think, as the post talked about a little, there are good alternatives on either side of this. And I definitely know what you mean about cheaper phones and willingness to carry them when you are out socializing etc. – that is an issue of some concern when you just have one main device.

Thanks, Patrick.

But I’m honestly afraid, my Axim X50v is the last nonconverged Pocket PC I have and will have.
We all Pocket PCs users are going to be pushed to buy and use only converged devices as it’s “trendy” these days, Microsoft is presenting only converged devices on their mobile conferences and cellphone operating companies are well known as they can sell anything (but not without GSM/CDMA/UMTS/whatever connection) to customer…

And from my huge experience I haven’t seen any stable and new-ROM-not-needing converged WM Pocket PC device… Sad, but true. For me…

Beecher,

I completely agree with everything you just said. For most people in most situations having a converged device is either going to be the best thing that ever happended to them, or something they simply would prefer not to have. Choice is the spice of life, and I agree whole heartedly that we should be presented with choices that allow us to figure out what works best for our lifestyle.

For example, I use an 8125 daily … but it was the first thing to get put on the shelf yesterday and replaced with my trusty Motorola v220 because there was no way I was going to take the 8125 to the pool. It’s those types of things that are going to necessitate one of a couple things happening:

1. Every converged device will need to be sold as a package with a “junk” phone

OR

2. Complete Care warranty plans (like what Dell offers for the x50v/51v PDA’s) are going to have to become the standard warranty plan from all phone providers.

Either way, I think you again correct in that you will be forced down this road (to a certain extent) to use a converged device, or be stuck with a low-end palm device. Microsoft is leading the way and were going to have to hop on board or be left in the dust … how sad for all of us.

On a lighter note … UMPC’s are coming, that’s a relief. (Hint of Sarcasm)

I hope Number Two (or some level of insurance / replacement coverage) happens sometime soon. It seems absurd to me that you can get all sorts of cover for a $50 phone (that a lot of people could not care less about covering) but not for the high-end devices which are clearly marketed in a way that encourages us to turn them into essential tools …

If they should sell the converged devices with “junk” cellphone, then what the heck are converged devices all about? That’s little bit discrepancy. Why to make those devices heavier, more unstable and more expansive? If I would like to buy HTC Universal (as this one is only one converged device with VGA screen), I will pay for it around US$900. And you say I will need to spent another US$100 for “leisure-time” cellphone? That’s sad and funny at a time.

And UMPCs? If we are talking converged devices are about compromises, UMPCs are going beyond the “compromise” word meaning. We, Czechs, are using nice saying: Nor fish neither crab. The UMPCs fans must be really patient people. Not me.
No, Windows XP are not really for devices size of Pocket PC or little bit bigger. I think UMPC are in that point as mobile devices too heavy and as PCs too slow.

What’s in WM world fine are pure Pocket PCs and then Smartphones. PPC Phone Edition it’s another branch of mobile devices I would like to see dead.

Yes, I’m geek/technoid/whatever you want to call me, but I want from everything I’m buying the maximum I can get even for more money, but please no compromises.

I like the ‘nor fish neither crab’ saying, and think I know what it’s driving at …

well, for many carriers, the junk phone is a pay as you go type of phone. with my cingular plan I went to Sam’s Club and bought a cheapo GO phone, and switched the SIM with the one in my good phone for “hazardous” conditions (Busch Gardens and the pool)

I’m off to check out the Universal…