I've been thinking of getting a PDA lately after playing with Smc's pda( I don't know anything about them which is why I'm asking here). The reason why I want to get a new one and not use hers is that hers uses the palm os and not windows ce, I did manage to get a compiler for her pda but I'm pretty sure I can't get allegro on it. I had heard that allegro works with windows ce( though I can't verify that, I've looked at the allegro page and it doesn't specify if it works under ce). I would also plan on using it for school( not enough cash for a laptop and a pda would be just as useful) and getting the new holographic keyboards that are going to come out.

But anyway, my questions are: What are some of the good PDAs out there that run windows ce( price isn't too much of a concern as long as it's under $400 or so) and does allegro work under windows ce?

Thank you.

Edit: I found this page http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/devices/pocketpc/ppc/americas.mspx

Though I can't decide so far which is best...

I saw it a magazine about that convention they had just recently( I forget it's name, something consumer. It was about electronics that were going to come out). Basically, it displays a keyboard onto any flat surface in front of it and uses a laser perhaps( I don't remember) to detect the persons fingers to determine which keys hes pressing.

There are linux PDAs? O.O

It'd be good for making changes or looking over your code while you're at school, on the road, etc. I'd also like to port anything I make over to the pda.

why not go on ebay and get a semi-older laptop for $400ish? 3 years ago I got my thinkpad 770z for $400. 366mhz w/ 128mb ram. You can get much better deals now, perhaps around 1ghz or so

Laptops aren't all that much different from regular desktop PCs.
I'd recommend a laptop over a PDA, but it depends what you're using it for. I think of PDA's as electronic black books, for which a laptop is by far overkill.

that laptop looked nice. Make sure it lists no defects for the screen or anything you dotn want to fix, and its guaranteed not to be DoA or have a warranty. Why put linux on it? Linux on laptops is usually hit or miss. Took me days to get it going on mine. All that propitery ibm hardware is mostly windows oriented.

why? not juding, just wondering whats wrong with XP.

Keyboard SSC was talking about is this: [url http://www.itechdynamic.com/html/border25.htm]

I played with it at CES. My company, Savant, plans on having it as an accessory for our Slate.

As for the PDA: for $400 you can get a decent used/new laptop on ebay for the price of a new PDA and you'd be better off. While I love my PDA (Toshiba e405 Pocket PC w/ Windows Mobile 2k3 SE) it sits unused alot accept when I have to go somewhere where I don't have a network connection, and a laptop (or my Slate, Yes, I am a company whore.;D) would seem either bulky or out of place, like a movie theatre or grocery store. Your better off with a laptop.

As for programming your PDA, you have to program on your workstation and then transfer to the PDA to see if your app works. While the Palm has a few 'on-board' compilers (mostly just C-like scripting languages) none are fast, and usable for making games:P. This doesn't apply to Linux PDAs like the Sharp or an iPaq running Linux.

I have a semi-working (thats an understatement...) of Allegro that runs on WinCE/WinMobile. You can draw to the screen but you don't ever actually see it;D.

[url http://www.allegro.cc/forums/view_thread.php?_id=464261]

Very cool! And yes, what are the specs on it? Price?

Yeah, basically you just disable a few services and you have 2k (the security center being the first thing to go).

Looks pretty nice I must say. It includes both XP and linux?

How much is it set to cost?

Pretty good price for a good looking system.

Also, what other vid cards would you compare the one on the slate to?

The one on the site is not the same as the one phate posted. Same abse model and all I suppose but with slightly different specs.

I'd take XP off to cut the price a few hundred bucks...