When you are looking for more functionality than the average device offers, you have the choice from a broad range of smartphones and PDAs. Both types of devices not only differ physically but also as far as operation system is concerned. The better you know which functions you are going to use on a frequent base, the easier it is to make your choice.
Differences between PDA & Smartphone
PDA & Smartphone devices
The market for PDAs that won’t let you call but only use email and visit the Internet decreased drastically. Most current PDAs are handheld computers that also offer the option to call. Smartphones on the other hand are primary meant for calling but are more and more used for all kinds of business like keeping an electronic agenda, photographing, music and Internet. Nokia’s smartphones indicate clearly how much attention Nokia paid to the manner of using the device for calling. PDA calling functions work just a tad more difficult but on the other hand it is easier to manage incoming and outgoing mail. These are the differences between Symbian and Windows Mobile explained in a nutshell. So it is not surprising Nokia as a cell phone manufacturer holds on to Symbian.
Differences Symbian & Windows Mobile
Operating systems for mobile devices
The most recent versions of both operating systems show that the differences are becoming less evident and that the disadvantages of both systems are also vanishing. Looking at Nokia’s most advanced device, the Nokia E90 Communicator, you can hardly claim that this device is not fully equipped with every function you need for comfortable email and Internet use. Nowadays a lot is changing which is also proved by the choices manufacturers of these devices make. Palm, the mother of all operating systems for PDAs is overtaken like greased lightning by Microsoft Windows Mobile as a result of which Palm devices are now available working with Windows Mobile. Symbian however is the great winner. This system, together with Windows mobile, doesn’t have to fret about any competition from the small camps such as Linux. Following Palm’s example also Motorola has adopted Windows Mobile. Samsung did the same thing a while ago. And nowadays Samsung leaves the choice up to the consumer and offers devices with both Windows Mobile and Symbian.
Windows Mobile operating system
Stable & Fast operating system
If you have used an earlier version of Windows Mobile before, you will be aware of the fact that this operating system of Microsoft took a huge leap. Especially concerning the stability. When stability is at stake, a user will give up on that system immediately. Concerning the speed of the operating system, a lot has been altered. And this becomes clear when you switch between the various applications. Certainly the heavy ones like navigation. You will then notice that the speed has improved tremendously. The main advantage of PDAs with Windows Mobile is the familiarity for consumers using Windows on their notebook or desktop. The user can open and edit Word and Excel applications the same way as he is used to doing on his normal computer.
Microsoft Windows Mobile
Memory management
Furthermore, version 5.0 ended all criticism on how appointments and contacts had to be inserted. Too many steps had to be made before the appointment or contact was inserted. Also memory management has been strongly improved. All non-Microsoft applications are closed when the user starts a different application. Main differences between the latest and previous version of Windows Mobile are improvements of the security and the fact more possibilities are offered from the device management. It allows for deleting data from a distance, for example when the device is missing or worse, got stolen. Storage-card encryption is used to prevent data from falling into the wrong hands. Third parties can no longer get access to data of others.
Windows Mobile 6.0 Email
Exchange mail
Symbian may have a very powerful operating system that offers many advantages; Microsoft’s OS offers just a bit more with the introduction of Windows Mobile 6.0 especially on the field of email functionality. Users of Exchange mail are opted to set an automatic out of office reply to the sender of an email on the device itself. Normally you would only be able to use this option on your computer.
Microsoft Mobile E-mail
HTML-mail
From the device one can search for specific words in mail messages through the Exchange server. Windows Mobile currently offers additional possibilities like access to HTML-mail, forwarding a meeting request and viewing Windows Life content whereas Symbian doesn’t. Thanks to all these possibilities, handsets equipped with Windows Mobile are able to compete with the popular BlackBerry phones in today’s business market.
Symbian operating system
Stable & Low energy consumption
The advantages of Symbian are found mostly in the stability of the devices and the low energy consumption. Microsoft is slowly improving the latter. If you want to save the battery you have to be careful with energy-slurping options on both operating systems such as Bluetooth, WiFi and GPS.
Symbian OS
Bluetooth connection
Fortunately both operating systems offer the possibility of quickly turning these functions on and off which is recommendable for more than one reason. Malicious people could easily get access to data through Bluetooth or even place viruses on the user’s device.
Ease of use
QWERTY-keyboard
It is extremely important to know what the purpose is of your purchase before actually purchasing a device or system. And of course size plays a big role in your decision. A QWERTY-keyboard can be very handy but it makes a device larger and heavier. For short messages the keyboard will be useful but for long messages it might be easier to purchase an external keyboard. Both operating systems offer this possibility. Using Bluetooth makes it easy to connect the keyboard to the device.
Functionality
Monitor size & Operation
If you have a heavy workload and you don’t want to carry a weighty notebook with you, you could go for the HTC Advantage with Windows Mobile 6.0 in combination with a light weighted cell phone. In general you will find; the more functionality the heavier the device. It’s also wise to think about the right monitor size for your purpose and the way of operating the device. HP told us that the amount of users preferring a touchscreen is almost similar to the amount of users preferring a keyboard. In any case, make sure to go for your personal preference.
Conclusion
I f you are still unable to make up your mind as to purchase a smartphone with Windows Mobile or Symbian, you should ask yourself how you want to use the device. WiFi and Bluetooth will slurp up a lot of the battery’s capacity. So if you want to go for days without recharging the battery, either because you can’t or you won’t, you’d better go for a Symbian. Windows users, on the other hand, are very familiar with the applications Windows Mobile offers. And Apple-fans should go for the Apple iPhone! The possibilities of both operating systems are quite similar and the one is not specifically better than the other as far as possibilities are concerned.
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