Newbie needs pointing somewhere

Hi all - please feel free to just say hi to me as a newbie here

Despite 20 years on computers, my HPrz1710 has me thinking round in circles!

I've never had a PDA before and know what I want to use it for, a calendar, mp3 & mp4 playing on the train, some games and GPS eventually.

Only thing is that I don't know anyone else with a PDA to show me how it works - I've downloaded a couple of games and tried to install them as instructed - but can't get them to work. I can see the in-car cradles and SD mapping systems on ebay etc, but don't want to splash out in case I can't work them either!

Is there a simple resource anywhere that takes you through functionality and use that anyone knows of please?

Hi!

I've had some problems and never found the resorce that you say you want, I have wanted it too! I have just had to learn things myself by trial and error.

There should be a calender on your PDA, tap start, programs, and calender, or on the "desktop" click the calender icon.

I don't know much about GPS on PDAs!

To watch DVDs on your PDA, follow the instructions below.

For DVDs, you need to download encoding software to change the file type from .VOB to .wmv (which Windows Media player on your PDA plays). I use pocket DVD studio which is not registered (I didn't want to pay for it), so your film is broken up into 5-10 minute sections.

To download, click "Pocket DVD Studio Free Download" (unless you want to buy it!) on this link: http://www.shareup.com/Pocket-DVD_S...load-35896.html Install it. Next, you need to encode your DVD: Click file, open DVD, and find the DVD. Then, click file, set output file and destination, set the output location! Then, you need to choose your options.

These are the ones I use: on the main screen: 240x340 resolution; stretch 33%; medium video quality and medium audio quality. Then click "more options" and these are the settings I use: WMV8 - for use on windows media player on pocket pc; 15fps; 200kbps video; the rest are standard. Simply click record it when the options have been set.

If you have the unregistered version, you will need to change the output file name and location after 5-10 minutes - the downside to having an unregistered version! The whole film takes around 15 different files. When all of the film has been encoded (about one third of the time it takes to run normally), copy the files to your PDA (connect it via active sync, open windows explorer, click mobile device, find location and paste the files; or plug in a SD card which your PDA might use). On windows media player on your PDA, click menu, update library - the files should appear. Follow this method for both MP3s and MP4s.

A typical DVD (100mins) is 250MB on my PDA - four DVDs on one 1GB memory card! The quality is completely fine! I think this method is better than putting a TV/DVD player on your PDA as DVD/TV files will be amazingly huge in comparison - wasting precious space on your PDA. Also, if you set the resolution to 240x320 and 30fps with High video and audio quality; the encoded files will look identical to the TV ones (because PDA screens are smaller than TV screens), but save you so, so, so much space. One minute of TV is around 40MB on windows xp media centre; one DVD is 4.5GB, let along HD-DVD or BLU-RAY!

I cannot guarentee that this will work on your computer and PDA, but I know it works very well on my computer and PDA - - Good luck!!

You should be able to encode TV and other videos in the same way. If you have any problems, write another message! Good luck!
Hope I've helped you!

From

AJ:ajohnson

Originally Posted by streethawk

Hi all - please feel free to just say hi to me as a newbie here

Despite 20 years on computers, my HPrz1710 has me thinking round in circles!

I've never had a PDA before and know what I want to use it for, a calendar, mp3 & mp4 playing on the train, some games and GPS eventually.

Only thing is that I don't know anyone else with a PDA to show me how it works - I've downloaded a couple of games and tried to install them as instructed - but can't get them to work. I can see the in-car cradles and SD mapping systems on ebay etc, but don't want to splash out in case I can't work them either!

Is there a simple resource anywhere that takes you through functionality and use that anyone knows of please?

The 1710 requires a cradle and external wired GPS receiver to work correctly as a GPS system, as well as the appropriate software. Ignoring the cost that this will incur, it is more than possible and relatively easy to do so, TomTom Navigator 5 would work and Carcomm can supply both cradle and GPS receiver.

However, TT Nav 5 is discontinued and rather difficult to get, and the expense is likely to run into the realms of £150-170 or so. A standalone TomTom Classic refurb or a GO 700 will cost you less than this and be a dedicated system (less hassle, less expense).

As far as information on how to use and what your PDA is capable of, then there are several websites out there and a few magazines too.

For general techie stuff i use www.hexus.net which has a forum dedicated to PDA and PDA phones and PDA Essentials is an excellent magazine.

Originally Posted by streethawk

Hi all - please feel free to just say hi to me as a newbie here

Despite 20 years on computers, my HPrz1710 has me thinking round in circles!

I've never had a PDA before and know what I want to use it for, a calendar, mp3 & mp4 playing on the train, some games and GPS eventually.

Only thing is that I don't know anyone else with a PDA to show me how it works - I've downloaded a couple of games and tried to install them as instructed - but can't get them to work. I can see the in-car cradles and SD mapping systems on ebay etc, but don't want to splash out in case I can't work them either!

Is there a simple resource anywhere that takes you through functionality and use that anyone knows of please?

Hi, i have the same pda rz 1710 with kirrio craddle and am running tt6 with 2gig card full of maps no problem. The kirrio craddle has the gps built in with speaker so all i do is slot it in and it finds signal in about 3 or 4 seconds. Any questions give me a shout. I even use this on my motorbike with an earphone. There is a little gps utility you have to instal for the craddle but its easy to sort out.

You can get a FREE convertor from here > http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html