Customer Reviews

ViewSonic V36 Pocket PC

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

After searching through endless PDA "closeout" models and suffering sticker shock looking at the so-called "new" replacements, I came to the conclusion that the Viewsonic V-36 had and still has the most useable features for the money. The HP models have clearer, easier to read graphics displays but cost far too much. The Sonys are even more overpriced. Look carefully, review the included features and price any accessories you might want (especially with the sonys)and after actually trying each model, you will find that the V-36 is a true "best buy"...

I am a computer geek. I admit it, and I am a previous Black-and-White Handspring Visor Edge owner, and a Sony Clie NR70 (color). If you are looking, I would advise you not to buy SONY (overpriced, only compatible with SONY Software & SONY Memory Sticks, does not work easily with "Non-SONY" software... (trust me - been there, done that). Especially if you use WINDOWS XP. It is very hard to sync your palm. I have many times had to re-download drivers, new versions of PALM Software, and many times even uninstall and reinstall the hardware every time I would synchronize with my brand new WINDOWS XP computer (more or less 15-30 setup time to get my computer to recognize my palm). However it's not that bad for WINDOWS 98 users - 5 minutes at most. I've been researching, (I mean long hours researching) for the perfect PDA. Researched Dell, HP/Compaq, Palm (extensively), even e-bay to compare prices. After all my research I finally came upon a winner! The new ViewSonic V36. In the time that it normally takes me just to get my palm to start synchronizing, I had opened the Amazon.com box, installed software (Microsoft Activesync (one-time install, less than 5 minutes) synchronized it, and installed some programs and even some mp3's (really fast) all before school! I also love the way the device hierarchy (arrangement of folders)is set up, just like my WINDOWS XP Computer (example: My Device; My Documents, Programs, Windows, etc.) Its synchronization is extremely fast, and because it runs WINDOWS MOBILE POCKET PC 2003 edition, I synchronize with doing anything! (not even installing drivers). With its combination of MP3/WAV player, Digital Camera, Personal Organizer, Student Planner, Voice Recorder,
64 MB of memory, best bang for buck, and much more, it truly is the best Plug-and-Play PDA on the market! I'm not joking!

I recently bought the Viewsonic V36 as a Christmas gift. Although this is easily the least expensive PDA at this processor/memory level (Intel 300MHz XScale processor, 64MB RAM, 32MB ROM), it performs extremely well and is very well designed. I originally intended to purchase the HP IPAQ 1945 which has very similar specs to the V36 but was sold on the Viewsonic with the $100 lower price tag (the actual cost is $299 less a $100 mail-in rebate; the HP is $299 with no rebate). The HP 1945 has integrated Bluetooth which the V36 lacks but the V36 has a nice integrated 300KP camera which is not available on the HP (the camera works quite nicely in well-lit conditions and can take both still and moving images). (Note: If you need WiFi capability, there is an optional 802.11b SDIO card available for the V36 for $129 that plugs into the sole SD card expansion port.) Also, the V36 will accept a standard headphone plug for listening to MP3s while the HP requires an adapter for its miniplug. The 3.5" screen is clear and bright and identical in quality to the HP. All other hardware/software specs for the HP 1945 and V36 are identical (well, okay the HP is a half inch shorter and half an ounce lighter but that's not really worth the hundred bucks price difference to me).

Setup of the unit is a breeze (you'll barely need the included manual) and synchronizing the unit with a PC is fast and effortless. Everything you need to get up and running is included in the box (USB adapter cable, power cable, companion CD with MS ActiveSync and MS Outlook 2002, and a carry case). I highly recommend the Viewsonic V36 PDA.

with a retail price of about $300. and a $100 rebate how could you go wrong?! i have had a pda for as long as i can remember and they just keep getting better. i went from having the original palm pilot to a handspring visor to a jornada 525 pocket pc and now this. in comparison to my old jornada, the v36 is faster, thinner, lighter and has more built-in memory. other features i like are the removeable battery pack (so you can carry a spare) and the stylus has a removeable twist off end piece to reveal a pointed end for those inevitable resets, so no more searching for a paper clip or pen to reset. the camera feature is nice but with today's camera technology in cell phones it could be better. some cell phone camera's have a small flash which would help the viewsonic alot and a better resolution would be nice too (1.0 megapixel would do). once in awhile i used my jornada as an mp3 player and it sucked the battery life out of the pda, maybe a good 2-3 hours before the battery need recharging. the viewsonic battery life does fair better at about 3-4 hours at full power. which bring me to another nice feature, the viewsonic has a "tunable" power setting (full, medium or low). unfortunately, i havent tested battery life at the time of this review at the low setting.
another complaint i have is that i can not use all my compact flash accessories (modem, wireless and expansion memory) from my jornada on the viewsonic (uses mmc/sd type cards), but i can live with it.

I went to [a local store]and saw the ViewSonic V36 and the iPaq side by side. I was planning on the iPaq, but the ViewSonic was $100 cheaper, and had the digital camera. With the same specs, except minus integrated WiFi and plus camera, it evened out. It performs well, has a long lasting battery, and is increadibly slim. It also charges quickly. It may not have as crisp a display as the iPaq, but it does its job. Besides, I can't really tell the difference. The camera does appear to be more of an after-thought though. It needs just the right amount of light. In a partially dark room, the whole thing goes black. In a light room, it goes bright white. Even if the camera was excluded, it would still be a better deal then most PDA's. No problems yet. I would give it 4.5, but I need to choose between 4 and 5, so I give it 5.

I've owned 5 Palm OS-based units since the introduction of the original Palm Pilot in the late '90's. These have ranged in price up to $500. I find this PDA to hold its own with any of my previous experiences. This is my first Pocket PC. I find the operating system to be superior in many regards and inferior in none.

Yes, the unit is light weight. Some feel this makes it "feel" cheap. I'm not sure. First, at this weight you can truly put it in your shirt pocket (or inside jacket pocket) without causing a sag....thus it is truly "portable". Second, the claim that it might last only two years drew a smile from me since NONE of my PDA's (regardless of price or feel) has gone longer than that. Finally, PDA's get dropped once in a while. According to Newton (the physics guy) if the mass is less the impact will be less and thus the shock to the system will be less. This might actually make the unit have a LONGER life rather than a shorter one.

The screen resolution IS NOT inferior to other hi res units I have had. Small fonts are extremely legible. Font control, incidentally, is superior in the MS op sys world to that I'm used to in the Palm OS world. The screen of my V36 is as bright when brightness is set to the lowest setting as my latest Palm at its highest.

The removable/replaceable battery is certainly a plus. My recent Palm-based units all had factory-replaceable batteries. So far the life of a charge seems to be at least as long as my recent experience. Obviously if you're driving earphones all day long with the screen on bright you'll experience a limited life.

The music and photo capabilities are nice, useful, and incidental. If I want to listen to serious music on the go, this won't replace my iPod any time soon -- but, then again, the replaceable battery is superior to Apple's solution! Camera, ditto, if you want serious pictures you won't get them with a Palm PC nor will you get them with your phone...get a Nikon.

Bottom Line: I am pleased with this model for value and for versatility. I expect to use it for quite some time.

The ViewSonic was a gift. This is my first pocket PC and though there are many more expensive models out there I can't imagine what they would do better. The camera works. It's a little clumsy, but the pictures are fine. I've a digital camera, so the camera is no big deal. Being a writer what mattered to me was the ability to download things I was working on to rework and edit when I was not at my regular computer. This it does beautifully. I can listen to audiobooks. I just bought one that's difficult to read, but easy to listen to. I can do my writing anywhere. I'm not the most orgazized person in the world (which is why this was a gift from my wife) and now I have all my tasks and dates I need to keep track of neatly stored. I also have easy access to any research or notes. It does everything I would want a pocket PC to do. Doing all you want it to do is the best you can get from any product. Oh, and the price is great too.

I purchased my V36 in Dec. 2003, and absolutely "Love" it. My purchasing criteria was; great price,lots of extras, Color Screen & Camera. The other brands had those options, but charged extra for them, sometimes $100 - $200 dollars more. The ViewSonic V36 came standard with a camera, 64K Memory, lots of software & a $100 rebate as well. Hands down the best deal for my money.I have a small business, and I keep all my personal & business data on my Viewsonic V36 Pocket PC with plenty of memory to spare. Although Amazon's editorials don't tell you this, the ViewSonic V36 does come with a small pocket case, a stylus, charging adapter, & USB Sync cord. I highly suggest you purchase the sync & charging craddle. If you are prone to dropping things like I am, you might want to buy the optional Viewsonic carrying case, that alone has saved my Pocket PC from destruction, a few times already. And unfortunately, NO.... they are not paying me for this review. LOL

Based on the rebates and price drops for this product, it was high on my consideration list. That is, until I picked one up.

The device is VERY plastic-feeling and flimsy. It does not feel solid at all, unlike the Palm Tungsten models or HP models. Many of the store models were banged up and very scratched. My current Palm has been banging around in my purse for two years and has no big scratches. Also of note, the salesperson told me that a high percentage of them were coming back defective. It also only comes with PocketPC 2002, most of the new applications won't work on this device.

The screen is slightly smaller than most PDAs on the market now. It was hard to read in some brighter areas of the store, so I can imagine it would be horrible outside.

It has great features for this price range, including the built in camera. But the resolution leaves MUCH to be desired. The sound is so-so on it without the headphones on, you can't put it up high or it sounds muffled. I was not able to test it with headphones on, so I can't tell you much about volume, etc.

If this is your first PDA, it's a good starting point. I wouldn't expect it to last more than a year or two of moderate use, it just doesn't seem built solidly enough. Keep in mind, that you do get what you pay for with this model. If you're looking to get a pocketpc for just contact management, go with a lower-end model and save some money. If multimedia is your thing - skip this and get an ipaq or Clie.

There are many sales and rebates going on now at different sites. Palm Zire 71 for the multimedia capabilities it offers, has some great rebates. Also, windows is offering many on its PocketPC devices. After all, you want a PDA that you can use effectively, not one you worry about breaking or banging up, right?

**edit to add that several months later my two friends that bought this model were both so disapointed at performance that they went and bought different brands/different models!**

If my review was helpful to you please vote for it. If you have any questions you can shoot me an IM at "WinterGetsMe" Thanks!

Don't you love reviews? One guy says he's had problems with his V36. I don't doubt. However, I experienced the same symptoms he described after I loaded software that did not support Pocket PC 2003. Another one says it's too light. Too light? For a Pocket PC? Personally, I think that's impossible. The point is, for the money the V36 is tough to beat. The camera is nice if you need to take a snapshot of a whiteboard or something. Not great. But what you get is a fully functioning, good quality PDA that easily holds it's own for a lot less than the HP's and Tungsten. That's what I was looking for. That is exactly what I got. I'm happy.