PDA anyone?

[Midevil Chaos]

Concerning PDAs, I was thinking about something like that after watching LTT and LGR videos. I have a cellphone like everyone else... but I want something I can use for Discord or even other random apps. Do people still make PDAs or something I can use?

Can we be in the late 90s and early 2000s again...?

[Pixel5]

why would anyone make a PDA which will limit you in many ways when a phone does exactly the same thing and everything else at the same time?

 

 

[Midevil Chaos]

1 minute ago, Pixel5 said:

why would anyone make a PDA which will limit you in many ways when a phone does exactly the same thing and everything else at the same time?

 

 

*facepalm* You miss the point entirely then. You know they make phones specifically only for texting and calling, right? Without the bloatware you mention. I am looking for a PDA to fulfill a very limited thing phones can do. I have my reasons for wanting one.

[AndreiArgeanu]

29 minutes ago, Midevil Chaos said:

but I want something I can use for Discord or even other random apps. Do people still make PDAs or something I can use?

PDA's aren't manufactured anymore. Everything you could do with a PDA back in the day you can do with a smartphone now. Any smartphone can run Discord or other random apps.

[Midevil Chaos]

2 minutes ago, AndreiArgeanu said:

PDA's aren't manufactured anymore. Everything you could do with a PDA back in the day you can do with a smartphone now. Any smartphone can run Discord or other random apps.

I get that. As I said, I clearly have a cellphone which I want to use as a phone ONLY. Hence why I am looking for a PDA or something similar to it with limited functionality.

EDIT: Also, I know there is ALWAYS someone somewhere that makes older devices. Heck, some people still make adlib audio cards (well clone cards at this point). And they look fairly the same as the original thing too, with the adlib logo on top of that.

[AndreiArgeanu]

Just now, Midevil Chaos said:

I get that. As I said, I clearly have a cellphone which I want to use as a phone ONLY. Hence why I am looking for a PDA or something similar to it with limited functionality.

And the PDA you're looking for is a smartphone and maybe a stylus.

[Midevil Chaos]

Just now, AndreiArgeanu said:

And the PDA you're looking for is a smartphone and maybe a stylus.

I HAVE A SMARTPHONE. I DO NOT WANT TO USE MY SMARTPHONE FOR THOSE FUNCTIONS.

[AndreiArgeanu]

3 minutes ago, Midevil Chaos said:

EDIT: Also, I know there is ALWAYS someone somewhere that makes older devices. Heck, some people still make adlib audio cards (well clone cards at this point). And they look fairly the same as the original thing too, with the adlib logo on top of that.

Even if there was someone making older PDA's today, they wouldn't be able to run any of the apps you want it to run, PDA's are pretty limited in functionality and power and they don't really run any standard .exe file.

[Midevil Chaos]

3 minutes ago, AndreiArgeanu said:

Even if there was someone making older PDA's today, they wouldn't be able to run any of the apps you want it to run, PDA's are pretty limited in functionality and power and they don't really run any standard .exe file.

Things evolve. Windows started with DOS beforehand, and then evolved to use the cmd prompt for some things, but we run Windows 10 now. I wouldn't expect a new PDA or the like to be limited like it was 20 years ago. If it was, I would be surprised.

[AndreiArgeanu]

Just now, Midevil Chaos said:

Things evolve. Windows started with DOS beforehand, and then evolved to use the cmd prompt for some things, but we run Windows 10 now. I wouldn't expect a new PDA or the like to be limited like it was 20 years ago. If it was, I would be surprised.

PDA's aren't made anymore, the last PDA was released back in like 2005 or 2007, no one's making PDA's anymore, not even as a hobby since they're not that desirable or useful anymore since they have been long replaced by smartphones, PDA's have stopped 'evolving' since then, as I said every feature and thing a PDA can do a smartphone nowadays is much more capable at doing. I don't get why you're so keen on a PDA what does a PDA have that a smartphone doesn't? What is it that is so desirable about a PDA that a smartphone doesn't have?

 

[Pixel5]

15 minutes ago, Midevil Chaos said:

I get that. As I said, I clearly have a cellphone which I want to use as a phone ONLY. Hence why I am looking for a PDA or something similar to it with limited functionality.

EDIT: Also, I know there is ALWAYS someone somewhere that makes older devices. Heck, some people still make adlib audio cards (well clone cards at this point). And they look fairly the same as the original thing too, with the adlib logo on top of that.

so you want two devices for a job that one device could do?

 

the only way to accomplish this is to buy another smartphone and simply use one only for calling by maybe even disabling mobile data and using the other one only for PDA kind of things while not using this number to call anyone.

 

Or if you want the true PDA experience you disable mobile data on the 2nd smartphone as well so you can only use discord and stuff while you are in a wifi network.

[Midevil Chaos]

1 minute ago, AndreiArgeanu said:

PDA's aren't made anymore, the last PDA was released back in like 2005 or 2007, no one's making PDA's anymore, not even as a hobby since they're not that desirable or useful anymore since they have been long replaced by smartphones, PDA's have stopped 'evolving' since then, as I said every feature and thing a PDA can do a smartphone nowadays is much more capable at doing. I don't get why you're so keen on a PDA what does a PDA have that a smartphone doesn't? What is it that is so desirable about a PDA that a smartphone doesn't have?

 

Imagine this: Not having to use anything like Google, Gmail, Digital Wellbeing, Docs, Drive, Duo, Email, EasyHome, Evernote, Facebook, FM Radio, Google Play Movies & TV, Google Play Music, Instagram or any other Android (and manufacturer specific) bloatware. Some of those I use honestly on my phone, sure. But I want my phone to be what a PHONE is supposed to be. You know, get calls, make calls... and even receive texts. And ANOTHER device to do other stuff. You know, things unrelated to making/receiving calls and/or texts.

 

[Midevil Chaos]

3 minutes ago, Pixel5 said:

so you want two devices for a job that one device could do?

 

the only way to accomplish this is to buy another smartphone and simply use one only for calling by maybe even disabling mobile data and using the other one only for PDA kind of things while not using this number to call anyone.

 

Or if you want the true PDA experience you disable mobile data on the 2nd smartphone as well so you can only use discord and stuff while you are in a wifi network.

I thought about that... but ANY smartphone has bloatware which obviously updates itself... whether you truly want to or not  My cell updates itself with Google's unwanted Digital Wellbeing for example.

[AndreiArgeanu]

2 minutes ago, Midevil Chaos said:

Imagine this: Not having to use anything like Google, Gmail, Digital Wellbeing, Docs, Drive, Duo, Email, EasyHome, Evernote, Facebook, FM Radio, Google Play Movies & TV, Google Play Music, Instagram or any other Android (and manufacturer specific) bloatware. Some of those I use honestly on my phone, sure. But I want my phone to be what a PHONE is supposed to be. You know, get calls, make calls... and even receive texts. And ANOTHER device to do other stuff. You know, things unrelated to making/receiving calls and/or texts.

Then your best choice is either some open source phone like the Librem 5 which runs linux, or an android phone that you can flash easily with a custom firmware.

[Pixel5]

2 minutes ago, Midevil Chaos said:

I thought about that... but ANY smartphone has bloatware which obviously updates itself... whether you truly want to or not  My cell updates itself with Google's unwanted Digital Wellbeing for example.

so in the end its basically just about bloatware?

then either flash a custom ROM on your phone which removes this bloatware or buy a Huawei phone which doesnt have any google services anymore.

 

If you then also want a phone just to call just buy something like a Nokia 6300 or even any old phone and keep data disabled

[Midevil Chaos]

10 minutes ago, Pixel5 said:

so in the end its basically just about bloatware?

then either flash a custom ROM on your phone which removes this bloatware or buy a Huawei phone which doesnt have any google services anymore.

 

If you then also want a phone just to call just buy something like a Nokia 6300 or even any old phone and keep data disabled

Of course, that would be a solution, but the problem with that is threefold for me:
- With upgrades to the OS, slows down the phone where it may make it way too slow
- I would need to make sure there are batteries to replace dead/dying batteries
- If I don't upgrade the OS, there are issues with security


As for buying a Huawei phone, maybe? But most of them are either midtier or insanely expensive. I didn't know Huawei had moved away from Google. I guess I was sleeping when that broke out.

 

12 minutes ago, AndreiArgeanu said:

Then your best choice is either some open source phone like the Librem 5 which runs linux, or an android phone that you can flash easily with a custom firmware.

For a grand? No thanks lol. I don't have that kind of money to waste on buying a phone worth that much.

[Pixel5]

3 minutes ago, Midevil Chaos said:

Of course, that would be a solution, but the problem with that is threefold for me:
- With upgrades to the OS, slows down the phone where it may make it way too slow
- I would need to make sure there are batteries to replace dead/dying batteries
- If I don't upgrade the OS, there are issues with security


As for buying a Huawei phone, maybe? But most of them are either midtier or insanely expensive. I didn't know Huawei had moved away from Google. I guess I was sleeping when that broke out.

 

For a grand? No thanks lol. I don't have that kind of money to waste on buying a phone worth that much.

custom roms usually tend to be faster, thats the entire idea of removing bloatware to speed up the phone.

If replacing batteries is a concern for you it would always be a concern so thats not really a valid argument as all phones basically have none removeable batteries today.

And point 3 is another thing that doesnt really make sense, obviously if you dont update your phone you have security issues and this is precisly why most phones today update automatically.

 

If you wanna have control over your phones updates you can have that control with custom ROM´s but obviously that also means its your own resposibilty to keep your phone up to date, you cant have it both ways.

[Midevil Chaos]

2 minutes ago, Pixel5 said:

custom roms usually tend to be faster, thats the entire idea of removing bloatware to speed up the phone.

If replacing batteries is a concern for you it would always be a concern so thats not really a valid argument as all phones basically have none removeable batteries today.

And point 3 is another thing that doesnt really make sense, obviously if you dont update your phone you have security issues and this is precisly why most phones today update automatically.

 

If you wanna have control over your phones updates you can have that control with custom ROM´s but obviously that also means its your own resposibilty to keep your phone up to date, you cant have it both ways.

I have no knowledge about custom roms, as phones are not my forte tbh. I would have to look into that and see if I could get one where batteries could be replaced over time. And if getting custom firmware etc. is simple enough, I don't see why I couldn't do that. Would have to look into that though.

 

[AndreiArgeanu]

37 minutes ago, Midevil Chaos said:

For a grand? No thanks lol. I don't have that kind of money to waste on buying a phone worth that much.

Doesn't have to be a grand, there's plenty of phones at most price points that you can flash pretty easily with a custom firmware.

[Meowster]

59 minutes ago, Midevil Chaos said:

I thought about that... but ANY smartphone has bloatware which obviously updates itself... whether you truly want to or not  My cell updates itself with Google's unwanted Digital Wellbeing for example.

Just install LineageOS or OMNI on your phone if its an android, but don't bother to install the google apps if you just want a phone that can call or send messages

[Midevil Chaos]

41 minutes ago, AndreiArgeanu said:

Doesn't have to be a grand, there's plenty of phones at most price points that you can flash pretty easily with a custom firmware.

The one you're referring to, the lowest one I found was around a grand. After that, more than two grand for the next one.

 

 

37 minutes ago, Meowster said:

Just install LineageOS or OMNI on your phone if its an android, but don't bother to install the google apps if you just want a phone that can call or send messages

I do have an older phone. Not a terrible idea I suppose to use that one for that. Assuming I can find a battery for that.

 

[NineEyeRon]

I use an old iPad for this, and a variety of other things. Even a dash for flightsim dials!

[Radium_Angel]

There used to be tiny Nintendo 3ds-form factor-like Windows-based PCs...palmtops I think they were called, they can run modern stuff. Let me see if I can find a link. hold please!

https://www.amazon.com/Sony-VGN-UX380N-4-5-inch-Processor-Business/dp/B000MJ01LW

https://the-gadgeteer.com/2005/06/13/sony_vaio_vgn_u71p/

https://www.theverge.com/2014/2/6/5385498/sony-vaio-pc-visual-history#vaio-pcv-90

 

Close as you will come to something modern

[LogicalDrm]

-> Moved to Phones and Tablets

***

 

So you are looking for small tablet? Or maybe GPD?

[Commodus]

6 hours ago, Midevil Chaos said:

Concerning PDAs, I was thinking about something like that after watching LTT and LGR videos. I have a cellphone like everyone else... but I want something I can use for Discord or even other random apps. Do people still make PDAs or something I can use?

Can we be in the late 90s and early 2000s again...?

What about an iPod touch? It's basically an iPhone without the phone part, but that may be what you need.

 

Like others have said, though, PDAs aren't really a thing these days. And I'll be honest, it strikes me as very odd to act as if calling and apps must be on separate devices, like the world will explode if you see a Discord icon on your phone. Why not just exercise self-discipline and not tap those icons until you're ready? They don't degrade the quality of your phone by existing.