Should I go for a Palm or Pocket PC?

Question:

	Palm's latest smart phone, the Treo 650, comes with quadband GSM support and Bluetooth connectivity.

Submitted by Clayton
I've been doing a lot of searching online regarding Pocket PCs, and I have a few questions. Which OS is better: Palm OS or Windows Mobile? My second question is can microdrives, such as the 4GB Hitachi (used in the iPod Mini), be used as expansion for Pocket PCs? Lastly, is there a Pocket PC with the following features: Windows Mobile OS, phone, Wi-Fi, CompactFlash expansion (microdrive), and an SD expansion slot? I basically want a device that will replace my cell phone and my iPod and that I can also use to surf the Internet via Wi-Fi.

Answer:
Answered by CNET staff
Way to be forward-thinking, Clayton. While both the Palm OS and Windows Mobile have their advantages, when it comes to smart phones, I lean toward Windows Mobile. The Treo 650 is a formidable device, but you have more choices when it comes to Windows Mobile. I can't think of any Windows Mobile-based smart phones with CompactFlash expansion slots. That said, there are plenty with SD expansion slots, and we all know that SD cards with ever-increasing storage capabilities are constantly being released. Now, Microsoft recently announced Windows Mobile 5.0, and it will ship with built-in support for microdrives. Apparently, like you, Microsoft is thinking of rendering your iPod obsolete. There aren't any smart phones currently available in the United States that ship with Windows Mobile 5.0, but expect some later this year. In the meantime, check out our reviews of Windows Mobile-based smart phones.

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