What would you like to see on pocketnow.com version 3?

[Derek Snyder]

Help shape the future of pocketnow.com!

We want to know what YOU want to see on the site in its next incarnation. It can be anything-- more commentary, more focus on software, developers, name it!

Just reply to this thread and let us know!

As a bonus, if you are registered when you reply, you get entered into a drawing to win a new HP 1910 Pocket PC!!!

Reply by January 31, 2003 for your chance to win!

[DavesPPC]

I personally would like to see more reviews and possibly "commentary"....I notice that some things are a bit outdated, even though they are "Featured" columns....
I would also like to see more responses from the "Support forums" (not mentioning names) or at least faster responses (1-2 days would be nice). I like the layout alot though...I wouldn't change a thing there :)

I look forward to the "new" pocketnow...although I still love the "old" one :)

David

[ipaqace]

:confused: Just my personal opinion- I think people should HAVE to register if they want to reply to posts or start new threads. Too often there are multiple "unregistered" users asking questions in a single thread and you don't know whom to direct your reply to or whom to ask for more information. It can get very confusing.:confused:

[DavesPPC]

Yes, I agree with Ipaqace..I'd much rather have "members" than just guests, mostly due to the fact that alot of people come to pocketnow.com to SPAM or advertise their website, and also invite members to join their "Pyramid scheme"....If one had to register as a member before posting, it might turn those people away, looking for easier ways to do "what they do".

Although a "guest" is a possible future pocketnow.com member, I believe that most people will join if they are sincere about the BB in question, and not just looking for "easy access".

Just my opinion :)

David

[DavesPPC]

Ahh...it's me again...

I'd also suggest that a "clean-up" of the members list is done. What I mean by that is...there are tons of "members" that have ZERO posts and signed up 1-2 years ago....delete those members so that all of the userID's are available to new members :)

[Mona13]

I'm on my 5455 now using 802.11b. Sometimes I link up via bluetooth. One of the things I don't want you to change is the process of getting to the forums on the PPC. It's much easier than some of the other sites.

I would like to see product reviews posted sooner, and more input from the vendors on the support forums.

[ipaqace]

To expound on David's last post, it might be beneficial to not only clean up the inactive users, but inactive forums as well (if there are any).

[fgarcia10]

I wish the news bits section be more frequenly updated. just my 2 cents...

[Maximumword]

I've vote for some stories on how people are using their Pocket PC's. You know... what they do, which programs and hardware they use, and such.

And some how-to stories would be nice too.

Looking forward to it all!

[CHeavyarms]

I think the news should have a more dominant spot on the fromt page. News is important and should have an equal if not more expounded dominance when we open the page.... just my two cents

[dazz]

I used to visit here every day 'cause new articles and VERY comprehesive reviews were showing up regularly. I don't visit as often because this has not been the case recently.

I realize it's not easy to add tons of new stuff every day but with the help of the users here I think you could have a LOT more fresh content.

dazz

[ChrisSpera]

I agree with some of the comments that are listed here. Especially, about the timing around fresh content.

I unfortunately have had a rather nasty bout of Real Life. I've been wracked with migraine headaches for the last few months that have had me basically leveled.

My family has suffered the deaths of both my remaining grandmothers, in unrelated illnesses and incidents in the past 3 months.

My father is also in an ICU with severe head trauma. We are not sure what his prognosis will be, but the doctors tell us that he has damage to 4 different areas of his brain and there is some permanent brain damage.

I apologize to everyone at pocketnow.com, from Derek and Jared to the rest of the staff as well as the site visitors who have been following my column, Apples and Oranges. I still plan on writing for pocketnow.com, for as long as they will have me. I plan on having something posted soon; and promise that my posts won't go months in intervals.


Kindest Regards,


Christopher Spera
-------
pocketnow Writer

pocketnow.com -- it's all about portability...
http://www.pocketnow.com

PS. Derek, does this qualify me for the drawing?? :D

[Shiv Katal]

More software reviews and ranking, especially in the software library. I like to know what other people actually use.

News is always good, but feature articles on how to get the most out of my PPC is most helpful. Maybe e-mail updates on those articles?

[Hugh Nano]

More content and more frequent updates would be nice. Featured articles especially should be removed from the front page if they have not been updated in more than a month!

Great site though. Still my #3 choice for Pocket PC reviews, news, etc.

[slugnut]

I think Today's News should be changed to 'Today's News & Rumors' and it should be moved to the left side of the page. All the 'Features..' should be on the left. Just my opinion...

[MBurch]

I like all the latest news and reviews of the latest software, but one thing that I am missing in the PPC community is a place that still has useful information for those of us holding on to our quality older devices. I am still very attached to my Casio E-125 and have no immediate plans to dump it for the latest offering from Dell or HP. Features for those of us in that niche would be great to see. I am not asking for the whole site to be dedicated to old hardware. Just a "longevity link" to some nice features of interest to those of us still happy in the PPC2000 world.

[snazzy]

l would definitely like to see a mobile version of the forums. It's quite hard to find mobile forums nowadays. And since you have a pretty decent structure up already, all you're lacking is a mobile version to increase participation.

I'm posting this via my pocketpc now and its mighty hard to navigate. ;)

Also, I love reviews about new stuff (esp. hardware)

[birdman]

A mobile version and more reviews would be very helpful.

[pschultz]

I have noticed that some things are a bit outdated, especially the "Featured" columns....so I would like more stories. I would also like to see more reviews.

[kati42]

I like the previous statements about requiring people to register before posting.

I also like lots of software reviews, both of commercial/shareware and freeware products. There's a lot of different software packages out there and frequently it's difficult to choose between them based on feature lists...

[bdeli]

Would like to see more software/hardware reviews + regular updates on the website.

Some of the reviews are really good - they were a major influence on my ppc software/hardware purchases.

And would not mind a new design!

[bamboo52]

I would like to see a few more news updates, and reviews(even though there are a lot). I would like to see more opinion articles too.

[PPower]

1. Mobile version
2. More forum topics
3.More reviews
4. Maybe hosting LAN parties on the PPC?
4. Downloaded off-line version

[Paris]

I have been visiting Pocket now for over a year now there are many changes that i would like to see in the FrontPage of the site, here is a list and explanation.

1. Every day news, and I don't mean just one post every day i mean a least 4 new post every day to keep us informed on what is going on the pocket pc scene. The website will attract more visitors if it is updated every say 6 hours with new stories rather than every day with one new story.

2. Get the Discussion board more visible on the front page, maybe on top of the page would be better.

3. I would like to see hardware reviews and not software reviews, if i want to check out an application i just go to gocketgear.com that sells software and there is a lot of information on every application. So you should concentrate on Hardware reviews rather than software, i would like to see in depth reviews for a wide variety of pocket pc devices as more and more hit the shelves.

4. I don't like the way FrontPage is arranged at the moment, i would like to see news from top to bottom and on the sides small blocks that highlight new software, hardware, reviews etc.

[Pony99CA]

Originally posted by David Smith

I'd also suggest that a "clean-up" of the members list is done. What I mean by that is...there are tons of "members" that have ZERO posts and signed up 1-2 years ago....delete those members so that all of the userID's are available to new members :)
First, if you do decide to clean up people with zero posts, I'd suggest E-mailing them and only deleting those that don't reply. People may want to be registered but still lurk.

Second, my suggestions:

1. Everybody registers to post.
2. More news, reviews, etc. -- If it would help, get more staff to do articles and reviews.
3. More tips (and clean up the old ones -- for example, Times2Tech merged with PPCTechs).
4. MORE CONTESTS!!!! :D

Steve

[Blondoobie]

I'd like to see some articles to help PPC users who are trying to get online without wireless support; i.e. their cell phones. I spent about three months trying to get it to work, and then just gave it up. I also strongly approve of the mobile forums idea and more reviews.

[x94webboy]

I would just work on a new "look" for the site- the content is already really good. My favorite is the reviews. :D

[manli]

I would also like to see more reviews. I think you do a great job but I want more. I would also like to a litte more organization maybe different news sections for software, devices, etc. I really enjoy the site but I think just a little graphics face lift would help. I like the styling of Pocket PC Thoughts website and also I enjoy infosync's website.

[Thefo]

1) Require users to register to discourage advertisers from soliciting on the boards.
2) More reviews and articles as I always enjoy the detail that goes into them.
3) Perhaps a member gallery where users can post pictures of hardware/software.
4) Mobile version of the site would be nice.

[eitel]

I would love to see more hardware and software reviews.

Also, a new website design won't hurt. :D

[NunoUFO]

I would really love to see more contests and especialy exactly like this one ( in case I don't win the 1910! )

[surfgeek]

Navigation buttons on the bottom of the forum pages would be helpful. Currently you can only navigate the forums from the top of the page.

[wjsteele]

I would love to see more options for Mobile use. For example, a customizable "Portal" view for my PocketPC.

[alcdroid]

Actually, I like the overall design of the webpage. Simple and somewhat elegant. I do have a few humble suggestions

1. I the news should be more prominent and take the right side, taking the place of the featured review area.

2. More reviews! Especially for the PPC hardware section.

3. More opinions articles from the editors would be great too.

Cheers!

[rix]

I'd like to see more product comparisons. Especially with respect to software.

eg. codewallet vs ewallet vs whateverwallet

HTH,

Rich

[mscdex]

I think a mobile version of the site would be nice, more contests, a freeware archive/category in the software library, and a new layout for the site (the menu on the left side just seems a little cluttered or something).

[OKCrew]

Good ideas here...

I would also like expanding bullet list (folder) under each area of the home page that will have links to other recent review, articles, etc...

This saves space on the page and does not cause a hit on the server for another page.

[RKozak]

I would like to see more on a Developers section. How to code for Pocket PCs and Development news from MS. Possibly a developer spot light so that we can learn from those who have already developed popular applications.

[Hephaestus64]

I guess I like the format and graphics but I agree that some more reviews would be nice. Both hardware and software. Also more news from all the sectors.

[RKozak]

I think a section for EBooks would be great.

Actually to expand on this idea how about sections devoted to particular uses of the Pocket PC. Task management, Medical, Ebooks, Data entry/Collection, Business etc.

[Chairman Clench]

I would like more "news at a glance". That is one of the reasons that PocketPC Thoughts is so popular. You have a new column here, but it needs to be updated more. I can pretty much always count on new items at PPCThoughts, but I usually only check PocketNow once a week because of the lack of new content.

Of course, reviews of little-known programs would also be a great feature. There are 1000's of apps out there that don't make the "headlines" but might be usefule to some people. I would like to hear about them. Plus, you'd be doing the developers a favor by increasing exposure to their work.

[RKozak]

I always liked a Tricks and Tips section.

[lwt89]

I like to see the new stuff that's out there in a format like pocketpcthoughts.com

[Unregistered]

I would like to see more reviews. I have a PocketPC website myself and I may review a Device from one aspect while someone here may review from another aspect. This can only be a plus to the end users who come here and to my site for information.

PDAEmpire - http://www.mayfieldnet.com

[Hephaestus64]

I agree with the Chairman, more reviews of the "lesser" known programs would help me tremendously. Also a section on mdeical programs/uses would aid me with the work aspect of life.

I also have to agree (again) with the up to date news.

[heov]

I would personally like to see the front page organized a little better. Maybe more like PIC is... I think there is too much room for the featured review... Maybe you could just make it smaller and put it above the news, and expand the news section. Also what I would rather see is links to the source or news item on the front page. The way you ahve it setup is that you click on teh title to go to your news page, and then you have to look for the link. I think you should make the title goto the source, adn then a read more or comments button to go to the forums (like PPCthoughts).

Of course what i'd like to see most is faster page loads. Keep your reviews the same as they are awesome, especially w/ the high res pics.

One other thing i'd like to see or improved is that while you're in teh forum, can you make the forum go from side to side... right now the MENU bar is still on teh side, wasting space all the way down the forum. Could you just make the menu bar horizontal on top (only for the forums) so we get more board space?)

Also, contact Mike @ www.pocketgamer.org as he found out how to make the vBulletin boards PPC friendly w/ a script. That'd be great for your site!

Enough about the site format ;)

I'd like to see even more hardware reviews... possible as quick as possible after the release (make sure you have time to thoroughly review them, of course). I'd like to see more daily news, as long as it's in a better format and not the side bar, so that i can visit your site daily to get info (i only visit like 3 times a week for the reviews).

i'd also like to see "breaking news" editorials like brighthand does everyonce in a while w/ their iPaq upgrade lie, hp color issue, etc, so the OEM pay attention more to the community.

All in all, the sight is pretty good as it is. Keep up the good work!

BTW, do we get penelized for double replies or do you just filter them out ?

[Jet8810]

This is not completely a website suggestion, but why not leave the Pocketnow.com chat constantly open with at least one moderator always there, even if idle? There are no really good Pocket PC oriented chats s why not use yours to gain a greater community? I would go every day!

[pocketdoc]

What about Medical uses and software for PPCs?

[uclabruin]

More information on new software would be great. Also, updating the site more often, i.e., news and events, would increase interest in visiting the site more often.

[R K]

I wonder whatever happened to Russ Smith and his columns.
I'd like to see more unique things that can be done with the Pocket PC.
It would also be nice if you gave some reviews of non-mainstream Pocket PC hardware.
You see a lot of reviews for the iPAQ H5450 around (and they're not bad at all), but I'd like to see more reviews of things like CF Cameras, FM Radio CF Cards, and other such things that are usually skipped by the ordinary.

[thegreatkevinski]

I would love to see more regular content, and I am one who should post articles more regularly. The nice thing is, if we can all post articles semi-regularly, I think we'll have a lot of content again. Maybe we should run a contest like Jason over at PPCT did, calling for new staff members who want to write. This will help infuse new blood and provide new content, and maybe motivate some of us old-timers! I for one am happy to be able to be writing more recently, and look forward to posting some great hardware and software reviews.

[uclabruin]

I agree with RK. Reviews on accessories would be great. Also, keeping an eye out for great ppc deals would be cool!:cool:

[beyondallcom]

Personally,

I come to PocketNow for all the wonderful and very indepth reviews, but it seems like ages before the next major item shows up on the main page. The reviews are great but are to long for some slower modem users, so it would be nice to have a shorter or a version with no images. A mobile version of the site would be nice also. Other than that I think the site is great, but a facelift would be nice :)

Best Regards,
Kevin

[Unregistered]

I agree that you should require people to register in order to post messages.

[bbarker]

Yes, you should require people to register to post messages.

[spursdude]

More news updates to the front page are always appreciated.

I don't mind giveaways, either...

I love all the reviews, articles, and columns, but sometimes they seem to linger as the "main attraction" of the site for several weeks at a time, and it gets a little bit dry.

Definitely keep up the software and skins library...those are appreciated.

[rud56789]

Of course more contests would bring lurkers like me into the light. :)

Yes, I agree registered users only to post .

More skins, especially for Dashboard/wisbar combo.

[htk]

Hello, I would like to see on the site a bit more focus on the developers, maybe some section where developer news would appear, and dedicated section on the forum
This would sure improve the site big time!!!!


THANKS GUYS, THIS GIVEAWAY IS JUST THE BEST I´VE EVER SEEN!


HTK

HTK Technologies
info@htk.com.br

[akp99]

Slightly more developer-centric news wouldn't go a miss. When I'm bored, I tend to cruise all the top PPC sights for inspiration so one or two updates an hour would be nice Giveaways are always good but I would like to see something cutting-edge and different for PIE. Don't ask me what, I'll leave that to you guys...

[Corn Bread]

Yup, more fresh content would be nice.

[yada88]

I really need a new PPC. Please let me win!

[blusparkles]

I like the indepth articles on this website - they're much more detailed than a lot of the other reviews out there. So more of those would be nice, both software and hardware.

And more contests would be nice also, not necessarily Pocket PCs, but even just software - pocket pc developers are usually quite willing to donate their programs for competitions.

[dreinterests]

I love the reviews at Pocketnow; both hardware and software. I'd like to see more of them. I don't read the news here basically b/c I've usually read it somewhere else first. Oh, and the login screen force us all to login before posting.

[eldondre]

That last post was me and I forgot my UID and pword.

[ixokai]

What i'd love to see is more reviews of software titles out there... there are so many, and digging through handango to find some new stuff to buy is tedious.

[hoyboy9]

I like all the reviews that this site does, but it just requires MORE. More content, news, reports, etc. You guys at pocketnow.com have been doing a wonderful job, keep it up!

[Sslixtis]

I agree with the thought that only registered users should be allowed to post, also registered posters could have more creative "ratings" for example pocketnow Newbie and pocketnow Member are kinda boring. Get creative, make it interesting to see what you become over time.

When registering I noticed that you guys don't support the states that don't have Daylights savings time ;)

Cheers!

[miawong]

I have always found your site very informative & helpful, esp. with the forums & your reviews.

I would say if there was something I'd like to see it would be some special guest contributor to the site as well as more frequent reviews on new hardware, software, etc.

Your site has always been extremely invaluable to me, so please keep putting a smile on my face! :)

[ericblinsley]

i think its would be great if it had more hardware coverage as well as more links to software.

[Deemota]

I wish there were more chats....I keep missing the Sunday night chats.

[looneytoone]

I would love to see two things. More news about how people are using their Pocket PC, i.e. teachers, doctors, lawyers, homemakers, etc. I would also like to be kept informed about great freeware.

[ctitanic]

To have the registration as a mandatory condition for posting in this forum.

[WizardMaster2K]

Well, i',m new here, and i like the site a lot. i go to a lot of different ppc related sites, and this on ranks high with the rest. the thing that i see that could use a lil chang is size of font on home page and the colum size. if it was a little wider, it would be easier to read

[djtipmothee]

I vote for more updates too!

[SickBoy]

lots of pictures...big high quality bandwidth hogging pictures...of everything! and movies too

thanks,
Sb

[markcrump]

I'd like to see more Op-Ed pieces. It seems every site has the "latest news", but I like readiing about what people really think about the issues.

[MooseMaster]

I'd like news updated frequently. That's why I visit other websites so much, for their news that they update a couple times a day. Reviews and features are just one shot deals, I read em and that's it. News I come back to look at, multiple times a day.

[MooseMaster]

Although I can't think of much else that i'd like to see. PocketNow does have it together pretty well.

[uncola]

I would like to see more information about using pocketf pc's for ebook reading. That's the main thing that made me order mine.

[CTSLICK]

- Register to post
- Move the news into a more prominent spot (maybe swap it with the featured review?)
- Ability to customize what you see on the front page
- I'd like to get to the authorized forums in a few less clicks as well

Keep up the great review with the pocketnow team

[md60302]

1. There should be more screenshots of new devices.
2. More HOW-TO Guides
3. news bits section be more frequenly updated
4. Take out the "outdated" things.

[pmradio]

I visit the site on occasion, mostly to read the in-depth reviews, with pictures!!!. That seems to be PocketNow's real strength, at least why I come. However, other sites seem to be stronger on news, but with additional commentary...why the news may be important to me. Many sites can add a newsfeed and that really doesn't seem to add greatly, IMHO. I'd say increase the reviews, and perhaps tie in give-aways with the reviews.

Also, the front page layout doesn't really make sense to me. My eyes have to scan a lot to find what I'm looking for. Especially confusing if I'm not really sure what I'm looking for! ;)


Paul

[Last Soldier]

I'd like more of this kind of articles (the one Inaki Castillo did was excellent), also I'd like more technical reviews.

Javier.

[Unregistered]

I would like to see more information on PDA networking (802.11) and GPS tools

Regards, John Bowden
johndbowden@attbi.com

[Bearjaw]

I just joined for the drawing LOL. No seriously I love this site have been looking around on it for a while. I would like to see more case reviews. You can never have enough cases. Anyway great site!!! Jeff

[dean_shan]

I would like the mobile version to include the skin of the week on it. other than that I think it's a great site.

[Darius779]

I enjoy articles about technology that is in development. Stuff that could one day change the face of Pocket PCs. Some example would be www.eink.com or www.antelopetech.com..

If I had a place to go with articles on technology such as this, I could give more examples, sorry :)

[paqguy]

Definitely more real world examples of how people are using their Pocket PCs. I, for one, am always looking for more ways to use my investment.

[willij]

More pictures & videos. It is a great site.

[heliod]

Personally I think the site went far too much to the Palm area, and at least for me it is not so interesting anymore.

I would like to see more Pocket PC related stuff, more wireless, and specially more reviews of products and software.

Helio

[shill79]

Long time lurker... First time poster... Amazing what give aways will do :)

1. Require registration for posting! Unregistered users can be trolls or flamers far too easily...

2. More commentary and user reviews and features... Can never have too many

3. More "off-topic" but interesting features...

[Lotto]

Definitely the reviews here are great, but we could use some new ones.

I also think maybe a very slight color change, just to pep the place up. Nothing loud or eye piercing, as I like the clean low key look, but just a slight change for a new face.

[kkyzar]

As a new site member, this looks like a Great site. One thing that I did notice, as far as 'first impressions' go, the Home Page seems a little busy, maybe trying to get too much info on one page makes it appear just a little scattered. Maybe just a little streamlining is needed. Otherwise, a really great place to be. I will be back - often!
kkyzar

[bbarker]

Is there a good way to read the forums and the rest of the site from a wireless Pocket PC?

[bendigo]

Gidday...
Good site but needs to be jazzed up a bit more...
Can the search button be in the front page instead of in the articles/columns/news... its harder to get to these pages unless they have been specifically booked marks..

~cheers

[damanLOOX]

First of all I would like to see more reviews - not a few words on reviewed soft (or hardware...) but complete review - including screenshots etc.
Next - perhaps there could be a column for developers...? There are lots of "beginners guides" but where to find more specific on programming ppc?

[DaleReeck]

A new logo. Nothing loud, but more modern. Look at Dale Cofig's PocketPCPassion for a good example of what I am talking about.

[Andrewlubinus89]

I could use an ipaq. :-p Just replying so I am entered in.

[lent]

There seems to be many pocket pc sites with similar format (news, reviews, forum) maybe should consider consolidating with other sites to form a super site.

lent

[ppc_man]

In the spirit of this topic, I'd have to say... have more giveaway contests! Everyone loves free stuff afterall.

And although it's true that it's not always fair, you have to admit it definitely attracts attention to pocketnow.com.

As for those people who choose to only sign up for the contest and then never post again, maybe there can be a contest for forum regulars that have posted over 100 times or something.

[hollis_f]

Sounds like my main thoughts are fairly representative of the majority. As it stands the site is pretty good, and the reviews are probably the best around. But the time between updates is just too long.

[skjelnes]

I can not find the mobile site you use for Mazingo, I would like the possibility of making it a custum channel i AvantGo and browse it online if possible.

If it is already there make it easier to find!:confused:

[David C]

I like hmm..... streaming videos...

haha. j/k I just want to win the Ipaq

[Raoul Snidjik]

I'm generally happy with pocketnow.com. I've been trying to think how it can be distinguished from other similar sites. I suppose putting an emphasis on decent writing is one thing. Also, I'm always happy to see reviews of new hardware and software (see The Gadgeteer for the best example of thorough reviews).

[calvin_hsieh]

Hey!

I generally love the detail and the thoroughness of the reviews on this site.

However, I only wish they're not so few and far in between!

I guess it would also be interesting to have more features such as future directions of the market, new technologies etc.

But honestly, I can't fault this site.

[Unregistered]

There is not a lot of discussion in the IPAQ forum. I would like to see maybe the moderators bring up topics to encourage more participation in this area.

[blang]

OK, I'm logged in now:

There is not a lot of discussion in the IPAQ forum. I would like to see maybe the moderators bring up topics to encourage more participation in this area.

[Jonas]

I would like so see more case reviews and more software news on the front page.
I would also like to see a pocketpc friendly version of the reviews.

[Unregistered]

I've always found this as one of the few sites I visit daily however as much as I love to get the latest news, reviews are the one thing that benefits me the most. More reviews would be beneficial, I don't mind if it's hardware, accessories or software, all are more than welcome.
I now these revamps usually include the obligatory face lift but I wouldn't change things too much as the interface is well laid out.

[donka]

Damn cookies! See above, my post....

I've always found this as one of the few sites I visit daily however as much as I love to get the latest news, reviews are the one thing that benefits me the most. More reviews would be beneficial, I don't mind if it's hardware, accessories or software, all are more than welcome.
I now these revamps usually include the obligatory face lift but I wouldn't change things too much as the interface is well laid out.

[Unregistered]

ok my 1 (!) euro...

1) lighter... it's a bit heavy for lower speeds (and PDA) and convoluted

2) so it doesn't render well in small screens (and it should)

3) sometimes there are new articles that I don't even notice because of the format of the site... there is a main feature ok, but the "secondary" are way too... secondary

ok tell me when you can send my my 1910 :-p

[NLS]

argh!!! I posted the post above!!!

so...

4) make it clear when you are registered or not, logged in or not etc.

[bombadil]

I would like to see LESS iPaq specific information, news and reviews and more general coverage of products and items which cover ALL Pocket PC's. After all, they ALL use the same operating system...for now anyway !

[van_mierlo]

Count me in...my wife would like it

[dxterra]

There are a few things that I might like to see.

- Some articles about developing on the pocketpc and/or palm platform
- Maybe a gallery of users
- possibly a user of the month with a small prize
- a directory of everything pocketpc, sites, services and help
- the ability to rate articles/columns

[fyiguy]

I have to agree with alot of the posts in this thread in that what brings people back is new content in articles, reviews, discussion, and news.

I would suggest a timeline on future articles and reviews, like Russ Smith will be releasing on Friday an article on"Securing Your PocketPC from Prying eyes".

More news posts in the news section, update or remove featured articles and columns if they are a few months old.

Have the ability to offload the feature reviews and articles in an ebook or mobile format, you guys have the best hardware reviews out there.

Startup of scheduled chat sessions on suggested topics and maybe get some hardware and software devlopers to discuss their product, problems people are having, impovements,etc in featured discussions.

Introduce a mobile forum channel so content is easily accessable.

Have a section in the forums or link on the front page for suggested reviews either software or hardware.

Start a poll on what features people would like to see from the posts in this thread.

Have a block dedicated to Technology on the horizon and another for software.

I too like the idea of a picture gallery of pics of peoples hardware,screen shots, and gadgets- a picure is worth a thousand words, but limit the image size to be compatable for easy viewing on the PPC.

These are just a few off the top of my head...

[jsbx]

I think provide short tutorials for new ppc users would be beneficial...a bit of a "how to" guide.

This would make alot of sense and provide new users with suggestions and examples of how to maximize thier pda use.

[remhof]

OK, I know this sounds lame, but... I'd really like to see more of the same. The site has great articles but they are few and far between.

Plus, when the icon/avatar/picture changes from the large image to the small, it often changes completely. Very confusing. But, that's my only gripe.

Keep up the good work. I've always enjoyed this site!

[liamo]

I'd like to see the site updated more regularly. Featured articles and columns from 2 months ago? You guys do great hardware/sofware reviews, more of them would be benificial.

[cesarfong]

well i think in the hot discussions sections .. put into the hot discussion , for what forum is talking about

Best regards

César

[Scytale]

How about a developer panel with news and events in the PPC programming world?

[tylosaurus]

I'd like to see more frequent site updates, and more original articles.

[crispeto]

1. I would love to see url's listed on this site specifically formatted for PPC's.
2. Continuous news updates throughout the day.
3. Comparison page - where users can find pictures and features of the latest PPC's


Thanks, Pete

[Unregistered]

I would increase the prominance of the news and featured articles over the other items.

And of course timeliness of the news is important. Perhaps additional resources could be brought in to help with that...

[Perry Reed]

Whoops! I first posted this without being logged in...

I would increase the prominance of the news and featured articles over the other items.

And of course timeliness of the news is important. Perhaps additional resources could be brought in to help with that...

[Raleigh1208]

Keep up the great comprehensive reviews of new products and software. They are very helpful for those of us looking to upgrade our pocket pcs to newer models, or looking to try out new software, etc.

Also agree that guests should not be posting without registering. OK to lurk, but no postings unless you are willing to register.

Would like to see more "how to" blurbs, to make our pocket pcs more useful and functional. I know they can do many things, and I'm sure I've only scratched the surface on what my Maestro can do.

thanks,
Raleigh1208

[adamz]

Regarding the site design, I think it should be simplified for usability. The side scrolling at less-than-full-screen browser window sizes is horrible. I'd like the primary navigation to be text based hyperlinks (easier to use, visible in any browser, quick to download). I don't like the two column (very wide) format, especially when both columns contain relevant content. If there was a primary column for relevant content, users would not have to scroll side to side (or even move their focus) in order to see the next column. Web sites should always be one primary column of content since people don't like having to scroll up and down, back and forth all the time. And also, people usually read stuff from left to right, top to bottom... NOT left to right, top to bottom and back to top again.
There should also be smaller images in the articles. If the user wishes to view a full size image, this should be optional NOT force-fed. There should be links to view full sized images contained in articles. That way the text of the article is not completely interupted everytime a large image needs to be loaded. Also, the large images continue to force side scrolling, when the text of the article should be readable in any browser window dimension (large images prevent that).

[JonathanWardRogers]

I'd love to see content every other day or so. This site is not a regular visit for me any more because of the infrequency of the updates. Also, I would love to see more polls.

Jon

[stonepro]

I would like to see a software library that has installer files / cabs in PPC format. I would like to be able to download and install software directly on my PPC (and not have to doc for each installation).

Do I win? ;-)

[SuperRob]

I have to echo the sentiments on the software/driver library. Downloadable CABs would be great!

[MasterOfMoo]

I'm sure this has been mentioned already, but I'd like to see a change in the forums posting methods. That is, only to allow REGISTERED users to post replies or to create new posts. It's a major annoyance to try to research issues just to find a 5 page thread that consists of 4-1/2 pages of SPAM-like posts.

I'd also like to see more frequent updates to the News articles. There's not always a need to type up a thesis to note a specific piece of news. A few sentences about something noteworthy can still be worth a lot (from a reader's perspective). The small posts could always be supplemented with a link to a lengthier article once it was prepared, if it was even necessary.

That's my 2 cents worth. All the same, I love the site even without changes being implemented (excluding the forums thing... that kills me).

[ipaqabilities]

I would like to see a better layout to the site.

I like the concept of having a bit of everything on the front page, but maybe the use of a smaller font. I think re-designing the layout of the home page would definately be great.

I personally wouldn't mind more of an emphasys on news.

Also, I'm not a Pocket PC Expert, but I'm sure there are those who are and maybe having a developper news, reviews, articles section would a great idea for the developper community.

[sjo]

I would like to increase the number of reviews, because they help me to make right decisions for what PPC, software or additional hardware I need.

Another thing is to improve performance in loading your website. Compared to others, it takes too long before I can read your interesting stuf.

But nevertheless I like your site very much.
Sjo.

[DavesPPC]

Wow, my post was deleted awfully quickly...wonder why that is?

[fartmonkey]

Site seems fine to me, other than needing the content refreshed a little more frequently...

[kjnoltz1]

you all need more up to date content more frequently. I don't know where pocketpcthoughts.com gets it but they are constantly updating the page and I like it.

[ppcsurfr]

I'd like to see more "How To" Articles that really promote the Portability of Pocket PCs.

More real life situations, reports, articles, reviews.

I'd like to see more wireless related stuff, including the Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition and Smartphone 2002 devices.

ppcsurfr

[Scott Heine]

For me, the thing that keeps me visiting a site regularly is the frequency of updates. When there is new information to view -- be it news, reviews, rumors, etc. -- I'm much more likely to put it on my "daily visit" list. Yes, I realize that coming up with new content every day (especially coming up with unique information that isn't found on a dozen other similar sites) is a huge challenge, but it's the thing that sets a web site apart. Pocketnow looks great, functions smoothly, and has a lot of useful information available. Continue to increase updates of any kind would be great.

Oh yeah, one other idea... COLOR! The wispy dove-gray look is very clean and professional, but it's not memorable. An eye-catching color scheme would be terrific... :)

[retlaw]

The main reason I access pocketnow.com is for the reviews. They are by far the best/most indepth reviews I have seen on any pocket pc site. I would stick with what you are good at and increase the number/frequency of reviews.

[mghannigan]

pocketnow.com does nice reviews every once in a while, but the content on the site is not updated enough for me to check it on a regular basis. Worse, when I do check it and find no new content I am often frsutrated and disappointed.

An RSS/XML feed would be nice too.

[DMM]

I personally like the site and visit often. The only change I would like to see is the content updated a bit more frequently.

[ikesler]

I love the site........ but I would love more updates......... it seems like the material stays up for a while and I would love some new stuff more often....... Also more reviews! You guys to really full, interesting reviews...... and I would love more of them!
Best,
Ian

[MysticAlpaca99]

How about an archive of old polls (voting booth)? You could use mySQL to store them. It's cool to be able to view past polls for reference. You could make the Poll's a sponsored ad space with a small 88x31 botton bellow the poll. There are many poll scripts at www.hotscripts.com and www.cgi-resources.com. I have no affiliattion with those sites :) I just use some of the scripts they offer.

[Unregistered]

I thoroughly enjoy your product reviews, especially the PDA reviews. I find that they are very thorough and have lots of pictures, benchmarks, and other information that seems to always be lacking in the manufacturers descriptions. Please keep these reviews coming!

I've just been looking into RSS (RDF site summary) format and it seems like a great way to navigate the site using low bandwidth devices (like a PDA connected through a low-speed connection). So perhaps you could look into making the forums accessible via RSS if this isn't already available.

Thanks again for your great site!

[logo20heli]

Ooops. Forgot to register before posting my response... Here it is again officially.

I thoroughly enjoy your product reviews, especially the PDA reviews. I find that they are very thorough and have lots of pictures, benchmarks, and other information that seems to always be lacking in the manufacturers descriptions. Please keep these reviews coming!

I've just been looking into RSS (RDF site summary) format and it seems like a great way to navigate the site using low bandwidth devices (like a PDA connected through a low-speed connection). So perhaps you could look into making the forums accessible via RSS if this isn't already available.

Thanks again for your great site!

[Dharmon]

I wouldn't change a thing on this website - great job! I just purchased my first Ipaq and find this site very helpful.

[nosmohtac]

reviews of software and hardware. Comparisons of new hardware and old hardware as well as software comparisons.
Accessory reviews, as well.

[nosmohtac]

sorry, I thought I was already registered on this site. I visit quite frequently but have never posted.

[mikec0214]

I personally would like to see a new section added to pocketnow about upcoming pocket pc release. It would be good to know what products are on the horizon. A handy list of release dates complete with photos.

[nwingate]

I would like to see more regular updates.
It seems like things dont change often enough.

I'm talking about news / reviews/ etc...

-Nathan

[HowieD]

I have been a casual visitor of Pocketnow.com since the beginning. I think its great how its changed and gotten better over time. What's more exciting is that it is still getting better!

I would like to recommend that a search engine/tool be added to search this page quickly for a certain topic. The page has so much detail now it can take some time to find just what your looking for.

[DavesPPC]

There is a search function :)

[lipinski77]

I have always been a big fan of the most recent list. It is nice to view the most recent news stories and posts in a Top 10 list format on the sidebar. It helps to find the new stories and posts.

Just my 2 cents.

[j259656]

The site looks pretty cool to me . How about more reviews…:)

[Kurdzman]

there should be an up-2-date comparision of all the current handhelds, such as size/weight/specs/pros/cons so you can see everything compared at once

[bombadil]

One more request:

It looks like most forums, not just this one, are becoming extended links for commercial web sites and ebay auctions. Almost makes one want to stop visiting the forums.

Pocketnow should charge the persons/companies who post these commercial leaders to pay a premium for doing so. It is like they are getting free advertising at the expense of Pocketnow and wasting valuable bandwidth.

[EricMCarson]

Originally posted by David Smith
There is a search function :)

Where is that elusive search function? It's not on the left hand sidebar or anywhere on the homepage that I can see?

I would visit this site more if you updated content more. The content gets stale fast. Particularly the reviews that are over 1 month old and still on the front page. Definitely need fewer options on the left hand sidebar, there are way too many to look through and find something quickly.

[HowieD]

My apologies for not knowing about the search engine. Could you tell me where it is on this site? I looked on the home page and I don't see it. More than likely, Im not be the only visitor who doesn't know about it. Usually a search engine is placed in the left frame of a page. Thanks for the help.

[dxterra]

It is on the top of this page.

[littleandy]

I think that the site is pretty much OK at the moment, alothough it could use some more reviews, like more product and software reviews. Also somethings in the featured items are pretty out of date. So all you need to do it to you need to do is to get more reivews and keep everything updated more.

[Tony]

i would like to see a new layout of the website with new devices and accessories listed on the main page with a brief paragraph describing it and a link to the main article featured on some other news site. A new layout of the message board would be great as well.

[Lotto]

I must say I REALLY like a new posts button on the front page, even if it's small.

[PJMED]

I think there should be some sort simple to understand rating system for the reviews of every device. A number out of 100 would do. Each device would receive a rating out of 100. Also there should be more comparisons between the systems. All this in an effor to help people find out which device is best suited for them. Obviously the detailed reviews of the devices that you already do should remain basically the same. Things like size, screen, buttons, performance, etc, should be taken into consideration when the rating to that device is given.

[PJMED]

By the way, new layout and graphics are always nice. Also you could have a gaming section It seems many people are using their devices for gaming. Especially people that have Pocket Pcs. A gaming section would be nice. Ratings on the gaming capabilities of each device would also help. Things like, how good does the pad and buttons work on games and info like that would be interesting to read and would also help people on their desicion of which device they should purchase.

[NiPaq]

I think that a column from the readers themselves focusing on the unique uses of their handheld devices would be helpful. I'm always interested in finding out what people do with the technology they posess.
Also, maybe having a "pro and con" section dealing with, well, the pros and cons of different hardware and software...again, from users. Reviews are nice and informative, but having multiple opinions from different people may help a new user better choose a device or software title if they see other users chiming in on their favorites.

[Frostberg]

I know I haven't been around in a long while (Mostly because my lack of extra money and my new dedication to home video and audio products and even an Xbox and my DVD collection)

Anyway, I think the atricles should be updated more often. New articles are always interesting to read. it is nice to see a new technology and know a decent amount of information about it before it arrives.


I always did think the reviews of PDAs are just amazing. You guys do a wonderful job of going in depth and providing nice high resolution pictures from various angles and picture comparasons. In fact, All 3 of my PDA purchases came from heavy reading of your reviews.

[cybrdmn]

I agree with many of the posts about updating/fresh info.

I think the forums are a great help when you have a problem and should be a highlight of the site.

Articles of 'How To...' or 'Getting the most from your PPC with xxxx program...' would be nice.

Mobile formatting will be appreciated as more and more people use wireless. I like to sit on the couch and browse around, but it sucks to scroll everything.

email the zero post users, I bet I lurked for a year before I ever posted a thing.

Great Site!

Marc

[Russ Smith]

The "little secret" behind news is that we've basically got one person who does the vast majority of news updates and two others who contribute on occasion (which is much appreciated). So, if you'd like more news, do feel free to volunteer your time to help it happen. (That's not a dis. It's a serious invitation. PM me if you'd like to give it a try.)

We also now have one person who's in charge of coordinating reviews and articles. (Thanks Doug.) That's a good thing as all of our reviewers and writers get some "front-page" time.

[NiPaq]

Hey, Russ...I think the site is excellent, and for the most part I think folks are just chiming in on their "wish list" for additional content.
I'd love to help (writing articles and such), but I'm sure I couldn't afford the software OR hardware it would take to keep everyone up to date on the latest and newest stuff...
Anyway, keep up the good work!

[Nato]

Well for me, I'd like to see reviews of games, as well as in depth reviews of utilities for pocketpc's and rating them which is the pocketnow's cream of the crop so as to help us decide which software is the best to purchase.

Mabuhay from Philippines!
More power to Pocketnow.com

[dwoite]

I would like to see better review on upcoming products.
General opinion of readers.

[palmsolo]

More frequent reviews. You site is a great resource for reviews, but it doesn't seem like the content is updated as frequently as it used to be. Great job with the site and I look forward to the next version.

[Andrewlubinus89]

When is the drawing over? Just wondering.

[wrxm33]

I would like to see more products review. It doesn't matter it is a new PDA, the accessories, softwares. But the most exciting will be the upcoming PDAs. If you can post the upcoming PDAs with details, that will be great. But after market accessories are also important too. Most of the after market can actually helping the weaknesses of any PDAs. PDA users should consider the after market accessories at the same time they want to purchase a new PDA.

[gofastdriver]

I would like to see more reviews (and categorizing) of Software.

[radudley]

I would like to see more information on accessories and add ons for other Pocket Pc besides the Ipaq. I have a Toshiba 330 and love it but I don't have all day to research accessories for it. It would be great just to come to the site and find my PPC and see what there is for it. I love the infromation that is put out and I do find some very interesting items. I hope that you keep up the good work and don't change to much. You have a great site.

[Mike Tianellosr]

:) one suggestion would be more daily tips on apps usage, and off beat use of device. great site...

[palmor99]

Mostly what other people have mentioned, more product reviews, software reviews ectc. Maybe even some handheld enabled web site reviews (sites that are formated for the PPC that is).


John

[michigan417]

More review's and better comparison between pocket Pc's. Love this site!! :D

[sonicdevo00909]

I'd have to say, a more portable-compatible version of the website! Other than that, it looks good.

[Willa]

I always enjoy pocketnow.com... but if pressed for suggestions on how to make a great site even better, I'll go with:

1. More frequent updates of news and reviews
2. Unregistered guests not permitted to post in the forums
3. More promotion of the authorized support forums - these are gems... if only more people knew they were here.

Thanks for providing such a great resource for the PPC user.

[jminer1]

Well, I'm pretty new to the site, but so far, I find it fine the way it is. One thing I would try to improve though would be the downloads section. There is just SO MUCH stuff to download, that it is a bit overwhelming. Organizing it a little better might help the situation a little.

[JoeSixpack]

I think the news and forums should be front and center, with reviews, downloads, etc below or to the sides. Perhaps a short list of current posts from all forums ("Latest Posts" or something like that).

Also, there seems to be a preponderance of 'blue' and 'grey' colors on a lot of PPC websites. Something a little more colorful or at least different colors would be nice.