So Is It Worth It? ---YOU BET IT IS!

And for my wife, who is an incredible cook and is continually using my iPAQ

Pocket Cook Deluxe Web Edition ($24.95)

I’m always asking my wife “what’s for dinner tonight?” Of course she always replies “wait and see” and I do. It is always terrific and she always uses some great recipe that she has acquired over the years. But our lives have become very busy with a lot of travel between our two homes so cooking from those terrific recipes could become a hassle. Of course she now has one of my iPAQs and since Pocket Cook offers her three programs to help manage preparing meals, she can have everything she needs to continue the tradition of fine meals she loves to prepare. Boy am I lucky (and grateful)!

So now I have my first set of programs and I will seriously start to delve deeply into each one. I have just enough to keep me busy, not too much to be overwhelmed, and the knowledge that I still have access to well over 90 more top rated programs. WOW, it sure is a pretty neat feeling knowing that I have already exceeded in value what the cost was for the package.

I have 10 programs --- I paid about 10% of the actual value for all the programs --- and my experience with the entire process would definitely have to be rated a 10. (I’ll be right back---I’m going to the corner store to play a number, can you guess what I will be picking?) OK, someone is saying that I had 11 programs --- #11 was for my wife’s iPAQ!

Not only did I get the opportunity to get some great software from a multitude of categories (Web, Games, Utilities, Organizational, Multimedia, Numbers, Mapping, and Personal software) but there were a host of extras included in the package! I was pretty impressed that there was a Microsoft CD of Pocket Streets 2005 (retail package) as well as several other gifts that were clearly worth a few bucks.

What else was there? To start with, a great resource, 5 Years of Pocket PC magazine back issues in MS Reader format on a separate CD. For those of you that don’t know, UsedHandhelds.com sells brand-new retractable earphones, silicon cases, 3-in-1 stylii, car chargers, travel charges, protective screens, and USB cables. You'll receive one of these as a "surprise" bonus with your CD. My gift was a very cool multi purpose laser pointer-pen-stylus…and it came with extra batteries! A Pocket PC Magazine buyers guide for 2005 and a $25 coupon from Usedhandhelds.com for use with a hardware purchase. And to top of the package, there was a renewal to Pocket PC Magazine ($19.95).

What will I get on the next round of downloads? Tough choice but I will round out my software library with the utilities that I have always wanted. One thing is for sure, they have given me plenty of time to gradually look, investigate and finally pick what I want. The ability of not having to rush is a huge plus in this terrific offer.

Some might say: "gee, I would have picked this or that utility or program". The fact of the matter is that there are several of these award winning programs that I already have. Programs like Spb Pocket Plus and Resco File Explorer are must have programs for any serious iPAQ user and were the first serious programs I bought.

I am really pleased with the decision I made to get this terrific package. Just about every program I ever wanted was there and the comfort that all of them are of the highest quality is a huge plus.

So Is It Worth It? ---YOU BET IT IS!

You can find Pocket PC magazine’s Best of Everything Software here .

You can visit Pocket PC magazine here.

Still not sure?

Why not try this “value calculator” that Pocket PC Magazine made. This will help you finalize that decision in determining if it is worth it for you --- I’ll bet you’ll find that it is.

How long do you have to download your software?

You have plenty on time to slowly and methodically get the software you want. The download and registration deadline is January 31, 2006.