| Author |
Message |
    
ReallyTrying
Citizen
Username: Reallytrying
Post Number: 196
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 2:39 pm: |     |
I've been married to my (paper) planner for a long time, and am thinking of asking for a PDA for Christmas. I'd like something for planner, address book/contacts, email/Internet, and similar stuff, but will retain my cell phone.
If you use one:
--which one do you use?
--what do you like about it?
--what do you dislike about it?
Thanks! |
Crazyguggenheim
Citizen
Username: Crazyguggenheim
Post Number: 476
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 3:30 pm: | |
PDA? Public Display of Affection?
Call me crazy |
ReallyTrying
Citizen
Username: Reallytrying
Post Number: 197
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 4:03 pm: | |
No, not crazy! Personal digital assistant. |
marken
Citizen
Username: Marken
Post Number: 83
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 4:32 pm: | |
reallytrying --
a simple question for you: do you have a computer (PC or MAC) that you can/want to connect your PDA to?
If you don't have one, then stick with paper for now. PDAs all "backup" their data onto a computer. Mass data entry directly into most PDAs is boring and time consuming, and difficult. and if your PDA crashes w/o a computer backup, everything is gone.
Now, if you do have a computer -- and one that isn't too old you have two options:
- the palm operating system (Sony, Palm, Handspring, more)
- "mini" windows system (HP, Dell, Compaq, more.)
If you want yours primarily for contacts and scheduling, I recommend the palm OS -- it's your best value.
But if you REALLY want internet access, and are willing to pay the $$ per month and deal with a tiny screen, then you should consider both the "mini" windows products and Palm operation system.
I am quite happy with my 4th palm product (the Tungsten E), fast, color screen, no camera or internet tho. But only $199 street price. A Palm product with wireless internet is about $400 + subscription.
For reviews and more, check out:
www.cnet.com
www.zdnet.com |
ReallyTrying
Citizen
Username: Reallytrying
Post Number: 198
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 4:42 pm: | |
Well, thanks! Yes, I have a good, newish (<8 months old) computer both at work and at home. Those $$ figures really threw me! Is it possible just to have email access without Web access? If not, then forget it - I'll go with a Palm OS.
Thanks again. |
marken
Citizen
Username: Marken
Post Number: 84
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 5:01 pm: | |
I'm not 100% certain about using email w/o having internet access.
However ....
If you want to read/send email while on the road, both the Palm and windows PDAs will allow you to "synchronize" your Email application's inbox onto your device w/o any wireless connectivity at all.
However, the limitations:
* you have to connect your PDA to your PC to "synchronize/download" your new email messages
* you CAN reply to/create messages on your PDA, but they stay in your "outbox" until you "synchronize/upload" your PDA
* with the built-in approach, you don't have live email
Perhaps your company's IT department can tell you how to access their email with a wireless device (such as a blackberry)
If you really want email, I believe a good portion of that accessibility will depend on your service provider. (E.g. is it Outlook at your company? is it Lotus Notes? is it yahoo!?, is it AOL?)
whatever you decide to do .... I recommend you find someone with a device/feature combo that you're looking for, and test it out. most of the PDAs in the stores either don't have batteries or don't have live wireless connections. So check out a friend's.
|
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 836
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 5:08 pm: | |
I have had a Palm clone (Sony Clie) for about a year and have been pretty happy with it. I chose it based on a review in PC Magazine that seemed to indicate that the Palm OS machines were better suited to my needs and that the Sonys were the highest rated of that group (better than the Palm brand.)
I synch it with my Outlook Calendar, Tasks and Contacts (for scheduling, to do list and addressbook info). I use the Palm Desktop software that came with the PDA for memos since I never used the memo feature in Outlook and found it somewhat cumbersome. If you have a lot of data to enter, it is much easier to do so on the PC and then download it to the pda. But it is great to be able to enter small bits of data on the pda and later have it copied to the PC. (i.e. when you schedule an appointment or someone tells you their address or phone number)
Since I don't have wireless access, I don't bother with email on the pda, however you can do that if you want to download the email and then respond "offline". You can then synch up with the PC to send the emails later.
Good luck! |
growler
Citizen
Username: Growler
Post Number: 281
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 5:09 pm: | |
I've had a Palm III since they came out and have had 0 problems with it and backing it up. Even got my mom to by a Palm V or something like it. |
Marc
Citizen
Username: Bautisma
Post Number: 59
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 5:11 pm: | |
I have a Handspring Treo. It is both a pda and a phone, but it is an older version
Likes: PalmOS, Keyboard, customer support from Handspring
Dislikes: a bit large. The Treo 600 is a lot smaller (also a lot more expensive). |
pmart
Citizen
Username: Pmart
Post Number: 108
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 - 10:22 am: | |
Really - I have been considering the same purchase. Someone in my office just sent me the below link to Staples. They have the Sony Clie for $125 less $30 mail in rebate.
http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Browse/sku.asp?PageType=1&Sku=504989&bcFlag=True& bcSCatId=3&bcSCatName=Technology&bcCatId=59&bcCatName=PDAs+%26+Handhelds&bcClass Id=40200&bcClassName=Handhelds+%2D+Palm+Powered |
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 1441
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 12:32 am: | |
You can get a decent Palm for $100 or less nowadays if you don't need the latest features. I still have a b&w model with no wireless internet or email. I'm an internet junkie but I still don't feel the need for access when I'm not at a computer.
I've been using a Palm since 1997! I've gone through a few models but always with the same data, adding as I go. When it's time to upgrade my hardware, I just sync my old model one last time and then sync the new one, transferring all the data over easily. My address book has accumulated hundreds of entries in it. And I have found it useful to be able to look back in my calendar a few years. It all fits in there easily.
If you're still wondering if you should switch from paper to a PDA, ask yourself why. It's not for everyone. One reason I like the PDA is that it's gadgety. Because it's gadgety, I like to use it. I don't like paper. But there's a lot to be said for a system that works for you already.
Another reason I like my Palm is that I always have it. I don't mind looking geeky with a cell phone and a Palm on my belt at the same time. Since I always have the Palm, I can always add or retrieve data. So my wife asks me for someone's phone number, even one of HER friend's, and I have it. If someone asks me to make an appointment, I can make it right then and there and see if there is a conflict.
I also use my Palm for tracking my gas purchases, expenses, shopping list, and other mundane things. I use this thing all the time. When I'm without it, say, at the beach, I feel like I left my brain at home. I know, too geeky. But that's how I am.
Tom Reingold
There is nothing
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