[q]: need opinions on handheld for Mac

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops (More info?)

In article <412fe690$0$439$8eec23a@newsreader.tycho.net>,
jmastrol@deeptht.armory.com (John Mastrolia) wrote:

> I'm getting ready to buy a palm device to use with my Mac computers.
> The limiting factor seems to be iSync's device list (which includes
> both the Zire and Tungsten hand helds). I need it primarily for
> keeping track of a schedule, to-do items, and contacts. So the
> question is: which would be a better PDA for the task?
>
> I've read some reviews of the Zire 71 and 72 on www.cnet.com and
> believe the 71 can do the job nicely, but would appreciate any
> sage advise from Mac users who have PDA's (and actively use them
> to sync information between the two).
>
> Thanks in advance.

If you "Promise" not to get hooked on using a PDA for all kinds of
wonderful things, then a very basic Palm Z21 should do everything you
are listing. Because it is Black&White (gray scale) it will have good
battery life.

But if you still just want a basic PDA, but also want color, then the
Z31 is the next step up, but color screens consume more power so you may
need to plug it in to recharge more frequently.

Of course if you get hooked on doing things on your PDA, like keeping
your thousands of internet passwords in a secure application, reading
ebooks or Adobe PDF documents, taking pictures, keeping pictures of your
family, wanting to do WiFi and web surfing and/or email, wanting to
connect your PDA to your cell phone via bluetooth, voice recorder, play
games (lots of games), be your travel alarm clock, etc... In this case,
then you may want more than a Z21 (like the Z72 or a T|C or a T|T3 or a
T|E.

If you really do not know what you want in a PDA, and the least
expensive one is "Good Enough", then use it until you see that you want
more from a PDA. If you already know you want more bells and whistles
then a Z72 is not a bad choice.

Bob Harris

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops (More info?)

In article <4130f475$0$437$8eec23a@newsreader.tycho.net>,
jmastrol@deeptht.armory.com (John Mastrolia) wrote:

> In article <harris-80CDE4.11502628082004@cacnews.cac.cpqcorp.net>,
> Bob Harris <harris@zk3.dec.com> wrote:
> >In article <412fe690$0$439$8eec23a@newsreader.tycho.net>,
> > jmastrol@deeptht.armory.com (John Mastrolia) wrote:
> >
> >> I'm getting ready to buy a palm device to use with my Mac computers.
> >> The limiting factor seems to be iSync's device list (which includes
> >> both the Zire and Tungsten hand helds). I need it primarily for
> >> keeping track of a schedule, to-do items, and contacts. So the
> >> question is: which would be a better PDA for the task?
> >>
> >> I've read some reviews of the Zire 71 and 72 on www.cnet.com and
> >> believe the 71 can do the job nicely, but would appreciate any
> >> sage advise from Mac users who have PDA's (and actively use them
> >> to sync information between the two).
> >>
> >> Thanks in advance.
> >
> >If you "Promise" not to get hooked on using a PDA for all kinds of
> >wonderful things, then a very basic Palm Z21 should do everything you
> >are listing. Because it is Black&White (gray scale) it will have good
> >battery life.
> >
> >But if you still just want a basic PDA, but also want color, then the
> >Z31 is the next step up, but color screens consume more power so you may
> >need to plug it in to recharge more frequently.
> >
> >Of course if you get hooked on doing things on your PDA, like keeping
> >your thousands of internet passwords in a secure application, reading
> >ebooks or Adobe PDF documents, taking pictures, keeping pictures of your
> >family, wanting to do WiFi and web surfing and/or email, wanting to
> >connect your PDA to your cell phone via bluetooth, voice recorder, play
> >games (lots of games), be your travel alarm clock, etc... In this case,
> >then you may want more than a Z21 (like the Z72 or a T|C or a T|T3 or a
> >T|E.
> >
> >If you really do not know what you want in a PDA, and the least
> >expensive one is "Good Enough", then use it until you see that you want
> >more from a PDA. If you already know you want more bells and whistles
> >then a Z72 is not a bad choice.
> >
> > Bob Harris
>
> Thanks for the run-down on Palm hand helds. When I first started
> looking, my eyes immediately headed towards the "business" class
> Palm devices (Tungsten). Much more costly, and probably have
> way more functionality than I need. The origional list of
> features I need is pretty much spot on, so I will set my sights
> lower, as you suggest. The number of events / contacts should
> not require memory expansion, though I would like to have the
> ability to expand the devices memory in the future. I'll
> read up on the Zire series to see which offers that feature.
>
> I have used Palm PDA's before, finding myself in the scheduler app
> the most and even owned a copy of Agendus (sp .. maybe the name
> has changed since then) at one time. There was another "drop-in"
> scheduler that competed with it, but I did not like it as much.
>
> The big key here is to be able to iSync my iCal events and Address
> Book (all native Mac OS/X apps) with this new device. Reason being,
> I plan to also iSync with .Mac services to keep my work laptop
> and home PowerMac "on the same page". The Palm PDA will round
> out my devices that would use the same data and keep me informed
> of meetings and commitments.
>
> Again, thank you for the assistance. Additional comments and
> suggestions solicited!
>
> Thanks in advance,

The 2 big datebook utilities are DateBk5 and Agendus. There are other
datebook replacements like ksdatebook which is freeware
(freewarepalm.com)

You might also be interested in the following web sites (dangerous if
you do not want to learn new things to do with your Palm :-)

http://palmaddicts.blogspot.com/
http://1src.com/ check out the forums for your Palm
http://www.pda247.com/
http://palmgear.com/
http://freewarepalm.com/

There are others, but this is a good selection to get staturated (I mean
started :-)

Bob Harris