Palm Pilot Professional question

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

"Curtis McCain" <curtismc@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:mu%xe.11549$Si3.7705@fe06.lga...
> I have a Palm Pilot Professional. Yes, I know it's considered old and
> obsolete, but it does everything I want it to do.
>
> My question is this, is there a portable keyboard that will work with
> it? Everything I've seen stops at the III. Would a III keyboard work
> with the Pro?

When they were current, there were a couple of keyboards which worked with them.

The one I saw most frequently had what looked like at truncated cradle in the
middle rear where the Palm went so it was easy to read while you typed. I tried
one out at the time, but it seemed to me if I wanted to type on a keyboard, I'd
just use my laptop and hotsync whatever I'd typed into the PPP, so I didn't buy
one.

- Bill

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

Still doesn't answer my mail question, will a III keyboard work with my Pro?

Bill Leary wrote:

>"Curtis McCain" <curtismc@nowhere.net> wrote in message
>news:mu%xe.11549$Si3.7705@fe06.lga...
>
>
>>I have a Palm Pilot Professional. Yes, I know it's considered old and
>>obsolete, but it does everything I want it to do.
>>
>>My question is this, is there a portable keyboard that will work with
>>it? Everything I've seen stops at the III. Would a III keyboard work
>>with the Pro?
>>
>>
>
>When they were current, there were a couple of keyboards which worked with them.
>
>The one I saw most frequently had what looked like at truncated cradle in the
>middle rear where the Palm went so it was easy to read while you typed. I tried
>one out at the time, but it seemed to me if I wanted to type on a keyboard, I'd
>just use my laptop and hotsync whatever I'd typed into the PPP, so I didn't buy
>one.
>
> - Bill
>
>
>
>

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

On Sun, 03 Jul 2005 19:34:30 -0500, Curtis McCain wrote:

> I have a Palm Pilot Professional. Yes, I know it's considered old and
> obsolete, but it does everything I want it to do.
>
> My question is this, is there a portable keyboard that will work with
> it? Everything I've seen stops at the III. Would a III keyboard work
> with the Pro?

Theoretically, yes. I had a GoType! keyboard for my PilotPro that I
used successfully with my III. The physical connection between a Palm
and a keyboard didn't change until the V series, although the shape of
the handheld casing around the connector did change slightly.

A larger issue for compatibility is whether or not the keyboard
drivers support PalmOS 2. The III shipped with OS 3, so keyboards that
specify OS 3 might not have keyboard drivers that work with a PilotPro
and PalmOS 2


--
Derek

"He had heard people speak contemptuously of money: he wondered if
they had ever tried to do without it." -- W. Somerset Maugham ("Of
Human Bondage", 1915)

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

On Mon, 04 Jul 2005 14:44:01 -0500, Curtis McCain wrote:
> Still doesn't answer my mail question, will a III keyboard work with my Pro?

The III and Pro used the same physical connector, but the III had a
slightly rounder case, but they should be compatible. I used a
Landware GoType keyboard with my Pro, but I can't remember if that was
before or after I upgraded it with the III circuit board.

-alan

--
Alan Hoyle - alanh@unc.edu - http://www.alanhoyle.com/
"I don't want the world, I just want your half." -TMBG
Get Horizontal, Play Ultimate.

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

Hi Alan,

Between you and Derek, I think I have the answer to my question.

Thanks for that.

However, you brought up another interesting question when you said you
upgraded your Pro to a III. What are the advantages of this?

Curtis

Alan Hoyle wrote:

>On Mon, 04 Jul 2005 14:44:01 -0500, Curtis McCain wrote:
>
>
>>Still doesn't answer my mail question, will a III keyboard work with my Pro?
>>
>>
>
>The III and Pro used the same physical connector, but the III had a
>slightly rounder case, but they should be compatible. I used a
>Landware GoType keyboard with my Pro, but I can't remember if that was
>before or after I upgraded it with the III circuit board.
>
>-alan
>
>
>

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

On Tue, 05 Jul 2005 21:07:18 -0500, Curtis McCain wrote:
> Hi Alan,

> Between you and Derek, I think I have the answer to my question.

> Thanks for that.

> However, you brought up another interesting question when you said you
> upgraded your Pro to a III. What are the advantages of this?

If I recall correctly: OS 3, Infrared port, and 2 MB of RAM. It
turned your PPPro into a III. There were some minor technical
differences that made no difference in practice. It might have
included FlashROM to allow upgrading to 4.x as well, but I'm not sure.

Back in the day, you upgraded by taking off the plastic door on the
back of your palm, removed the old card, put in the new card, and
replaced the door with one which included a window for IR. I don't
know how easy it would be to find the kit anymore, it would almost
certainly be easier to buy a used III. (<$25 on ebay)

-alan

--
Alan Hoyle - alanh@unc.edu - http://www.alanhoyle.com/
"I don't want the world, I just want your half." -TMBG
Get Horizontal, Play Ultimate.

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

I do believe you're right on that point about the price. I looked over
at ebay and can pick up a IIIe for $20 complete in box! Might go ahead
and go that route and keep my PPPro for part of the collection.

Thanks for all your help and info (and patience for an utter newb!)

Curti

Alan Hoyle wrote:

>On Tue, 05 Jul 2005 21:07:18 -0500, Curtis McCain wrote:
>
>
>>Hi Alan,
>>
>>
>
>
>
>>Between you and Derek, I think I have the answer to my question.
>>
>>
>
>
>
>>Thanks for that.
>>
>>
>
>
>
>>However, you brought up another interesting question when you said you
>>upgraded your Pro to a III. What are the advantages of this?
>>
>>
>
>If I recall correctly: OS 3, Infrared port, and 2 MB of RAM. It
>turned your PPPro into a III. There were some minor technical
>differences that made no difference in practice. It might have
>included FlashROM to allow upgrading to 4.x as well, but I'm not sure.
>
>Back in the day, you upgraded by taking off the plastic door on the
>back of your palm, removed the old card, put in the new card, and
>replaced the door with one which included a window for IR. I don't
>know how easy it would be to find the kit anymore, it would almost
>certainly be easier to buy a used III. (<$25 on ebay)
>
>-alan
>
>
>