I want something with Compact Flash or similar removable memory. I want a color display. I want a built-in wireless modem or something that can easily have a wireless modem added, or can hook up to my cell phone or something (can my phone even do that? God I’m ignorant here)
Anyone have any recommendations?
Handspring is running a special on Visors!
Seriously, I just got one, after being a devoted Palm Pilot user. Mine can apparently sync with my email off my pc, has some kind of gadget that will turn it into a phone, is internet-ready, and a whole bunch of other stuff. The little cards you can stick in the back can do everything from play MP3’s to surf the web, I think.
Mine is never used for anything more than address book and calendar, so I can’t tell you how well these other applications work. I am thick as a brick when it comes to this stuff.
what model?
Well I’m in the same boat.
For me it is between the Palm 505 or the Compaq Pocket Pc 3670. The palm is the most popular choice, but my brother loves the Compaq. I have seen him play clear video, download great info and surf the web. I was the most fun in the smallest package I have ever seen.
The compaq has a very fast chip and comes with 64k and I think the 505 has 16k. I am waiting for a price drop but will prob get the Compaq. I hope this helps.
Opal, call me! I work at MobilePlanet and I sell PDAs day in and day out. How much are you willing to spend?
advantage of those running pocket pc software like the compaq is that it does synch really well with word, excell and outlook.
I don’t use excell or outlook and rarely use word
I don’t really know. I figured I’d see what the price range was for what I wanted and go from there.
if you get one with an Infra Red port and get a mobile phone with an Infra Red port, then you don’t need an additional modem or even a cable; it works tolerably well for email, less well for web browsing (unless you turn off images).
The Handspring Visor Edge looks quite nice, but I think there are Palm models that are smaller even without the detachable bits that the Visor has.
Or you could go for a PocketPC; there are rather a lot of them about, but all seem rather chunky compared to the palms
Then there’s the the Sony Clié (PalmOS); the new model of this has a colour screen; the removable memory is Sony’s own Memory Stick format.
ok, I would definitely recommend going with a Windows CE type device. Prices range from as as $199.95 all the up to $1000 and beyond. From what you’ve been telling me, I think you may be happy with a Casio BE-300 PocketPC($199.95). It has a CF Slot, internet capabilities, an MP3 player program built in, and a color display. With regards to built in internet capability, it does not have that, but I can supply you any type of connection that you need(the connections will be made through apecialized CF cards), including cellular connections, wired, and wireless(bear in mind though that I may not have the connection for your particular cellphone). What kind of cellphone do you have?
Nokia 5165
something that is compatible with one of the GPS thingies would also be nice, but not neccessary.
I converted from a Palm IIIc to an HP Jornada 525 (Pocket PC). I’m reasonably happy with it. The display is a lot better, and it has a CF type II slot. Here in Japan you can buy a PHS (low-power cell phone) that plugs into the slot and provides a 64kbit connection. I can check e-mail anywhere and utilize little scraps of free time (e.g. riding the subway) to catch up on my mail.
I wish there were as many good shareware and freeware programs as on the Palm, though. Also in the true Microsoft tradition it requires a daily reboot - at least mine does, but it boots up in less than 10 seconds so it’s no big deal. Also it only has one CF slot which is taken up by the PHS device.
Another vote for a Handspring Visor. Virtually anything you want to plug in (phone, GPS, MP3, pager, camera, memory, back-up card, etc.) you can, standard, on any model. IIRC, they all have IR ports and they have USP connections (through their base), too.
It’s Palm OS, but I look at that as a good thing. I had WinCE on a Uniden PDA and, like windows, it crashed, flaked out, whatever. Palm is steady as a rock, IMO.
I don’t have anything that will allow you to connect your 5165 to a PocketPC, but I do have connections for other Nokia phones if you would be so interested. With regards to GPSs, I do have solutions, but they involve using a higher end PocketPC.
More info on the BE-300 can be found here.
If you are interested in the Visor Prism, you can find more info here.
My only issue with the Visor Prism model is that it is $299.95. For $100 less you can get a Windows CE device that is more capable.
If want to talk to me in person, I can send you my number by email.
I should have been more clear here. The BE-300 has the Internet Explorer program built-in. What it does not have is any physical means to connect to the Internet built-in. Basically, with regards to Internet capabilities, it has the software, but not the hardware.
how much would it cost to get a BE-300 with a wireless modem?
There are 2 ways to go wireless. The first is through a cellphone, and would involve using a digital phone card. The cost for this solution varies from cellphone to cellphone, but it is usually in the $99/$119/$139 range. An example of these cards can be found here. With this solution, you provide your own ISP to dial into, as long as it requires no special software (I recommend Earthlink). Speeds are typically 12-14.4Kbps, and you can access the Internet/email wherever you have cell phone coverage.
If you want a true wireless modem(no cell phone involved), it will be more expensive. I have a PocketSpider wireless modem that will work with the BE-300 for $349.95. With this solution, you are no longer dialing into an ISP. You actually log on to a special cellular data network called CDPD to access the Internet. This service does require a monthly fee. Depending on where you live, this could be as low as $29.95 per month, or as high as $60 per month. Speeds are typically 19.2 Kbps. Coverage is in most major cities, but not all. If you live far away from major cities, this may not work for you. Take a look at this map to see if CDPD service is in your area. For a more specific lookup utility, you may want to try this.
I have the palm m505, its great, expecially being so small. I don’t buy a PDA for the ability to listen to music or watch movies etc. I have a laptop for that. The compaqs are alright, if you want a palm device that has the kitchen sink and defeats the purpose of it being small. They’ve gotten smaller since the days of say the Philips Nino 300, but they’re still always going to be bigger than the Palms as general virtue of Windows and the processing it needs, even on that small scale.
I like the Palm over the Handspring, I didn’t buy it for gadgets like cameras etc, but I did want a storage card and a dictionary etc. Palm m500 and m505 both have secure digital cards which are probably the best format, but hasn’t caught on quite yet, although Panasonic and a few other companies use it. Smaller than either of the other ones width wise and thin, and more accepted already that the Sony Memory Stick. The reason I like the Palm over Handspring which I never really got to is because the cards are small, unlike those gameboy handspring cartridges. You can’t carry 4 of them and the palm around and feel like you’ve got a compact unit. I have a case for my palm that holds 4 of the cards and credit cards etc, its great because its tiny.
do they make a card for my phone? I’m not gonna buy another cell phone…
I checked and I didn’t see any solutions that we sell. You may want to try Nokia directly, though.