# Ipod Touch **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 20, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-touch/503645 "2009-07-20T16:56:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Estilicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Estilicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Estilicon)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-touch/503645/1 "2009-07-20T16:56:56Z")
I am thinking of buying and IPOD touch but first, a couple of questions: I love to sync. Therefore, I use Google Calendar and Mozilla Thunderbird to sync my address book and my calendar between my home and work computer ¿Can I do this with the Ipod Touch? They also tell me that it’s a good replacement for a PDA, what do you use it for? Also, I heard that it’s a good ebook reader. What kind of formats does it read? Of course, I’ll love to hear anything you have to say about it. ---
**Author:** ![Estilicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Estilicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Estilicon)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-touch/503645/2 "2009-07-20T16:58:48Z")
I forgot other questions: does it have wifi? Can I use Skype Msn Messenger anf Gmail in it? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-touch/503645/3 "2009-07-20T17:00:29Z")
I don’t know about the iPod Touch, but I sync with my G1 cell phone. It automatically syncs with Gmail, Google Calender, Google Contacts, Google Docs, etc. Very slick…TRM ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-touch/503645/4 "2009-07-20T17:11:19Z")
The iPod Touch can sync with Gmail and Google Calendar (although calendar took some doing… not sure what the current status is). I cannot confirm or deny that it syncs with Thunderbird. It does have WiFi but as far as I know there is not a Skype client unless you “jailbreak” it and install a non-Apple approved client. ---
**Author:** ![initech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/439d5e/32.png) [@initech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/initech)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-touch/503645/5 "2009-07-20T17:38:41Z")
The Touch can use the same apps as the iPhone, for the most part. This includes Stanza, which is an excellent ebook reader. I use Evernote for notes that sync with my PC. I use Gmail with my Touch, and it works great. If you like casual gaming, the Touch is awesome. Games are plentiful and cheap (usually $1). I bought a 1st generation and I love it. I rarely use it as an iPod, but I use apps and the internet all the time. It’s an amazing device. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-touch/503645/6 "2009-07-20T19:16:31Z")
According to the Skype [web site](https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA10063/Will-Skype-work-on-the-iPod-touch;jsessionid=9AA889873F1E47BCADFA4E5A1ADEEBEB), yes, you can use it with a Touch. Rumor has it that the 3rd gen. Touch will be released in September. ---
**Author:** ![Estilicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Estilicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Estilicon)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-touch/503645/7 "2009-07-20T19:34:36Z")
Great contributions so far. Anyone who uses it as a PDA wants to share his/her impression? ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-touch/503645/8 "2009-07-20T19:42:50Z")
I replaced my Clie (PalmOS PDA) just recently with a 'Touch. Some differences: [ul] [li]No vibrate for meeting notices (or anything else).[/li][li]No snooze for meeting notices (although that was probably non-Palm “Beyond Contacts”).[/li][li]Meeting notices don’t show meeting invitees![/li][li]Have to initiate sync via iTunes instead of a hotsync button.[/li][li]If you prefer live Exchange syncing, the server must be configured for ActiveSync (which my server isn’t, nor won’t, and thus the iTunes sync).[/li][li]Exchange email still works over IMAP though.[/li][li]Real, live WIFI is so much better than AvantGO (whose discontinuance inspired me to replace the Clie in the first place)![/li][li]Real management of multimedia such as music, photos, and video compared to the Clie.[/li][/ul] Essentially, it does virtually everything my Clie did (sans vibrate, snooze, and meeting invitees), and then so much more. Honestly,though, if it weren’t for the camera, I’d’ve gotten an iPhone (i.e., I need devices _without_ cameras). ---
**Author:** ![Estilicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Estilicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Estilicon)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipod-touch/503645/9 "2009-07-21T11:44:40Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > I replaced my Clie (PalmOS PDA) just recently with a 'Touch. Some differences: > [ul] > [li]No vibrate for meeting notices (or anything else).[/li][li]No snooze for meeting notices (although that was probably non-Palm “Beyond Contacts”).[/li][li]Meeting notices don’t show meeting invitees![/li][li]Have to initiate sync via iTunes instead of a hotsync button.[/li][li]If you prefer live Exchange syncing, the server must be configured for ActiveSync (which my server isn’t, nor won’t, and thus the iTunes sync).[/li][li]Exchange email still works over IMAP though.[/li][li]Real, live WIFI is so much better than AvantGO (whose discontinuance inspired me to replace the Clie in the first place)![/li][li]Real management of multimedia such as music, photos, and video compared to the Clie.[/li][/ul] > > Essentially, it does virtually everything my Clie did (sans vibrate, snooze, and meeting invitees), and then so much more. > > Honestly,though, if it weren’t for the camera, I’d’ve gotten an iPhone (i.e., I need devices _without_ cameras). Can it read office files? (Excel, Word, etc).