Palm Pilot Question... Palm users HELP!!

Factual Questions
1

Hey all… I’m feeling kind of stupid for asking, but I can’t seem to find any info anywhere (maybe I haven’t been looking hard enough).

Anywho, I just purchased a Palm m105 so I could get the feel of what pda’s are like… just the basics. But I also would like to do online stuff (email, instant messaging, etc). Only problem is I’m pretty confused about how I’d go about doing so, or if I even can with just a 105. It came with email software and stuff so that gave me the impression that it could, but where would I plug in anything. Would I have to buy a separate modem or something? I tried looking for said modem, but I haven’t found one… or would I just put it on the cradle and go through the modem thats on my computer?? Blaaaah it’s driving me crazy…

So does my palm even have this capability? Why all the software and stuff if it doesn’t? And (as if I haven’t asked enough questions already) would I be able to use the internet account I already have (Earthlink)? Thanks in advance

2

Hi maybelze05…

There are, broadly, two types of connections you can have to the Internet with your Palm 105.

  1. Offline.

In this method, your desktop PC acts like a proxy server and downloads data from the Internet and stores it on your handheld at the next HotSync. So, for instance, you could synchronize your favourite websites and your Outlook emails to your m105 at each sync. However, connection to the Internet is only done by the Desktop PC and the m105 just stores the data that is downloaded through the PC at the time of a HotSync.

To synchronize with MS Outlook, you need Chapura Pocket Mirror from http://www.chapura.com

To synchronize websites, you could use http://www.avantgo.com or http://www.isilox.com

  1. Online Internet Access.

Perhaps what you are more interested in is an online connection to the Internet. That is, connecting directly to the Internet without the need for a PC inbetween.

Again, there are two types of access:

a. Wireline.

b. Wireless.

a. Wireline: Strangely, Palm Inc. does not make any wireline modem for the Palm m105 series. The only known m105 compatible wireline modem was made by Shinei, but there seems to be no reliable point of purchase on the web for that model anymore. The Shinei website’s point of purchase used to be at http://www.shinei-shop.com.sg/product.asp?strProductID=11 but the site has been down for a long time now.

Your only option for a wireline connection is to use a NULL modem cable and a compatible desktop modem.

b. Wireless: Here again, there is no clip-on wireless modem for the m105. What you can use is an Infrared connection to a cellular phone with an inbuilt IR modem, e.g. the Nokia 6210. You could also connect via Bluetooth, e.g. Ericsson T68i.

Once you are connected to the Internet, you can use instant messengers such as ICQ, etc.

You can use your current Earthlink internet account, but you need a data line or data access on your cell phone.

Let me know if you need more information on any of the points mentioned.

3

wow thanks xash for the quick response

could you explain the null modem thing a little more? I’ve never heard of it. :confused: I guess I’m just gonna have to stick to the basic stuff unless I get a better pda… or a better phone (hehe i only have a nokia 3390, but im going to get a newer phone soon)

4

here’s a good article on setting up your Palm to connect to the 'net via IR:

http://www.mywirelesspalm.com/palminternetguide.htm

and here is a site with some cables:

http://www.syncablesolutions.com/

and here are some other relevant articles:

http://www.geocities.com/daveinfopage/palm_modem.html

http://www.palmpowerenterprise.com/issues/issue200104/internet0401001.html