# palm pilot question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 8, 2002, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palm-pilot-question/141232 "2002-12-08T01:23:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![imacanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@imacanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imacanuck)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palm-pilot-question/141232/1 "2002-12-08T01:23:26Z")
Trying to synchronize with palm desktop after deleting lotus notes. will synch with no error msg, but does not transfer data from handheld to desktop. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palm-pilot-question/141232/2 "2002-12-08T01:57:25Z")
In Palm Desktop, try HotSync, then Custom. It will show a list of programs and whether they are set to synchronize. See if Lotus is listed and set to ‘synchronize the files’. If not, click on Lotus, click the change button,then choose synchronize. If Lotus isn’t listed, sorry, don’t know how to add it. ---
**Author:** ![honkytonkwillie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@honkytonkwillie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/honkytonkwillie)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palm-pilot-question/141232/3 "2002-12-08T08:07:44Z")
Okay. Next Plam question: Can you upgrade the OS on these things? I just bought my first one, loaded with Palm OS 4.1. But while shopping, I saw some with OS 5. Did I just buy ancient software? ---
**Author:** ![andyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ccd318/32.png) [@andyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palm-pilot-question/141232/4 "2002-12-08T08:39:24Z")
Usually, as far as I know, you can’t upgrade your OS version. The Palm OS has stayed basically the same since it’s inception. OS5 comes loaded on Palm’s new Tungsten, and adds voice recording ability. ---
**Author:** ![Badge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Badge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badge)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palm-pilot-question/141232/5 "2002-12-08T15:36:28Z")
The OS is specific to the physical design of each Palm/Visor, etc., so cannot be upgraded. You can download hacks that add later features, but the OS remains the same. ---
**Author:** ![psychomonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@psychomonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychomonkey)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palm-pilot-question/141232/6 "2002-12-08T16:45:51Z")
Ok, these guys are completely clueless. Depending on which palm it is, you CAN upgrade it. Someme you can, some you cannot. You can purchase the upgrades from Palm. All it does is flash the memory. Done it, seen it done, seen the upgrades for sale. Not hardware specific. -PSM ---
**Author:** ![psychomonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@psychomonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychomonkey)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palm-pilot-question/141232/7 "2002-12-08T17:33:57Z")
Yeah, Im just going to apologize in advance. I didnt mean clueless to sound the way it did. Im not sure what i was thinking it would sound like , but yeah… carry on. -PSM ---
**Author:** ![JimOfAllTrades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@JimOfAllTrades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimOfAllTrades)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palm-pilot-question/141232/8 "2002-12-08T19:39:31Z")
I bought a palm Vx about three years ago. IIRC it came with version 2.something of the OS loaded. Later I upgraded to version 4.1 via a CD I got from Palm. So the answer to “Can you upgrade the OS on these things?” is Yes, at least sometimes. Ugly ---
**Author:** ![XPav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/b77776/32.png) [@XPav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XPav)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palm-pilot-question/141232/9 "2002-12-08T20:18:06Z")
Palms devices that have their OS run out of flash can be upgraded. The cheaper ones usually use ROM and can’t be upgraded. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palm-pilot-question/141232/10 "2002-12-08T23:41:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by honkytonkwillie \* > **I just bought my first one, loaded with Palm OS 4.1. But while shopping, I saw some with OS 5.** Don’t think so; I believe it is the case that PalmOS 5 is specifically reliant on a new processor architecture. V4.1 isn’t _that_ ancient. ---
**Author:** ![honkytonkwillie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@honkytonkwillie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/honkytonkwillie)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palm-pilot-question/141232/11 "2002-12-09T07:10:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*I believe it is the case that PalmOS 5 is specifically reliant on a new processor architecture. > > V4.1 isn’t _that_ ancient. \*\* Looks like [this](http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=-IjAgTL_neHAog8LuBrKin3vv_MWFIFlY-w=?CatalogCategoryID=&ProductID=bcQKC0%2eNS9cAAADxvj2G5PNr&Dept=hp) Sony model has a slick a new processor. That’s an awful lot of bux to spend on a PDA with a webcam and headphone jack for the mp3 player. I got [this](http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=-IjAgTL_neHAog8LuBrKin3vv_MWFIFlY-w=?CatalogCategoryID=&ProductID=I6IKC0%2eNplEAAADx0A6G5PNr&Dept=hp) one instead. I still wanted the headphone jack. > [@](#): > > \*\*V4.1 isn’t _that_ ancient. \*\* Whew. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palm-pilot-question/141232/12 "2002-12-09T08:41:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by honkytonkwillie \* > **I got [this](http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=-IjAgTL_neHAog8LuBrKin3vv_MWFIFlY-w=?CatalogCategoryID=&ProductID=I6IKC0%2eNplEAAADx0A6G5PNr&Dept=hp) one instead. I still wanted the headphone jack.** You won’t be sorry. If you don’t have one, get a memory stick - the largest you can afford (don’t bother with the white MagicGate ones unless you’re particularly committed to Sony’s ATRAC3 secure music format - you can store and play MP3s on the ordinary blue ones). The sticks are still pretty expensive here in the UK; I picked one up on eBay, but in the US, I think you can get 128Mb for about $35 (after a mail-in rebate). ---
**Author:** ![andyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ccd318/32.png) [@andyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/palm-pilot-question/141232/13 "2002-12-13T06:40:42Z")
Yes, I have a Sony as well, and the huge memory sticks are definitely worth it if you’re into music and media.