Need Freeper techie help - What can replace my aging PDA?

24 Sept 2010 | Notary Sojac

[Notary Sojac]

For four years now, I have been carrying around a Palm TX which holds all my appointments, contacts, and to-dos, which are sync'd to my PC (Outlook 2003/Windows XP) by a USB cable.

It's worked fine until recently, now showing signs of battery/display problems. It may be fixable, but there is still a concern about it being an orphan device which may not work with the next generation of PC software.

So I am asking the techies at FR what I should replace it with. I have only two core requirements:

(1) First, must be a standalone device with no monthly provider contract. I already have the cheapest cell phone available from Virgin Mobile and I am perfectly happy with that service.

(2) Must be capable of reliably sharing and syncing MS Outlook calendar, contacts and tasks via wired or wireless link.

Any suggestions? Preferably from a device you have personal experience with as a user??

thanks all.....

[ShadowAce]

[Dr. Sivana]

I use an iPod Touch 2G for just what you describe ... works wonderfully. Free web connectvity when near WIFI, too.

[Vendome]

Get a new cell phone that incorporates those requirements.

The Palm Pre will do all that and more.

Comes with Office suite and syncs with email.

You will also have access to the internet.

Better phone, if only for the display, is the HTC EVO. Hard to get and you can’t just walk into a store and get one. Usually have to order and wait 2-4 weeks for arrival.

[antiRepublicrat]

An iPod Touch makes for a great PDA. Downside is no wireless synch to your computer, although I think there’s an app for that. And it does a lot more than just a PDA, so it’s priced accordingly.

[Man from Oz]

My two cents.

I’d recommend going to overstock.com and purchasing a replacement unit given your satisfaction and reluctance to go the smartphone route.

I was a very very heavy user of Palm Products and shifted to Blackberry @ 6 years ago.

MFO

[Yet_Again]

http://www.mobileburn.com/news.jsp?Id=10898

Virgin Mobile offers an android-based smartphone.

Alternatively, you can keep your existing cell phone and use an iPod.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

Yeah, but BB is on its way to becoming just as much of a dinosaur as Palm. Switch there now and you’ll have to switch again soon.

[Notary Sojac]

Does it sync with Outlook out of the box, or did you need to buy/install other apps?

Wired or wireless?

Does it pick up all the fields in an Outlook contact record? (especially user defined fields if you use them?

thanks!

[RobRoy]

Get a touch screen phone with a data plan.

That’s it, really.

[RobRoy]

>>Better phone, if only for the display, is the HTC EVO.<<

And the battery life is awesome!

/s

[shorty_harris]

Hey, I've been looking for something similar recently too. Got my eye on a soon-to-be-released Archos pocket internet tablet. Don't know much about Archos though.

[Hoodat]

This will replace it at minimal cost:

[Notary Sojac]

Thanks for the Archos link, I will keep my eye on it. Anything that does not involve signing another @#(!@*@!)!! two year contract is good by me.

[cgchief]

I used an HP IPAQ for years. It was a great device synced with all the MS Office apps, great security due to a biometric reader. I stopped using it when they integrated those same features into a blackberry.

[Daveinyork]

Tow and a half years ago, I replaced my Palm tungsten with a Palm Centro, which uses the same operating system as the tungsten. Unfortunately, Palm has abandoned both the Centro and the palm os and palm desktop, with which I hotsync my functions. It’s a nice unit, with a few defects - the keyoard is small, and its web browsing is limited.

I’m looking to replace it, but, I suppose I’ll have to switch my desktop sync functions to something else, and transfer my data manually to the new desktop function.

[Dr. Sivana]

It syncs with Outlook out of the box, though it has to be configured. It seems to have all the Outlook fields I use, plus a few of its own. I have never added user defined fields.

Oh, and for those who tell you to get a phone built in, forget it.

Those are phone people who want a PDA. I suspect you are a PDA person who happens to carry a phone. For those few times I am on a cell phone, it is nice to be able to use the PDA without breaking the conversation.

[Dr. Sivana]

I checked. It does NOT pick up user defined fields. There are app store programs for that, but they ain’t cheap.

[Notary Sojac]

Thanks for your help.

Oh, and for those who tell you to get a phone built in, forget it.

That was "pre-forgotten" before I started the thread (g)

[malkee]

FYI — if you do happen to go the smartphone or IPAD Touch route...you can sync Google — which syncs with Outlook. It also does the appointment calendar..and there’s Google Talk, which makes overseas calling free...and on and on and on.

[malkee]

I should clarify. I have an Android. A Samsung Moment from Sprint. It allows you to sync with Google. I’m not certain all smartphones can. But somebody else with an I-phone or similar can chime in.

[Man from Oz]

Please advise? What is your recommendation?

Are you referring to the droids? My eyes are getting bad to the point I can’t see what I type. I like hitting real buttons not something that is integrated into the screen.

Thanks in advance.

MFO

[scott7278]

I used HP iPaqs for years until I finally went the route of smartphone once the processors caught up. I would recommend this for your stated purposes:

http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/handheld/iPAQ/1/storefronts/FB041AA%2523ABA

[JerseyHighlander]

Those Archos tablets are looking really good. You have a slew of Android OS based PDAs to choose from.

Syncing Android OS to Microsoft Outlook (and/or Microsoft Exchange Server) is extremely easy.

Not at my pc i use to sync my outlook atm, i’ll post the software i use to sync.

[JerseyHighlander]

Buy a refurb HTC PDA.. no plan

http://pocketnow.com/android/htc-sync-305422-released-for-desire-legend-hero-wildfire-and-aria

[malkee]

The Moment has buttons rather than punching a screen. It’s an okay phone but not great. There are probably better smart phones out there with buttons for texting.

[DarthFuzball]

I have to agree that the two best options for you are going with an ipod touch or an android device.

There are numerous android tablets hitting the market for the holidays, and the android phones that are available now are truly amazing. (Typing this on a samsung vibrant phone right now)

Transferring contacts is extremely easy by importing and exporting CVS files.

Ipod transfers are equally easy.