on Thu, Jun 07, 2001 at 12:31:57PM -0400, Carl Fink (carlf@panix.com) wrote: > I'm going to buy a PDA within the next week or so. After fairly > extensive research it looks like I have to get a PalmOS device. EPOC > is seemingly dead in the water, Compaq isn't selling their devices > without Windows on them, and Agenda VRs (bizarrely) can't sync with > Linxu systems, according to PDA Buzz. > > So, anyone on this list have a "gotcha" warning for me? I'm thinking > of going to a computer show this weekend and buying a used Palm or > Visor, if they have any. I don't want to invest $400 only to find > out I don't like PDAs. I've got a Palm IIIe (yes, th dinky memory job), which serves me fine. I could see 8MB being an asset over the 2 MB I've got, but otherwise have no major complaints. Screen readability and handwriting recognition are the two most common issues -- I use the thing as an address list, notebook, calendar, and for stowing sensitive information -- in an encrypted database, "Cryptinfo" -- the Palm's own security features are a joke. Size, weight, battery life, rechargeability, apps, memory, and visibility are probably the main considerations. The III series uses nonrechargeable "AAA" (I think) cells, but I get a few months per charge (after the first week of use, at any rate, in which I ran through a set of batteries pretty darned fast). Other systems (Palm, Handspring) offer rechargeable units which have less life-per-charge but don't send you scurrying for fresh batteries every month or so. Wireless is a joke. The idea of an integrated PDE/cell phone is actually interesting, though I haven't used one myself and don't know how well they're living up to the promise. The Agenda VR/3 should, if I'm remembering articles correctly, be able to rsync with your GNU/Linux box ;-) A friend who's into the stuff likes Symbian based devices (cf: Psion). Less crippled than the Palm OS, but less ubiquitous. -- Karsten M. Self <kmself@ix.netcom.com> http://kmself.home.netcom.com/ What part of "Gestalt" don't you understand? There is no K5 cabal http://gestalt-system.sourceforge.net/ http://www.kuro5hin.org Are these opinions my employer's? Hah! I don't believe them myself!
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