Palm Pilot's

Shrike9

Shrike9

Joined
Jul 7, 1999
Messages
645
Been looking for a good Palm Pilot for a few days and am baffled/befuddled by all the sizes/makes/modles avaible.

I'm looking for something that has 8 megs of memory for downloading a few semi large study guides/quizes/emergency reference material (firefighter/EMT) and runs on rechargable batteries.

On Palm's website they offer refurbished Palm Vx for $139, is this a good deal???

How do rebuilt units compare to new???
 
For about $60 more, you could get a new Sony Clie 360 - 16 mb onboard memory plus a memory stick slot. Uses palm OS, has rechargeable battery. A little bigger than a Vx, but very nice system. Pretty good software bundle, too.

Sam
 
8meg on a Palm is plenty. I have a m505 model (actually the IBM branded c505) with 8 MB and in addition to 2500 names and addresses and my life's schedule for one year, I have all 66 books of the Bible on it and still have about half of the memory available.
 
I have a Vx and its great, and $139 seems like a great deal. The main difference between the Vx and the M500 is the expansion slot on the back which can accept extra memory, travel cards, dictionary etc.

I would grab either a M500 or one of the new sexy Sony Clie as someone mentioned earlier. Go check one out, the quality of the screen is amazing.

TornAdo
 
I'm a PocketPC user myself, but unless some useful apps get developed for PPC in the future (something that takes advantage of the power in a PPC device, not addons for contacts and email), I'll probably go back to Palm (cheaper, smaller). My first choice would be a Clie.

Rant On: The PocketPC platform has as much power as desktop computers from a few years ago. Why won't anyone write any useful apps that take advantage of this. Like the Palm, the PPC market is glutted with rewrites of organizer apps and chintzy addons that give you no real functionality. I want software that lets me do real work without having to tote a laptop around (email doesn't count, I want software to manage my network hardware or to troubleshoot problems). Oh, and real games would be nice. Rant off.

Chris
 
The big advantage of the Palm OS vs. the Pocket PC is that it is indeed simple. It does a few important things well. Most of the research on the Palm platform was directed towards what to leave out rather than what to tack on. A minimalist approach. When you open a Palm and turn it on to find a phone number, it does it right now. I don't have to wait for Bill Gates to ask me "Where do you want to go today?" Most of the memory of a Pocket PC is wasted loading the overweight OS. If I need a small computer, my old 166 mHz Toshiba Libretto works just fine. It is the size of a VCR tape and has an upgraded 6GB drive and pentium power. Every program on my home PC is on it as well. Mainly it gets used for mobile mapping and GPS support programs. Both have their place. The simplicity of the Palm is compelling to me. - Lee
 
I've heard good and bad about refurbished models. Some people I know have had trouble with Palm refurbished models. I'm planning on getting the Sony Clie 360 when I have the funds. You could also get a Handspring Visor Neo, though the narrow $20 difference between that and the Clie makes the Sony so much more of a good deal.
 
Originally posted by beemerphile
Most of the memory of a Pocket PC is wasted loading the overweight OS.
Click to expand...

Umm, no, it isn't. My Casio has 32megs total. At idle, it is using about 2-3megs. That is hardly "most of the memory". Yes, it's more than PalmOS, but it does more than PalmOS.

QUOTE][If I need a small computer, my old 166 mHz Toshiba Libretto works just fine. It is the size of a VCR tape and has an upgraded 6GB drive and pentium power. Every program on my home PC is on it as well. Mainly it gets used for mobile mapping and GPS support programs. Both have their place. The simplicity of the Palm is compelling to me. - Lee [/QUOTE]

The Librettos are neat machines. Unfortunately, they cost as much as a new PocketPC machine (current models, not last year's) or at least they did last time I looked). Unfortunately, they aren't "instant on", one of the nice features about a PDA (PocketPC or PalmOS).

Chris
 
Good thread, I’m hoping to get a pocket computer for my next birthday from my wife. One thing I am hoping for is some mp3 playback, keep a few thing to listed to as well as the needed info. Anyone use the Handspring Visor, a have heard a few good things from co-workers but would be interested in what my fellow obsessive gear freaks think of them. Thanks.
 
Originally posted by stjames
Good thread, I’m hoping to get a pocket computer for my next birthday from my wife. One thing I am hoping for is some mp3 playback, keep a few thing to listed to as well as the needed info. Anyone use the Handspring Visor, a have heard a few good things from co-workers but would be interested in what my fellow obsessive gear freaks think of them. Thanks.
Click to expand...

The Handspring is ok, but does nothing that a newer PalmOS or PocketPC device won't do. Plus, it uses a nonstandard expansion port unlike devices that use compact flash, PCMCIA, etc, etc.

Chris
 
Well, the more I look into palm's the less I know about them

What kind of reputation does the Sony Clie 360 have??? Never heard of Sony PDA's before and the few people I know have Palm or Handspring.

Right now I'm caught between the Sony Clie 360 the Handspring Visor Pro and Palm 500. I've found them all on line within $20.00 of each other with the Palm 500 in new but open box condition.
 
My Fiance has the 360 (I use a Palm IIIxe) - I would switch in a heartbeat (heck I offered, but...). Great little machine. Lots of possibilities. I really like the Sony Handhelds, and would like one of the really nice ones (color, etc., in the future. Go to a local electronic store (Circuit City, Best Buy, CompUSA, etc..) and take them for a test drive.
 
well i've had experience with quite a few pdas from my original palm 3e to a compaq ipaq, to a sony clie. do not hesitate to buy sony as the quality of their screens is excellent and the scroll wheel is very convenient.

- Pete
 
Yeah, the jog dial on the Sony is way cool. I think the HP Jornada has one too.

Am on my 3rd Palm and always liked them but work is getting me an iPaq (supposedly on order now) and I am looking forward to trying the PocketPC platform.

Well let you know more as I know...
 
I'm looking for something that has 8 megs of memory ... and runs on rechargable batteries.
Click to expand...

I'm really not so sure about the rechargeable batteries. As a matter of fact, this is what's been keeping me from getting a Sony Clie 360 after my Palm III died. From what I hear, you can't expect to charge and discharge the battery forever; after about a year or so it becomes more and more difficult for the battery to charge. To be sure, this is just what I heard, but it makes sense to me as I can't picture this process as totally reversible. On top of that, I've already had some problems with two different lithium-ion batteries for my camcorder. The batteries were made by Sony with the same technology as those for the Clie I presume. As far as replacing the battery, that's a pretty costly and complicated proposition, as you would have to send the handheld back to the manufacturer.

On the other hand, the battery life for Palms is great. A pair of AAA's will take you very far and they are very easy to find and replace. I can't say that I've ever had any battery-life problems with my Palm III.

That being said, I'm still really tempted to go with the Clie 360 if I could somehow convince myself that there is a chance for it to last two or three years.

Dan
 
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