Need suggestions

Post #151,480 by jbrabeck 4/16/04 5:39:45 PM Reply	Need suggestions Who's using what? Recommendations. Palm Zire? Palm Tungsten? Sony Clie iPaq ??? Starting to look. Haven't really defined needs yet. Just looking. Too many models, versions, and features. What features are needed vs what is "nice to have". TIA Joe
Post #151,482 by Another Scott 4/16/04 6:18:01 PM Reply	Sony Clie SJ30 here. It's been superceded by later models. Palm OS 4, backlit "high-res" color screen, memory stick slot, nice and compact, comes with apps for reading MS application files, rechargable battery, removable flip-up cover. I like it. I have a 128 MB memory stick, so it can serve as a data transfer device for reasonably large files. Bad parts: 1) Can't use it with a modem or other communications device (except IR or via the cradle to do batch processing like e-mail) 2) There have been times when it has died on turning it on and I've had to reset it and re-download everything into it. I assume that those times were due to letting the battery get too low. 3) Doesn't have an MP3 player if you're into that sort of thing. Later models do. I run DateBK5 on it (shareware) to keep track of everything I do. It's very easy to use and quite powerful. I don't use much else on it regularly, though I do have a JPEG viewer, etc. I had been thinking about getting a combo phone/Palm device, but at the time they were too expensive, too bulky, and didn't have the good screen that the Clie has. It's hard to beat the Sony Clies if you don't need communications. If I were buying now I'd look carefully at the Sharp Zaurus if I wanted to do everything in a small package (but the addons can quickly add up), or the Palm devices if I needed communications. I'd avoid a PocketPC device unless I had to have something that only it offered. HTH. Cheers, Scott.
Post #151,487 by tonytib 4/16/04 7:18:47 PM Reply	Too many choices, have to define needs first I'm a Palm user, and think it's a very good fit for the PDA & Smartphone markets. Here are a few of the more interesting models: Just a basic PDA: The entry level Clies are good here (e.g. TJ25 at about $160). Their cases are nicer than the entry PalmOnes, and I've been very happy with my old T610. Or consider PDA/Cellphone combo (e.g. Treo 600 or the compact Samsung iSPH-500), although I think most smartphones are too big. PDA + games The Tapwave an interesting option, with 32M RAM for $300 and 128M RAM for $400, full Palm OS5 functionality, hardware graphics accelerator, and analog joystick. Stop getting lost: Garmin iQue-3600 (about $450) with GPS and software, Palm OS5. My friend has one of these, and loves it. Batteries do run down fast, but it is fast, the software is good, and it has a 320x480 display. I might be getting one later this year. Some of the PDA sites are: [link\|http://www.PalmInfoCenter.com\|http://www.PalmInfoCenter.com] [link\|http://www.BrightHand.com\|http://www.BrightHand.com] [link\|http://www.bargainPDA.com\|http://www.bargainPDA.com]
Post #151,498 by bepatient 4/16/04 8:41:26 PM Reply	Handspring Treo. 2, 2, 2 things in one. Palm >and< phone all in one. Love it. If you push something hard enough, it will fall over. _{Fudd's First Law of Opposition} [link\|mailto:bepatient@aol.com\|BePatient]
Post #151,500 by Meerkat 4/16/04 9:03:55 PM Reply	My iPod has almost replaced my PDA I seldom leave the house without my iPod, my PDA (Handspring Visor Prism) rarely gets a look-in. The iPod has names and addresses, calendar, and notes (and something to do with data storage, and mp3 capability :) Of course there's no way of entering data directly on it, but I'm usually close enough to the net so I can update my .mac addresbook/etc from anywhere, and sync it when I get home. John. Busy lad.
Post #151,805 by Steven A S 4/19/04 1:53:16 PM Reply	Sharp Zaurus SL-5600 Can support up to 1.5 GB in add on cards (1 GB Compact Flash and 512 MB SD card). Can use a Compact Flash wireless card for internet (Opera) and e-mail. Some people have even set up small web servers. Can play MP3s, and if you turn off the display, it'll last for hours. Built in keyboard. Hancom Office for reading MS Office files. I haven't been able to get Sambafs set up yet, but there is a version out there for it. It's been fully drained once, but was back to normal after a charge and boot-up Downsides: battery life is short when using wireless card, keyboard is not for people with large fingers. Doesn't have all the software the Palm based palms have (but being Linux, some open source programs could be reworked/compiled). Fairly thick. ~~~)-Steven---- "I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country..." General George S. Patton
Post #158,636 by Another Scott 6/6/04 12:16:05 PM Reply	What did you get? I'm looking again too. I've got a Clie SJ30. I like it, but with Sony getting out of the business I've been looking at getting a faster device before they disappear. The SJ30 has a 33 MHz Dragonball and 16 MB of RAM. I only have to charge it about every 2 weeks and I use it several times a day every day (if only for a minute or two at a time). WiFi would be nice, but it looks like Bluetooth is a viable option too as USB to Bluetooth adapters are only about $25-$35 (I just want something that will let me easily get info to and from a PC network). A bigger screen would be nice, but apparently there are some issues with some apps not understanding landscape mode on some machines. I don't use Graffiti but rather use the virtual keyboard. Are the thumbboards built into some of the machines really workable? I don't need a camera (which is on too many new phones too, IMO). I like the MemoryStick interface. MP3 player would be nice, but not essential. Longer battery life is better. PocketPC devices are not on The List. I'm agonizing among the following: [link\|http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=58-201-024&depa=3\|Sony Clie TJ35]. 200 MHz, 32/16 MB, no WiFi nor Bluetooth, no camera, with MemoryStick and stereo headphone jack. Other cons: lots of complaints about the backlight dying. Has this been fixed in later versions? $155.00. [link\|http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=58-201-022&depa=3\|Clie TJ37]. 200 MHz, 32/16 MB, WiFi but no Bluetooth, has camera, with MemoryStick and stereo headphone jack. Other cons: Same basic design as TJ35? Backlight problems? Some complaints about short battery life, especially with WiFi, and long charging times. $254.50 [link\|http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=58-201-021&depa=3\|Clie TH55]. Variable speed 123 MHz, 32/33 MB, WiFi but no Bluetooth. Camera, with MemoryStick and stereo headphone jack. 320x480 display. Transparent lid (that doesn't open fully). Longer battery life than TJ37? Other cons: Complaints about the stylus, backlight required to see display, rather slow at times compared to faster machines, landscape doesn't work as well as on big-screen Palms. Some buttons on the back which are claimed hard to get used to. $389.00. [link\|http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=58-101-127&depa=3\|Palm Tungsten C - International Version] ($100 less than US version. What's the difference?) 400 MHz, 64 MB RAM (52 MB usable), WiFi but no Bluetooth. No camera, built-in keyboard (no dedicated Graffiti area). Palm Expansion Slit (SD?). Non-standard (mono) headphone jack. Cover opens like a book rather than flipping over. $299. [link\|http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=58-101-117&depa=3\|US Version] - $399. [link\|http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=58-101-121&depa=3\|Palm Tungsten T3]. 400 MHz, 64 MB RAM (52 MB usable), Bluetooth but no WiFi, 320x480 (expandable). No built-in keyboard. $329. I've read of infant mortality problems with some of the Palms, and the old display problems with some of the Clies makes me nervous. Some claim the battery life is better on the Clies than on the Palms. I guess objectively I should be leanding toward the Tungsten C, or maybe the TH55. Having a keyboard (if it works relatively well) would be handy for web stuff and e-mail. But I really don't like having to use "Secure" media on my devices. I may go nuts and get a faster camera-less version (like the TJ35, assuming the backlight problem has been fixed), and a WiFi or Bluetooth box like the Tungsten C or TH55 and use one for work and one for play. Dunno. I've thought about a Zaurus SL-6000L, but it's too expensive and does too much (I just want a faster PDA with reasonable wireless access of some sort). I've also considered a Treo 600, but it's too expensive and I don't want to change wireless phone plans yet. Decisions, decisions... Thanks for any comments. Cheers, Scott.
Post #158,656 by jbrabeck 6/6/04 4:41:48 PM Reply	Actually I quit looking Decided that it would be more a "toy" than useful device. At the moment I have enough "toys". Have to pay attention to paying bills rather than buying new toys. Now, if you want to get rid of your old one really cheeeeeep .... Thanks to all for the suggestions.
Post #158,664 by Another Scott 6/6/04 5:56:04 PM Reply	Amazon has Clie SJ30s for $118 and up, refurbished. They're available on eBay too, it looks like they go for $50 - $125 depending on the condition and how badly people want a particular one. If I get a new one in the near future, I'll keep you in mind. :-) Cheers, Scott.

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