Re: Palm devices

[Jay Sekora <jay@ccs.neu.edu>]

If you decide on a PalmOS device, you might want to consider the TRGpro
(http://www.trgpro.com/).  It's basically identical to a Palm III,
except that it takes CompactFlash cards (like many WinCE devices and
digital cameras), and the speaker is loud enough to dial a phone with
and you can hear the alarm from inside your luggage in the next room.
You can back up to and restore from the CF card (and can keep multiple
backups, which would mean it would be fairly easy for two people to use
the device for completely different data), can copy individual
databases/apps to/from CF, can play .wav files from CF (which you need
to have gotten there on a laptop or something), and can run apps out of
CF if they don't need read/write access to their own code.  (A TRGpro
also comes with FlashPro, which is TRGs tool for moving apps and
backing up data into the spare flash that's used for the OS, so you can
have, say, DateBk4 or your SSH app available, or even a backup of your
address book, available after you discover the batteries died a week
ago. :-)

You can do much or all of that with a Handspring Visor and appropriate
modules, but I think the TRGpro is a bit more versatile (in terms of
memory/flash usage), and I like the fact that I can share CF cards
among my digital camera, my laptop, and my Palm clone (and a WinCE
device if I ever have to use one), and I like the loud speaker.  OTOH,
with a Visor you can get colour if you want it.

One very minor caveat: the TRGpro is a mm or so thicker at the top than
a Palm III, so a few very snugly-fitting accessories for the III might
not work with it.  I had to use velcro rather than the included clip
when I used it with a Minstrel wireless modem, and I'd have my doubts
about that clip-on GPS.  The keyboard and most other hardware
accessories I've heard about work fine.

And another caveat: A PalmOS device is *not* a laptop replacement,
primarily because of the tiny screen (and lack of keyboard unless you
have an add-on one).  A well-designed app will accomplish a lot on a
160x160 pixel screen, but it isn't anything like the same experience as
a laptop.  Still, in conjunction with an IR-capable mobile phone with
integrated modem, it means I have net anywhere I have phone
connectivity.

FWIW,

-j.