.KEYWORD laptop
.FLYINGHEAD PALM POSSIBILITIES
.TITLE How a Palm device can replace a laptop
.OTHER
.SUMMARY Tired of lugging around a bulky laptop and its assorted paraphernalia? Maybe you’ve been wondering if it’d be possible to replace your laptop with the compact convenience of your Palm device. Michael Connick has done just that, and in this article, he explains how he did it by introducing you to the hardware and software add-ons that can turn your handheld into a fully-functional mobile computer.
.AUTHOR Michael Connick
I’m a project manager for a consulting firm that specializes in computer systems integration. In particular, I work on projects for clients in the telecommunications industry who need to accomplish what’s called Enterprise Application Integration, or EAI. EAI is the art and science of integrating a variety of computer software systems so that they work together as one seamless whole.
In my job, I regularly travel to client sites. Sometimes this travel simply involves driving or traveling on a commuter train. At other times, it involves lengthy trips by air and stays in hotels far from home. Until recently, I would lug my laptop with me everywhere I went.
In performing my job, I primarily used my laptop for the following functions:
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Note taking during meetings and the creation of meeting minutes;
.BULLET Personal time management;
.BULLET Project management;
.BULLET Sending and receiving email;
.BULLET Web access;
.BULLET Creation of technical documents and status reports for my clients;
.BULLET Maintaining a personal reference library of documents related to the project.
.END_LIST
I still do all those things, but my laptop stays at home.
.H1 The Palm IIIc
In this article, I want to share my experiences with using my Palm IIIc as a laptop replacement and talk a little about the additional software and hardware I’ve purchased to help make this possible. By the way, this article was written entirely on my Palm IIIc.
The Palm IIIc wasn’t my first PDA. I previously owned a Sharp Mobilon HC-4100, which eventually suffered a serious hardware failure. That unit ran the Windows CE operating system.
When I replaced it, I chose a Palm IIIc instead of another Windows CE or Pocket PC device primarily because of its low cost and the vast amount of software available for it. The Palm IIIc offers me many advantages.
.H2 Screen
The color screen is very clear and sharp, and it’s constantly illuminated. This makes it very easy to read under a wide variety of lighting conditions.
.H2 Battery life
Its battery life is outstanding. The unit’s rechargeable batteries will run for days under the heaviest possible use before needing to be recharged. I can use the Palm IIIc constantly during a cross-country flight and still have plenty of battery power left when I arrive at a client site.
.H2 Size
The Palm IIIc is small enough to fit inside the Incipio wallet (at http://incipiodirect.com) I carry in my pants pocket. This wallet also holds cash, credit cards, drivers license, and business cards.
.H2 Memory
Because Palm applications require very little memory, the 8MB of RAM contained in the unit is more than sufficient to contain all the data I need to have at hand.
.H1 Hardware and software add-ons
In addition to the basic Palm IIIc with its built-in applications, I’ve added a variety of hardware and software to help perform the role of a laptop replacement. The hardware additions include the following items.
.H2 GoType! Keyboard
The first hardware accessory I added was a GoType! Keyboard, from http://www.landware.com/gotype/index.html. It’s pictured in Figure A.
.FIGPAIR A The GoType! Keyboard has a clamshell design.
Although Graffiti provides a very reliable input method for the Palm device, printing characters one-by-one with a stylus is just too slow for taking meeting notes or entering large amounts of data. I needed a small and portable keyboard to supplement Graffiti.
I could have purchased the Palm Portable Keyboard (at http://www.palm.com/products/keyboard), but I chose the GoType! Keyboard for three reasons.
First, not only does the GoType! serve as a keyboard, but it’s also a cradle. This allows me to leave the cradle that came with my Palm IIIc permanently attached to my home PC system. The cradle function of the GoType! allows me to synchronize my Palm IIIc with a PC and, more importantly, to connect a data cable to it. The value of this will become obvious when I next discuss using the Palm IIIc with a cellular phone.
Secondly, the GoType! works great sitting on my lap during rides on a commuter train. The Palm Portable Keyboard will fold up if placed on your lap.
Finally, the GoType! Keyboard comes with TakeNote! software, a very nice DOC editor that I’m using right now to create the initial version of this article. A DOC editor allows you to create documents far in excess of the 4096 maximum character length imposed by Palm’s built-in Memo application. TakeNote! automatically synchronizes its DOC files with a PC. The GoType! Keyboard also comes with a thesaurus application, but I’ve never used it.
.H2 Sprint PCS phone and data cable
I wanted to be able to have wireless access to email and the Web from my Palm IIIc. I already owned a Sprint PCS Samsung 2000 phone, so I bought a data cable for it, and now it works great with the Palm device and GoType! cradle. The Samsung 2000 acts just like a Hayes-compatible modem to the Palm computer and can be used with my normal ISP (Internet Service Provider) to access the Web and email.
I like using a Sprint PCS cell phone rather than a dedicated wireless modem for two reasons. For one, I think the coverage offered by Sprint PCS is truly outstanding. I’ve never traveled anywhere in the US where I had any problems in using it for either voice or data purposes. There are no roaming charges, and long distance calls back to my local ISP are free.
Secondly, the cost of a data cable ($35) is a small fraction of what I’d spend for a wireless modem, and the cost of Sprint PCS service is also quite reasonable. The plan I have gives me 1000 minutes for $49.95 a month, and I pay an additional $10.00 per month to be able to use these minutes for either voice or data. Actually, I’ve yet to pay the extra $10.00 because the first six months of data service are free. Also, I’ve never come close to exceeding the 1000 minutes of airtime in a month.
.H2 Palm IIIc Recharger Kit
The Palm IIIc Recharger Kit allows me to recharge my Palm IIIc on the road. It’s pictured in Figure B.
.FIGPAIR B The Palm IIIc Recharger Kit lets you power up while away from your cradle.
The GoType! cradle doesn’t support recharging of the Palm IIIc, although the Palm V version of the keyboard does. In addition, this kit comes with a variety of plug adapters and automatically adjusts to all voltages and frequencies I’m likely to encounter during any overseas travel. It’s at http://www.palm.com/products/palmiiic/recharger_ac.html.
.H1 Software add-ons
In addition to the hardware mentioned above, I’ve supplemented the Palm computer’s built-in applications with the following software.
.H2 Life Balance
Life Balance from Llamagraphics is surely the single most useful program I’ve got running on my Palm device. It’s simply the best time management software I’ve found on any computer. It allows me to perform both personal time management and tracking of tasks I’ve assigned to my team members. It was almost worth buying my Palm IIIc just to be able to use this wonderful application. It can be found at http://www.llamagraphics.com/LB/LifeBalanceTop.html, and it’s pictured in Figure C.
.FIG C Get organized with Life Balance.
.H2 Documents To Go
This software is mandatory if you want to replace your laptop with a Palm device. Documents To Go (at http://www.dataviz.com) allows Microsoft Word and Excel files to be loaded onto a Palm device with their document formatting substantially preserved. In fact, it handles Word tables better than the Windows CE Pocket Word application on my old Sharp Mobilon.
Documents To Go also allows me to edit or even create Word and Excel files on my Palm device. Synchronization of files between the Palm unit and a PC is automatically handled by this application. In fact, after I created the original version of this article in TakeNote!, I converted it into a Word document on my PC for spell-checking, synchronized it back to the Palm IIIc, and finished up and formatted it on my Palm device using the Documents To Go software. It’s pictured in Figure D.
.FIG D You can read and edit Word documents right on your Palm device.
.H2 ProxiMail
ProxiMail is a wonderful little freeware application that allows the built-in Mail application to send and receive mail through a modem (wireless, cell phone, or otherwise). I actually prefer it to the commercial email packages I’ve tried for the Palm device. It can be downloaded at http://www.proxinet.com.
.H2 Project\@Hand
Project\@Hand does for Microsoft Project files what Documents To Go does for Word and Excel files. This wonderful program allows me to synchronize project plans from a PC to my Palm device and edit them. The program allows a wide variety of view options and display formats and even displays Gantt charts on the Palm unit. It’s simply a must-have program for a project manager. It’s found at http://www.natara.com/ProjectAtHand/index.cfm.
.H2 DateBk4
DateBk4 (at http://www.pimlicosoftware.com) is a replacement for the built-in Date Book application. It’s pictured in Figure E.
.FIG E DateBk4 can replace your built-in Date Book application.
It has so many features above and beyond the built-in Date Book that I’m not even going to begin to try and describe them. I will, however, mention those features I find most useful to me.
DateBk4 supports a daily journal associated with each day. I utilize it to record each day’s significant activities, action items, and open issues.
The program allows me to create appointments that have icons and color-coding associated with them. I find that this allows me to see at a glance what types of activities I have scheduled for each day. I find this feature particularly handy when using the program’s weeklong view of my schedule.
DateBk4 is fully integrated with Life Balance. This allows me to create recurring events that will appear at the appropriate time in Life Balance.
Templates allow me to create pre-formatted forms and appointment types. I used this feature to create a form for my daily journal that includes pre-formatted sections. I also use this to automatically create appointments with an associated icon and color code for such things as meetings, airline flights, conference calls, etc.
.H2 AvantGo
I use AvantGo as most people do, in conjunction with a PC to fetch Web pages for off-line viewing. I can also use my Sprint PCS cell phone to fetch these pages wirelessly. Finally, AvantGo serves as my wireless browser when I need to surf the Web. It’s at http://www.avantgo.com.
.H2 AIM
The Palm version of AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) allows me to wirelessly communicate in real-time with project team members who are working at other locations. It’s found at http://www.aol.com/aim/.
.H2 Continental Airlines DB
I live in New Jersey, and I usually fly out of Newark Airport. Since Newark is a major hub for Continental Airlines, I’m almost always flying on that airline. Continental has a wonderful little Palm application that provides an electronic version of their complete flight schedule. This application can be downloaded from Continental’s Web site at http://www.continental.com/dash/build_dash.asp?index_00. Continental updates the database for this application regularly, and I visit their Web site every few weeks to download the latest version.
.H2 Metro
Metro is a wonderful little freeware application that provides a simple service. It shows you the shortest route between two subway stations for up to 140 different cities around the world. I have only used it for the New York subway system, but it worked great at helping me navigate my way around the Big Apple. You can find it at http://home.worldnet.fr/~patriceb/Technique/Metro/Metro-en.html, and it’s pictured in Figure F.
.FIG F Metro gives you the shortest distance between two subways.
.H2 Ebooks
When I’m traveling, I love to have something with me to read. It helps pass the time on commuter trains and airplanes. There are a whole bunch of Web sites that feature free books available for download in the Palm DOC file format. These books are usually "classics" that are no longer protected under copyright law. In addition, there are Web sites like PeanutPress that offer the best in new fiction and non-fiction books that can be purchased and downloaded to your Palm device.
.H1 Web clipping applications
Web clipping applications (also known as Palm Query Applications, or PQAs) are special programs originally designed to work with the wireless Palm VII series of devices. With the coming of the Palm Mobile Internet Kit, most Palm computers can now use these special wireless applications. In fact, you can even transfer the Web clipping software directly from a Palm VII to most Palm III and Palm V models by beaming the applications between the devices’ infrared ports. This will let you use Web clipping applications without having to purchase the Palm Mobile Internet Kit. Long before the Palm Mobile Internet Kit was available, that’s exactly what I did.
There are literally hundreds of Web clipping applications available from the Palm.Net Web site, but I’ve found I regularly use just a few of them. Here are the Web clipping applications that I’ve found to be useful.
.H2 Continental Airlines
Yes, not only do I carry the Continental DB application on my Palm device, but I also carry the Continental Airlines PQA. This PQA allows me to search flight schedules, but I just use the real-time flight status feature to find out if my upcoming flight is on time or not and what its gate number will be. You can find it at http://www.continental.com/dash/build_dash.asp?tis_06_03.
.H2 MapQuest
This PQA is very handy for getting driving directions for my rental car! It’s at http://www.mapquest.com/wireless/.
.H2 OAGMobile
OAGMobile provides pretty much the same services as the Continental Airlines PQA, but it works for all airlines. In addition, you can have it automatically email your Palm device or cell phone with status information before a flight is scheduled to leave or arrive. It’s available at http://beta.palm.net/apps/users/download/1,1051,1727,00.html.
.H2 Restaurant Row
This is the best all around Web clipping application I’ve found for providing me with information on where I can eat. What I particularly like about it is that it seems to cover the entire US, and not just big cities. I fell in love with it when I had to travel to Greenville, SC. I found that it provided me with solid information on dining in that small city. Restaurant Row can be found at http://beta.palm.net/apps/users/download/1,1051,645,00.html.
.H2 Weather Channel
Hey, it’s always nice to know what the weather is going to be like wherever you are! It’s at http://beta.palm.net/apps/users/download/1,1051,1444,00.html.
.H1 Conclusion
So does it work? Have I been able to replace my laptop with a Palm?
Well, the answer is yes and no. Most of the time when I travel to a client location, I leave my laptop at home. However, there are still a few times when I need to bring along my laptop.
First of all, if I need to use a high-powered PC-based application like a Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) tool for a client assignment, then I need to have my laptop with me. Second, if I need to access secure Web sites that use Windows challenge/response security, I’m also going to need my laptop. Finally, if I need to send or receive email attachments, my laptop is still required.
Generally, though, most of the time my Palm IIIc is all I need, and it’s wonderful not have to haul my laptop with me all the time!
.BEGIN_SIDEBAR
.H1 Product availability and resources
For more information on the Sharp Mobilon HC-4100, visit http://www.sharp.ca/mobilon_models.htm.
For more information on the Palm IIIc Recharger Kit, visit http://www.palm.com/products/palmiiic/recharger_ac.html.
For more information on the Palm Portable Keyboard, visit http://www.palm.com/products/keyboard.
For more information on the Incipio Carrying Case, visit http://incipiodirect.com.
For more information on the GoType! Keyboard, visit http://www.landware.com/gotype/index.html.
For more information on Sprint PCS, visit http://www.sprintpcs.com.
For more information on Life Balance, visit http://www.llamagraphics.com/LB/LifeBalanceTop.html.
For more information on Documents To Go, visit http://www.dataviz.com.
For more information on ProxiMail, visit http://www.proxinet.com.
For more information on Project@Hand, visit http://www.natara.com/ProjectAtHand/index.cfm.
For more information on DateBk4, visit http://www.pimlicosoftware.com/.
For more information on AvantGo, visit http://www.avantgo.com.
For more information on AOL Instant Messenger, visit http://www.aol.com/aim/.
For more information on Continental DB, visit http://www.continental.com/dash/build_dash.asp?index_00.
For more information on Metro, visit http://home.worldnet.fr/~patriceb/Technique/Metro/Metro-en.html.
For more information on Memoware, visit http://www.memoware.com.
For more information on PeanutPress, visit http://www.peanutpress.com.
For more information on Web clipping applications, visit http://www.palm.net.
For more information on the Continental PQA, visit http://www.continental.com/dash/build_dash.asp?tis_06_03.
For more information on the MapQuest PQA, visit http://www.mapquest.com/wireless/.
For more information on OAGMobile, visit http://beta.palm.net/apps/users/download/1,1051,1727,00.html.
For more information on Restaurant Row, visit http://beta.palm.net/apps/users/download/1,1051,645,00.html.
For more information on the Weather Channel PQA, visit http://beta.palm.net/apps/users/download/1,1051,1444,00.html.
For more information about Palm computers, visit http://www.palm.com.
.H1 Bulk reprints
Bulk reprints of this article (in quantities of 100 or more) are available for a fee from Reprint Services, a ZATZ business partner. Contact them at reprints@zatz.com or by calling 1-800-217-7874.
.END_SIDEBAR
.BIO Michael Connick is a Senior Project Manager at BusinessEdge Solutions, Inc. He can be reached on his Palm IIIc at mconnick@monmouth.com.
.DISCUSS http://powerboards.zatz.com/cgi-bin/webx?50@@.ee6ee1f
