.KEYWORD buyguide
.FLYINGHEAD DEVICE BUYER’S GUIDE
.TITLE How to choose the right device
.OTHER
.AUTHOR Claire Pieterek
.SUMMARY Right around this time of year, we get a lot of letters requesting advice on how to choose the right Palm device for the folks on the Christmas List. Claire Pieterek answers one such letter in this informative article.
.EDNOTE Right around this time of year, we get a lot of letters requesting advice on how to choose the right Palm device for the folks on the Christmas List. Claire Pieterek answers one such letter in this informative article.
.H1 What should I buy?
Hi! I am just getting into the market for a Palm organizer as a personal Christmas gift to me, from me. I’ve been looking at the Palm V. I have also just seen the Handspring Web site for the Visor. And let’s not forget the Windows CE machines out there. I’m confused and could use an opinion from someone who has been in this market. If you were a middle manager of a service organization, using an unorganized 8.5×11 Dayrunner organizer with a laptop at work, a desktop at home, and the ability to spend $500 to get a good device, where would your interests lie?
Your recommendations are appreciated.
Sincerely,
Ed O’Loughlin
PS: I’m in the temperature control business. If you’re looking for a good thermostat, I would recommend the Honeywell Chronotherm. Built like a tank, best on the market. Thanks!
.H1 Senior Technical Editor Claire Pieterek responds
Hi, Ed! Thanks for the recommendation on the thermostat. I’ve been thinking about replacing mine.
As far as handheld computers go, I’ve come up with some general categories. These are of my own devising, and reflect my personal biases.
.H2 Electronic diaries
First, you have what I call the electronic diaries. These aren’t really handheld computers, per se, but more like battery-powered Daytimers. Examples of these would include RexPro, Fuga, Sharp Wizard, and Casio Boss. They are inexpensive, generally not upgradable, and may not be able to be backed up.
.H2 Palm-alikes
Next, you have what I call Palm-alikes. These include DaVinci (which is no longer on the market as far as I know, Palm got an injunction against the manufacturer for stealing PalmOS code), the Vtech Helio, the TI Avigo (as far as I know, this has been discontinued by the manufacturer), and Psion models. Some of these are actually nice machines, but there is little in the way of add-on software and peripherals. Distribution is limited. Often, these products are only available via the Internet.
.H2 Windows CE devices
Then there’s Windows CE. Windows CE currently comes in three flavors: handheld PC (H/PC), palm-sized PC, and H/PC Pro. These machines offer lots of bells and whistles, such as color screens and voice recording capabilities, but may not provide the functionality and ease of use inherent in other platforms. They’re also death on batteries!
H/PC and H/PC Pro models have keyboards. On the H/PC models, the keyboards are often tiny and difficult to use if you’re not a hunt-and-peck typist. The H/PC Pro models are larger, approaching full-fledged notebook size and cost. The problem here is this: why bother with a crippled operating system and applications that aren’t transparently compatible with your desktop PC’s applications? For the price of an H/PC Pro you can buy a subnotebook (e.g., Sony Vaio) or low-end laptop with Windows 98 or Windows NT and the ability to run Microsoft Office.
Palm-sized PC models offer a form factor similar to Palm devices. Most of the time, Palm-sized PCs are larger and heavier than Palm devices. Their biggest problem is that the Windows metaphor just doesn’t translate well to a keyboardless device in a Palm-style form factor. Face it, the Start button and layers upon layers of menus are too much to slog through when you need to do something in a hurry.
.H2 What I like
My personal preference runs to Palm OS-based devices, including Palm Computing, Handspring, and TRG products. One of the biggest advantages of Palm OS-based devices is the wide acceptance of the platform by the market. There are many different pieces of third-party hardware and software that can be used to enhance your Palm OS-based device, ranging from keyboards to GPS systems.
Another advantage to Palm OS-based devices is the wide range of price points and features offered. You can spend less than $200 for a Handspring Visor Solo or Palm IIIe, or as much as $799 for a Qualcomm pdQ, which is a combination Palm OS-based device and cell phone. There are also specialized Palm OS-based devices for barcode scanning and wireless LAN applications.
The biggest problem I find in recommending a particular Palm OS-based device to someone is determining what he or she would like to do with it.
For those who need just "Big Four" functionality (Address List, Date Book, Memo Pad, ToDo List) and won’t ever load a third party application, the Visor Solo or Palm IIIe might be a good choice. If you want something a little more stylish, but will still stick with just the "Big Four", maybe you’re a Palm V kind of person.
If you want to be connected wherever you go, and are thinking about getting rid of your pager or cell phone, perhaps the Palm VII or Qualcomm pdQ are good options for you. If you anticipate loading a lot of programs, writing the great American novel, reading a lot of books on your device, or carrying a lot of reference material, the Visor Deluxe or the Palm Vx might suit your needs.
Although I do like the Visor very much, there are a couple of drawbacks. First, the Visor cradle is USB only. If you use Windows 95 or Windows NT, you’ll have to pay extra for a serial cradle. Also, some of the really neat third-party Springboard modules aren’t available yet.
If you need certain peripherals, such as a keyboard, a modem, or a GPS right now, then a Palm Computing product may be the right choice. If you want to start slowly and add to your Palm device gradually, the Visor might be the Palm device for you.
I suggest you check PalmGear at http://www.palmgear.com to see a lot of the add-on hardware and software products available.
If you have any further questions, please let me know!
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.H2 Editor-in-Chief David Gewitrz replies
If you’re not budget constrained, I’d go with the Palm Vx since it has the most out-of-the-box memory of any of the Palm Computing devices. Handspring is untested, and while you can get a much cheaper 8MB device from them, you’re still betting on a new player. If you don’t think you’re going to load lots of stuff onto your device, the Palm IIIe is a nice, safe, cheap bet.
Windows CE is a fine environment as well, but it’s not quite as commonly used. If you’re more interested in a Windows-like environment, color, or other cool bells and whistles (or want a keyboard), go with a Windows CE device like the HP Jornada.
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.H1 Product availability and resources
The Fuga eDiary can be found at http://www.fuga.com.
You can find the RexPro at http://www.franklin.com/rex/default.htm.
If you want more information the Sharp Wizard, check out http://www.sharpelectronics.com/frame.asp?pageid=/products/wizard/.
The Casio Boss can be found at http://www.casio.com.
Royal’s DaVinci can be found at http://www.royal.com/davinci.
More information about VTech’s Helio can be found at http://www.vtechinfo.com.
TI Avigo can be found at http://www.ti.com/organizers/avigo.
More information on Psion’s devices can be found at http://www.psion.com.
You can find out more about the Sony Vaio at http://www.ita.sel.sony.com.
Handspring’s Visor can be found at http://www.handspring.com.
Qualcomm’s pdQ smartphone can be found at http://www.qualcomm.com/phones/products/pdq_phone/0,1352,,00.html.
Rhinoskin’s Cockpit case can be found at http://www.rhinoskin.com.
Concept Kitchen’s Bumper can be found at http://www.conceptkitchen.com.
To see a lot of the add-on hardware and software products available, check out PalmGear at http://www.palmgear.com.
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.BIO
.DISCUSS http://powerboards.zatz.com/cgi-bin/webx?13@@.ee6db1d
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