[devmage]

I've been looking around for the best PDA that integrates well with the Mac, does anyone have any recommendations?

I was looking for something that integrates into my "i" life so to speak. You know like ical, isync, maybe Mail or iphoto perhaps. I tried to get organized once with a PDA before I had my Mac. Now that I use the 'i" apps so much I figure I could actually make use of one.

It just seems that the PDA's don't like to support the Mac for some odd reason. You need external bridging software which just seems silly.

I figure someone actively uses something and I wanted to hear some feedback

Thanks in advance.

[devmage]

After thinking about it maybe I should just get a Ipod or Ipod mini? I mean I know it syncs with the address book calendars and can be an mp3 player. I guess you just miss out on all the apps you can get on the palm based PDAs. Oh and of course no data entry on the device is a draw back. Ahhh decisions decisions.

[threestain]

I'm looking for a similar type of thing - I would a PDA that syncs up well with my mac, iCal et al, but can also read the PDA versions of medical textbooks that are coming out. I have looked at some of the Sony ones, and the Palm T3, and they all look good, but as a student I can't afford to back a wrong un as they say.

Any ideas guys?

[fisherKing]

the palm t3 is nice...you can even get refurbished palms on the palmone store (where i got my t2)...

you'll need to go to apple's site & find the isync-palm conduit...(sorry, i didnt bookmark it...)

i use my tt2 constantly, and back it up on my powerbook, where i use ical & address book
(the memos need the palm desktop, which i never use).

[Zoom]

What do you need your PDA to do? Honestly, I used to be a PDA nut, but found out that just about all I really used it for was contacts, calendar, todo lists, etc. You can get this on the iPod - except for entering data.

You might look at a new cell phone, like one from Nokia or Sony-Ericsson. Most of them have the basic PDA functions in them and they integrate well with the i-apps.

If you really need a full-blown PDA, then I'm not really sure what the best options are right now. I haven't owned a PDA since I got my iPod.

[kcmac]

I would agree with Zoom.

I have had many PDA's (Newton's, Palms)and have found that once I got a small laptop and a phone that syncs fairly easily I quit using them. And I didn't use my PDA for much anyway other than for a quick glance at a contact or calendar.

I am getting an iPod (arriving today) and I will use it's PDA functions. Need to get rid of my Palm Pilot. It's an M500 if you are interested.

[Macpilot]

The iPod.

[threestain]

well the main reason I would be using one would be syncing calendars and making appointments (usual diary stuff), but I would also need to be able to store/display medical textbooks (handbooks, drug guidelines the like) for when I'm on the wards and can't be bothered to carry all the books around with me.

Unfortunately I lost my lovely Sony T610. However, I now have an equally wicked LG-U810. Problem is I can't seem to make it sync with my mac (comes with a cable and software - pc only!). If anyone knows of a way to sync such phones then my palm requirements might decrease to a level where paper works!

[threestain]

have been looking on ebay for the Palm T3 - the pda I fancy most at the moment, and I can get one for roughly £180. Not bad - they're £250+ in the shops. Anyone got any other suggestions/know that Palmone are bringing a new model out?

[ajprice]

threestain, if you want a Tungsten, and you can wait a while, the T3 is fairly old now (still good, but not new anymore) and Palm OS 6 is released, probably with new models, as palm don't sell the OS and hardware separately. Thinking about it, Palm are dropping Mac support in OS 6, and I'm not sure if Apple are doing anything with iSync to make up for this. Erm, I'd get a decent phone and an iPod. I have an original model T at the moment, I thought I would use it more than I have been, but I'm starting to think I could get by with an iPod/phone combo, rather than a Palm/phone combo .

[threestain]

I thought they were dropping specific support, but that it should still work fine? Probably got it wrong.

I could probably get by with my phone and my ipod, but the ease of entry on a palm really appeals. Plus the fact that you can get medical texts in pda form is a major plus. However, if they don't sync up then there's no real point...

[rossco63]

Originally posted by threestain:
I thought they were dropping specific support, but that it should still work fine? Probably got it wrong.

I could probably get by with my phone and my ipod, but the ease of entry on a palm really appeals. Plus the fact that you can get medical texts in pda form is a major plus. However, if they don't sync up then there's no real point...

I have used Palms with Macs for 5 years. They work quite well with Palm Desktop software. I have no problem syncing with my iMac running Panther. iCal and iSync are simply not usable though. I keep trying them, and they keep destroying my data. Not only that, but they are slow while doing it. I have a Palm m515 and a T2. Bought them both on eBay as open box units and they were like new, only less than half retail cost. The screen on the T2 is the most beautiful I have ever seen on a pda.

I have an iPod, but the PIM functions are at best primitive and of course are read-only. Useless. I use it for music.

Palms are capable of so much more than the simple PIM functions that are included. If you are going to read manuals, get the T2 or T3. You will not regret it. And use your iPod for music, that's what it's for.

[threestain]

Thanks. I am very much in favour of buying the stuff, provided I can get it to sync. So what's the deal - does it sync with ical via palm desktop, or only with palm desktop's stuff?

I'm looking at a T3 - good idea?

Just found out about the Tapwave Zodiac2 - best thing ever as far as I can see!

[rossco63]

Originally posted by threestain:
Thanks. I am very much in favour of buying the stuff, provided I can get it to sync. So what's the deal - does it sync with ical via palm desktop, or only with palm desktop's stuff?

I'm looking at a T3 - good idea?

Just found out about the Tapwave Zodiac2 - best thing ever as far as I can see!

The T3 is a beefed up T2 and is better in many ways. More ram, higher screen res, etc. Too expensive for me, so I got a cheap T2. I sync my data with Palm desktop. It ain't pretty, but it works and I never lose data. iCal and iSync are just too slow and buggy yet.

Ross

[ajprice]

If you're definitely going for a Palm OS PDA, look at the Tungsten 3 and look at the top end Zire 72 if the Tungsten is too much, it has bluetooth, a camera (1.2mp), MP3 player and SD card slot. Don't bother with a Sony Clie, they're being phased out now, and they need extra software )The Missing Sync) to use all their features with Macs.

[threestain]

Seems like the Missing Sync is needed for all pdas to get the most out of them.

I like the T3 - seems a great deal for the money, especially now (can get one for about £150- £240 nowadays) and I also like the Tapwave Zodiac 2 - only £250 for 128Mb machine. And it looks cool too!

[rglenn]

To those worried about Palm dropping Mac support: Mark/Space, the company that makes Missing Sync, will be making a version for PalmOS 6. Since there are no shipping PalmOS 6 handhelds yet, it remains to be seen if they'll simply ship Mark/Space's product with the Palms, or if it'll be an extra (look here)

[rossco63]

Originally posted by threestain:
Seems like the Missing Sync is needed for all pdas to get the most out of them.

I like the T3 - seems a great deal for the money, especially now (can get one for about £150- £240 nowadays) and I also like the Tapwave Zodiac 2 - only £250 for 128Mb machine. And it looks cool too!

Missing Sync is not needed now for OS 5. Palm announced they will drop Mac support for OS 6. But the uproar from the Mac community may cause them to license Missing Sync. Who knows. It's a non-issue at the moment.

Here's an excellent T3 review: http://palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=6073

Some good Palm software that supports Macs:

Anything by Splashdata. I use SplashID everyday to keep track of my userids and passwords. It syncs beautifully with OS X and has a nice desktop app. SplashPhoto has drag and drop compatibility with iPhoto and is a sweet way to carry photos of your loved ones on your Palm.

Wordsmith. View docs and memos and sync with OS X. A very good Palm word processing app.
http://www.bluenomad.com/ws/prod_wordsmith_details.html

[azdude]

Originally posted by rossco63:
Missing Sync is not needed now for OS 5. Palm announced they will drop Mac support for OS 6. But the uproar from the Mac community may cause them to license Missing Sync.

Well, PalmSource announced they were dropping Mac development of HotSync for Cobalt.

PalmOne (device manufacturer) still seems very interested in supporting the Mac, and in my totally uninformed opinion, is the most likely licensee to bundle Missing Sync v4.

[threestain]

I must say that the T3 is a big draw for me, what with all the syncing goodness. Trouble is do I really need to replace my psion revo just so I can sync it up? Would use it more I suppose.

Has anyone heard anything about new Tungstens? Or how to sync up a revo?

[maxintosh]

Originally posted by threestain:
Has anyone heard anything about new Tungstens? Or how to sync up a revo?

There is no PSION syncing available, nor do I imagine there ever will be..... the company's not producing any new handhelds.

[rossco63]

Originally posted by threestain:
I must say that the T3 is a big draw for me, what with all the syncing goodness. Trouble is do I really need to replace my psion revo just so I can sync it up? Would use it more I suppose.

Has anyone heard anything about new Tungstens? Or how to sync up a revo?

I've never seen a Psion. I've synced a Palm 3x, m500, m505, m515, Visor Pro, Visor Platinum, Treo 90, and Tungsten2 with OS X. Never had much luck syncing my Newton mp2100 with anything, but that's a different story.

[threestain]

well I'm having a little flutter on ebay for a t3. Not that I'm going to get it, but its always worth a try!

[torifile]

The T3 syncs perfectly with my Mac. I don't need the Missing Sync to get it to work. I've used (in the past) iSync with iCal and the Addressbook to sync to, but now I'm using Entourage 2004. It actually works better because your calendar events actually carry their categories from the T3 (something iCal didn't do). If you get the T3 you'll have no syncing worries.

[threestain]

Right I really really want to get a PDA, or a Nintendo DS, or maybe something else. But I either want a Sony Clie or a Palm...

T5 is a bit poo and pricey, T3 looks good. Clies are wicked but not sold in the UK anymore...

Any ideas?

[Luca Rescigno]

I have a Tungsten E. Not that fancy but it gets the job done, and it has the same really nice screen as the T3 (minus the extra screen space you get by stretching it).

Missing Sync is overpriced. Don't get it unless it's necessary for syncing. Overall the interface really isn't any better or less confusing than Palm Desktop.

I really like having a PDA for a few reasons... first off, I don't have a cell phone, and I really don't want one, so a PDA is perfect and not redundant. Secondly, I enter data on it all the time. Giving up data entry and getting an iPod for its PDA functions isn't a good idea unless all you really want is a digital little black book. If you get someone's phone number or change your schedule, you have to write it down, bring it home, and sync it with the iPod. Also, my Palm came with Documents To Go, which lets me create and edit Word and Excel documents on the PDA.

If you have a cell phone service, you might be better off just getting a nicer cell phone with a calendar, contact list, and to-do list or something. That's what I'd do if I wanted a cell phone. But PDAs are unmatched for those things - iPods don't offer data entry, phones have smaller screens, fewer functions, and cost money every month, and laptops are very large and expensive.

[maxintosh]

I've been using my phone for all the PDA stuff, but I must admit I'm having a little bit of a flutter for one of the new WiFi PPCs... specifically, the *gasp* Dell Axim X30... bluetooth and wifi... that thing is a bargain for about $250 with shipping on eBay....

[torifile]

Originally posted by maxintosh:
I've been using my phone for all the PDA stuff, but I must admit I'm having a little bit of a flutter for one of the new WiFi PPCs... specifically, the *gasp* Dell Axim X30... bluetooth and wifi... that thing is a bargain for about $250 with shipping on eBay....

Forget the x30. Go for the x50v. I've got one. It's damn purty. I like.

[threestain]

I've been tempted by the Sony PEG-UX50, I know its expensive, but its well cool and hopefully someone will sell to me cheap on ebay. I know its unlikely, but always possible!

[maxintosh]

Originally posted by torifile:
Forget the x30. Go for the x50v. I've got one. It's damn purty. I like.

Too bad it's so freakin' expensive!

[torifile]

Originally posted by maxintosh:
Too bad it's so freakin' expensive!

I know but just wait for some coupons. Even the X50 mid (with wifi and bt) is worth getting over the x30high model. I'm telling you, you'll appreciate the aesthetics of the x50. The x30 is too ugly to stomach. (But it's functional so if you get a nice case for it and can bear the looks.....)

[threestain]

looks like I'm winning an auction on ebay for a ux-50. Annoyingly I bid more than I really want to spend, and there's another up for sale soon. Still £250 isn't bad for a £500 machine!

[maxintosh]

I snagged a decently priced Tungsten C + Metal Case on eBay. I think it will be perfect for me since I prefer thumbboards to HWR and I just want to surf the web, do e-mail and keep some notes and lists with it. My last Palm was an E and I've had a V, T, T|2 and HP h2210 as well but I ditched both for my Nokia 6600.

I'm excited to have a Palm again

[threestain]

Well for some reason I have just bought a Sony Clie UX50 on ebay. Hopefully it will be everything I want from it, and its less that a T3/T5 with bluetooth et al already in there. Excellent stuff!

[threestain]

My new Clie UX-50 has just arrived and its wicked. Anyone like to tell me what software I should get for it?

Going to get Mark/Space Missing Sync... anything else that's necessary?