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nemanirc · Jan 21, 2002, 09:59 PM

What sort of luck is everyone having with the Palm public beta? I downloaded it but have not installed it because I don't want to screw up my current Entourage 2001 and Pocket Quicken synchronization. My big question is does the Beta work with a Palm IIIxe (or other serial-based cradles) connected to OS X using Keyspan's PDA adpater? In OS 9 (and in Classic), the synchronization program will often fail to launch or quit immediately after launching. The only reliable way to make it work right is to disable synchronizing, unplug the Keyspan adapter, plug it back in, and re-enable synchronizing. Only then will it work. I trust someone out there has tested a similar configuration and gotten it to work? Don't let Palm declare the product ready for prime time until this works!!!

MatthewP · Jan 22, 2002, 01:39 AM

The syncs are patchy at best for me. Sometimes apps sync, sometimes they don't. Never get a full successful sync though.

Still , it's a beta so don't expect the world. A bigger worry is the lack of any other conduits - no Office , no avantgo, and no word on when.

Thunderbird · Jan 22, 2002, 09:40 AM

I cannot get it to work at all unless my PalmConnect is plugged directly into the computer. It will not function if the Palm is plugged into the USB hub, even though it worked fine under OS 9.

Sam I Am · Jan 22, 2002, 10:45 AM

I find that it's really inconsistant... One time the sync works fine and the next it doesn't. Or the more common problem, of it not syncing, try again, doesn't work, try again it doesn't work, try again and it works!... i have no idea why that would happen but that's what it does on mine... Also the first time that I installed palm desktop it messed up the old OS 9 user so i just created a new user and started over, no big deal cause evertying was on my Handspring.

Chris_G · Jan 22, 2002, 12:44 PM

I've had pretty good luck with my IIIxe using the Keyspan adapter in OS X... in fact I can only sync my date book (DateBk4), notepad (Memo PLUS), address book and To Do list (ToDo PLUS) in OS X. Of course, I'm not following Palm's advice, I'm synchronizing in both 9 and 10 so I can still use Vindigo and Pocket Quicken. So, sometimes when I'm in X I sync... sometimes when I'm in 9 (right now only for printing, scanning and games) I sync.

Chris

[ 01-22-2002: Message edited by: Chris_G ]

ratlater · Jan 22, 2002, 08:13 PM

I just bought a Palm m500, so I don't have any experience using Palm Desktop with OS 9 or in Classic. My success with the beta has greatly depended upon which machine I'm using.

On my DP 500 G4 I have all sorts of problems. When I installed Palm Desktop it wouldn't accept any names for a new user, so it wouldn't create a new user, very annoying. To get around this I installed the beta on my iBook 500 and just moved the user folder to the G4. After doing this everything works fine except Conduit Manager. The Conduit Manager will not open. When I try to open it nothing happens, also very annoying. The worst part of this is, when I hotsync with the G4 it will succefully hotsync everything, including programs, but the hotsync will crash at the end when the Conduit Manager is supposed to do something requiring the Palm to be reset and lose all of the preferences I have set.

On my dual USB iBook 500 everything works flawlessly. The application has never quit, and hotsyncing works like a charm everytime.

-matt

TiG4 · Jan 23, 2002, 10:31 AM

My experiences with Palm for OS X beta:

1. The first time I used the sync created duplicate records in my address book.

2. After a few times, I could no longer open the application with my profile even though I could see it from the list. Therefore, I reinstalled the program a few times and finally gave up as it was recurring.

I am back on Classic Palm.

DominikHoffmann · Jan 23, 2002, 11:19 AM

After installing the beta I was able to do a full sync (no third-party conduits) with my Palm III and the PalmConnect USB Kit. I was also able to install the Minehunt game that came with the beta. It synced a handful more times, but then didn't work for a while. A little later I was able to sync twice more, but since it has ceased to work.

The HotSync log showed problems installing ".DS Store", which I realized was one of the files OS X put in the "Files To Install" directory when I opened it with the Finder. I used the Unix command line to delete the file. Those error messages have been gone since.

I have not had any problems with running the desktop application.

Dominik Hoffmann

mgl · Jan 27, 2002, 09:12 AM

I've had no problems synching with the beta using a Palm IIIe and the USB connector. I had no data on my iBook from a prior version of Palm Desktop so the first synch just dumped my palm onto palm desktop. It's been painless, although I need to uninstall Vindigo since it's senselessly backing up Vindigo on my iBook.

Mike

thaislump · Jan 30, 2002, 12:37 PM

Originally posted by TiG4:
<STRONG>My experiences with Palm for OS X beta:

1. The first time I used the sync created duplicate records in my address book.

2. After a few times, I could no longer open the application with my profile even though I could see it from the list. Therefore, I reinstalled the program a few times and finally gave up as it was recurring.

I am back on Classic Palm.</STRONG>

I am having the same problem (#2): when the app opens, it doesn't default to my profile (the only one). Further, I can't even open the profile manually from the menu. I'm running OS X.1.2 on a PB G4.

escher · Jan 30, 2002, 02:05 PM

I haven't been able to sync at all with beta27 between my Palm IIIxe and iBook (Dual USB) connected via Keyspan USB-PDA adpater.

I didn't have a prior installation of Classic Desktop on the iBook but I have the latest Keyspan driver. I haven't tried to install the Classic Desktop because Keyspan says their OS 9 and X drivers are incompatible.

It's time somebody crack the whip at Palm!

Escher

jtc · Jan 30, 2002, 04:23 PM

Originally posted by TiG4:
<STRONG>
2. After a few times, I could no longer open the application with my profile even though I could see it from the list. Therefore, I reinstalled the program a few times and finally gave up as it was recurring.
</STRONG>

The same thing happened to me - twice. I've given up syncing until a stable version comes out. I just hope my palm doesn't crash.

barney ntd · Feb 1, 2002, 08:03 PM

I had a great deal of trouble with this until I tried the following:

1. Put a backup of your data somewhere safe.
2. Remove every Palm file you can find from your hard disk.
3. Boot into OS 9 and install the old Palm desktop.
4. Still in 9, do a hotsync and make sure your data is ok.
5. Now reboot in OS X and install the Palm desktop beta.
6. When it asks you if you want to import your old data, click yes.
7. Launch Hotsync manager, and check that the settings are right.
8. Launch System preferences, go to login, and check that both Transport Monitor and Palm Desktop Background have their hide box ticked.
9. Restart, and log in.
10. Try a hotsync in os X.

Since going through all of this, it has all worked perfectly. Better than OS 9, and much better than classic. I did try most of the simpler procedures first without any success, and I'm fairly sure that installing 2.5.whatever first is essential.

I have a Palm III and the PalmConnect USB adapter.

Barney.