[micha schraven]

Hi, I am thinking about buying a Palm 3 or 5.
But when I compare prices and the ease of use to an oldfashioned (paper) agenda I figured out that for the price of one Palm III I can supply myself for 40 years of paper agenda's.

Why a PDA?

[jsearl]

1. if u lose it u have a back up at home on the mac (or pc!)

2. both copies are always up to date

3. stores much more than even a bulky filofax (ie years of diary, thousdands of addresses)

4. once u type the names it thats it for ever (digital never needs doing again)

5. same weight size as mini filofax

6 er

7 thats it

[tonymac]

There are also things that a Palm can do that a traditional organizer can't:

1. Scientific Calculator
2. Word and Excel files
3. Databases (legal and medical references, etc.)
4. Secure password storage
5. Games (ok, most of them are cheesy, but it is nice to have a handheld game of solitaire)
6. Email
7. Download web pages for offline reading
8. Pocket Quicken
9. eBooks (also handy at times)
10. Up to date Theater listings

Some of these require additional software (free or shareware), but they're all things that can't be duplicated with a planner.

[WL2100]

You should try a Newton 2100. It can do everything listed and more, I have pseudo-3d games, easy-to-use spreadsheets, printing to over 300 current printers, VeRy loud alarms(even to remind me of birthdays, events, and business meetings), easy search of names and phone numbers without having to think too much(just use the 'Find' function), easy offline access to downloaded emails/web pages(since it's battery powered and has flash card memory) AND write replys anywhere I can(like waiting at the airport to pickup my parents, two hour delay went fast while I replied to my friends emails), and...well, I'm waiting for the cable to access web/email thru my Nokia cell phone via my reg. ISP.

...try that with a 'paper org.'!

------------------
!ooW ÷)

[SupahCoolX]

You guys make good points, but with one obvious omission.. you forgot the all- important coolness factor! That paper stuff is SOOO last millenium

PS- I know the new millenium is still a few months away, but that wouldn't have made for a corny little joke. Oh, and the ability to copy/paste entries or have a to-do item appear every day means that you don't have to constantly rewrite common entries as you would on a paper organizer.

[micha schraven]

how do these things boot up? Do I have to wait like an apple or wintel machine till the machine decides it is ready to take information or can I power up and start using it the second I need it to ?

I am talking about valuable seconds here.

also, i own a powerbook pismo. Is a PDA, that will end up in the same suitcase as the powerbook, an extra or just the same but smaller?

[tonymac]

Micha,
The Palm is never really shutdown. It sleeps after a period of inactivity (1 to 5 minutes, user configurable). It wakes instantly when you press one of the four main function buttons, or the backlight button (note: if you wake it using the Datebook, for instance, then the Palm will wake and switch to the Datebook). When I say instantly, I mean less than a second. Switching applications is also instantaneous (with the exception of some databases that load their files when opening) because everything is in RAM all the time. If you have to reset the Palm (only after upgrading the OS) it takes about 10 seconds to reboot. However this is never necessary in normal operation.
A Palm is an excellent extra in two situations:
1. You need rapid access to data (contacts and datebook, etc.) without the delay involved in waking a laptop.
2. You need to carry important data (contacts and datebook, etc.) with you in situations where carrying and using a laptop is unnecessary/impractical.
Another important perk with using a Powerbook with your Palm is that you don't have to worry about carrying the cradle and adapter with you to hotsync. You can use the built in IR ports on the two devices to hotsync wirelessly. Talk about coolness factor!! I really love my Palm IIIx and find it an invaluable way to have my important data quickly and conveniently available.

[WL2100]

The eMate takes two seconds to bootup, just about 'instant-on'!
The eMate takes two seconds to shut down, well, it just turns off, you dont loose any info. if you don't shut down correctly. That's another good point, you can close the clamshell design and get goin', nothing lost, pretty cool!

It's kinda thick, almost two inches, but it's got the best keyboard, I use a Pismo PB, Sony PCG-540 laptop, and iMac(Rev.B), still the best IMHO is the eMate's.

------------------
!ooW ÷)

[micha schraven]

thanks for the information, i will buy one this week. probably palm 3 (black).

I thought the emate was one of those toy-computers for children..no kidding