I'm in the market for a new PDA. Any suggestions?

[tmcrae]

I currently own a Palm IIIxe and my 8 MB is quickly disappearing. So, it's time for an upgrade. Here is my wish list:

16-bit colour (65,000+ colours)
320 x 320 resolution (minimum)
16 MB RAM (minimum - 32 would be nice)
Palm OS
Complete (or nearly complete) compatibility with all my current apps and hacks (I'm running Palm OS 4.1)

I realize that these options currently preclude me from anything Palm has to offer (since their maximum resolution sits at 160 x 160 and Palm recently admitted their m130 doesn't support the full 65,000+ colour complement).

I thought I might be able to get away with another 8 MB machine if I had a handheld with an expansion slot for a 16 or 32 MB card, but the Palm OS requires the application on the card to be copied to the handheld before it can be run which:

a) slows things down considerably, and
b) means you need a block of free RAM on the handheld to copy everything to.

I am currently leaning towards Sony's T615 over the Palm m515, but I understand that Palm will be releasing some new models in Fall which will be using Palm OS 5.

Can anyone tell me:

1. Will Palm OS 5 running under the new ARM architecture be worth the wait?

2. Can anyone confirm OS 5's compatibility with 4.1 programs (including hacks)? I think I read somewhere OS 5 won't support hacks, but that it will be backwards compatible with all other software running under 4.1...

3. Has anyone heard any details surrounding the new Palm models coming out (in terms of price, features, resolution, RAM etc.)?

Everything I've read about the T615 has been very positive and, in most people's opinions, it's a better machine than the m130 which is why I am currently considering Sony to met my handheld needs. I'd like to get my new handheld sooner than later, but if Palm is going to come out with a competitively priced model which suits my needs in Fall, I'd be tempted to wait.

Comments anyone?

 

[JustKIDn]

If I were you I'd wait for the next generation on the ARM.
It sounds like you want the latest and greatest. And right now nothing is going to satisfy all your requirements.

I was going to suggest the Handspring Prism but they don't sell that at Handspring anymore. But it is pretty good.
It has the 16 bit - 65,000 colors but it only has 8 MB ram. And it doesn't use the new memory sticks.

Personally, I think I would stay away from the Sony. Only because they seem like they are leaning towards getting too proprietary like they do with a lot of their other products. I do like many products that they offer. But I don't like being locked-in.

It may be true that OS 5.0 won't support hacks. But they may have incorporated some of those ideas into the new OS. I wouldn't let that stop me from getting the new version with ARM architecture and OS 5. Then again, after having bad experiences with some hacks, I stay away from hacks anyway.

Palm has a good history of keeping backward compatibilty. They have a huge following of users and programmers. And with M$ knocking on their back door. I really don't think they're going to throw all that away at a time when it would be too easy to loose by making a wrong turn. Or turning to soon.

I don't know you, but the way you talk. My guess is, if you bought something now, you would probably still go out and buy the new Palm when it comes out. I'd wait. It won't be that long!



tgus

____________________________
Families can be together forever...

 

[tmcrae]

Thanks for the post and your input tgus! Most appreciated! Anyone else?

 

[Jesuspower]

PocketPC.
Or
a Palm OS5 device. OS5 should have many things that the hacks offer.

But, Unless you really need a palm, You could get a pocketPC with way more ram for almost the same price. -God Bless

 

[tmcrae]

True enough. But as I understand it, you need more RAM on a PocketPC because of the fact that it runs Windows and is, therefore, a memory hog. (Has anyone ever tried to compare how much memory you would need under the Palm OS to have the same storage capabilities under Windows CE? I realize they are quite different platforms, so it may be difficult or require some assumptions, but it would be interesting all the same.)

I had considered a PocketPC at one point, but have since dismissed it. I am sure they are quite good units in their own right, it is just that I am very partial to the Palm OS. It is very functional and compact. There is loads of third party software for it (much of it free) and I have never encountered a single problem using it.

The way I see it, why switch to a PocketPC? (Here's your chance to convince me!!)

Thanks for your post, JP1. Other opinions or comments?

 

[Jesuspower]

Yes, why is my name jesuspower1 and not jesuspower :-(


Oh, the topic...
I just saw palmOS 5. Wait for it. it is nice.
1. Pocket PC's play music, recognize your handwriting(very well, like a newton), and they work real well. To be honest, the only reason I bought a pocketpc over a palm was b/c i hate graffitti. I only use the HWR. I do like the fact that I can play music on it.
2. It cost $0.00 to get visual basic and C++ for the PocketPC (another reason I bought it) For the palm, it is at least $500 + the cost of VB and VC++ XP
3. If you like graffitti, have an MP3 player already and don't develop programs and like macs, or have one then get a palm os 5 device. You won't regret it

PS: get it from palm, sony or anything else. sony's crash, and if you get it from palm it would run better. -God Bless

 

[tmcrae]

I downloaded the OS 5 Simulator for PC's from Palm's website this morning and played around with it a bit. Other than being able to select different colour schemes and a reference to a RAMDisk Card, I did not see a whole lot of difference between it and 4.1. I thought they might make some enhancements to certain apps (meaning I could forego the use of 3rd party apps or hacks), but such is not the case. For example, the Palm Date Book still only allows scheduling on 5-minute intervals (instead of to the minute) and will not allow scheduling of an event to start during one day and end on the next (DateBk 3 allows this but is forced to store it as two events; one running until 11:59 PM, the second for the next day starting at 12:00 AM. You could do the same thing using the Palm Date Book, but you'd need to initially set it up as two different events).

What goodies is OS 5 going to offer which will make it worth the wait?

 

[Jesuspower]

ohhh, I did not notice that. I was swayed by the pretty device, high resolution and pretty color schemes.

PocketPC has semi-pretty devices, color schemes and high resolution. But you do have to reset it frequently. My dad has not reset his palm 5 since last year. I have reset my iPaq at least once a day. -God Bless