Palming off, or, how to replace my PDA?
November 20th, 2009
As the social media guru Douglas MacArthur should have said, old technology doesn’t die, it just fades away. What’s fading on me, lately, is my Palm Tungsten PDA, one of the two that Noah used on the ark. It’s the third Palm I’ve owned, though the second one’s life did end prematurely when a heavy shelf decided to part company with my office wall.
The PDA doesn’t have Internet access, can’t make calls. What it used to do, reliably, is synchronize my contacts, my calendar, and my to-do list so I could use these things either on the PDA or on my laptop.
A while back, the calendar stopped synching, which means the PDA won’t remind me I’m supposed to be at the dentist’s or that the scope of work is due at the client’s on Thursday.
I’ve decided not to try fixing this thing. My idea of a good time, or even a mildly tolerable bad one, doesn’t include textual analysis of error messages when they boil down to “nope, that didn’t work, either.” Instead, I’m trying to figure out what I want to do electronically so I can choose a suitable solution for myself.
The status quo:
- I use Outlook for email. I’m an independent practitioner, so it’s not like I’m required to use it. I’m just accustomed.
- I use Outlook’s calendar and to-do list a lot.
- My portable phone’s a very basic model. It makes calls. I don’t have a text plan; it’s too much trouble to enter text when you only have 12 keys.
- Most of the time, I work from my home office. Most of the rest of the time, I’m using my own computer at some client site.
So, I’m considering getting a smartphone to replace both the PDA and my current phone. I still want synchronization, by which I mean I want to be able to rely on either the smartphone or my computer for calendar, contacts, etc.
I am not welded to Outlook, though by nature I’m reluctant to shift fundamental applications. If I had to switch email, I’d be looking for solid evidence that the New Thing linked well with calendar and to-do stuff. And if I were really unhappy, I might go to the recommender’s house and let the air out of a tire or two.
I’m not opposed to an iPhone, though I do think Apple’s business model includes the Beanie Baby approach: create the appearance of exclusivity, then charge more. I talked a bit yesterday with a Verizon salesperson about the new Droid phone; I’d like to hear more from people who do the kind of stuff I’d like to do.
So–how should I be thinking? What am I overlooking? Feel free to add a comment here, through Twitter, on LinkedIn, or at dferguson [you know] strathlorne [ditto] com.
CC-licensed image of PDA sketch by andreaspopp.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:12 am
Hi Dave! I’m using the BalckBerry Storm, my 4th smartphone, on Verizon, as my prior experience with ATT and a smartphone, was that it didn’t work in places I traveled to (KC, Wyoming, mid-state IL). As V says: there’s a map for that.
I like the full screen for reading and looking at pics and videos. A prior BB had half that screen.
And the BB syncs well (wirelessly too) with my Outlook (and other systems) for email and tasks, calendar, and contacts. At $49 the original model (which I’ve got) might be used without a data plan – and no Internet access, etc. And without a text plan too. Same could be said of the Palm Trio (2 phones back). Use it as a cell phone and as a PDA that you sync – with or without a text and data plan.
November 21st, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Thanks, Guy.
As I consider this, I’m pretty sure I’ll end up with a data plan. Far too often I find myself out and about, wishing I had a quick connection (like one I could complete in the time it’d take to fire up my laptop).
I realize I’d been thinking too readily of Outlook’s integration of mail / calendar / to-do. What’s more important is the availability of those things, and the ability to keep each in sync between (portable) computer and smartphone (computer).
November 22nd, 2009 at 9:48 pm
I love my Beanie Baby iPhone. I love everything about it. I love to turn it on its side to see the image rotate. I love my itunes. I love my Kindle Ap–great for when I thought I’d be 5 min at an appointment but instead I am 1 hour and didn’t bring my real kindle. I love the way it synchs to my PC just by plugging it in. I love my contacts…I have a little pic of many of my contacts so that when they call a nice little picture of them pops up and it makes me smile. I love the picture of my cat that is my wallpaper.
I do not sleep with it. I do not talk on it while eating or while at a restaurant. I do not text continuously. But I did get the data plan which up’d my monthly phone bill by like $10. I already had AT&T so I wasn’t plan hopping when I got it.
A droid phone. I think all the same wow is there. And, you might like the fact that the droid phone has its own GPS. That might be a good add for you/your car. I mean if you were to leave your home office :-)
Oh, my phone’s ringing, gotta go!
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:23 am
Katy–
Man, I didn’t know you had a Kindle, too.
The synchronization is a big deal for me. I’m also very reluctant, at least for now, to put my contacts into Google’s cloud. Some of that’s just paranoia; some of it is waiting for a smart entrepreneur to write an app that’ll sync Outlook contacts and tasks with the Droid.
I’ve done some looking around (on smartphone discussion boards, for instance) and have seen a few glimmers of light.
I understand why Google doesn’t have one; I just don’t get why such a theoretically large chunk of the market–people with lots of time and data invested in Outlook–is being ignored.
(As you know, I’m using a standalone version of Outlook, not some corporation’s Outlook Exchange. I don’t think I’m the only one in that situation.)
December 16th, 2009 at 4:57 am
Hi Dave,
I found this blog looking for an answer to your exact question … kind of. I used a Palm Tungsten until about 6 months ago. It did what I asked of it – calendar, contact info, to do list – KISS. But then it died and, like you, I work from home and if I need to meet with a client I bring my laptop.
But, I still do things like networking meetings and doctor appointments and I need a PDA.
Unlike you, I have no interest in a data plan. $30/month for the honor of receiving my email while driving just isn’t worth it.
I got an HP Pocket PC on Ebay, which would be great if it didn’t crash constantly and suck the battery dry in between crashing.
I’m now debating between trying a quick fix of a new battery for the PPC, or taking Guy’s advice and buying an older Treo (with Windows Mobile) as an all-in-one replacement.
As it turns out, the second option isn’t that much more expensive than the first. But, the viewing screen is half the size.
hmm…
December 16th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Well, I certainly don’t see “crash constantly” as a value-add. A data plan makes sense to me; I’m tired of wishing I had online access when I don’t. Palm, I think, rested far too long on early laurels. Since writing the post I’ve looked at working versions of both the Verizon Droid and Verizon Eris. The lower price for the latter and my lack of need for a teeny physical keyboard, are definitely attracting my attention. The commodification isn’t quite there, as evidenced by Verizon’s decision to increase the alimony–I mean “early termination fee”–by 100%.
January 26th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
My palm died in December. I’ve been without a portable version of my calendar and contacts since then. I’m considering getting an ipod touch to use as a PDA so that I don’t have to replace my phone (which I like) or pay for a data plan.
Have any of you considered getting an ipod for this reason?
January 26th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Rachel, I wasn’t aware the iPod touch could be a PDA, though once I read your comment, I learned that’s the case. This post by Bruce Keener is only one of many articles I found.
Sounds like at least a possibility if you’re happy with your phone. I’ve been lazily dithering but am leaning toward the HTC Droid Eris.
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:27 am
[...] I was saying, I needed to replace my PDA. Last Saturday, just ahead of 6 or 8 inches of “a light dusting [...]