OT - do you own a palm pilot or something similar

[cinamin27]

For Christmas, I'm thinking about treating myself to a Palm Pilot or something equivelant.

I have so many dates to keep track of between DD school activities, girl scouts, Mary Kay and soon to be added, Real Estate that my head is spinning. I would love to keep everything in Outlook and then transfer it to a palm to keep on hand.

It would also be nice to keep my contacts with me while traveling. I'm out on deliveries sometimes and forget to take phone numbers with me.

If you own one, how do you like it? Do you use it more or less than what you thought? I just don't want it to be a hype for me now and end up in a drawer later.

you mentioned Mary Kay, my sister wanted something not only for appointments but to also keep track of her inventory on a spreadsheet in excel. you might also consider something that has excel if needing to check your inventory would be important to you too. just a thought.....

 

[T. Lynn]

I believe the Dell has word and excel.

I wouldn't need anything to check my inventory while out on the road though.

I'm mainly looking for something with word, excel and DEFINATELY compatible with outlook due to my calendar & contacts. There are just way too many phone numbers to keep in my cell phone and I hate changing it in so many different places. Having the contacts on the PDA would be a big help with their address & phone number, should I happen to get lost or something.

 

[barblue]

Barblue-

Is it easy to put contacts or appointments into thru the handheld first?

Do you use the stylus to write the letters & numbers?

I admitedly put most of my contacts/appointments into the Axim through my laptop's Outlook, and then sync to get them on the Axim. I only occassionally enter them directly into the Axim (which is a perfectly easy process as well). I do, however, do a lot of typing directly into the handheld when I'm responding to e-mails and such. I rarely use the handwriting recognition software because I find it much easier to use the on-screen keyboard to type stuff in. (It pops up in about the bottom 1/3 of the screen and you just use the stylus to hit the keys.) It's not as quick as the thumb keypads you'll see on Blackberries, but I've gotten used to it and don't mind it at all.

I also just installed a freeware app that puts a touch-sensitive keyboard on the screen, so it effectively gives you a Blackberry-type keypad. I'm getting used to that and like it a lot as well.

I'll agree with dkostl that Dell service isn't legendary. Thankfully, this is my second Axim (I previously had the X31) and I have yet to have problems with either of them. I think Dells can be hit-or-miss. Luckily, mine have been hits.

Oh, the Dell does have Word and Excel. I can also read PDF files on it.

 

[T. Lynn]

Thanks so much. I'm glad to know that it sycs with Outlook, which is my biggest concern.

Did you say that it comes with an on-screen keyboard or that is the one you downloaded? If downloaded, do you remember where you found it at?

Thanks again for all your help.

 

[rgf207]

I had a palm pilot and then switched to a Dell Pocket PC. I loved the Pocket PC but the only problem I had was that I had to carry that around with my cell phone. I travel a lot too like others so I deciede to get a Blacberry 8700c through Cingular. It's a phone PDA, email and internet browsing all in one. I love it. It sync's everything with my outlook. I would recommend that.

 

[barblue]

Thanks so much. I'm glad to know that it sycs with Outlook, which is my biggest concern.

Did you say that it comes with an on-screen keyboard or that is the one you downloaded? If downloaded, do you remember where you found it at?

Thanks again for all your help.

Sorry, should have been clearer. (That after-lunch slump apparently not only makes me want to take a nap but also affects my thinking abilities as well!) The Dell comes with a pop-up keyboard from which you can type using the stylus - that is the one that appears in the bottom 1/3 of the screen. I then installed a freeware app that gives you a full-screen keyboard that you can type on using your thumbs/fingers, so you don't have to bother with the stylus. Both work equally well. I can't remember where I got the freeware app, but I can hunt around for it if you are still interested.

 

[T. Lynn]

If it comes with a pop-up keyboard, that will work...

Thanks for responding. I just wanted to make sure I was understanding correctly. I had so much going on around the house blocking my thinking capabilities (maybe I should have eaten lunch).