Flurry of TH-44 Questions

[imiganai]

So I just ordered a used Japanese TH-55 over amazon.co.jp marketplace, and have a flurry of questions (some which may be buried in the boards; I searched for quite a bit, but sorry if I'm repeating questions).

First off, I'm upgrading from a TX which suffered the NVFS sudden-death syndrome. I currently have the latest Palm Desktop on my computer (4.1.4), but I know that the TH-55 requires its own (older?) Palm Desktop version. Will I have problems transferring my PIM stuff? Any suggestions for going about the switch? I especially don't need it to transfer all the applications, since many (like the JOS/CJKOS stuff) are now unnecessary.

Second of all, I bought a Japanese version (to my extra expense) not because of the Bluetooth but because of the Japanese OS (with Decuma Japanese, etc). However, should something happen to it (say, assuming DanT can't fix it :p ....speaking of which, are spare parts growing scarce? :( ), I'd like to be able to buy a cheaper, more readily available used American or European version. Is it possible to somehow flash the roms of those other versions to have the Japanese OS? Since I'll be starting off with a Japanese version I'll have the device at hand should I need to make a dump first (assuming it's possible).

Third of all, the device was called "slightly used". How long do TH-55's usually tend to last before needing repairing/battery replacement/etc? Any handling recommendations to increase its lifespan?

...Um, that's not as many questions as I thought it would be. I'm sure I'll return with more; thanks in advance if you answer one or all. :)

[dmitrygr]

0. Where can i get a TH-44, sounds like a smaller TH-55 right? :)
1. pim data should stay fine
2. flashing roms is possible, but in this case ALMOST impossible because sony released no docs on the device.
3. practically forever

[imiganai]

0. I've done that sooo many times....but it does have a small scratch on the back, so I suppose it's smaller in volume. :rolleyes:
1. So I just uninstall the current palm desktop (keeping user stuff), then install the Sony one?
2. No trick using the upgraders or whatever? That's unfortunate...
3. Forum posts state otherwise :p

Thanks, though, that was helpful :)

[MrEnglish]

1) I got a new laptop and decided to try the regular Palm Desktop with my TH55, and it works fine. Of course, it doesn't backup the freenotes and other Sony-specific stuff.
2) No idea
3) I've had mine for almost four years, and the battery is down to an hour or so of continuous use, but I'm talking with DanT about replacing it. The camera is also dead, and the hinges on the clear cover broke. I've looked around for some new model to replace the TH55, and there's just nothing out there. You're absolutely right that you're "upgrading" to this unit.

[intellidryad]

0. That's funny :D
2. You should take dmitrygr's word on that, I guess he knows the most around here.
3. After 2 years of usage, my camera short-circuited on one very rainy and humid day. Other then that, everything else is just fine, if you don't count cosmetic damages. Yet, the camera is not that useful, and if you do have a problem in the future, you know the TH is supported by one of the great repair services provided by DanT :D

[Cyker]

I'm not 100% on whether the TH55 works with the T|X's Palm Desktop, but you can deffo. copy the data from the old to the new and have it work.
You'll loose some stuff like the Notes (The Clie Organizer's Free Notes is not compatible sadly... uses vectors instead of bitmaps) and Expenses apps and whatever custom stuff else the T|X has.

In Linux it just works.

The life is pretty good - The TH55 is a *VERY* low-drain device, and even on a near-dead battery you can get decent run time out of it as long as you don't use high-drain functions like WiFi. I don't think any other PalmOS device bar the VZ (If you're fluent in Japanese, try and get one of these - They even cooler than TH55s :D But Japanese only :() can run on a 3-year old battery and still get a decent run time :)

Heck, I didn't even realise my battery was dying until I dropped it, broke the LCD (AIIE! :eek:) and had to send it to DanT for repair, where he was shocked at my battery's state and offered to replace it as well as the LCD :D

Nobody's figured out the TH55 flash stuff as DG says, so no luck there :(

[imiganai]

Thanks everyone!

The VZ looked a bit big for what I use it for; I wanted something in similar size to my TX.

As for linux, I looked around a little bit for linux PDAs but they tend to run big, expensive, and not quite as streamlined. I messed with linux on my TX and it would have been sweet (WIFI and bluetooth aren't implemented yet, but I got a good feel for it), but then I found myself missing (what remains of) Palm's application design philosophy and the portable apps that are so aptly designed for the screen size and interface.

As for the sync (1), I suppose this means the best plan is to just copy the few database files I need into the new sony-version install (datebook and contacts really) and then just sync from there. Obvious backups ensue beforehand :rolleyes:

2. is a shame. I had a hunch it would be that way. Maybe from reading this forum. hmm...

3. I'm worried that DanT's supplies will run low by the time I need repairs. Does he have any source of parts other than random TH's? Is it true that Sony still makes new parts but they're exceedingly expensive?

Anyways, you guys reassured me that I made an excellent choice (I wasn't really doubting it to begin with :p ) in choosing the TH (if I just drop the numbers I can't screw them up! :D )

[DanT]

Second of all, I bought a Japanese version (to my extra expense) not because of the Bluetooth but because of the Japanese OS (with Decuma Japanese, etc). However, should something happen to it (say, assuming DanT can't fix it :p ....speaking of which, are spare parts growing scarce? :( ), I'd like to be able to buy a cheaper, more readily available used American or European version. Is it possible to somehow flash the roms of those other versions to have the Japanese OS? Since I'll be starting off with a Japanese version I'll have the device at hand should I need to make a dump first (assuming it's possible).

I converted one of my Red Japanese TH55 to TH55/E1 (picture below) so I have an extra Japanese motherboard, in case yours goes caput. ;)

Fixing TH55 is no problem, except for the camera module. I'm out of stock at the moment.

http://www.1src.com/gallery/data/500/2949Red_E1.JPG

[imiganai]

Ahh! So pretty! I assume the Japanese motherboards aren't exactly selling like hotcakes, are they :p

Thanks DanT! (a few years in advance?)

[imiganai]

Whee, so my TH-55 arrived very quickly (yesterday)! It looks brand-new; I can't even find the scratch that's supposed to be on the back. Should I be angry at the deceptive description? :p

Anyway, I don't really need it, but the PEG-TH-55-B doesn't have bluetooth (I was under the impression that both Japanese models did)--so is that just the red version then?

And for anyone else upgrading from a TX to the TH-55, please note that the TX's palm desktop PIM databases are, it seems, incompatible. I didn't have access to the internal palm-pilot calendar/tasks/contacts/memos pdb's so I'm not sure if those are incompatible or not (I assume they are), but the respective data on the PC's side does not work with Sony's Palm Desktop. Suspecting that might happen I exported the PIM data to Palm's archive formats before (backing up), uninstalling, and then installing the new (old) Palm Desktop. Unfortunately those, too, are new formats, so those did not import. Being lazy I just VNC'd into my home computer in the states, plopped in my latest version of my PIM data folders in palm's user directory, then exported to the OLDER formats (datebook/to do/addressbook/memopad) that you can access by using the format drop-down box in the export dialogs. These imported fine, but I lost my categories and contact pictures (I only had three anyway). Note for Japanese users, the Japanese data that showed up on the palm but didn't display properly in Palm Desktop transfers into and displays properly in Sony's Palm Desktop.

Installed the updates, installed my applications, everything's happy :D .

Also, another note: if I recall correctly, people were having trouble with Memory Stick PRO/duo adapters being stuck in the Clie. I believe it was attributed to fake Chinese knockoffs from ebay? Oddly enough I bought an adapter at the Bic Camera in Nagoya; it's definitely not a knockoff, and yet it seems stuck in the Clie. Not that I need it removed anyway (my laptop only takes duo), but I guess maybe it really just depends on minute differences in the card's construction?

Also: I know there's MS Backup, but does anyone know of a card backup program that can update backups like NVBackup does?