Any decent replacements for TX?

[thisis!anapple]

Other than the iPod Touch, are there any non-phone devices with good PIM capabilities? I'd prefer something with support for calendar categories and/or multiple calendars that can sync with Exchange server and/or Google Calendar. Of course it needs to do so over WiFi. Support for WPA2/AES over WiFi adhock networks would be nice to. (The TX can't do this for some reason.) A decent browser would be nice to.

And it has to be a reasonable price. I don't want to spend $1000+ for a UMPC or smartphone.

Does such a beast exist? Maybe one of the newer DAPS or internet tablets? I'm primarily interested in a decent calendar and contacts applications with good syncing capabilities. I'm finding the TX increasingly frustrating in this department.

Thanks.

[bdball]

HP still makes pocket pc's http://tinyurl.com/c3qygz

As much as I disliked them in the past. They are the only true PDA still available. I will most likely be making the jump myself soon.

[juggernaut#2]

Support for WPA2/AES over WiFi adhock networks would be nice to. (The TX can't do this for some reason.)
doesn´t the ESU help ?

[technical1]

You can probably get a Centro for cheap. I made the switch when my TX died (the 3rd time) & I am very happy w/it.

Smaller screen, but has the same resolution, so it is sharper. Radio for calls is good, speaker is good, reception is good. Has good s/w that it comes with- so all around it is a good choice- especially 'cause it fits nicely in your hand, ergonomically done.

Of course, the Pre is the target, but I'm on Verizon, so who knows when we'll see it; but for now I love my Centro.

Good luck.

[thisis!anapple]

ESU allows WPA2 for network infrastructure (router/access point) but not for adhock networks. Not sure why it cares, but there have been times I wanted to use my laptop as a makeshift router and the TX won't connect unless I basically disable security. Not a deal breaker though.

I looked at the HP's. They're okay, but I'm hesitant to go with a Pocket PC OS at this point. It's not clear if they'll be upgradeable to a newer OS version and frankly I find the price a little high. In Canada you can't really get one for much less than $400 for the cheaper one.

Centro in Canada is $300 (ridiculous...). And it doesn't have WiFi so you need to pay a minimum $30/month extra for a marginally decent data plan, which I'm not inclinded to do at the moment. Plus it wouldn't do anything my TX can't.

I was hoping maybe there was something I'd missed, like some mobile GPS or media player with decent PIM support but this doesn't seem very likely.

I think I'll most likely keep using my TX for the next 6 months to a year while I see what devices come out in the meantime. I have to admit the Palm Pre does look very interesting but I'm still waiting to see how powerful the APIs will be for developers. Pricing and availability may be an issue too. The next version of Android may be interesting too and some of the new HTC devices coming out look pretty nice if I do decide to go a WinMo route. I think it'll be an interesting year, but at the moment there isn't really anything I find terribly compelling except maybe for the iPod Touch but I'm rather ambivalent about Apple and their "let's never call this a PDA" mentality.

[rusacarr]

If you are wanting a PDA, you are, with me, among a dying bread. I believe that the HP iPAQs are the only production PDA left.

If you like the TX (aside from the lack of add-hoc wifi), why not look on eBay for a few spares? Plus, with a bit of an investment, you can apply a few upgrades to keep your TX going for a number of years (glass digitizer, PowerSDHC, high-speed SDHC card, over-clocker, even new mother boards if needed).

Decent browser? Well, that's subjective, but there are a number to choose from for Palm; Universe, Opera Mini, NetFront, to name a few. Add Core Player or Kinoma and you have Youtube and some streaming media support also.

russell

[mark krebs]

Hi all. I still love my Clie th-55. I had switched to Tx because of superior MSExchange synchronization (versamail) but it's otherwise better in many respects: camera (cheezy) uSDCard, superior processor, digitizer & screen. I'd recommend it if you don't need MSExchange.

[mark krebs]

I found http://myworld.ebay.com/itsnothere/ and bought another Tx. After weeks with iTouch, it doesn not compare. Just downloaded versamail on the th-55 & it crashed it as before :(

Nothing beats a Tx, period.

[caffeinated]

I was going to suggest the same thing before you posted, that you consider a refurbished Palm TX from Chris's eBay store. Let us know how it goes.

[videkatten]

...
Does such a beast exist? Maybe one of the newer DAPS or internet tablets? I'm primarily interested in a decent calendar and contacts applications with good syncing capabilities. I'm finding the TX increasingly frustrating in this department.



Maybe you should look at Android based devices such as HTC Magic/Hero? You'll get a pretty good built in calendar and a contacts app that you can sync with your Google account. Download "Astrid" in Market and you got a simple todo app (http://www.androlib.com/android.application.com-timsu-astrid-pjE.aspx). There's also GDocs apps for Android, good Memos replacement. If you still want to use your old Palm Memos, export them from Palm Desktop and use Note Everything on the Android (http://www.softxperience.mobi/23-1-Note-Everything.html).

If you dont like the way to input text, try Mobil Write, its like Palms old Graffiti (http://www.androlib.com/android.application.com-inkmarksoftware-mobilewrite-qpzw.aspx). Or Better Keyboard, ShapeWrite and more..

[araj]

The Sharp PC-71 Netwalker (http://conics.net/catalog/product_info.php?currency=USD&products_id=571) looks a neat replacement. No Bluetooth nor infrared though.

[Another Michael]

The Sharp PC-71 Netwalker (http://conics.net/catalog/product_info.php?currency=USD&products_id=571) looks a neat replacement. No Bluetooth nor infrared though.
Looks good.

Ubuntu Linux
5 " 1024x600 Touchscreen and Keyboard/
comes in three colors (black/white/red)

But costs about 500 $

Youtube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_TsVbU-EFo&NR=1

[araj]

The SmartQ V5 (http://en.smartdevices.com.cn/Products/V5/200912/30-45.html) looks sweet too.

It runs Linux: Ubuntu or Android. Also WindowsCE 6.0
WiFi and Bluetooth, no 3G
800x480 pixels, 4.3" resistive touchscreen, 16M colors
3.5mm audio port
2000mAH battery (non replaceable)
256MB Program RAM; upto 32GB SDHC storage
600MHz
119mm(length) ×78mm(width) ×14mm(depth)
Price: about $200

Upside: there's a ton of superb free software for Linux.
Downside 1: all those paid-for Palm programs go down the drain.
Downside 2: Chinese manufacture. Quality is highly variable there.

The official forum is here. (http://www.smartqmid.com/phpBB3/index.php)

A detailed review is here. (http://www.chinesegadgets.net/2010/01/30/smartq-v5-review/)

[chacalau]

have to agree with techical1, i bought a centro out of curiosity and have since ditched my HTC Diamond in favour of the centro, mostly for zen-of-palm PIN and PDA functionality... plus, and this is my main gripe, is there ANYTHING out there on another OS like 'Progect' for Palm? i couldnt live with out that app!

[martinloat]

You might look at Projekt S60 for the Symbian OS
http://www.kylom.com/projekt-s60/

[mark krebs]

I was going to suggest the same thing before you posted, that you consider a refurbished Palm TX from Chris's eBay store. Let us know how it goes.

Fantastic: very happy with the business as well as the hardware. Not that Chris needs more commendations...

On point, I'm inexorably being pulled towards iTouch. <sigh> One reason is podcasts, which are seamlessly delivered, the second is Text+ which handles SMS so well that I'm getting rid of my Centro in favor of an old razor (just to minimize the jumk I have to carry). And here's the first App I've found with NO Palm substitute: SymCalc. Natural notation and symbolic manipulation. Sheesh, that should've been a plam app. Graffiti still rocks, but I don't really know why: my kids can text faster than me and I'm even faster, on non-symbol rich stuff, when using the touch. </sigh>

[sweller]

Ooooh. Stevie like it...

http://www.amrel.com/rugged-computers/industrial-rugged-PDA-specs.asp

[Ken in Regina]

Ooooh. Stevie like it...

http://www.amrel.com/rugged-computers/industrial-rugged-PDA-specs.asp
Old operating systems. Win Mobile 5.0 is old and WinCE is even older. WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and GSM cell phone support are all extra cost upgrades.

It would be pretty desirable with Win Mobile 6.1 and the upgrades. It doesn't say if it comes with any applications (e.g. Mobile Office/Outlook) or ActiveSync. I like that it can be a USB host (you can plug in a flash drive or other USB accessory) as well as a client.

...ken...

[Ken in Regina]

Now I know what I want. But I don't know if I have the patience to wait.

I looked at Classic (the PalmOS emulator for the Pre) when it was first announced and it had too many limitations to interest me. And the original Pre also had limitatons I wasn't much interested in.

The new Pre Plus interests me. I took a look at v2.x of Classic a few minutes ago and it interests me. It now has HotSync and other improvements. Migrating to it is as simple as doing a HotSync from the PC to Classic in the Pre Plus and you're right back in business with all your Palm PIM data and apps and anything new on the WebOS that might interest you. You can even dial the phone, send texts and send email from the old Palm Contacts. Cool!!

Unfortunately it looks like the Pre Plus won't be available around here until fall.

...ken...

[thenrik]

Hi:

I still use my T/X every day for PIM and applications but have a Samsung Moment running Google Android for my phone. There are a lot of former Palm users on the Moment forums:
http://androidforums.com/android-applications/28286-palm-os-android-droid.html

When Avantgo and Vindigo went belly up, I knew it was time to get a smart phone with a future. Android is still in its infancy with certainly lots of growing pains. The forums feel like 1src back in the day, when it was more energized. Palm never supported the T/X and Google never talks to anyone but there's an energetic third party developer/forum community.

Maybe if Palm comes out with a phone with an SD slot and solid support for legacy apps . . . but I'm still a fan of Palm OS and use it daily. The Samsung moment is multimedia icing on the cake.

Tom

[Ken in Regina]

Maybe if Palm comes out with a phone with an SD slot and solid support for legacy apps . . . but I'm still a fan of Palm OS and use it daily. The Samsung moment is multimedia icing on the cake.
Hi Tom,

As I mentioned above, the Palm Pre is bang on what you are looking for. The "Classic" PalmOS emulator includes the basic Palm PIM applications (Address, Calendar, Memos, ToDo) and some other sampler apps like FileZ, etc.

You can Hotsync to the Palm Desktop just as usual, using Bluetooth or WiFi, no cables. The Classic Hotsync also supports third-party conduits on the PC for syncing to other things like Outlook, if that's your bag. If the Hotsync Manager on the PC can run it, it will probably work with the Classic emulator.

Most standard third-party Palm apps will also run on it.

As I said above, you have all the goodness of your T|X plus the multimedia goodies like you are playing with on the Samsung. WebOS development probably isn't quite as far advanced as 'Droid but it's getting there.

And the Pre Plus does true multitasking.

...ken...

[Caitoz]

an iPod Touch 32GB/64GB

[araj]

The new PC-T1 Netwalker (http://www.linuxfordevices.com/c/a/News/Sharp-NetWalker-PCT1/) from Sharp looks sweet. Available from Conics.net (http://conics.net/catalog/index.php?cPath=53)

5 inch resistive touchscreen, 1024x600 resolution
512MB RAM, 8GB storage
Runs Linux, Ubuntu 9.04
6 hrs battery life, battery is user-replaceable
Wifi, Bluetooth, microSDHC slot
$562 from Conics.net

Yum.

[TBell]

I was very interested in the Palm Pre, but decided to go with the Centro for two reasons: Classic had disclaimers about a lot of applications (no conduits, imperfect operation), and I really, really don't like the idea of having my PDA "web-syncing" to something besides my own computer. Anybody else have these concerns? I will greatly miss my big TX screen, but I am tired of carrying a phone, a Palm AND a beeper and the Centro will let me carry just one device...

[patrickdylan]

I was very interested in the Palm Pre, but decided to go with the Centro for two reasons: Classic had disclaimers about a lot of applications (no conduits, imperfect operation), and I really, really don't like the idea of having my PDA "web-syncing" to something besides my own computer. Anybody else have these concerns? I will greatly miss my big TX screen, but I am tired of carrying a phone, a Palm AND a beeper and the Centro will let me carry just one device...

I have concerns with automatic web syncing, but mainly if I don't know what is connecting or have control over it. I use a TX and a complicated scheme to sync 2-way with Google calendar (for family calendar coordination) but the facebook/etc. integration idea of the newer phones scares the crap out of me.

Sticking with my TX for now, mainly to avoid a data plan. Maybe an iTouch someday? Right now I'm just waiting until there's an option that is alluring enough.