How do I upgrade my old stuff to TH55?

[jacksonian]

I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on the TH55 because I'm looking forward to the voice recorder, WiFi, bigger screen, longer battery life, and new organizer software.

Here's my situation: I have an SJ30 and my wife has an old N610. I want to upgrade both of them, but she's not very picky (says she doesn't even need an update of the 610), but I'm going to upgrade her anyway, because I can't stand the washed out screen on hers. If I just get one TH55, I can take that and give her my SJ30, which will be an upgrade for her, and retire the 610. Or I can get 2 new TH55s.

My question is about 1) problems transferring files from an OS4 machine to an OS5 machine and 2) being able to hotsync both since they'll have 2 different organizer suites.

As for 1) is that a problem? Or will it HotSync just fine and transfer everything without a hitch? I'm only really concerned about my memos/address/calendar stuff. I don't have a lot of 3rd party, and I can reload that anyway.

As for 2) Will the 2 different desktop versions coexist and let me independently hotsync the 2 different machines? Or are they not compatible? Right now all the desktop stuff is on my desktop pc. I thought of just putting the TH55 stuff on my laptop and leaving the SJ30 stuff on the desktop, but somehow I have to get the files from my SJ30 to the TH55, so it seems like I'd have to put the new software on the desktop. If this is going to be a huge pain, then I'll just buy 2 new TH55s and make it simple. She would prefer for me not to buy her a new one though, and it might be easier for her not to have to learn the new features anyway.

Any guidance appreciated!

[jacksonian]

Maybe my questions were too big.

Has anyone upgraded from an OS4 to an OS5 machine, and if so, were there any problems with the transition of data?

[Pharoz]

I'm not quite sure about upgrading from os4 to os5 because I haven't received my th55 yet, but I think it's possible to have more than one user using the Palm Desktop. It should correctly sync each pda with that user's profile under the Palm Desktop. I believe it also takes into account apps such as Avantgo so that it will only sych those apps for that particular profile. Of course, this is all assumption so I could be wrong.

[jacksonian]

Thanks,
I know it's OK to have separate users because my wife and I both sync on what we have now. I'm just afraid that the totally different organizer software is going to throw a hitch. If the 2 desktop versions will remain separate and play nice together I'll be OK, but I know in previous versions, you could only have one version of the desktop software on one pc.

[threengs]

It's not hard at all just export all the data in each of the four main categories. Install the new desktop. Create your new user name. Import the data in the four categories and sync. That's how it worked from T-415 to TJ-35.

[threengs]

Palm clie desktop can accommodate multiple handhelds. We've got a ux-40, tj-35 and t-415 all syncing on the Palm desktop. It shouldn't be a problem with the new th-55, don't take my word for it though. I could be proved wrong.

[sjmawson]

Jacksonian

I moved from OS4 to OS5 some time ago, so the painful memories are now somewhat blurred. Here are some thoughts:

* if you are using simple apps the transition should be relatively easy. There are however one or two apps out there that never made it past OS4 and will therefore only work on OS4. 'Doing' was one I found very useful, but in the end gave it up.

* OS5 uses different font settings, so if, like me, you are a big user of Quicksheet, the 'tiny' settings on OS4 can't be replicated on OS5. But there are other programs out there that get you most of the way

* whenever I have upgraded models with Palm, I never had a problem. Whenever I've done it with Sony's, it's always been a pain. I've taken to doing a one by one load, rather than just trying to sync it all onto the new one. The advantage of this is that it reduces the detritus that builds up over time.

* with the latest desktop, I have been able to sync both OS4 and OS5 (I kept my OS4 on for ages) - however I did have to download a patch at one point.

None of this should dissuade you from upgrading however. Just make sure you back your files up on the pc and on the clie, using MSbackup - which I never used for years, but now swear by.

Good luck

Simon

[noone]

I'm not sure this will be a confirmation to you. I don't know much about PDA hardware and OS but.... first I once had a NR70 that should be OS4 and it's already broken. Then, now, I use my brother's IIIc that should be OS3. What have I done is just plug the cable for hot sync to my pc and custom syn to com port and select user to what I had use on my clie', and it works. No need to install driver update or new palm desktop. Or anyway if you wanna change ur palm desktop I guess u can uninstall the previous version and install the new version, the data should still be there. and the newer version of memo pad should be able to read the data of the previous one.

don't forget to backup first before doing this stuff.

but I think the new clie memo application is NOT the same application as palm basic memo pad rite?

[jacksonian]

Thanks for the tips. Very much appreciated. I've ordered the TH55 tonight from eCost. My wife doesn't want me to get her a new one, she says she'll take my SJ30. I'll let you guys know how the transition goes. Thanks again.