TH55 User who just bought a T3 to play with

[jhintonh]

Good Evening-

I am a proud and loving owner of a CLIE TH55. And I own three other CLIEs. I have not owned a Palm developed piece of hardware since my Vx (actually not since they started making CLIEs).

But there I was yesterday morning standing in line at a local Office Depot waiting to plunk down $100+ on four HP 26 black cartidges for my HP DesignJet 200 E Size Plotter when I looked left and saw a big orange hand-written sticker proclaiming a PalmOne T3 for $175. It turned out to be the display that had benn on display for all of 3 hours and it was the last T3 in the store. No scratches on the case or screen (still had the from-the-factory screen protector on it). All of the accessories still in their individual wrappings.

My question, and the reason for this thread is put to all of you T3 owners out there. What can I expect from this machine? What are its strong points/weak points? What are the "must-have apps" for this device? How the hell can you successfully set up a Bluetooth network (I bought the USB thingy from CompUSA and installed it only to become so frustrated that I uninstalled it today) so that I can utilize my high-speed Internet connection at work/home? And any general purpose sage pieces of wisdom you may have.

And yes, I have already read the sticky FAQ thread in this forum. As well as every other thread here. So be nice and share your T3 knowledge with a CLIE user.

Thank you for your input.

:)

-Jhintonh

[sdkat2]

Hello there, jhintonh -

I've had a T3 almost a year now. I have to say, the weakest feature is battery life. It's one of the reasons the T3 is my stay at home PDA now. I take my TH55 everywhere, even on business trips, instead of the T3 or a laptop. Oddly enough, I have not had the urge to part with the T3. It's a beautiful, fast machine. I had a bluetooth network set up and was happily surfing with it too. Then came XP SP2 and I have not been able to get the bluetooth internet access working since. I've also not had time to play with it and try to repair the connection.

If you would like to try there are very good instructions here -Whizoo (http://www.whizoo.com/bt_setup/) . These are the instructions I used to successfully connect via bluetooth originally using a Belkin bluetooth dongle.

Good luck with the T3. Let me know if you succeed with the connection.

Kat

[PontiacVenom]

It's been a while since I had my T3.

The only real things that urked me about it were: the high pitched whine that the screen produced (can't remember what program I used that fixed it) and the battery life wasn't all that great.

Other than the two things mention above, I loved it. Spent hours a day surfing the net using my T610.

My favorite program was.. Warfare Incorporated.

[Vidge]

Welcome to the T3 club, Jhintonh! One piece of software I find important is BTTogglePro. You can find it at the same website that sdkat2 posted above. It saves battery life by turning off BT when you don't need it and turning it back on when you do.

As far as what you can expect: compared to your Th55, I think you will find the T3 significantly faster, especially on large databases. Almost all of the quirks we suffered through with this early on have been fixed. I have had mine since 9/26 (and have had it replaced 4 times :( ). The major issue that seems to creep up is the digitizer going whacky after a while. Other than that, it is pretty solid (something I couldn't say a few months ago).

[jhintonh]

Good Evening, Vidge-

Nice to read you again :). I do not believe that the T3 will supplant my TH55 anytime soon, but for the price I could not pass it up. Thus far I have enjoyed "playing" with the T3 and I have noticed the speed difference that you speak of. Unfortunately I also notice the drastic difference in battery life. Whoa. The screen is as good as my TH's (except the TH's whites are more white) but I do not like the blue colored Graffitti area or its cramped writing quarters (side-to-side) compared to the TH. I do however like the ability to change the four quick buttons in the Graffitti area. That is neat. I do not like the rearrangement of the task bar icons from what I am used to (the Search is where I am accustomed to the drop-down-menu button). The external speaker is VERY loud, BTW.

It is a nice piece of hardware. Not quite as exotic when compared to the TH but it is still nice.

Thanks to everyone for their input thus far. I did not mean to single out anyone to respond to but I have e-known Vidge for sometime now.

-Jhintonh

[jhintonh]

Good Evening, SDKAT-

I did not forget you my fellow Florida friend (same City I believe). Did you ever get your TH to work at all of the local Panera's? Nothing beats a French Onion Soup Bread Bowl and free hi-speed Internet access, LOL.

The T3 will probably be my stay at home PDA as well. It does after all have the ability to use remote control software (NoviiRemote) which my TH lacks.

I will read you around SDKAT.

-Jhintonh

[Vidge]

One thing you definitely will want to do is get a DIA skin (DIA is what Palm likes to call the VG area :D) Take a look at SkinDIA (formerly SkinT3) here (http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72007&highlight=SkinT3) as a program which allows skins to be loaded. There are a number of them in various posts here as well as on PalmGear.

[jhintonh]

Good Evening-

Thanks Vidge.

-Jhintonh

[Gekko]

T3's 32k Memos are SWEET.

[jhintonh]

T3's 32k Memos are SWEET.

Good Afternoon-

So noted. :)

-Jhintonh

[Cyker]

TH55 has 32kB memos too, but only if you do it with the Clie Organiser memo interface.

Say, if you copy the T3 memo stuff to TH55 I wonder if that lets you have 32kB memos outside of CO...?

[sdkat2]

Good Evening, SDKAT-

I did not forget you my fellow Florida friend (same City I believe). Did you ever get your TH to work at all of the local Panera's? Nothing beats a French Onion Soup Bread Bowl and free hi-speed Internet access, LOL.


-Jhintonh

Yes, we are in the same city. You know, I've tried several Panera's from San Marco to Southside to Riverside Sq. and have not been able to get my TH55 to connect. :-( I had no problem whatsoever surfing, chatting and checking email at various hotspots on a recent business trip, including the hotel and restaurants, but those darned Panera's just won't cooperate. I'll buy you some soup if you can get mine set up to surf. :D

I have just picked up a second TH55, by the way. I've finally decided to let go of my T3 - I think....maybe......maybe not.... Decisions, decisions.

[jmc12787]

I had a bluetooth network set up and was happily surfing with it too. Then came XP SP2 and I have not been able to get the bluetooth internet access working since. I've also not had time to play with it and try to repair the connection.

If you would like to try there are very good instructions here -Whizoo (http://www.whizoo.com/bt_setup/) . These are the instructions I used to successfully connect via bluetooth originally using a Belkin bluetooth dongle.

Good luck with the T3. Let me know if you succeed with the connection.

Kat


That's interesting; my BT network setup would only work periodically until I installed SP2. Now it works flawlessly.

[jhintonh]

I have just picked up a second TH55, by the way. I've finally decided to let go of my T3 - I think....maybe......maybe not.... Decisions, decisions.

Good morning-

Where did you get your additional TH? Locally? I have had a dickens of a time finding one that is not a demo model with unacceptable free-play damage. And how much did you pay for it?

Strange to hear of your Panera problems. I have no issues with any of the locations.

Also, I do not know if you know about the free WiFi at the Landing or not. Through a program called JaxWIZ there is free public access the Landing (and Hemming Park, I think).

Have you found any other free spots around town?

-Jhintonh

[sdkat2]

Jhintonh -

Since the TH55 discussion is off topic to this thread I've sent you a private message with more information.

FYI - I am really undecided about selling my T3. I have so much invested in accessories and luckily have had no digitizer issues with it either. It is a truly wonderful PDA and has many things to offer beyond the TH55's capabilities. If you have no luck finding another TH55 you certainly have made a great choice with the T3 as your backup.

Kat