My TH55 is my last PDA.

[strider_mt2k]

Anyone who follows developments in the handheld world can see that things are making another big jump.

As much as I love my TH55, and PalmOS computing in general, this will be my last PDA as we know it. Possibly the last PalmOS device too.

From here it will be a smartphone, or some other kind of portable.

That doesn't mean that I'm leaving or anything, but I have stopped shopping accessories, and won't be buying any more apps or games.

From this point on, it's freeware and hoping my TH lasts a long, long time.

The good times have rolled, now let's see how far this thing'll coast...

[alsa]

Good luck to ya!

[strider_mt2k]

I'm not sure how you meant that, but I posted these thoughts wondering if anyone else felt the same way.

[Ezra4no1]

Yes.. I too had come to this same conclusion about my NX80v....
3 weeks later I moved on...

I moved on to the Windows Mobile Platform. I personally saw this as the Mobile OS that will eventually dominate the mobile arena for PDAs and Smartphones. I would of gone with a Mobile phone now.. but have decided to wait about another year as this market grows a bit more and larger carries come out with a bit better pricing model.



Good luck in your journey.

[Joel]

I'll definitely stay with the Palm platform, in whatever form it takes. My TH55/E will be my last Clie, but definitely not my last Palm-powered device.

The Apple/Motorola rumors sound interesting but I'm seeing that device as a future added gadget. ;)

[Cyker]

Hehe, I'm with you strider ;)

I'm just gonna keep this thing running until it dies or something I deem better comes along. At the moment the TH is as near-perfect as I could hope for from a PDA (As opposed to a posing accessory ;)) so I don't think I'll be changing for a while...

I mean, all I ever wanted was a 'better T665', and now I got it. Not very often do you get what you want while you still want it :)

[strider_mt2k]

I'd really like to be brought back to PalmOS by a killer device, I just don't see it happening. I also agree that hardware and OS advances make a Windows machine that is more compatible with my PC (maybe not totally there yet, but getting closer) more and more of a logical step. I'm honestly not sure yet.

[IsLNdbOi]

I feel the same way. With the all the things that have been going on with Palm, I don't think I will be shopping for just a PDA when it comes time for me to upgrade. My next will definitely be some sort of converged device and it probably won't be Palm powered either. In fact I've recently been taking a really hard look at the iMate PDA2k. I haven't seen a Palm powered converged device that has such a nice form factor. The OS will take some getting used to though. It's been nice, but Palm's day in the sun has come and now is going gone.

[boomer]

My thoughts too - for the most part. Once Sony decided to leave the market and I saw what PalmOne came out with [no innovation, poorly designed products, products that weren't really tested before being marketed...] it seemed like it was only a matter of time before the whole PalmOS world would collapse. I love my NX70 - may it last long.
Also - next year my company will come out with a corporate PDA policy. No personal devices allowed - only company owned devices can to synced to company owned PCs. The good news is that they will buy me a new PDA - the bad news is I have no choice in which one it will be. I can't imagine that the PDA chosed by the company will be a PalmOS device. Bye bye Palm, hello PPC.

[knank]

someone told me that something very good will come from PalmOne in March, but he doesn't tell me more, i want to wait till march. At the momment i'm happy with my new Nx73v.

[strider_mt2k]

That would truly be awesome. Hopefully they'll learn from recent experience.

[walstoned]

I agree with strider I started out with palm jumped over to handspring>>then to sony>>back to palm>> then Symbian>>Psion>> PPC>> back again to palm>> and now the clie.

I have to say the Clie is the best I have had with all the Pda OS out there palm was my first and only OS that bewitched & bewildered at the same time. My Clie will probably last the longest.Unless they come up with something new and relatively fantastic this is the one im Sticking with

:cool:

[DanT]

TH55 will be with me for a while. To assure that, I have TH55/U and a back up TH55/E1. TH55/U is for my daily work/home uses, where BlueTooth is not needed. TH55/E1 is for my business/pleasure travels.

My previous N760C lasted for 2.5 years and was still sold for $150. These THs should last a bit longer.

[strider_mt2k]

If how my TH55 is wearing and holding up is any indication, I expect to have mine a while too.

At least I hope so. This is by far the coolest one I've ever owned.
In fact, this one, and even my old SJ33 are still good looking and work great.

(The SJ33 was sold to a co-worker but I get visitation rights.) ;)

[Pdaman]

My th55 will be also my last palm powered pda if palm os cobalt will not be so good as it could be, so palm os cobalt must be super good system that i would stay, however windows mobile stuff are very cool.

Palm os cobalt details thread :
http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?p=630533#post630533

[wellsjs]

Since I just purchased two days ago, a backup TH55 (brand new), I plan to stay with my current TH55 plus this spare for at least a couple of years. Then I won't feel bad about walking away from my $2,000+ investment in hardware (MSs) and Palm OS software, having gotten considerable use (my money's worth) out of them. Since it is impossible to predict what will come along during the course of two years, that's as "far out" as I'm thinking right now! ;)

I will add that the more I think about a "converged device," i.e. smartphone, the less I like the idea. I want a good sized screen for my PDA! I want something small for my phone! I don't want to get skin oil from my face all over my "good sized screen" while using it as a phone! :eek: One possible solution to that would be a high quality speaker phone on a TH55 size PDA! Also, battery life with a smartphone device would have to get better than it is today. I hear that new battery technology that will power such a device for a month between charges is "right around the corner!" That would definately change the landscape! ;)

[Shadowhuah]

Wellsjs,
Just curious. How will you maintain the battery on your backup? Battery University stated that it is not a good idea to buy a back-up battery and then store it until needed. I guess the possibility exists of it bleeding too much power away.
Anyway, congratulations on your new purchase!!!! You must be psyched. I must admit to a bit of covetness for your new situation. Alas, I will have to be content with being the proud owner of one Clie TH55 - the best PDA on the market. Must consider the 7 kiddos this Christmas Season! :D

Back on topic,
I agree with Wellsjs about the PDA/Phone combination thing. The Army is about to issue me a BlackBerry. I will let you know how that turns out. The BlackBerry I am getting does not have touchscreen technology and I know I would miss that capability if that were my only PDA. I am glad for the TH. Same thing goes for the screen size. Now that I am used to the bigger screen, I would balk at buying anything smaller for PDA usage. I also love the Palm OS. (I am still a throwback Apple OS lover...Though I had to move to the dark side of the MSWIN community). All said, I am planning on keeping the TH for a very long time. I know I will have to replace the battery after a year or so, but I have had it now for 7 months and the novelty has yet to wear off...(Partially thanks to the new software being published for it lately: Agendus, Zlauncher, MyBible, and DTG).

Anyway, There's my 2 cents worth...

Shadowhuah

[wellsjs]

Wellsjs,
Just curious. How will you maintain the battery on your backup?

ShadowhuahI have a "ToDo" set in Agendus to remind me to charge it every three weeks (intially)! If it look like it can go four weeks between charges, I'll adjust! ;)

[Shadowhuah]

I have a "ToDo" set in Agendus to remind me to charge it every three weeks (intially)!


Ah yes, Agendus - The answer for every problem except High Cholestoral! Thanks for sating my curiosity... :cool:

Shadowhuah

[wellsjs]

Ah yes, Agendus - The answer for every problem except High Cholestoral!

ShadowhuahActually, I have a daily ToDo reminder to take my cholestoral medication too! :eek: :D

[meir87]

I have a "ToDo" set in Agendus to remind me to charge it every three weeks (intially)! If it look like it can go four weeks between charges, I'll adjust! ;) No matter how good care you take of it a Lithium Ion battery will not last for more than 3-4 years (not that it will completely stop working, but rather the run time may shrink to 30 minutes). I guess you could just buy another battery if need be.

[DanT]

TH55 battery replacement is pretty easy to do since a special battery cover is provided on the side. You just need to get that funky 3-bladed screwdriver. I'm sure the new batteries for them will be available for many years to come. Even the N760C batteries are still available.

[JulianL]

I will add that the more I think about a "converged device," i.e. smartphone, the less I like the idea. I want a good sized screen for my PDA! I want something small for my phone! I don't want to get skin oil from my face all over my "good sized screen" while using it as a phone! :eek: One possible solution to that would be a high quality speaker phone on a TH55 size PDA! Also, battery life with a smartphone device would have to get better than it is today. I hear that new battery technology that will power such a device for a month between charges is "right around the corner!" That would definately change the landscape! ;)

I agree 100% re converged devices. What I really want is a phone the size of a credit card with no screen and no keys. I'll use my PDA as the user interface. As far as microphone and speaker I prefer to use a headset anyway for convenience so I'd be happy with a bluetooth headset that probably also would have the most basic UI to show the number of an incoming call and and accept/hangup and volume buttons. Of course if this could be done then I wouldn't object to the electronics from the credit card sized phone being integrated into the same case as my TH55, but I want it to end up looking and behaving like a PDA and not a phone.

With my scheme better battery life is definitely a requirement for device and headset. Where is the info coming from re new battery technologies? Do you have any pointers to articles? Just curious about the state of current research.

- Julian

[wellsjs]

Where is the info coming from re new battery technologies? Do you have any pointers to articles? Just curious about the state of current research.

- JulianJulian,

See post #9 here:

http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55979&highlight=battery+life

Not sure if a search at Brighthand will still bring up the original article. ;)

[Sentient Carbon]

I agree that a converged device with a form factor of a TH55 would be amazing. I've been looking at the Treo, but that tiny little 320x320 screen just doesn't do it for me. Since getting my NR70V (my first PDA with a big screen) I can't imagine going back to something so little. Now with my beloved TH55, I have the best of all worlds. Here in the UK there's a converged PPC device with a quasi-TH55 form factor (big screen, small tablet, etc.) However, I have a real hate on for MS products (Mac user here...) and would really hate to leave Palm OS.

I have to say though, that as a dedicated FPS player I've really been leaning toward a Zodiac too. That built-in analog stick... (drool drool).

But for the next few years, my TH55 will do for me. It does it all, plays games, movies, music, takes notes at Uni, surfs the web, sends/recieves email and pics.

Sort of off topic, I realized how much well the TH55 fits my lifestyle when my first one was stolen from me at Uni. I lasted all of a week before I had to buy another...

[Rossi01]

So far I did not find a worthy replacement for my TH55-E. But, since I bought it earlier this year there's still some time for something I would consider to show up in the market.

Smart Phones? I do not buy them, at least in their current stage. They still have long ways to go before I start considering one. They are also a catch 22 issue, since I like to have a PDA screen size like the TH55's, which turns it into a cumbersome phone, unless I can use a wireless (BT or, who knows?) earphone. And then there's the battery issue. Lame, to say the least.

However, my current conclusion is not buying anything Sony for the time being since it is likely my next PDA will not be a Sony. I currently have my cameras (DCS PC-100 and 717), PCMCIA adapter, etc. using Memory Stick. But since Sony is out of the PDA market I'll migrate to whoever memory format my next PDA uses. So will my future cameras.

And the entertainment system I'm putting together right now will not have a Sony device attached to it. Sony upset me by not releasing the Bluetooth unit in the US and really pissed me off by abandoning the PDA market. No more BetaMax's. :mad:

[enderenya]

I agree that a converged device with a form factor of a TH55 would be amazing. I've been looking at the Treo, but that tiny little 320x320 screen just doesn't do it for me. Since getting my NR70V (my first PDA with a big screen) I can't imagine going back to something so little. Now with my beloved TH55, I have the best of all worlds. Here in the UK there's a converged PPC device with a quasi-TH55 form factor (big screen, small tablet, etc.) However, I have a real hate on for MS products (Mac user here...) and would really hate to leave Palm OS.

I have to say though, that as a dedicated FPS player I've really been leaning toward a Zodiac too. That built-in analog stick... (drool drool).

But for the next few years, my TH55 will do for me. It does it all, plays games, movies, music, takes notes at Uni, surfs the web, sends/recieves email and pics.

Sort of off topic, I realized how much well the TH55 fits my lifestyle when my first one was stolen from me at Uni. I lasted all of a week before I had to buy another...I agree with nearly everything you just typed. The TH55/E is simply the best.
Unfortunately, your avatar is so annoying, it was hard to even read your post until I put the left side of my browser window off screen. <laugh> yikens!

[Brad Bishop]

I've got mixed feelings about the convergence:

On one hand I'd rather not carry around a bunch of little devices and I like the idea of one address list.

On the other hand, PDAs really feel unnatural to hold against my head (too wide and thin - which is great for a PDA but awkward for a phone). The screens on the PDA-cellphones (smaller) aren't all that great, either.

One other thing I hadn't thought of until a friend mentioned it was that when his PDA-Phone resets or crashes that it's a pain. My cellphones have never crashed. They just 'work'.

My current solution is to only carry what is needed. If I'm going into a restaurant I'm not going to answer the phone and don't wish to be bothered. My phone stays in my car. My phone doesn't travel with me everywhere I go. The same holds true for my PDA but it's more likely to go than my phone.

It *seems* like a PDA-phone would be a natural progression but I just don't see how it'll work and give you the best of both worlds without some serious compromises (the least common denominator of both worlds).

Brad

[wellsjs]

I don't like two devices on my belt . . . might as well get a pocket protector and load it up with pens/pencils! Proverbial geekdom! :eek:

That's why I require a PDA/case that fits in my front pants pocket and a phone on my belt (like everyone else). ;) I do have a Belkins combo case ($7 at clearance sale) that holds both the phone and PDA. and doesn't look half bad. I don't use it everyday, but it's ideal for traveling. ;)

[zipmail]

Sadly for me too, my TH55 looks likely to be my last pure PDA device. I have spent quite a fortune on software and also getting to a stage where I am comfortable with all the features. The TH55 is one of the few devices that IMHO, to have reached that sweet spot on price and performance. Then Sony (and the market) decided that the PDA market is going the smartphone/hybrid way...

Which means, a smartphone is going to have to go through the early PDA development cycle to come anywhere near the TH55. Saying that, the new O2 XDA Mini is a tempting replacement. And the Treo 650? We know what's wrong with that. It is a shame that PalmOne continues to trip up - more glaringly so when they are the supposedly torchbearers for PalmOS.

I have toyed with Xplore's M28 - but somehow the build quality isn't very convincing and hearing from friends that have their older models, too many little problems crop up over time. So for now, I lovingly care for my TH55 and I reckon it will give me a good 18-24 months. Hopefully by then it will have a Newton-esque cult following to keep it going and going...

[CroCo]

I agree with wellsjs on the convergent device. I think its interesting to see so many people agree on this. Maybe its because most TH55 owners are so happy about it´s long battery life:-)

My next device though will be a palmOS cobalt device. I must say, that palmOne actually seems to improve. The T5 doesn´t seem to be such a bad device. This persistant RAM is a good innovation for PDAs, especially if you are not close to a powersupply all the time!! I want to take it for a test drive, but all major electronic shops seemed to have agreed on letting palmOne down and not sell/display their devices any more. MS-monopoly influence???
But what I saw about palmOS cobalt impressed me. I guess whether you stick with palmOS or go to MS is just a question of your demands on a PDA.
I use mine mainly for PIM & spreadsheet & labwork, mp3, ebooks, gaming; in just that order. If there will be a 320x480 palmOS device with even better battery life and TH55 I will definitely tempted. ONLY problem, my sony digicam (memory stick) will have to be replaced, since I also like to look at my travel pictures on a larger display:-) That´s the only thing I regret about having bought sony products...they should have stayed in the PDA buissiness...DAMN...DAMN...DAMN.

[wontolla]

I'll stick to my TH-55 till it burns, but I'm trying to put my hands on a Treo-650, but I'll try to use both, but I'm not sure if in the near future I can keep the PalmOS devices, maybe if the PalmOs Linux based system rumors were truth....

[fssia]

Is it a rumour still? But PalmSource just announced it they plan to implement Palm OS on top of Linux. So does that mean Palm may be able to survive it after all?

[*YellowRose*]

I'll keep my TH until it dies . . . then who knows . . . hopefully, that will be another year or so, and we can see what shakes loose in the Palm world. I have so much money invested in software, it would *hurt* to replace them for PPC . . .

[Aces]

It's apparantly all my fault....
My first PDA was a Handspring. After owning a couple of different models, they decided to integrate phones into it (Bad idea, in my opinion). So I went to Clie's. Now after a couple of models they decide to leave the PDA market. So the way I see it, If I start looking at Palmone devices, they'll either go to smartphones completely or leave the PDA market.

It's too bad I didn't buy a couple of Wince/PPC devices back then.. maybe Bill Gates would have decided to take over the cell phone market, and leave us Palm users alone! ;)

[strider_mt2k]

Wow, with the latest developments on the Palm OS front, maybe I won't neccessarily NEED to have a PDA!

Interesting stuff!

[keelinlee]

The only complaint on TH55 is no multiple column on address book as T|3 or T|5.

[cid]

Is Veru suspicious have a combined phone/pda. They are heavy, and always lack something in each side.Or bad screen, memory, battery life.I'd rather be Batman,
with two things in the belt
what do you guys think?cid

[wellsjs]

cid,

Agree completely about converged devices, which usually combine functions but don't do any of them real well. I'm a one thing in the belt, one in the pocket kinda person! :D

[jjesusfreak01]

Personally, I believe simple is better. I do not think the nonvolatile memory is a good idea, until it can be better implemented, and just as quick as the current memory. A good solution would be a pda that had the current memory, but had an external storage device it could very quickly back up to if the power got low. Who really wants to spend 5 minutes on a hard reset, or 2 on a soft reset, unacceptible.

[vinu]

I am in India and would like to buy one?
Most of the sellers in eBay does not ship here.
I have a friend of mine in Colorado-Boulder. He did try a few shops there but could not find any TH55.
Any way to get the best PDA ever? :(

[fssia]

Vinu, try http://www.expansys-usa.com/product.asp?code=TH55. It's a link provided by cktlcmd over at TH55 still worth buying...suggestions please thread. Check it out.

[vinu]

thanks fssia. but the expansis version is too costly!

[strider_mt2k]

Unfortunately that's the downside of wanting the best PDA ever. -It's no longer produced, and lots of people still want one.
That means the remaining ones will be very highly valued.

[winexprt]

I'm not sure how you meant that, but I posted these thoughts wondering if anyone else felt the same way.

I do. Because I don't need a weatherman to tell me which way the wind's blowin'. :) ;)

As sad a fact as it is to swallow, I believe the days of the standalone PDA are numbered. You need to look no further than the sales figures to tell you that. You need to look no further that the skyrocketing popularity of the Treo (I see them ALL OVER now). And so on & so forth.

:(

[fssia]

thanks fssia. but the expansis version is too costly!U're welcome. Yeah, I know it's costly but for me the main concern is if the unit is new or refurbished. :D

Best of luck to you! :)

[AndyJapan]

I am in India and would like to buy one?
Most of the sellers in eBay does not ship here.
I have a friend of mine in Colorado-Boulder. He did try a few shops there but could not find any TH55.
Any way to get the best PDA ever? :(

Check out www.sparco.com It`s a mail order shop in the US, but it seems that they ship worldwide at reasonable shipping rates . I did not try out this shop yet, but found this information on a message board.

[vinu]

@Thanks AndyJapan for the info. Sparco.com indeed is a great site. But they dont have current stock of TH55's.

[kamootee]

I bought mine from COMPUsa when it first came out. (The sales clerk was just displaying it in their shelves for the first time when I fell in love with it)

If you cannot find one I think T5 is also OK.

I have a th55 and always use oa.ap.yahoo.com to check my e-mail and read news. Its great. My only wish is a Landscape capable browser on my TH.

[fssia]

I have a th55 and always use oa.ap.yahoo.com to check my e-mail and read news. Its great. My only wish is a Landscape capable browser on my TH.Can u use oa.ap.yahoo.com to check emails on a mobile phone such as Nokia 6230?

[Skaah]

I would not know what to do if my TH55 would die on me. I just need it really bad, I have a spare SL10, but I'm very attached to my TH55.
I don't know if I would get a recent palmOne handheld. The T3 has a crappy battery life; the T5 seems to have all sorts of problems. Perhaps I would buy the successor of the Treo 650, that is, if it has something new to offer, like Cobalt :D.
The PPC platform just does not hafe that Palm-magic-feelin'.

[fykidney]

I consider Clie Th-55 one of the best PDA ever creatd, prior to it, Handera 330 was the king. Sadly, both makers are out of PDA market now :mad:
I owned the old palm pilot, TRGPRO, Palm IIIC, Casio CE, T3, Dell, Ipaq 2215. None of these come close to the top 2. So, I bought one from expansys, a bit expensive but looks new, I am a happy camper and hopefully set for the next 2-3 years until PalmOne put its act together or Sony is back in the market!!