Advice on PDAs

[DaveT]

Hi - my wife's (finally) interested in a PDA for herself. I'm wondering if I can talk her into a his/hers matching pair. I have a positive bias toward Palm products, but she could care less and would accept any brand.
Her needs are - the very basic functions of calendar, to-do list, contacts, reminders, etc., for business purposes, needs to be able to sync with work and home, ability to handle Word and Excel docs is a plus but not mandatory. I would have said Zire 21, but she wants color (finds my Palm 500 difficult to read).
Requirements are:
Palm OS (version not important)
Color screen
usable with Microsoft Office, Windows desktop
Prefer internal rechargeable battery to AA/AAA batteries
Don't want dual-purpose item, i.e., No camera, No phone, No GPS, don't need bluetooth, etc.
No more than $250

The Zire 31 is acceptable, but I'm leaning toward the Tungsten E - twice the screen resolution, double the RAM, nice software package out of the box...if only it used the Universal connector to go with what I've already got for my Palm m500.
Anyway, that's the way I'm leaning, but I'm posting to get some more ideas.
Also, she wants to buy soon - by the end of the week. PalmOne will give free shipping, no tax, and add a 32MB card for orders placed this week.
Anyone got a better/cheaper/more trustworthy source for a PDA that will meet these requirements?
Thanks in advance
Dave

 

[John N]

I have a iPAQ 1900 and while it isn't bad (the hardware itself is pretty slick), I can say that the OS isn't stable and the features stink. If you just want the basics, avoid Pocket PC.

After having one for a while, I am glad I got the slimline. I don't think I would carry a full size. Color is great. High res is great. I got mine a metal clamshell case which works well.

What I really want tho is a phone PDA combo. It gets really old trying to find a way to carry your phone and your PDA. I would take a look at the Ericsson P900 and P910. I'm waiting until they come out with something like the P910 but includes wireless and them I'm all over it.

They look pretty slick. Check it out:

-john

 

[_mike_]

I have heard good things about the iPAQ's, supposed to be decent units.

Mike

 

[dg]

Since getting the SE P900 phone, I now rarely use my ipaq as a PDA, and only use it for GPS navigation.

The P900 will do everything that a PDA will do, and perhaps even more. It syncs with Outlook too.

 

[Frangible]

PDAs are rapdily developing high-end Gameboy features, rather than productivity features. I don't think that either the Pocket PC or Palm PIM apps have gotten any significant revision anytime in the last few years. So, you should be able to get something with the core functionality you want fairly cheaply. But you pay extra to play Doom2 or watch pirated movies on it.

 

[Zigzago]

I've been very happy with my Tungsten T3. Before that I had a Palm 505.

If you can afford the Tungsten E I think you'll really appreciate the hi-rez screen.

 

[wreckmaniac]

I had the Tungsten E and liked it a lot. I would say that it's a great product for the money. I needed bluetooth so I bought the T3 and sold my E to a friend...

 

[thesurefire]

I would reccomend the Toshiba E335 if you can find it. It should be around $120 now since the E700 seris replaced it.

 

[DaveT]

Hi guys, thanks for the input so far. But, to reiterate what we want, we're looking for suggestions with Palm OS - so no Ipaqs or Toshiba E335 or Ericsson P900s, please. Also, we have cell phones already, so we're ruling out phone/PDA combos.

 

[arab]

[ QUOTE ]
DaveT said:
Hi guys, thanks for the input so far. But, to reiterate what we want, we're looking for suggestions with Palm OS - so no Ipaqs or Toshiba E335 or Ericsson P900s, please. Also, we have cell phones already, so we're ruling out phone/PDA combos.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you don't want a PDA/Phone combo then buy a Tungsten E. It comes with a great screen, low price and lots of bundled software (I make great use of the MS excel/Word/PPT readers/writers and the PDA Money app)

Mind you, if I was in the market again, I would buy an SE 910 without hesitation.

 

[ChopperCFI]

Given your requirements, I second the recommendation for the Tungsten E. I have similar requirements and currently use the m505. I am having battery problems and will be purchasing the E.

For office apps compatibility, I use Documents to Go on the Palm.

 

[DaveT]

Thanks guys...you're funneling me toward the one I was leaning toward anyway.
And I agree on the docs to go...nice software.

 

[JohnJ80]

My wife and I both have Tungsten T3's. I like them a lot especially the bluetooth. I have a SE Z600 cell phone with bluetooth and am able to all - and more - than I could with a PDA/phone combo.

I really like the hi res screen especially the fact that it is easily readable out in the sunlight. It a transflective LCD screen as opposed to a pure TFT screen which would be unreadable outdoors.

I use my PDA as my planner, my note pad, my check book and now for email checks and map directions through the phone.

J

 

[dandruff]

why dont u check out them sony clies?? i think they are by far the coolest palm pdas around.

 

[DaveT]

Can you suggest a model under $250? Have you got a personal favorite that fits the bill? Can you point to some features, etc., that make it a clear choice over the Tungsten E?
Thanks in advance

 

[ChopperCFI]

Clie's are very nice, but buy knowing that Sony is getting out of that business. Support may become more challenging in the future.

 

[PEU]

I can suggest the clie's also, I own a th55 and is my best palm os pda so far, but under 250 you can buy a tj37, which I also owned and liked much.

Good luck


Pablo