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There are as many opinions about palmtops as there are different type of machines. Well, maybe more. Here we'll explore some of the advantages and disadvantages of the various mobile hardware and software on the market.
No palmtop is perfect for everyone. Identify your needs and compare them with the features of various products before you spend $500 on a potentially useless brick of plastic.
The
Nokia 9000il Communicator is a combination cell phone and PDA (Personal Digital
Assistant). It includes PIM (Personal Information Management) software like
contacts database and schedule as well as the ability to add speciality
third-party applications. It's a little on the larger side as far as palmtops
go, but packs a lot of functionality into that package.
+ Transfer to/from PC using IR at about 1sec/k. Email files at about 3sec/k.
- Big and clunky for a cell phone.
+ Smaller than a cell phone and palmtop (or daytimer) together.
+ Acts as a speakerphone as well as a hand held phone.
+ Has a back light.
+ Can place a voice call by selecting a name from the contacts list.
+ Can talk on the speakerphone and look something up or take notes at the same time.
- Keys have a mushy feel.
+ You can turn on a key-click sound which actually makes the keyboard "feel" better.
+ Will automatically receive a fax without user intervention.
- Data speed is 9600 baud.
+ Email downloads headers first, so you can decide which email you really want to download.
- No built in spreadsheet or database. However, third party programs are available.
- The available spreadsheet is limited to 26 columns and 512 rows.
+ The Communicator could be cost effective for someone who does not need data service, but uses cellphone heavily. (A real estate agent, for example.)
+ Keeps records of all incoming and outgoing calls, faxes and missed calls.
+ You can place a call by selecting an entry from the above list.
- Limited availability of third party software.
+ Most third party software takes advantage of wireless data capability. I.E. spreadsheet fields can be updated remotely with no user intervention
- Limited to 2meg for user data.
- No way to expand memory or storage.
+ Third party programs are very small, the spreadsheet is 60k, for example.
+ Good groupware capability if the entire group has Communicators.
+ Can synchronize data with Outlook or other PC based programs using IntelliSynch software.
+ Calendar alarms display on the phone display as well as the computer screen.
- No delete key, only a backspace key.
+ You can compose your own tunes for phone ringing and various alarm events.
- ToDo list is not shown alongside the calendar, you must make a conscious effort to look at it.
+ Even though the machine is slow, the immediate access to wireless data can give you a fast response time.
The Psion Series 3c Palmtop Computer? The name about says it all. This powerful little computer that runs on the palm of your hand has applications for your schedule, contacts and other databases, word processing, spreadsheets, and more. Dedicated application buttons allow one-touch access to your information. And finally, amazing battery life (30 hours of use, months on standby) keeps you going, and going, and going.
One button press, say, Agenda, and you can start typing an appointment into a time slot. Or one button press to get into Data, you can start typing in a name to search for. One button to enter the Jotter (the note-taking application), the screen is automatically cleared and a new blank note is presented for you to write upon. Simplicity in itself -- yet the Psion offers flexibility and power through user-configurable options and an optional built-in programming language. Third-party software even lets you record digital voice memos, turning your Psion into a tape recorder without the hassle of rewinding or fast forwarding.
The thing that decided me on a Psion years ago was the tale of a man who programmed his 3c to wake up at 6:55am, dial into the internet with a modem, collect email, and ring an alarm at 7am to wake it's owner and notify him of his new email.
The Psion is very scalable in terms of user interface. Novice users are presented with a clean and simple display. Advanced users can use shortcut keystrokes and use features like advanced database sorting, spreadsheet formulae, and Agenda views and searching. Optional PC software lets you synchronize your contacts and calendar to standard PIMs like Outlook and Lotus Organizer.
Frankly, Those shiny new color Windows CE devices have little going for them. Short battery life means you're tethered to a wall outlet (just like your desktop computer -- sort of defeats the purpose of a mobile computer, doesn't it?) and slow speed means when somebody's trying to give you their phone number or you're trying to set an appointment, you'll be begging them to hold up while you navigate dialog boxes and wait for your machine to catch up. Ironic, that the Psion 3c's processor runs at a fraction of Windows CE devices, yet offers instant access to data input and display. Memory on the Psion is carefully managed as well, usually giving you room for as much data as a CE device with more than twice the memory. All this doesn't mean the CE machines are not worth buying -- it just means they have a different target market, and the expense and hassle is not worth it for many business or personal users.
Unfortunately, the Psion 3c, like all computers, has gone the way of the dinosaur. Newer Psion models like the powerful 5mx and sexy Revo offer more memory, speed, and now touch screens. For those on a budget, a 3c (or it's faster cousin the 3mx) may be the model of choice for a good balance of power and simplicity. Think of it a Palm Pilot on steroids with a keyboard.
Sharp's YO series of organizers are effective paper organizer replacements. They lack features like spreadsheets and databases, but offer searchable contact lists and schedules in a very small package, often comparable to a short checkbook.
While there are those who will never throw away their Franklin Planners, electronic devices offer a few advantages. No more erasing or scribbling out schedule entries, or dealing with the mess of adding and removing contacts from a paper list. (You want to add Mr. Smith, but you have too many people with names starting with R and T to fit it in between -- uh-oh.) Additionally, electronic organizers backup to a computer. Lose your paper planner, and you're toast. Sharp's YO organizers offer simplicity and ease of use with dedicated function buttons. The tiny rubber keys do take some getting used to. (With a little practice I could two-thumb type faster than I could handwrite.) Also, beeping alarms make sure you never forget an appointment, and it's diminutive size means the ultimate in portability.
The main deciding factor about choosing an organizer is computer connectivity. First of all, you're not going to want to type in those 500 contacts on that little keyboard. Second, you need to backup and perhaps synchronize with your PC PIM (Personal Information Manager) like Outlook or Lotus Organizer.
Even for the battle-hardened Franklin Planner user, these little wonders deserve at least some consideration.
A+
Computer Solutions, Inc.
Boise, Idaho
Phone: (208) 377-1794
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last updated 11.24.04
