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PDA for Tech Savy Students?
Kichigai Mentat asks: "When I was a student in High School, I was quite disorganized. I found that a good organizer helped me out, and eventually got myself a reliable Palm m105. As I'm about to go into college, I'm considering picking up a new machine to replace my nearly-dead PDA. However, the selection seems to be either Palm OS, which I find rather limiting in terms of what you can and cannot do on the system (I LIKE being able to organize things into sub-folders), or Window Mobile, which isn't Linux or Mac OS X friendly. What sort of third-party options are available that work with existing PIM apps, will work without Windows, and won't cost an arm and a leg?"
The word is spelled "savvy". Not "savy".
Thank you. Have a nice day.
I can't remember who makes it, but the Zaurus line seems to be pretty cool. I know several people who have one, and they LOVE them. Also, you can get linux to run on a PalmOne device. Granted, it'll wipe the os... but... hey, if you wanna, go ahead.
Show this to your friends and family that don't know what a real hacker is
" What sort of third-party options are available that work with existing PIM apps, will work without Windows, and won't cost an arm and a leg?""
I suppose you aren't looking for Linux-friendly PDA hardware?
Might be spendy, but I personally love the Sharp Zaurus. Runs its own version of GNU/Linux, and is very sweet.
I go to one of those nerdy schools. Trust me when I say a PDA will not help you become more organized.
There are solutions out there for syncing Microsoft PDAs with Mac OS X. Take a look at The Missing Sync at http://www.markspace.com/ I have never used this solution, but I've heard good things about it from others.
I have to work on my public displays of affection or cut them out completely.
God spoke to me.
I'm not going to recommend any specific PDA, but I do have this bit of advice: Don't let the technology cloud your need to remain organized. It's so easy to get sucked into the features and capabilities that you often forget the real reason to have a PDA. I wrote an article about simplifying my PDA use wherein I describe how I "stepped back" to using a Palm Z22 instead of the latest and greatest whiz-bang PDA. You see, for me, I was so easily distracted by the "stuff of the PDA" that I found that I was spending more time tweaking, playing, and hacking my PDA than actually using it productively.
After a few months, in retrospect, I am now craving a higher resolution screen and more memory, but the surprising reality is that my Palm Z22 really works, and really works well...for me. And that's the key. Find what works for you and stick with it.
So regardless of what you choose, try to keep the perspective of simplicity.
-Jim
http://jimstips.com/
My mom always said, "Jim, you're 1 in a million." Given the current population, there are 7000 of me. God help us all!
Have a look at some of the Symbian phones out there. I'm lost without my Motorola A1000.
The nice thing about them is that they double as a telephone, and are about the same size as well.
Also made my Erricson and other phone manufacturers, and open source programmable... Lot of apps to D/L free or for fee as well.
GrpA
Enjoy science fiction? "Turing Evolved" - AI, Mecha, Androids and rail-gun battles. What more could you want?
Seriously, after fighting through multiple PalmOS devices, each having a prettier display and more manufacturing defects than the one before it, I've taken my own advice above. I prefer the latter for its sleek lines and excellent performance, although the former still has my respect for its near-infinite adaptability.
Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
One of the big trends floating around with the "GTD" nerds is carrying a small paper notebook or a pile of index cards. This works quite well--you never run out of batteries & can trade info for people. Some nerd chick thought it was "cool because it was like a lab notebook."
I've gone through the PALM, Clie (which runs Palm OS), and the Sharp Zaurus. The Zaurus is good, but the batteries would always die on me. Paper is great!
I agree with you about Palms being wonderful for organizing assignments and such. I have a trusty old Palm IIIxe I bought back in 2000, and it's still going strong today. Maybe I just don't know what I'm missing, but my old Palm seems to do everything I want it to, and well.
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I've had a Palm Pilot for the past few years. It's stable, compatible, and is the best organization software I've ever used. Pocket PC's with Windows CE (or whatever it's called these days) tend to cost a bit more, and sure, I think the operating system is more robust and flexible, but this is a device where simplicity is a feature. Also keep in mind that PalmOS is fully programmable (you can download the development libraries after registration--available for linux), and there exists a wealth of apps for it. On wi-fi enabled units, you can get such things as browsers and ssh clients (more then enough to satisfy the geek in you). PalmOS is also compatible with lots of linux apps (eg evolution plugins)
Also, regardless of bells and whistles, it's a solid organizer--everything you need is right there in one package. In fact, you can get a cheap Zire without dropping more than $99, and you'll get all the organizing goodness of PalmOS (no features barred, same interface) as well as a generous 32mb or so of RAM (how many people do you know?). That cheap model won't have a fancy pants screen or play mp3's, but you bet your granny's knickers you'll be organized. Feel like spending a little more? Get a Tungsten E2--plenty of RAM, gorgeous screen, media playback, SD slot, and enough features spared to allow you to keep things simple and straightforwad and the price tag low (eg no wifi or bluetooth, but doesn't your cell phone do that? Or your laptop? Or...oh hell, just check your schedule).
Whatever you choose to buy, you won't regret it. To those who need them, a sturdy organizer is worth its weight in gold, and Palm knows how to make that work. They also how to please your geeky self.
The Symbian OS is primarly for smartphones, and unfortunately they usually make for lousy PDAs. But if you're still interested check out the Nokia E61 or Sony Ericsson M600i. Same could be said about RIM's Blackberry OS.
There's also an plethora of quirky, mostly-discontinued embedded linux PDAs, including the geek-famous Zaurus.
If you thought having only two major players for PDA OS's was unfortunate, Palm has started replacing the Palm OS with Windows Mobile on some of their own hardware.
Man, I was the PDA king -- back in the day. Original Palm Pilot, Rexx, WinCE, Win Mobile, I forget what all else, latest greatest bestest every year. But when the cellphones began to offer Office functionality that I could barely get in my laptop, let alone my PDA, I re-evaluated my personal electronics. Did I really need to update my spreadsheets on the subway? No. Was I ever really that far away from a PC with a USB port that I couldn't jack into with the thumbdrive on my keychain? Not really. So all the info I need at a glance -- appointments, phone numbers -- are in the phone, and every other file I own is backed up religiously onto my keychain. If you want to be all geeky about it, you can fit an entire Linux distro -- as well as your file folders -- onto your key fob. Sure to impress the co-eds...
More importantly -- and you'll thank me for this in about 10, 15 years -- the arrangement encourages me to think about "computer stuff" when I'm near a computer, and not on line for the ballet or at the beach. Remember, there are other, stealthier ways for the machines to win besides the plotlines for those Terminator or Matrix movies....
He's going into college. Evidently, he does need a spelling lesson.
So is there a barcode pen scanner that'll plug into one?
Hmmm, that reminds me. Wonder if any use the expresscard format?
- QWERTY is your friend. When going from class-to-class, there is no way you can use the handwriting input fast enough to get assignments down. Physical keyboards are best. Windows Mobile has the best on-screen.
- Don't worry about platform compatibility with a WM PDA. PocketMac (http://www.pocketmac.net) is a great piece of software (used it form the HP 4350). It's actually more reliable than ActiveSync, in my experience.
- Personally, for storing class and assignment info, I prefer WM. Newer Palms with better calendar software may be better, but this is my experience with Treo 600.
- Consider a smartphone. It's a lot easier, especially for contacts. For example, I keep all of my professors' office hours in notes attached to their contact entries. Makes it really easy to access the info.
- Get a sturdy case. When you're running from one end of campus to the other, you will drop your PDA and/or phone. My failure to do so is one reason I now have a Q (who knew 5 drops onto pavement was the Treo's limit?). I like aluminum ones; then again, I'm a klutz.
If you have questions, feel free to contact me. Always glad to help a fellow student.As I posted just yesterday, I've had a Palm OS-based PDA of one kind or another since 1997 when I was still in college, and just bought a Treo 700p. Every one has been a huge help in keeping me organized.
As a student I didn't find synchronization with a desktop PIM essential. I entered all my contacts and schedules on the PDA and used pilot-link on my Linux box for app installs and backups. Since I graduated and entered the workforce that's completely changed, but you have at least four years before you'll likely have to worry about that. Assuming you were the same way in high school, this gives you a bit more flexibility than I have in terms of picking a PDA; my need for Outlook synchronization meant I couldn't consider a Nokia 770 or a Zaurus, no matter how badly I wanted real Linux on my pocket device. My post from yesterday talks about why Windows Mobile and Symbian were out for me. That leaves . . . just Palm OS.
You mention cost. Brand-new Palm PDAs are as inexpensive as $99 for a Z22. Or, do what I did and get the Treo 700p; Amazon.com offers it for new Sprint or Verizon customers for as low as $250 after rebate and a two-year contract. Not a bad price for a combination of state-of-the-art Palm PDA and EV-DO-capable handset!
I have a Sharp Zaurus sl-5500 running the OpenZaurus firmware and the only real issue I have is finding sync software. When I first got the PDA I installed Multi-Sync and had no problems syncing with Ximian Evolution. However, it seems Multi-sync has disappeared.
As for syncing to Windows/Outlook(TM) I believe the Qtopia desktop software will sync with the OpenZaurus firmware. You should be able to easily find the hardware on eBay...
-- Chop
The Nokia 770 looks really, really promising. It runs Linux and has a pretty active developer community.
If or when it starts supporting Japanese input I'm getting one myself.
Trust the Computer. The Computer is your friend.
lol, I've watched too much porn. I thought you were joking about a new phone shaped like the large symbian vibrators!!!
A touch typable keyboard, great productivity tools, MS outlook and lotus compatibility, a raft of freeware apps, and a enthusiast community can't be beat.
Downsides include lack of multimedia support and slightly old hardware, but personally I value productivity over bells and whistles. The company's has since exitted the consumer market, and hence you'll have to trawl ebay to pick up a bargain.
All aside, I still heartily recommend a Psion Revo, Series 5MX or even a Series 7.
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Addresses? Notes at a conference? Free flow (rough) writing, diagramming, and outlining? "Paper is great." Note these are precisely the things PDAs were originally supposed to do! Sure, Korganizer on the Z syncs with my desktop agenda, but it is so tedious to get the data in there in the first place (compared to flipping open a pad & scribbling down a todo). I see "PDAs" being used as mini-computers--word processors as you use yours for & media players. That's great if you need something smaller than a laptop. It isn't if you want to "get organized."
Kudos for keeping your m105 that long--mine eventually developed the backup capacitor problem and even though I repaired it I couldn't get myself to use it again.
Possibly for the following reasons:
-I don't need a device for mobile internet access. I can access the internet at home, at the office and at uni. If I want, I can take my laptop with me and go to a hotspot. And if I absolutely, desperately need to look something up on the internet or check my emails, I can do it with my cell phone. But I rarely need it, because it's usually fine to answer mails in the evening.
-There are a few nice applications that you could put on your PDA, like the public transport route planner called Metro. However, I rarely felt like I needed any of these applications, since you can look up a lot of stuff on the internet.
-If you intend to take notes, most data input methods are too slow, especially when you have to write a lot of formulas. In my opinion a paper notebook is still the way to go.
-A digital calendar has some advantages: Your secretary can manage your appointments. You can sync your data to your computer and/or mobile phone. But if you don't have a secretary (like me) and don't care too much about syncing, a paper calendar has some advantages:
- -The most important questions are: "What do I need to do today and in the next few days?" and "Where can I fit in an appointment/some work...?" Any decent-sized organizer (e.g. filofax pocket) will provide you with the answers more quickly because it's faster to flip through a few pages instead of tapping around on the screen,
- -Paper calendars'/organizers' entries are easier to annotate, collate and edit. You can stick in a Post-it if you don't have your calendar at hand.
-You have the optimum mix between a phone and an address book. It's called mobile phone.
-When you run out of battery, you've got a problem. Similarly, you'll have problems getting all your stuff off the device if it fails.
-You don't really want to play simple games when you should be working on something else. And these games possibly ruin your eyes anyway.
where's all that Karma?
The new C1/3x00 series, however, goes for a good five hours of constant wifi use. As mentioned somwhere in this thread, these newer models aren't sold directly in the US. You have to get them through a distributor, which will import and convert to English. I got mine from dynamism.com, but there other distributors out there, including for Europe.
I work for a university spinoff company, and operate all over the place, from remote USAF bomb ranges to KU's campus. I have a UTStarcom PPC6700. It does EVERYTHING. 420MHz Intel PXA270, 128MB memory, 1GB miniSD, EV-DO (~2.5Mbps on Sprint around Lawrence, KS and Kansas City), 802.11b, Bluetooth, 1.3MP camera, WinMo 5. I have loaded a full featured media player (TCPMP) for DivX movies, PocketPutty and Terminal Services Client to manage the office network when I'm away, and AgileMessenger for multiprotocol IMming. The phone integrates seamlessly with Contacts, and that all syncs up to Outlook at the office. Its a serious gadget and it helps me get work done a lot faster. It's damn near a laptop replacement.
i'd get a google account first. it has email, chat, voip, calender, word processor, spreadsheet, etc. then get a nokia 770 to access it. wireless access is pretty easy. there are alot of free access points called "Linksys". good luck.
Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
You're going to college, right? What will the PDA be used for?
I've found that in just about every class in college, I was allowed to use a laptop. Sure, it could be a distraction (IM, etc), but so can the cute girl two rows down in the lecture hall. And if you can handle distractions, the laptop really can't be beat.
Wireless in every building, good reception (if not an actual access point) in every classroom and lecture hall. A full keyboard (it's a Powerbook) on which to type notes -- much faster than I could with a PDA. The disadvantage is it's harder to manage a schedule that way, but as a student, my class schedule was pretty constant, and I didn't need reminders for the few other activities that had dates and times -- most of the good events just happened. So since you can open it at least once per class, you can check when your next lecture is.
Only real annoyance was when I was trying to find a classroom, couldn't remember the room number, had to keep whipping out the laptop and checking, password-protected so I was typing it every time -- you could tell I was a geek.
But that was maybe the first couple days in a given semester, and as I learned my way around campus, it became less and less of a problem. And it's just awesome to be able to correct your professors in realtime, with Wikipedia citations!
Don't thank God, thank a doctor!
Have you considered retro solutions?
If you want GPS, music playing, games, contacts, alarms, and whatnot all in one device you'll need a piece of hardware - but these days your celphone probably does all the address book stuff that PDAs were originally sold for.
egypt urnash minimal art.
You all do realize with always-on global wireless connections and piconets that laptops are going to be cellphones, and cellphones aren't going to be the present forms.
For example in a classroom setting the professor is writing on a electronic blackboard with wireless piconet capability. Your "cellphone" could tap into that (more reliable than using a camera for those of you thinking ahead), and for the professor's voice the "cellphone" microphone will do.* The "always-on" part comes in handy for heavy-lifting which is done with the computer back in your dorm. Imagine coming from a long day of lectures with all that data already processed, correllated, referenced, and otherwise ready for your role in the picture.
*For those thinking "video"! Well use the built-in, or piconet to the video system some labs, and lecture halls have.
Try one of these. They've got all your happy PDA functionality, fold out QWERTY keyboard, will sync up with your mac laptop with bluetooth and also happen to be a cell phone. With a GPRS data service you can also connect your mac laptop to the Internet with it when you're out and about and away from your favorite wirless hotspots. With its SIP capabilities, you can connect it to a local Asterisk server when you're in range of your wireless hotspot. It's the ultimate road warrior phone. Sure it's pricey and you'll have to dig around a bit to find one in the USA, but it's in the same ballpark as the other pocket PCs I've looked at and it's much more functional than anything else I've run across.
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
I have a T5 Tungsten. Although I love the equipment, the OS is lacking. If you wait a bit, Palmsource is destined to release their upcoming next generation OS built on Linux. You'll have a fully functional PDA on an open sourced OS with development kits-a-plenty. I've seen the screenshots and I'd have to say it is quite an improvement over the PalmOS in its current incarnation.
Where's my sock? There it is...
Grafitti, Jot, On-screen keyboards, THEY ALL SUCK. When you're going to be writing more than a couple words here and there, you NEED a PDA with a keyboard, and the 1/3rd of a keyboard on a phone doesn't count.
I tossed my WinCE device after a month of struggling to do anything useful with it, and bought a Psion 5. I used it daily for the next couple years. Not just taking little notes, mind you. I would write-up entire multi-page reports, with the proper font, spacing, headers, etc. Then I'd often switch over to the drawing programs, sketch out a damn-good diagram, and insert it into the report, and print the whole thing out via one of 2 IrDA laserjet printers that were around. Not to mention that 2 AA batteries would power it for over a week of CONSTANT 24/7 use (one time, just before finals). And this was back when WinCE would go apeshit and screw-up or hang, if you just tried to italicize text.
These days, things have gone backwards. Psion became Symbian, and now you practically can't find any with keyboards, let alone B&W screens which work in direct sunlight, and run for about a month on a pair of AAs. And a tall narrow screen can't even compete with a wide (640x240) screen.
So there's my advice. Do your best to find a Symbian/Psion PDA with a B&W landscape LCD screen, full keyboard, slots for CF/SD, and standard-sized batteries.
It's a bit of a cop-out, I know, because you'll be lucky to find a new PDA with ONE of those features, never mind ALL of them.
And no, I won't sell you mine. The only thing my (now old) Psion 5 has against it, is lack of ethernet or WiFi adapters, which are indispensible today.
Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
I have Zauruses, a Nokia N770, a PocketPC, and a Palm.
The Palm is the one I use day in and day out. If Handera hadn't folded, I might still be on my Handera 330, which wasn't even color.
Here is what you need:
1. Datebook/calendar software of some sort.
2. Usable text entry.
3. A good alarm.
4. Decent battery life.
That's it. Day in and day out, that's what matters. Can you take a note quickly enough to get it down before you forget? Can you get the alarm to go off at the time you need it to, and will it do common things (snooze for 10 minutes, for instance) with simple clicks?
If you can get that, you're done. You have a PDA. Do not let "features" distract you. My Compaq iPaq, with a 640x480 screen, untold memory, both SD and CF slots, wifi, and so on, sits on a shelf somewhere. My Palm with Datebook5 goes with me ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE. There is no comparison. PalmOS is technically inept; so what? It works. When an alarm is due, the machine makes a piercing noise I can detect even if the PDA is in a bag. It can go in a bag without breaking instantly. If I forget to charge it for a day, it still works.
In short, it's a kickass PDA. Which is what I want. Yeah, I would like it if PalmOS sucked less. But PocketPC isn't in the running, and after a couple of months trying to run various Linux-hosted PDA apps, I went back to Datebook5. It's just plain better.
If you want a portable computer, think of that as totally distinct from your PDA. The portable computer is for hacking on, for debugging interesting problems, for spending a week wondering why you can't get a new kernel to work with the sound hardware. The PDA runs one or two off the shelf apps and does it reliably and consistently.
My blog: http://www.seebs.net/log/ --- My iPhone/iPad app: http://www.seebs.net/seebsfrac/
I bought a Dana a week ago, as a writing machine. It has:
* B/W landscape screen
* Full-size keyboard, one of the best I've ever used, on any computer
* Standard-sized rechareagble batteries (3 x AA)
* Runs 30 hours on one charge
* Two SD slots
* Infrared
* USB connection for printer
* USB connection for synchronisation, also charges the device
* Wifi
The screen works in direct sunlight, and also in dim light. The only drawback is that it does not fold in half, but in compensation, the device is extraordinarily robust. Almost unbreakable. And you get that lovely instant-on Palm response.
I'll probably get a second smaller Palm to act as a lighter clone, since I can easily sync the data between the two.
My blog
You bring up some good points, but converged deviced aren't always the best solution. In my case, work provides my phone, so I have no choice in what phone they provide, and what they do provide is just a basic phone...nothing more. If I want PDA functionality, I have to provide my own. Yes, I now have to carry two devices, but the benefit is that the PDA is mine, how I implement it is my decision, as is what data goes on it. And if I change jobs, it goes with me.
Obviously, everyone's situation is different. Just don't write off standalone PDA's, because there is still a need for them.
-Jim
http://jimstips.com/
My mom always said, "Jim, you're 1 in a million." Given the current population, there are 7000 of me. God help us all!
*cough*sybian*cough*
I faced/am facing a similar problem. It sounds like you want a fancy doo-dad that can do everything from the palm of your hand. I recommend a decent laptop and a feature-rich cell phone. I got a laptop a year ago, and have found my need for a PDA to decline (I have an older Palm, but now never use it). I was thinking about getting a new Palm, but have decided against it, because there are a number of decent cell-phones out there with near-PDA functionality (minus the touchscreen) in a smaller package (I'm not talking those large PDA/Cell-phone hybrids, I'm talking about something like a sidekick). Although you may have little use for a cellphone if you're a socially inept slashdotter, which is part of why I haven't completed my plan yet (that, and money). And Palm's usage of Windows Mobile on future Treo phones makes me doubt Palm OS will be supported anywhere near as much as it used to be.
In undeveloped countries, the consumer controls the market. In capitalist America, the market controls you.
I have been using my Dell Axim X30 (624mhz model) for 2 years with a keyboard, and it is spectacular for university classes. I study philosophy, i use it for taking notes and keeping appoints and a few other things (read the occasional web page). For anything more strenuous, I'd recommend a laptop. But for the price/features/power the Dell line of handhelds with a keyboard and good SD card is great, imho. good luck.
-ian
I'd strongly recommend what I use, which is a Palm T|X with a 4GB SD card. The T|X itself has great features: 320x480 screen, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, stereo with standard headphone jack, solid battery life, 128 MB of NVRAM, in-box compatibility with not only popular PIMs but MS Office files in native format. Add to that a 4 GB SD card (available for about $65 or less after rebate at Newegg.com--I use the Transcend one), and you've got enough add-on storage (which supports hierarchical folders) to store a whole bunch of multimedia as well as documents. The PalmOS isn't the most sophisticated, but it makes up for that with speed, simplicity, stability, and thousands of apps. Mac compatibility comes through apps like MarkSpace's Missing Sync, and the Palm user community is tremendously supportive, including sites like PalmAddict (for which I'm a volunteer Associate Writer). Add a Bluetooth keyboard like the compact ThinkOutside model, and you've got a serious laptop replacement that will play well with campus wireless networks.
If you need any other info., feel free to e-mail me. {Prof. Jonathan}
If your primary motivation to avoid Windowz Mobile is OSX hostility, you may want to look into Missyng Sync by Mark/Space. In fact, if you have an OSX machine and device that is supported by Missing Sync, get Missing Sync! At first glance, one might think this little utility is a way to level the playing field on your Mac when syncing mobile devices. It's much more! I'd much rather use Missing Sync with my Treo than try the included software for Windows. It's stunning what this little gem can do.
So, look into it before narrowing your PDA choices.
I really like my Nokia 770, having the ability to run _real_ applications (web browser, gnumeric, etc) on such a small device is a real treat.
...)
To sum it up for me:
+ runs linux
+ active developer community (with regular updates through apt-get/maemo garage etc)
+ relatively cheap
+ (desktop) apps are relatively easily ported (gnumeric, gpe,
+ has wifi, usb and bluetooth, headphones out, a mic, and a mini-speaker
+ gorgeous screen (800x480 high-dpi)
+ decent form design
- no keyboard (though you could use bluetooth keyboard)
- no mobile phone capabilities (must use external bluetooth phone for GPRS access)
- cpu is a bit slow
- starved for memory and memory bandwidth
- I'd rather have compactflash or SD than RS-MMC as expansion (but it'll do)
- doesn't charge through USB
- certain apps are still a bit immature (mail app sucks in particular) - this is getting better however
despite the downsides I recommend it if you're the technical type.
I have a WM5 device, the T-Mobile SDA, which I really praise because it has WiFi. This is one of the new crop of devices really produced by HTC and rebranded by the cell phone companies; another one available in the US is the Cingular 2125. The wireless card means I'm paying $30/month for voice access and getting Internet from my home or school network - why pay for data when you're surrounded by so great a cloud of WiFi (with apologies to the author of Hebrews)?
It's working decently with my Mac. Bluetooth means that file transfer for the most part is manageable; an SD card means that if I need to, I can shut down the phone and transfer large amounts of data reasonably quickly. WM seems to handle most files reasonably (VCFs can import into contacts, etc.) - I was able to move my Address Book over without that many workarounds. I have a native VNC client and a Java SSH client, which work well enough for me. Of course there's no keyboard, but I didn't trust myself to carry the MDA around and not break the sliding screen.
If you happen to have WiFi on campus, consider getting one of these devices. Don't underestimate the ability to keep your items on a central server and access them via your phone.
He's just a poor student trying to save some cash...
If youn want an MP3 player or web access device or something that makes neat clicky sounds when you scroll, that's one thing.. but if you want a PDA, it's still Palm, Palm and Palm. Windows Mobile has improved enormously to the point where it's genrally usable, but next time your're in a store that sells both, try firing up a Windows Mobile device and add an appointment to the calendar with a start and end time. Now make it recurring and set a custom alarm time. Then switch into the to-do list and add three grocery items. Then add a contact with a name, address, e-mail and two phone numbers. Switch back to the calendar and go to the week view.
If it seems just as easy as your Palm, then pick whatever you want -- MS or Palm. Forget Zauruses and any smartphone that isn't at least as slick a PIM as the PDAs are. If one seems noticeably more tedious for core PIM things like calendar entries, addresses or to-dos, run away. You want ease-of-use in these things above all else and no matter how flashy an MP3 player app or game or on-board BASIC interpreter may be, it will not make up for PIM functions you don't enjoy using.
What is it you want to organize in folders, by the way? Files? Tasks? There are all sorts of add-on programs that will do that any number of ways.. hierarchical outliners, multiple-database to-do apps like HandyShopper, etc. I'm sure there are good uses for folder trees on a PDA, but be careful that you're not adding features for their own sake. Stuff hidden away in folders is easier to forget about.
Geeks sometimes mistakenly think Palms are unsophisticated because they don't multitask, they don't have a folder-oriented metaphor, they don't have serif fonts and dropshadows and bevels on form elements and so on. Rather, Palms are sophisticated because conscious decisions have been made over the years to keep those things out because they interefered with usability.
In college, I carried my PDA everywhere, but mainly because it had alarms for all my classes. After breaking the screens on 3 of them, I decided there must be a cheaper solution.
I have a $15 durable cell phone that goes everywhere with me, and a Google Calendar account. It serves all the same basic calendar functions as a PDA, and will send you SMS alerts before appointments.
Also keep in mind that you (should!) have a laptop with you at all times at college, so you can "take notes" in class. Bejewled is much better on the big screen, or if your campus has wifi, get some unreal tournament going.
I used to be a PDA user, but now do everything from my cell phone. I have a Nokia with a flip out keyboard. The keyboard makes it easy to input appointments (plus it looks cool). I use the phone book, calendar and can even do email and surf the web (or use it as my internet connection for my laptop). I can also sync the data to my address book and calendar (iCal)using Apple's built in program iSync. Since it syncs with my laptop, I can also input information that way. Very simple and I don't have to carry around a phone and a PDA anymore. Plus I have an internet connection whenever I need it. It is also phone sized and works like a phone, so I don't have to carry a weird shaped device like a Blackberry. Everthing I need in a little phone package.
I've been wanting to try this for a while, but it doesn't seem to be at all easy. If you're a Windows user, be prepeared to have "Windoze" thrown in your face a few times, conflicting instructions, and no real step-by-step instructions (yes, for *Windows* users -- not all of us are hip enough to run Linux boxes). And, make DAMN SURE you have your Palm backed up, because you WILL need to restore it.
I still want to try it, but they seriously need to put some thought toward people actually being able to use it.
My personal recommendation is a Nintendo DS with homebrew accessories...
One can not be more geek than a homebrew user...
So, we have:
Nintendo DS Lite: £100
SuperCard Lite: £30
1 GB MicroSD Card: £30
And there you go...
Pop on a selection of homebrew apps and you're away...
If you need to browse, then Lik-Sang the DS Browser...
Pros:
*Much cheaper than any PDA option
*High geek factor
Cons:
*More finicky and less polished than a real PDA
... the little spiral notebooks made of 3x5 notecards. Also, get 3-4 notecard boxes. Now, keep your notebook in your pocket with a pen. Write your organizational notes on the notecards, and file them when you get home. It's a lot cheaper than a pda, and can go more places.
Correct Horse Battery Staple: 72 bits of entropy. Enter "Correct H" into google. When it generates the phrase, that's