[cheapiejack]

So,

I have a couple of questions about PDAs. I'm specifically looking at the Palm TX and Dell Axim x51. The purpose is to have an electronic reference for my clinical rotations and residency through medical education. If you have any personal experience with these products or know where I may find good reviews, I'd be much obliged.
I have looked on a few websites, but would like to hear from you where you go for tech info.

Thanks.

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Well Palm is a really good mobile OS it gets panned from windows mobile users but sure its not always as versatile but its really really reliable unlike mobile 5 and its also faster than windows mobile.

Hardware wise make the comparisons more is better obviously but you need a bit more to run windows as well. Make sure the software you need is available in the OS you choose.

Info wise as much as possible read all the reviews you can get your hands on just by reading them you can usually discern which is good objective article from what isnt.

Have you though about a UMPC, if you dont know what they are they are a cross between a palm and a tablet PC offers the advantage of a full OS not a mobile one. Portability isnt quite as good but they can do more which balances out.

You might also look at the more feature heavy phones as palmtops arent as good battery life wise as phones because of the more powerful hardware and bigger broghter screens.

Just if you get one make sure you use it. ive got one i used religously for a couple of years but ive just got out of the habit these days and it sits in a drawer. I just use a diary, my memory and sunbird now.

[warriorscot]

Well Palm is a really good mobile OS it gets panned from windows mobile users but sure its not always as versatile but its really really reliable unlike mobile 5 and its also faster than windows mobile.

Hardware wise make the comparisons more is better obviously but you need a bit more to run windows as well. Make sure the software you need is available in the OS you choose.

Info wise as much as possible read all the reviews you can get your hands on just by reading them you can usually discern which is good objective article from what isnt.

Have you though about a UMPC, if you dont know what they are they are a cross between a palm and a tablet PC offers the advantage of a full OS not a mobile one. Portability isnt quite as good but they can do more which balances out.

You might also look at the more feature heavy phones as palmtops arent as good battery life wise as phones because of the more powerful hardware and bigger broghter screens.

Just if you get one make sure you use it. ive got one i used religously for a couple of years but ive just got out of the habit these days and it sits in a drawer. I just use a diary, my memory and sunbird now.

[cheapiejack]

Thanks for the info. Are there any sites that you have found that you'd recommend as good sites?

I've exhausted www.cnet.com www.techbuys.com www.xpbargain.com ...


Again, thanks for the info. I'll also check out the UMPC you mentioned.

Thanks again!

[warriorscot]

UMPCs are good a few on the market but its quite a new product i cant really think if many better ones for plams, its kinda specialised they arent as popular as they once were. There is though a magazine for palms you might try.

[Mr. Green]

Well if you are using it as a electronic reference book I say go for the TX, I use one myself for the legal work that I do and its great.

[lewie]

As a former RN turned lawyer, I'd vote for the TX also. I have an older model Clie running the Palm OS. The logic seems a bit more, . . . well, logical than Microsoft stuff.

The Palm works as if operations and linkage were designed for the user's convenience. They seem to have thought about how it would be used and how it should work.

My 2 cents for what its worth.

Lewie
who has TX envy!

[ScHwErV]

I decided to be smart and post this from my Palm T|X, just cuz I can.

The palm is quite nice. I will warn you that you need to do a TON of searching to find software for it. Thats the advantage of the microsoft product, more redily available software.

Other than that, its been a great unit and a far cry better than my last palm.

ScHwErV

[cheapiejack]

Thanks for the input. I'll check it out some more before I make the final decision. I have until next fall.

From what I've read around so far, the Palm sounds like it'll work well for me. The x51 has some more bells & whistles, but the customer ratings are higher with the Palm.

Thanks again!

[Pi rules]

I personally prefer Windows Mobile slightly over Palm OS. The T|X is a very good device, though. Great features for an OK price. The Dell x51v is one of the best mobile devices out there, but it more expensive than the T|X.

When choosing Palm vs. Windows Mobile, also look at available applications. There are sites like PocketGear and handango for Windows Mobile applications and PalmGear for Palm applications.

Windows Mobile comes with Pocket Excel, which I prefer over the T|X's Documents to Go.

Also, my friend has an X51v, and there was a problem with his, but the new one was quite fast and a very nice handheld.