PDA Reviews

I don't see any need to repeat at length what the other positive reviewers have said--I agree totally that this incredible folding keyboard A) unfolds into a *full-size* keyboard with most keys the exact same size as those of your desktop keyboard, B) folds up into a size no bigger than the Palm itself, and C) works cleanly and smoothly with Palm programs as well as third-party add-on software (a definite plus in today's age where adding a peripheral to your computer often means hours spend hooking it up and fiddling with installation programs). What I *will* add that no one yet seems to have commented on yet is the ultimate COOLNESS factor...take this keyboard out, pop it open, and I guarantee your tech-head friends will be oohing and ahhing over its elegant and innovative design, compact size, and sleek shape...and when they see it *work* as smoothly and easily as it does, they'll want one too! ADMIT it, after all...isn't that at least ONE of the reasons you got a Palm...because it *looks* cool? Like the Palm, this looks cool, works great, and after a week you'll wonder how you ever did without it. (One addition not mentioned in the other reviews: don't expect to use this sitting on your lap, as the keyboard folds up in the middle. You have to set it down on a table.)

The inventor's of the Palm Portable Keyboard have have developed an incredible accessory to the Palm PDA Platform. You have got to see it and try it out to appreciate its marvel. It literally is a full size keyboard that folds up and is only slightly larger then the Palm PDA itself. It even comes in a nice carrying case. Inputing information into your Palm is a snap and I really appreciate not having to write, using the grafiti tool to add information into my Palm. If you use the Memo feature on your palm to jot down some notes, type a lengthy memo, etc., this this keyboard is for you. Typing is a breeze and feels very natural as if you were typing at your PC. There are specific keys on the board that replace the need to tap on a menu item to be called up. I cannot emphasize the portability and light weight of the keyboard and the uniqueness of how it folds up into compact size. If you are a regular user of your Palm PDA then this keyboard is a must. You will not regret spending the extra bucks in lieu of convenience.

Imagine if you will...

You've just returned to your hotel room after an important all day conference, your head brimming with ideas. You're a woman (or man) of the 21st century, you've got your Palm Pilot at the ready, and you're all set to record the amazing things that are popping into your inspired brain.

Then, you remember the incredible hassle it is to actually USE a Palm Pilot for this sort of task. Sure, it's OK for notes or quick jots of phone numbers, names, or reminders, but when it comes to pinning down the flow of thoughts, it's a pain in the hand.

Enter the portable keyboard! This little gadget is truly a lifesaver for all Palm Pilot users. After the Palm Pilot, seeing a keyboard folded into a smart zippered pouch may not be very impressive -- until you use it! Everything you need is arranged neatly inside this smart little case, and you get to open it ... just like Christmas!

The Palm Portable keyboard is not much bigger than your Palm Pilot. Yet, waiting inside this practical looking case is an instruction manual, software CD, and the answer to your Palm Pilot prayers: a complete, finger-comfy keyboard. It's so easy to use, you may not even need to read the instructions.

All you do is remove the contents of the zippered case, and unfold the keyboard! When completely unfolded, it's the same size as your desktop keyboard.

Once unfolded, just pop the CD into the Palm HotSync to install the Palm Pilot Keyboard software, and connect your Palm Pilot where indicated. Viola! Now you have the speed and data entry control only a keyboard can provide.

This is a match made in Palm Pilot heaven! It takes only minimal power from your Palm Pilot to run, and it works like a charm. The keyboard is the same size and has the same basic feel as your trusty home PC keyboard. It's small enough to slip into your pocket along with your Palm Pilot so you can take it wherever you go. It unfolds and assembles in seconds, so there's not much wasted time getting those thoughts down when you need to. When you're finished using it, this handy keyboard folds down to a little pocket-sized, eight-ounce packet.

This keyboard makes it easy to take notes at meetings or conferences, or any place when you're away from your desk. You can use it to record lengthy notes at business meetings or to compose and respond to email. It's simple to navigate to your address book, appointment calendar, or any other applications. It also comes with nine user-programmable keys.

The keyboard even saves wear and tear on the Palm Pilot itself since by using the keys you no longer use the screen as much.

And the price is right. It's really a great bargain!

Is there a downside? Well, you may need a bit of time adjusting to the height of the keys on this new toy. Although it works just as well as the keyboards you've become so fond of, the key height is a bit different.

Some hard-core typists may feel odd about the right shift key being a bit more to the right than they're used to. These are minor quirks however, and nothing you can't get used to quickly.

Also, the little keyboard stand is a bit tricky to set up. You've first got to slide it straight out from the back of the keyboard, then hold it at a 45-degree angle, and flip out the back portion to attach the Palm Pilot. Once you get this process down, however, you'll find that this fragile looking stand does a great job of holding the Pilot in place while your fingers fly smoothly over the keys.

The support desk at Palm Pilot is great with resolving any setup problems:...

I bought the unit in January 2002. By design or bad luck, the unit froze. I bought it from [a department store] and they offered no extended warranty.

I called Sony two days ago. They have the most impressive and accurate voice messaging system I have ever heard. After a lengthy, but clever, screening, I managed to hear human voices. Very kind, obviously reading scripts from screens. I could not distinguish the electronic voice system from actual real people. They were following a coreographed procedure. Did you reset? Yes. Did you recharge? Yes. After repeating about 3 times, I was told to ship the unit for repair. The cost [is] mind boggling... After only 14 months since new. This is the end of the script of Sony Clie Service.

I just want to warn the potential buyers. Sony charges the PDA consumer hidden costs tha annoy and make an otherwise a loyal owner very disappointed.

I spent months deciding which PDA to get. I wanted to see the second-gen Pocket PCs before I did anything.

Ultimately it came down to reliability, bells & whistles, and cost. I'm the first to admit I love gadgets. So I was mightily tempted by the current crop of PocketPCs, particularly for their gaming ability. Face it: this generation of Palm PDAs--even the ones with the Dragonball 33 mhz processor like the Clie--can't compare to the 206 mhz 32-bit StrongARM-powered PocketPCs when it comes to animated gaming. The Clie's 33 mhz 16-bit CPU simply lacks the horsepower for realistic animation. The same goes for video. So if it's important to you to be able to play action games on your handheld or watch movies on a tiny screen, by all means get a Pocket PC.

If you want to use your PDA for business, understand that Pocket PCs are still toys for adults. Business users should get a Palm OS PDA. And if you're going to get a Palm OS PDA, the Clie 610c (or 760c) is the way to go.

This may sound like blasphemy to Clie fans--Sony is trying to position the Clie 6-and 7-series PDAs as multimedia machines to compete with Pocket PC. But they really can't compare in that regard for the reason I noted above. (You can listen to music on your 760c, though.)

So why the Clie, with its Palm OS, instead of Pocket PC for business? After all, Pocket PCs will sync with your Windows apps, right? Pocket Outlook, Pocket Word, etc must be a more seamless match than Palm's 3rd party apps, right? Wrong. Pocket Outlook is a brain-damaged version of the real thing. Just try sync-ing subfolders. It's not gonna happen. Same with Pocket Word. You lose all your formatting. Meanwhile Palm OS has 3-4 different 3d party apps that sync with each program, and allow you to retain your subfolders and formatting. And these are just examples. The Palm business apps really are better--for now.

Then there's reliability. The dreaded Blue Screen of Death should be all-too familiar to all Windows users. Guess what? Now you can have the Blue Screen of Death right in your Pocket. Imagine how much fun you'll have when you're on the road and your Pocket PC requires a hard reset and you lose ALL YOUR DATA and you can't restore it from your desktop because you're, as I said, ON THE ROAD. Pocket PC's are as unstable as their pre-Windows XP big brothers. In my view, they are not stable enough for serious business use. Palm OS, by contrast, is rock-solid.

Cost is also a factor. Personally I can easily afford the [the price] of a 2nd-gen Pocket PC, but for what purpose? I would have a very expensive Gameboy Advance, and I would still need a REAL PDA for work.

What really sets the Sonys apart from the crowd of Palm OS PDAs is their incomparable screens. The Clie 610c and 760c use the same screen technology as the Compaq Ipaqs--universally cited as the best in the Pocket PC world. And the Sonys posess even higher resolution than PocketPCs (320 x 320 vs 320 x 240). All the other Palm PDAs are still stuck with relatively dim 160 x 160 displays (OK, the Handspring Prism isn't dim, but it is still low-res). But the numbers don't begin to tell the real story. The 610c's display is bright with 64K colors, readable in daylight, and razor-sharp . You will never go back to a monochrome unit once you've used the Clie.

Clie also has a jog-dial. It sounded handy before I tried it, but after using it: big deal. A non-issue. Clie also looks cooler than other Palm PDAs, but that's just my opinion.

As for support, I confess to being among the very first PEG 415 users, as I ordered one direct from Sony the day it came out. The 415 has a 320 x 320 16-shade grayscale screen in a beautiful brushed aluminum body that is a bit over 1/2 as thick as a 6- or 7-series Clie. Unfortunately, the 415's screen is so dim it is almost unreadable in ordinary light, even with the (weak) blue-green backlight on. (...)

As for expandability: you're pretty much limited to the memory stick. There is an MP3 player add-on for the 610c, but if you wanted MP3 you would have bought a 760c in the first place. The memory stick itself is excellent, and cost is now comparable to other flash memory. But if you want a GPS unit or some other specialized add-on, you'd better go with a Handspring.

Battery life on the Clie 610c is excellent, particularly compared to Pocket PCs. I routinely use it for 2-3 days without charging it, and the battery life has always remained above 3/4. It would probably last over a week with a single charge.

Construction is very sturdy. I haven't had a problem with dust under the screen as reported by some Ipaq users.

The bottom line is, the Clie PEG 610c's multimedia abilities are oversold, but its beautiful display, Palm OS and apps, and compact size make it the best choice for a business user. Pocket PCs are undeniably better at multimedia, but they still aren't reliable enough for business use. My suggestion: give Microsoft a pass this time and check back in a year or two. By then Pocket PCs may be ready for prime time, or Palm may well have overburdened its simple, stable OS with a plethora of features in an effort to match Microsoft, making Palm OS just as unstable as Pocket PC. Either way, you'll be ready for a new machine by then, anyway. For now, though, Palm OS is the only real choice for business, and the Clie 610c is the best Palm OS PDA out there.

I have a PEG-N710C, which is the same as this model, but includes the MP3 player functionality, which can be added to this one as an option. This is a wonderful PDA. The resolution is amazing and much better than its Palm or Handspring competitors. Photos can be downloaded and viewed with brilliant clarity. The memory stick slot is very handy for storing applications, MP3 files, or pictures. Memory sticks can be shared between the PDA and other Sony electronics. I have a Sony digital camera as well and it is very helpful to be able to use my memory sticks in both the camera and the PDA. Applications cannot be run directly from the memory stick but pictures and MP3 files can be directly accessed. The processor is fast, the UI is great, the unit is lightweight, and I have had nothing but good experiences with Sony support.

The people who made this were thinking. It's got a better user interface than the handspring modem, it's smaller, lighter weight, doesn't use it's own batteries, upgradable, and it works just as well. I'd definately reccommed it, and the stowaway keyboard for travelers. Plus you can get free internet access from nearly anywhere in the nation...just don't install the program they give you on your desktop or you'll regret it. Happy visor surfing.

I also have a Visor Deluxe which I have used with a Targus Stowaway Keyboard. The modem connection while seated on the Stowaway Keyboard allowed me to review emails and respond to them without disconnecting either the modem or the keyboard. This combination relieved me of the burden of a laptop while traveling. Unload the prepackaged software (the email program is only a demo and requires a fee for use) and use the 500K storage for something else, which is a plus. Eudora Internet Suite is free. I received an email from technical support that the upgrade to V.90 will include fax support (the current version does not permit faxing through the ThinModem). The battery meter dips during use but restores, for the most part, after turning it off. ThinModem comes with a male telephone jack (about 36 inches) which works well in airport telephones that offer a female connection. For about $5, get the female jack (about 4 inches)which works better with connections will working at a desk. One negative is the current lack of a gadget to connect to a cell phone to turn the Visor into a wireless, but that may come, I hope.

I was really suprised that this little gadgit works so well.Plug it into your handpring(prism)hook it to your phone jack and your online.I use csmail with it and it works great.D.Whaley

Lightweight, portable and simple. These words describe both the HotSync cradle that came with my Palm IIIx and this cable which I just purchased. However, if you travel a lot, and sync to a laptop or second computer, this cable is the way to go.

I takes up virtually no room in a laptop bag, and can fit in virtually any luggage pocket (and also a suit pocket).

There is no other software to install. Just pull the cable out of the bag, attach to your PC and Palm and sync using the HotSync icon on the Palm itself.

One way that it could be improved would be with a button on the cable end itself which would trigger the HotSync. This would most likely make the cable more expensive and possibly less reliable over the long term, however. All in all, a well-designed and utterly useful product.

Though the Palm IIIxe comes standard with a HotSync cradle, that isn't something you want to carry in your pocket. This cable is the ideal solution if you travel or if you need to sync with more than one PC. The generous 3' cable length is perfect - better a long cable than one that's too short.

Keep in mind that this is NOT a USB sync cable, it's a practical serial device for the Palm III & VII, along with some of the older models.

Read the other reviews here and you'll find other creative uses for this cable, so I won't repeat them here. You'll also see that most of the owners who needed a serial sync cable agree - get this and you won't be sorry.

If you have a laptop and travel, or you move from home and office with your Palm, this is an essential to keeping your data in synch. Period!

I got tired of packing my USB cradle with my laptop and Visor Deluxe everytime so I got the USB hotsync cable.

It is easy to use and attaches to the Visor securely. Unlike the cradle, the cable does not have a hotsync button. To hotsync, you just go to the hotsync application on the Visor itself and hit "local hotsync". I had no trouble with the hotsync if I moved/lifted the Visor. The cable stays in place. To release it, you have to press two buttons at the sides of this adapter.

My one complaint is that the cable is too long (about 6 ft) and this adds to its size, not to mention the hassle of having to uncoil/coil 6 ft. of cable everytime you pack it. If this was designed for use with a laptop 18 inches to 2 ft. would have been the ideal length. After all, you need both the computer and the Visor close together to hotsync.

I just got the Handspring Deluxe (Ice) and it is absolutely great. I have had it for about 3 days now and I can't get off it. Anyways, I never had alot of room for the big cradle that the handspring came with. So i decided to order this. In my laptop case I could easily fit this in with all my other junk. The cradle took up too much room. This USB Cable is also very easy to hook up. I give this 5 stars because its quick, easy to use, and very portable!

Excellent service...excellent value. THis product works as advertised!.

Well OK, there are some nice things about this gadget. I find it very compact and I like the keyboard and the fact that it has a word processor and spread sheet. However, after endless amount of time writing to Sonic Blue (the staff were incredibly unhelpful and didn't seem to care about my problem at all), consulting with friends etc, my Diamond Mako still does not talk to my computer (my operating system is Windows 98). BIG PROBLEM!

(...)Most people are probably wondering what makes this better than a palm or visor. First, the mako has a whopping 16 MB of memory. The only visor or palm that can match that is the Visor Pro. All those others have a mediocre 8 megs. Next, how many palm or visor handhelds do you know of that have a built-in keyboard? I certainly cant think of any. It is rather small, so you cant touchtype, but if graffiti annoys you, then this is the cure. It is easy and can still write about 3-5 times faster than graffiti. Oh, man ths thing must be huge! But its not. It can easily fit in your pocket or the palm of your hand. What else? How about a word prosessor AND spreadsheet. NO palm or visor has that. Also, unlike most of the palm speadsheet apps (which you must buy) do not have the ability to produce graphs from the spreadsheet. Also, the shape of the mako makes wod prosesing sooo much easier than palm. The wider than tall screen make typing docs much more natural. Not enough? The graph from sreadsheet can be transferred to your word docs. How about online capibilitis? Try the OperaO web browser. If the horribly limited "web-clippings" for the palm handhelds erks you, you will luv the Opera's ability to access virtually any website available. STILL not enough? Software you say? How about the most amazing selection of free software available. (...)

The software on this system is easily better than anything PalmOS supports, especially the included word processor and spreadsheet (not to mention the excellent day-planner/to-do program). Trust me: I tried switching to Palm and came back. And unlike the bloated, flaky Windows software on PocketPC units, the EPOC OS on this is rock-solid and doesn't chew up batteries like breath mints. Combine that with an actual keyboard rather than trying to scribble on the screen, and there really isn't much of a contest.

For 40 bucks, you can't really go wrong, or can you.....

Listen, if you are using this just for the purpose of backing up files, go with it, but if you are going to be using this very often i recommend the pc card one. Of course it's a little bigger, but if you are going to add to the size anyway for the compact flash card slot, you might as well go for the pc card. The battery helps a lot and I can usually get 3 to 4 hours of use out of my PDA. 8-9 hours for mp3's. This is a good product, but by no means the best.

I bought this Expansion pack when i bought my new Compaq Ipaq 3765. I have used it for about a month now and i really like it. The Ipaq fits in it very well and it does make the Ipaq easier to hold when i am walking around the office or at home answering email or surfing the net. I use a Linksys compact flash 802.11b card plugged into this sleeve to connect to my company's intranet I do have a problem with the size in that none of the cases will hold the Ipaq with the expansion slot on. This makes it a little hard because when i leave the office i have to take the sleeve off to put the unit in its case for the trip home, or take the chance of scratching the face of the Ipaq. I am kind of worried about how long the connector will last with this kind of use.
Over all it is a very good product. I have not had any problems with this piece and for the price it is worth it... you won't go wrong.

I bought this for my iPaq 3650. It works great but it adds a lot of bulk. As most of iPaq owners know, the iPaq is slitly bulky by itself, so when you add the CF Exp. Pack it's even bulkier. It is a great acessory, it has lots of advanteages (especially if you use your iPaq as an MP3 player a lot) It makes life easier! The only con is the bulkyness.

Ok...I admit. I'm a brand new PDA user. I came into some money, and bought myself a Handspring Visor Platinum. And I love it.

While I won't say, "I can't figure out how I lived without it." I admit it is great.

I have owned it a week. It took me 20 minutes from walking into my house to entering data in the address book, and most of that time was spent unpacking the box.

Good points: Large memory. 8 megs is a lot. I am a law student and have downloaded alot of the laws that I work with in my classes. I have downloaded a free image viewer and a couple of images. I have 3 or 4 games and other utilities that are just for fun. And I still have about 6 megs of memory left.

Speed. I can't say much to Handspring's claim of "twice as fast as the Deluxe", but it is fast.

Quality. The thing feels good. It has a solid feel, and it has taken a week of my beating on it. The stylus is a joy, although I will get a full sized pen stylus. It would be nice if the plastic cover was a flip cover, but I can take it off the front, and put it on the back of the Platinum.

Springboard. While I haven't gotten to use it, I think it looks like a good idea.

PalmOS. Enough said.

Bad Points: Battery Power. The battery life in the batteries that came with it are probably only going to last another week or week and a half. A rechargable battery would have been a nice addition.

Leather Case. Its good leather, but kinda cheap in its design. I'm buying a new one soon.

No flash ROM. Realistically, I don't think this will be a problem. I talked to a number of PalmOS users who really don't do much upgrading of software, and software patches work well enough. But I figured that for the sake of completeness I'd add this.

I bought the Handspring instead of the Palm models because of the Springboard module. I bought the Platinum for looks and speed. I know, speed isn't so important yet, but I suspect it will be.

Overall, I am now officially addicted to PDAs, PalmOS, and Handspring products. I will never go without one again. :)

As a long-time user of PDA's (circa 1989), I must admit that the VPL, next to the Newton MessagePad, is quite affordable and versatile. And with the inclusion of the VisorPhone, I now carry only one device. Comparing the VPL to a Pocket PC is similar to comparing a Honda with a Lexus. Sure, both will perform the same function of getting from A to B, and the Lexus will carry one in style, but the Honda is more practical and less expensive to own and maintain. That's how I view the VPL. For what I want to do, the VPL does it, plain and simple. Heck, my life is in it: checkbook (Accounts & Loans), budget (QuikBudget), database (ThinkDB), eBooks and newspapers (PalmReader and AvantGo), daily notes (DayNotez), life organizer (LifeBalance and DateBk4), outlining thoughts (ShadowPlan), my office (QuickOffice), email and casual web browsing. While the VPL can do all this, not everyone would want to necessarily. The fact is, it's affordable and versatile. I can't wait for the next PDA incarnation!

Everyone should be lucky enough to own this PDA. Keeps my (...) straight!!!

Ok...I admit. I'm a brand new PDA user. I came into some money, and bought myself a Handspring Visor Platinum. And I love it.

While I won't say, "I can't figure out how I lived without it." I admit it is great.

I have owned it a week. It took me 20 minutes from walking into my house to entering data in the address book, and most of that time was spent unpacking the box.

Good points: Large memory. 8 megs is a lot. I am a law student and have downloaded alot of the laws that I work with in my classes. I have downloaded a free image viewer and a couple of images. I have 3 or 4 games and other utilities that are just for fun. And I still have about 6 megs of memory left.

Speed. I can't say much to Handspring's claim of "twice as fast as the Deluxe", but it is fast.

Quality. The thing feels good. It has a solid feel, and it has taken a week of my beating on it. The stylus is a joy, although I will get a full sized pen stylus. It would be nice if the plastic cover was a flip cover, but I can take it off the front, and put it on the back of the Platinum.

Springboard. While I haven't gotten to use it, I think it looks like a good idea.

PalmOS. Enough said.

Bad Points: Battery Power. The battery life in the batteries that came with it are probably only going to last another week or week and a half. A rechargable battery would have been a nice addition.

Leather Case. Its good leather, but kinda cheap in its design. I'm buying a new one soon.

No flash ROM. Realistically, I don't think this will be a problem. I talked to a number of PalmOS users who really don't do much upgrading of software, and software patches work well enough. But I figured that for the sake of completeness I'd add this.

I bought the Handspring instead of the Palm models because of the Springboard module. I bought the Platinum for looks and speed. I know, speed isn't so important yet, but I suspect it will be.

Overall, I am now officially addicted to PDAs, PalmOS, and Handspring products. I will never go without one again. :)

As a long-time user of PDA's (circa 1989), I must admit that the VPL, next to the Newton MessagePad, is quite affordable and versatile. And with the inclusion of the VisorPhone, I now carry only one device. Comparing the VPL to a Pocket PC is similar to comparing a Honda with a Lexus. Sure, both will perform the same function of getting from A to B, and the Lexus will carry one in style, but the Honda is more practical and less expensive to own and maintain. That's how I view the VPL. For what I want to do, the VPL does it, plain and simple. Heck, my life is in it: checkbook (Accounts & Loans), budget (QuikBudget), database (ThinkDB), eBooks and newspapers (PalmReader and AvantGo), daily notes (DayNotez), life organizer (LifeBalance and DateBk4), outlining thoughts (ShadowPlan), my office (QuickOffice), email and casual web browsing. While the VPL can do all this, not everyone would want to necessarily. The fact is, it's affordable and versatile. I can't wait for the next PDA incarnation!

Everyone should be lucky enough to own this PDA. Keeps my (...) straight!!!

Ok...I admit. I'm a brand new PDA user. I came into some money, and bought myself a Handspring Visor Platinum. And I love it.

While I won't say, "I can't figure out how I lived without it." I admit it is great.

I have owned it a week. It took me 20 minutes from walking into my house to entering data in the address book, and most of that time was spent unpacking the box.

Good points: Large memory. 8 megs is a lot. I am a law student and have downloaded alot of the laws that I work with in my classes. I have downloaded a free image viewer and a couple of images. I have 3 or 4 games and other utilities that are just for fun. And I still have about 6 megs of memory left.

Speed. I can't say much to Handspring's claim of "twice as fast as the Deluxe", but it is fast.

Quality. The thing feels good. It has a solid feel, and it has taken a week of my beating on it. The stylus is a joy, although I will get a full sized pen stylus. It would be nice if the plastic cover was a flip cover, but I can take it off the front, and put it on the back of the Platinum.

Springboard. While I haven't gotten to use it, I think it looks like a good idea.

PalmOS. Enough said.

Bad Points: Battery Power. The battery life in the batteries that came with it are probably only going to last another week or week and a half. A rechargable battery would have been a nice addition.

Leather Case. Its good leather, but kinda cheap in its design. I'm buying a new one soon.

No flash ROM. Realistically, I don't think this will be a problem. I talked to a number of PalmOS users who really don't do much upgrading of software, and software patches work well enough. But I figured that for the sake of completeness I'd add this.

I bought the Handspring instead of the Palm models because of the Springboard module. I bought the Platinum for looks and speed. I know, speed isn't so important yet, but I suspect it will be.

Overall, I am now officially addicted to PDAs, PalmOS, and Handspring products. I will never go without one again. :)

As a long-time user of PDA's (circa 1989), I must admit that the VPL, next to the Newton MessagePad, is quite affordable and versatile. And with the inclusion of the VisorPhone, I now carry only one device. Comparing the VPL to a Pocket PC is similar to comparing a Honda with a Lexus. Sure, both will perform the same function of getting from A to B, and the Lexus will carry one in style, but the Honda is more practical and less expensive to own and maintain. That's how I view the VPL. For what I want to do, the VPL does it, plain and simple. Heck, my life is in it: checkbook (Accounts & Loans), budget (QuikBudget), database (ThinkDB), eBooks and newspapers (PalmReader and AvantGo), daily notes (DayNotez), life organizer (LifeBalance and DateBk4), outlining thoughts (ShadowPlan), my office (QuickOffice), email and casual web browsing. While the VPL can do all this, not everyone would want to necessarily. The fact is, it's affordable and versatile. I can't wait for the next PDA incarnation!

Everyone should be lucky enough to own this PDA. Keeps my (...) straight!!!