A Palm T|X Replacement June 1, 2009
Posted by rm42 in Computers, Uncategorized.trackback
Since the introduction of the Palm Pilot, in the mid 90’s, people have been enjoying the ability of having instant access to one’s data almost any where and at any time. Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) have also saved many of us afflicted with bad memories from getting in trouble by reminding us of one important event or another. However, their use has not always been devoid of headaches. While PDA users are notorious for the love they have for their little devices, they have always wished for one improvement or another. Nevertheless, when I bought my Palm T|X I thought I was going to be all set. It seemed to have all I really needed and more. It had a very nice screen with great resolution. It was much faster than any of my previous devices and could handle music and video with no problem. It was compatible with my collection of Palm programs that I had accumulated over the years. It even had wi-fi connectivity to check Google Maps and browse the Internet at any hot spot for free. What more could I want? Well, how about durability?
My Palm T|X began showing problems after about 7 or 8 months of use. It seemed that some areas of the screen were becoming desensitized. I had not purchased an extended warranty since I am usually very careful with my things and it would have added a lot to the cost of the device. Unfortunately, the problem kept getting worse and worse, until it finally became completely unusable. The cost for repairing it (I can’t remember exactly what it was right now) seemed ridiculously high. It was obvious that they had set it so high to discourage people from availing themselves of it and to steer them instead towards simply buying a new replacement. To say that I was very disappointed at the quality of Palm’s craftsmanship is an understatement. At the time the iPhone had not yet been released, and my only alternative would have been to buy a device with Windows CE on it. I really was not interested in buying a smart phone that would require an expensive data plan. So, very reluctantly, I decided to give Palm one more chance and I bought my second Palm T|X, my last one. Unfortunately, after about 8 or 9 months, the screen began to give me trouble again. I purchased a program called PowerDiGi which alleviated some of the screen problems, temporarily. But, eventually the device also became unusable. What to do?
I guess that what I would love to have is a small portable device, that wouldn’t require waiting for it to boot, that gave me access to my data without requiring a cellular data plan, and that was able to give me audible reminders.
Well, for the moment, I went back to a paper based agenda. It has some advantages, such as an unbeatable resolution, even under bright direct sunlight. It doesn’t need to be recharged and never runs out of power. And, it is very reliable. However, some of its disadvantages are that it tends to get full rather quickly. There is no efficient way of transferring its data when upgrading to a newer model. And, it completely lacks one of the most important features of a PDA (at least for me), audible reminders.
So, I think I do want go back to some form of PDA. But what is there available to me? Paying $300+ a year to Palm, with plenty of aggravations, for the luxury of having a PDA seems a bit high to me. I do have a cell phone (through AT&T), but paying another $40 a month (on top of my current cell phone charges) to have a smart phone does not feel very smart in my case. Nevertheless, I am tempted. I am especially tempted by the Android OS. First of all, it runs Linux! 
Secondly, I am a heavy user of Google Apps. I migrated our office to Google Apps Premier Edition and have to offer support for it. So I am rather knowledgeable on its use and its features. Having access to my Google Apps any time any where is certainly luring. No more having to transfer my data from one device to another. The data all resides in one place, securely. But, that would mean changing carrier and, again, adding a data plan. Is the privilege of getting reminders and not having to transfer my data manually really worth the cost of the data plan? I am not sure yet.
I guess that what I would love to have is a small portable device, that wouldn’t require waiting for it to boot, that gave me access to my data without requiring a cellular data plan, and that was able to give me audible reminders. Does such a thing exist outside of Palm and Windows CE? Well, there are rumors of an interesting device from Nokia called N900, but I am not sure about its features yet. It does seem to be a Linux device, which for me is a big plus, and since it is made by Nokia, it is probably programmable with the Qt toolkit which I am familiar with from KDE. If the Trolltech guys are behind this device and are able to turn it into a fully open platform, I may be swayed into going with it instead of going with Android. I do enjoy coding in Qt more than in Java. Yes, it does seem to be described as an “Internet Tablet” which would likely mean that a data plan is required to take advantage of all its features, but would it be usable without a data plan? Would it be able to provide audible reminders for me? I need more details before deciding.
The iPhone store is not my thing. Yes, I am tight fisted with my money. Hey, we are in the middle of an economic recession, and not just any recession. They are calling this one, “The great recession”. The only thing I know for sure is that I will not be getting a Windows CE device (since I do not want to contribute to the monopoly that is trying to destroy my favorite OS), and that I will not be getting a Palm device. Even though the PalmPre is a Linux device, I am through with Palm and its shoddy craftsmanship.
Are you a Palm T|X user? What are your plans for a replacement?
I eventually switched from my Palm T|X to an Apple iTouch.
I agree that the T|X was … disheartening. It was great for the first 6 – 8 months, then the degradation set in, and it became more and more unusable. I had already tried using a Palm Treo, and found I didn’t like having my data tied to my phone contract.
I cast about for something else, and ended up with the iTouch. It fits my needs pretty well. It was no more expensive than my T|X, and the apps on the iStore tend to be pretty inexpensive. It uses WiFi for internet connection, so is not tied to a phone plan. (It is basically the iPhone, without the phone.) I would have *liked* a cool, Linux-based pda, but the iTouch was something I could walk home with the day I found it.
Thanks Padma. I will definitely have a look at the iTouch.
I was in the same boat, after having owned a number of PalmOS devices over the last twelve years, including the !@#$@ TX. When the battery died at 13 months… There was nothing on the market for me then, so I found a leftover Z22 and moved my most important stuff there for now. My wife recently got an iTouch and is happy with it, but I’m hoping to hold off until Android-based netbooks are available with their long battery life and fast-on (Asus has a demonstrator out now). I also cannot take my pda into my client site, so I’m also dependent on a Dayrunner paper planner for ‘at work’ use.
I suppose you’re looking for a good, modern PDA with a phone it it? What I’ve found is that they simply do not make PDA’s anymore.
Unless I can tempt you with my very fine T3 (compared to a T|X, a T3 is built like a tank and is only lacking the wifi feature), my advice for you is to, sadly, give up hope of finding a real PDA and look for an acceptable Android-based smartphone instead.
That is to say, the smartphone concept is much more a phone with some additional software on it, but falls short of what you and I are used to from a PDA. At the other end of the spectrum, the netbooks are “too much” a full-blown pc and not nearly sufficiently “instant-on” that a realtime OS-driven device can deliver.
What we need is a proper suite of PIM apps. Alas, current smartphones are too phone-centric to be useful as a standalone information device — they contain phone books instead of proper address books with birthday fields and what-have-you, and the calendars seem to be light-weight counterparts of desktop application rather than fully-featured standalone applications.
I’ve been researching all the currently available operating systems, to find a replacement device for my Palm T3 (and since rather recently, Treo). The best, I’ve concluded, appears to be the Android platform, although it lacks handwriting recognition, proper PIM or productivity tools, and even something as simple as device-wide local search. But I am reminded that “best” is a relative term, and not necessarily better than “good”.
Good luck!
Oh, one other thing: You could send your T|X to Chris Short to have it refurbished, if you want to keep it a little longer while you consider your options. He’s refurbished three devices for me and delivers excellent service.
See palmdr.com. (Note: No affiliation of any kind, just a satisfied customer.)
Jan,
Thanks a lot for your comments. My AT&T contract expires in September or October, I can’t remember. So, I am going to be free to choose another carrier at the time. There is even a rumor that AT&T may be releasing an Android device soon:
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/304564/t_preparing_google_android_offensive?fp=4194304&fpid=1
It is going to be interesting. I think once I decide on a device I will blog about it. So, come back around that time and we’ll chat.
I had a similar problem in that my TX was getting a little “worn”, so I went for the Nokia E71. It runs symbian, but its a great phone, and good keyboard which I am quicker using than I ever was with the TX and the extra communications available, twitter, wordpress blogging, IMing with msn, googletalk, jabba and then there’s skype as well. It has wifi and bluetooth so you can connect your laptop to it and surf with G3 or whatever. I looked at iPhone and Blackberry and others (including the HTC running Android) and found, for me, the E71 to be the best choice, and I still like it.
I’ve been in the same boat for quite a while now, since my T3 (great device) was stolen two years ago. I settled on a Treo 680 WITHOUT a data plan and it works well. I use T-Mobile so I simply purchased a Treo from Ebay, slipped my simm in and had a working phone, no data plan, and a palm based PIM — with the audible alarms I rely on. I also purchased a warranty from SquareTrade (also no affiliation) and just recently shipped my Treo in for service. The screen had died and phone calls were dropping — I think this was largely due to MY dropping the phone too many times, though. The build quality on the Treo I feel good about. Square Trade couldn’t affordably fix my phone so they gave me full credit and I’m going to buy another NEW, Unlocked Treo again on Ebay for about $150 and hope that by the time this one dies (I’ll be much more careful this time) something will be available to fill this niche.
A couple more things I really like about the Treo 680 — low SAR rating for a smart phone (.8) vs 1.5 for many of them (brain cancer does concern me), physical qwerty keyboard which I came to like much better than Graffiti, and dead simple PIM.
Good luck with your search.
I think, the Nokia N900 will be the right thing. I don’t want to have an “always online” device like the iphone or the pre. Mobile connection, ok, if I want it from time to time. But normaly I only need my offline reader and my passcodes and perhaps some dates and contacts. All this resides on my Palm E2. And this should be the same on my future device.
Does anyone now wether the older maemo programs (for os2008 e.g.) are running on the new N900, too? Or is a new version required?
I believe programs from the older Maemo devices need to be ported to the N900. From what I understand there is a lot of activity on that front.