u l t r a m o o k i e

Well, it’s settled. Here’s my choice for my day-to-day PDA. It’s the Palm m125. Yup, the search through the most expensive (Sharp Zaurus SL-5500
) to the most beautiful (Sony Clie PEG-T415) has led me to the Palm m125. Why? Because, I finally figured it out after falling back on my Palm m100, a PDA should be expandable and damn tough. When I picked the Palm m125 I did it like the military — it had to be cheap and it had to be tough. So, here’s my thoughts along with some pictures and software essentials.

After playing with the Sharp Zaurus SL-5500 I knew that a color PDA based on the StrongARM chip was not for me. Why? Battery life. I’m now travelling a lot more and I don’t want to be hampered by a PDA that only gets 4-5 hours a charge. Yea, I can take a travel charger with me, but dammit, I want to travel light, you know? I have nothing against the Sharp Zaurus SL-5500, it is a beautiful machine — and having Linux running on it is just even that much more cooler! But there was a lack of software and the thing made my pants fall down when I put it in my pocket — it was a heavy, heavy machine.

I returned the Sharp Zaurus SL-5500 for a lighter Sony Clie PEG-T415 which felt good in my hands, was monochrome (better battery life), and was a Sony (I have to support my employer!). The only problem, and this is a major one, was that the display was way too dark and dim. I just could not see anything on that display! So after trying to like the Sony Clie PEG-T415, I mean I really tried to like this thing, I returned it.

In this interim, I was trying to use my Sony Clie PEG-N610C, and it was working, but they battery life was also a problem on that one. I ended up switching back to my old workhorse — the Palm m100. Yes, this Palm m100 with its 2MB of RAM held me over for a while and performed admirably, like always. And the thing was tough, really tough. I dropped it a few times before and it had survived. This convinced me, I didn’t need color, but I needed battery life and durability. Plus this 2MB was cramping my style, I wanted 8MB of RAM plus expandability. Along the lines of durability, it’s good to know that the screen on the m125, though smaller than most Palms, is made of tough plastic, not glass. This is important for those of us who drop our Palms from time to time. It is also a bit more resistant to scratches. Plus, knowing that my m125 is so tough, I don’t have to treat it like it’s some precious thing. I can just use it. So, the only way to go? Add a quarter to that m100 please!

So that’s how I got to using my Palm m125. What a great machine. I have it all filled up with good software — essential stuff here! And here’s the list (you can find most of it at PalmGear.Com or Handango.Com):

• ActionNames - Good DateBook/AddressBook/To-Do helper.
• WordSmith - Sync up those Microsoft Word documents and take them with you! Hell, you can even create MS Word docs on the fly on your Palm. All without loss of formatting.
• TinySheets - Sync up those Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and take those with you too. You’ll be able to create Excel spreadsheets on the fly also on the Palm.
• HanDBase - A great database for your Palm and PC. You can even beam records between the Palm and that dreaded PocketPC. Comes with a piece for the Palm that syncs up nicely with a piece for your PC.
• PiDirectII - A good way to store read-only databases and programs on the memory expansion card. Lets you run them like they were in the actual Palm RAM.
• PowerRUN - A great way to store all programs and their databases in the memory expansion card. This will even let you modify databases on the VFS card — something PiDirectII won’t let you do.
• Bejewelled - Better get some fresh batteries ready because this game will eat up a lot of time. Addictive game of swapping gems!
• ChessGenius - OK, sometimes I do like to flex whatever brain matter I have left. ChessGenius gives a good challenge and teaches too.
• PalmReaderPro - A good way of reading eBooks on your Palm. It can even use other fonts. Lots of eBooks available at PeanutPress.com and FictionWise.Com.
• BackupBuddyVFS - The best way to keep your information safe. BBVFS backs up your whole Palm to the VFS card — even encrypting your backups. So, if you ever run out of batteries or something catastrophic happens to your Palm, you’ll have a good backup to restore from.
• QuickBits - The easiest way to speed up your Palm.
• SolFree - A free Solitaire game for the Palm — you can get it free when you register your Palm device (meaning if you bough a Palm, not a Sony or Handspring). Not sure you can get it anywhere else though. But it is sure fun! If anything, you can get AcidSolitaire.
• Space Trader - Ever wanted to be like Han Solo? Here’s your chance. Be a space trader! A lot of fun and free too!
• Big Clock - Um, the name says it all.

OK, enough of that. Just take a look around at PalmGear.Com and Handango.Com and you’ll find lots of software for your Palm too.

Here’s some PICTURES of my m125 workhorse.