Palm IIIxe and Linux

[cybertron]

I'm curious if anyone has any experience with using a Palm III with Linux. Is it possible to hotsync, or at least backup your data somehow? How about installing software on the Palm? I'm not trying to install Linux on it (although I might try that someday too;)), but right now all I have is a laptop dual booting so no hotsyncing (no serial port on laptop). I'm looking at getting a desktop to run exclusively linux on and if I could hotsync my Palm that would be added motivation. I can't quite seem to convince myself that I need another computer, so I'm trying to find more excuses:) This way I wouldn't have to buy a new Palm that has a USB connector.

Yes I know that's a bad excuse because I could just buy the usb-serial adaptor, but we'll just ignore that for now:)

Anyhow, everything I've found so far has been about installing Linux on a Palm, and I just want to know how they work together. TIA.

-Ben

[timothykaine]

The Palm should get along just fine with J-Pilot (I've had the most success with this), gnome-pilot, and so on. Everything will sync except mail in Palm OS 5+ (Which isnt an issue for you, just an FYI if you plan to upgrade). The first thing thatll happen when you sync is it will back up everything, so theres that. After you have pilot configured, you can sync with Kontact, Evolution, etc.

As long as you can physically plug in that palm, youll be just fine. heh.

As for installing programs, just be sure to get them in PRC format, you can install those with J-Pilot. A lot youll find will be in EXE, so dont bother with those, of course.

[cybertron]

Originally posted by timothykaine
The Palm should get along just fine with J-Pilot (I've had the most success with this), gnome-pilot, and so on. Everything will sync except mail in Palm OS 5+ (Which isnt an issue for you, just an FYI if you plan to upgrade). The first thing thatll happen when you sync is it will back up everything, so theres that. After you have pilot configured, you can sync with Kontact, Evolution, etc.

As long as you can physically plug in that palm, youll be just fine. heh.

As for installing programs, just be sure to get them in PRC format, you can install those with J-Pilot. A lot youll find will be in EXE, so dont bother with those, of course.

Awesome. If I do upgrade, I'm pretty sure I won't need to start doing my e-mail on the Palm, so that won't be a big deal either way. It's good to hear that I can install programs from Linux too. That was something I wasn't sure about, but open source developers continue to amaze me:)

Thanks for the info.