Recommendations on PDA's

[Chrish]

I would like to get a PDA and want to ensure its compatibility with Linux. I want the smallest, lightest, feature rich one I can get. Are there any good alternatives to consider other than the Palm Pilot and Visor? How about the Rex 6000? Any recommendations? Also, is it possible to download the available PDA software to a Linux box and install it on the PDA? Lastly, what is a good PIM to use with Linux?

Thanks

[TaeShadow]

There's a PDA out there that runs Linux. I've never used it but it looks cool. The website is:
http://www.agendacomputing.com

Other than that, I have a Palm IIIxe and I love it. It works perfectly with Linux. If I were to get another one, though, I'd get a model with less memory. 8 megs is too much for what I use it for.

[Dru Lee Parsec]

I love my Visor Deluxe. If you want mobile e-mail then get the Visor Platinum because you can hook up Omni-Sky to it. The platimun is only about $40 more, but Omnisky is a seperate service that cost a couple of hundred (I think) for the hardware that attaches to the Visor and probably around $40 /month for the service.

But I's certainly go with a Handspring Visor over a Palm. My wife and I both use them and we're totally hooked after just one year of having them.

BTW, I have no idea if you can put Linux on a Visor, but who cares!? It's not running a Micro$oft OS anyway. As far as compatability, there is a Visor How-To at www.Linuxdocs.org (http://www.Linuxdocs.org) which talks about how to set up your Visor to hot sync to Linux.

Visor PDA are made by Handspring www.handspring.com (http://www.handspring.com)


[This message has been edited by Dru Lee Parsec (edited 26 January 2001).]

[bigshooter]

IPAQ pocket pc http://www.linuxnewbie.org/ubb/smile.gif

[hndpaul]

I would definitely go for the Agenda; more power than the average PDA, looks good, great software and unlike the iPAQ, stable OS too :-) iPAQ's don't like being upgraded at the moment, but the Agenda is expandable and can take infra red device links, modems and synchronisation with both Windows and Linux machines...and at a better price!!

Paul, UK

[bigshooter]

i was kidding about the ipaq, considering this is a linux forum. But i do wnat to say something about your comment. My IPAQ itself (hardware) turned out not to be stable. Its been giving me problems lately, luckily i have a 3 year warranty. The pocketpc software is actually really nice thouhg. Lets not bash microsoft for a second, but I had more problems with my palm IIIxe and having to reset because some stupid program didn't work, then on my pocketpc, plus it syncs to windows (my primary OS, as an MCP, almost MCSE, its what pays the bills) very well, and hopefull will sync with linux someday. Pocketpc is actually a decent microsoft product.

[voivode]

I haven't had a chance to look at the Agenda PDAs, but i'd reccomend a Palm OS device.

The Palm OS devices have a large and well-developed library with support from many developers and companies, so you're not going to buy something that will be phased out anytime soon. Entry level Palm OS devices (such as a Palm m100) can be found for about 130 US dollars.

Another alternative are EPOC based devices, such as those made by Psion (http://www.psion.com/). I'm not so sure about Linux compatibility/synchronization options, but the devices are definatley useful and have a large following (mostly in Europe, although they're gaining acceptance in the State).

I would suggest that you stray from buying a Pocket PC/Windows CE device. The battery life on such units is generally 6-8 hours, the OS is clunky and cumbersome to use, and the price of such units (400-600+ dollars) can put the devices well out of the price range of the average consumer. In my opinion the devices are novelty, and it's software library is lacking compared to other PDAs.

But the most important question you should ask yourself is what would you primarily use the PDA for. Each PDA has it's strengths, and some will suit your needs better than others.