PDA conundrum

SteveDallas · 04-26-2005, 01:05 PM

I need a PDA / handheld computer recommendation.

The requirements are simple. Deceptively simple.

We need to have two handheld units that will allow their owners ("carriers" if you will) to have the same calendar. And they both need to add and update stuff periodically, while syncing up to a computer as usual.

It sounds so easy, but in fact PalmOS does not support this arrangement. If you want to sync one handheld with two computers, you're fine, and if you want to sync two handhelds with different calendars on one computer you're also good to go. But one calendar duplicated on two handhelds is a no-go. There are kludges around this involving beaming directly between the two handhelds (e.g. DualDate) or uploading the information to a sparate server which then feeds it to the other handheld (e.g. Groupsync, WeSync), but the results are either kludgy, or they don't allow updates to be entered on the handheld, or both.

I have avoided the PocketPC platform in the past for several reasons, but at this point I'm willing to consider it.

Any suggestions?

Troubleshooter · 04-26-2005, 01:15 PM

Not that I would expect you to buy two of these but...

http://www.oqo.com/

specifications

* 1GHz Transmeta Crusoe
* 20GB hard drive (shock-mounted)
* 256MB DDR RAM
* Dimensions: 4.9" x 3.4" x .9"
* Weight: 14 ounces
* 800 x 480 W-VGA 5" transflective display (indoor/outdoor readable)
* 3D accelerated graphics with 8mb video RAM
* QWERTY thumb keyboard with mouse buttons and TrackStik®
* 802.11b wireless
* Bluetooth® wireless
* 4-pin FireWire® (1394)
* USB 1.1
* 3.5mm stereo headphone jack
* Microphone
* Digital pen
* Removable lithium polymer battery
* Battery life up to three hours, depending on usage
* OQO docking cable includes:
o 3D accelerated 1280 x 1024 VGA video output
o Additional USB
o Additional FireWire (1394)
o Ethernet
o DC power
o Audio out

additional features

* Active hard drive protection that safely parks hard drive heads upon detecting freefall
* Screen that slides on rack and pinion mechanism to reveal thumb keyboard
* Shift, control, function and alt keys that have smart-lock with LED indicators
* Thumbwheel allows for traditional scrolling as well as enhanced features
* Ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts backlight to appropriate level

included accessories

* Power cord & AC adaptor
* Docking cable
* Desktop stand
* Digital pen
* Carrying sleeve

jaguar · 04-26-2005, 02:43 PM

iSync/iCal and a SonyEricsson P800/900/910 will let you do this. I think the bigger limitations are in windows rather than the PDA in question.

SteveDallas · 04-26-2005, 03:23 PM

That's probably not an option, but I'll check it out. But I can't really see that it's endemic to Windows. Palm decided that their software would handle one calendar on one device. I'm sure they could have accomodated it if they had felt the urge.

How would Pocket PC

with Outlook

look?

jaguar · 04-26-2005, 03:26 PM

Ah, thought outlook was the more the issue.

Elspode · 04-26-2005, 04:50 PM

First of all...do you already have two Palm OS units?

I'm trying to figure out here why you can't just have a single profile name in common in the sync software on both users' computers. Then, using Chapura, you can force that profile to sync *only* the calendar data. Then just sync both PDAs to both computers.

I believe you can save a given Chapura sync setup so that you could then select a second sync setup and sync just your own data, with the calendar not doing anything.

I could be wrong...

Bitman · 04-28-2005, 04:33 PM

I just got one of these:
http://store.yahoo.com/justdeals/hp.html

I'm surprised by how much I like it. Big beautiful screen, long battery life, reletively fast (for Windows CE). And dirt cheap. Kinda hard to find software, but the stuff I've found works well. I got NetHack, Gnuplot, and a book reader on there now. MS's dev kit is free. Haven't found a Palm emulator yet, or a good free Gameboy emulator.

I think it might even do what you need. ActiveSync (you'll need the latest from MS) creates a named "partnership" with each PDA you plug in. So I know one desktop can track two PDAs, but I don't know how well it works. Guy I work with is getting one too, so I might be convinced to try it.

SteveDallas · 04-29-2005, 11:51 PM

I will check out Chapura and the HP unit. Thanks.

04-26-2005, 01:05 PM	#1
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	PDA conundrum I need a PDA / handheld computer recommendation. The requirements are simple. Deceptively simple. We need to have two handheld units that will allow their owners ("carriers" if you will) to have the same calendar. And they both need to add and update stuff periodically, while syncing up to a computer as usual. It sounds so easy, but in fact PalmOS does not support this arrangement. If you want to sync one handheld with two computers, you're fine, and if you want to sync two handhelds with different calendars on one computer you're also good to go. But one calendar duplicated on two handhelds is a no-go. There are kludges around this involving beaming directly between the two handhelds (e.g. DualDate) or uploading the information to a sparate server which then feeds it to the other handheld (e.g. Groupsync, WeSync), but the results are either kludgy, or they don't allow updates to be entered on the handheld, or both. I have avoided the PocketPC platform in the past for several reasons, but at this point I'm willing to consider it. Any suggestions?

04-26-2005, 01:15 PM	#2
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	My technophilic fantasy is here... Not that I would expect you to buy two of these but... http://www.oqo.com/ specifications * 1GHz Transmeta Crusoe * 20GB hard drive (shock-mounted) * 256MB DDR RAM * Dimensions: 4.9" x 3.4" x .9" * Weight: 14 ounces * 800 x 480 W-VGA 5" transflective display (indoor/outdoor readable) * 3D accelerated graphics with 8mb video RAM * QWERTY thumb keyboard with mouse buttons and TrackStik® * 802.11b wireless * Bluetooth® wireless * 4-pin FireWire® (1394) * USB 1.1 * 3.5mm stereo headphone jack * Microphone * Digital pen * Removable lithium polymer battery * Battery life up to three hours, depending on usage * OQO docking cable includes: o 3D accelerated 1280 x 1024 VGA video output o Additional USB o Additional FireWire (1394) o Ethernet o DC power o Audio out additional features * Active hard drive protection that safely parks hard drive heads upon detecting freefall * Screen that slides on rack and pinion mechanism to reveal thumb keyboard * Shift, control, function and alt keys that have smart-lock with LED indicators * Thumbwheel allows for traditional scrolling as well as enhanced features * Ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts backlight to appropriate level included accessories * Power cord & AC adaptor * Docking cable * Desktop stand * Digital pen * Carrying sleeve __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

04-26-2005, 02:43 PM	#3
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	iSync/iCal and a SonyEricsson P800/900/910 will let you do this. I think the bigger limitations are in windows rather than the PDA in question. __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

04-26-2005, 03:26 PM	#5
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	Ah, thought outlook was the more the issue. __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

04-26-2005, 04:50 PM	#6
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	First of all...do you already have two Palm OS units? I'm trying to figure out here why you can't just have a single profile name in common in the sync software on both users' computers. Then, using Chapura, you can force that profile to sync only the calendar data. Then just sync both PDAs to both computers. I believe you can save a given Chapura sync setup so that you could then select a second sync setup and sync just your own data, with the calendar not doing anything. I could be wrong... __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

04-26-2005, 03:23 PM	#4
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	That's probably not an option, but I'll check it out. But I can't really see that it's endemic to Windows. Palm decided that their software would handle one calendar on one device. I'm sure they could have accomodated it if they had felt the urge. How would Pocket PC with Outlook look?

04-28-2005, 04:33 PM	#7
Bitman cellar smellar Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: californy, baby! Posts: 403	I just got one of these: http://store.yahoo.com/justdeals/hp.html I'm surprised by how much I like it. Big beautiful screen, long battery life, reletively fast (for Windows CE). And dirt cheap. Kinda hard to find software, but the stuff I've found works well. I got NetHack, Gnuplot, and a book reader on there now. MS's dev kit is free. Haven't found a Palm emulator yet, or a good free Gameboy emulator. I think it might even do what you need. ActiveSync (you'll need the latest from MS) creates a named "partnership" with each PDA you plug in. So I know one desktop can track two PDAs, but I don't know how well it works. Guy I work with is getting one too, so I might be convinced to try it.

04-29-2005, 11:51 PM	#8
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	I will check out Chapura and the HP unit. Thanks.

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