Help with Palm Purchase Decision ...

H

Hansika N

New member
Hey All! :)

I'm currently looking at getting another PDA. I started out on the good old Palm IIIx and after having a brief stint on an HP Ipaq 1930, I more than keen to get back to a Palm-OS based device - especially seeing that their functionalities have improved dramatically over the past few years.

I'm a uni student, and will be using the device to manage contacts, appointments, check e-mail over the campus' wireless network, editing office-based documents and maybe playing the odd video/mp3 file/game.

So, after heaps of research, I've decided upon the Palm T|X. BUT, my question all you pros out there, is in your opinion, do you think it is better for me to wait until the next generation of Linux-based devices come out, or to buy the Palm T|X now, because it's good value?? :rolleyes: I can try and put up with my ipaq for a little while longer (tho, I'm close to throwing against a wall because I hate the lack of usability of it!) :mad:

I guess what I'm sort of trying to find out, is: (1) how far off we are from seeing Linux-based palms. (2) Will I be disadvantaged by buying the Palm T|X now, when a linux-based palm is not too far off? (3) Do you guys reckon an OS Patch will be available for the T|X in the future? It looks like a great handheld ...

Sorry for the long question! And thanks for reading,

Andrew
 
Hey - first of all, good choice in staying with Palm! PPC is far too complicated for what should be a small and simple device.

Anyway to answer your questions...

(1) I think it was announced to be sometime in late 2006. However, I would highly doubt such an optimistic claim considering the serious lack of success and implementation of Palm OS 6 (Cobalt; which was announced years ago and is basically vaporware by now) and the fact that Palm OS licencees (basically Palm and Garmin) have to develop the hardware devices to support it.

(2) see answer #1 ;)

(3) What do you mean by a "future OS patch"? Do you mean a patch to allow Palm OS Linux to run on the T|X? If so, I would doubt it. I'm pretty sure that they are/will be two very different operating systems under the hood which will require different hardware and configurations to run.

Now, I cannot personally recommend the T|X because I don't own one (shoot, I've never even actually seen one :rolleyes: ), but I can say that I have read mostly good things about it -- it seems to be a big hit.

Also, coming from a Palm IIIx, you'll probably appreciate that it is possible to get Graffiti 1 running on the T|X.
 
Hey epp_b

Thanks very much for your reply ... I know it's not exactly the easiest of questions to respond to, and I also appreciate your honesty. Yeah, what I meant by 'Future OS Patch' was basically a PDA equivalent of what Microsoft has for Windows (eg. Win98 Upgrade).

As you a probably aware, in the early days of Palm, there were patches released to update the OS stored in ROM, but I guess that's only for minor upgrades ... I just kinda thought that if people are able to get Linux to run on Lifedrives and T3s (as demonstrated by MooseMan [url http://www.pdastreet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62789)[/url], that somehow an update would be released or at least available for purchase. Because the last thing that I'd want is to purchase a brand new PDA only to find out that the OS on it has been made obsolete a couple months later ...

About the Graffiti on the latest palms, yeah I noticed that it is completely different from that of Palm IIIx, but that doesn't phase me, because there's always those Teal apps ... I'm guessing that's what you were hinting at anyways! :)

So I'm guessing that your answer is yes to buying the T|X now as opposed to waiting for the Linux-based Palms? Developers won't abandon Garnett anytime soon will they?

 
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