PDA/ smartphone advice sought

[Clie fogey]

I've been using a Sony Clie PEG-T625C happily for the last 5 years. I've found the Palm Desktop applications quite useful and have added on some even more useful apps (GSM tool for sending SMS via infrared, Yaps for maintaining passwords, Tube and WorldMate for getting round London and beyond & Pocket Quicken as an essential for managing my finances). I've noticed the battery needing recharge more frequently and as I'd heard that Clie is no longer supported by Sony I think I need to get a replacement before disaster strikes.

Ideally I'd like to be able to replace my mobile phone at the same time so I only have one device to carry. I make very few calls with it in the UK, use it a lot on business outside the UK (largely in Asia) and send texts regularly.

Don't need e-mail facility (have a work-provided Blackberry) or internet access particularly. Not really looking for MP3 function either as happy with ipod.

Have been looking at smartphone PDAs, particularly Windows Mobile-based (e.g. Treo 750) as would be happy to be able to use Outlook calendar/to do/contacts but also want to be able to transfer the add-on apps from my Clie.

Grateful for any advice from someone with more knowledge of what is currently available.

Thanks.

[Martin Laverty]

You could look at the treo 680 as well as it a more up to date version of the palm OS software on your Clie.

http://www.totalpda.co.uk/Palm-Treo-680.aspx
Most of the software you have should probably work on this since its the same OS.

You can get all of those programs for windows based devices as well so it would be too hard to get them again. If you went for a windows based system you could look at these.

http://www.totalpda.co.uk/HP-iPAQ-6815.aspx
http://www.totalpda.co.uk/HTC-TyTN-I...PDA-Phone.aspx

The ipaq is a great deal for the price as it is a high spec model with wifi, bluetooth, fast processor and plenty of memory. The HTC is the top of the range at the moment as it does everything above but has a slide out keyboard and an internal GPS as well as 3G capability.

Originally Posted by Clie fogey

I've been using a Sony Clie PEG-T625C happily for the last 5 years. I've found the Palm Desktop applications quite useful and have added on some even more useful apps (GSM tool for sending SMS via infrared, Yaps for maintaining passwords, Tube and WorldMate for getting round London and beyond & Pocket Quicken as an essential for managing my finances). I've noticed the battery needing recharge more frequently and as I'd heard that Clie is no longer supported by Sony I think I need to get a replacement before disaster strikes.

Ideally I'd like to be able to replace my mobile phone at the same time so I only have one device to carry. I make very few calls with it in the UK, use it a lot on business outside the UK (largely in Asia) and send texts regularly.

Don't need e-mail facility (have a work-provided Blackberry) or internet access particularly. Not really looking for MP3 function either as happy with ipod.

Have been looking at smartphone PDAs, particularly Windows Mobile-based (e.g. Treo 750) as would be happy to be able to use Outlook calendar/to do/contacts but also want to be able to transfer the add-on apps from my Clie.

Grateful for any advice from someone with more knowledge of what is currently available.

Thanks.

[Clie fogey]

Originally Posted by Martin Laverty

You could look at the treo 680 as well as it a more up to date version of the palm OS software on your Clie.

http://www.totalpda.co.uk/Palm-Treo-680.aspx
Most of the software you have should probably work on this since its the same OS.

You can get all of those programs for windows based devices as well so it would be too hard to get them again. If you went for a windows based system you could look at these.

http://www.totalpda.co.uk/HP-iPAQ-6815.aspx
http://www.totalpda.co.uk/HTC-TyTN-I...PDA-Phone.aspx

The ipaq is a great deal for the price as it is a high spec model with wifi, bluetooth, fast processor and plenty of memory. The HTC is the top of the range at the moment as it does everything above but has a slide out keyboard and an internal GPS as well as 3G capability.

Thanks for the food for thought. Can you tell me if I'd be able to use any or all of the above possibilities with my existing Virgin simcard?

Also, am I right in thinking that the Treo models have Palm OS and Windows Mobile - and does that make them more versatile?

Finally, I've seen suggestions that it's worth waiting for "next year's model" of the i-Phone as that will have more PDA type functions. Is there anything in that or is it just the usual rumours of the next big thing?

[Clie fogey]

Thanks for food for thought. Can I trouble you with a few more questions it prompts:

Would I be able to use any or all of the suggested models with my Virgin simcard?

Am I right in thinking that the Treo models have both Palm OS and Windows Mobile and does that make them more versatile?

I've seen suggestions that it might be worth waiting for the next version of the i-Phone (next year?) as that may have more PDA features. Is there anything in that or is it just the usual rumours of the "next big thing"?

[Martin Laverty]

Yes teh handsets are unlocked so would work with virgin.

The Treo 680 has palm OS the treo 750 has win mobile. They only have one OS on them.

I wouldnt bother with the iphone except for the 8GB hard drive their actually doing less than the HTC and HP models I showed you.

Originally Posted by Clie fogey

Thanks for food for thought. Can I trouble you with a few more questions it prompts:

Would I be able to use any or all of the suggested models with my Virgin simcard?

Am I right in thinking that the Treo models have both Palm OS and Windows Mobile and does that make them more versatile?

I've seen suggestions that it might be worth waiting for the next version of the i-Phone (next year?) as that may have more PDA features. Is there anything in that or is it just the usual rumours of the "next big thing"?