 | Palm TX Handheld
Overall, pleased -- 2008-12-29
I have found this PDA works well and can be setup with iSync in Leopard (Mac) thus will import/export data to iCal and Contacts without issues. While bluetooth can be used, along with WIFi the first sync with a Mac must be wired through USB and from there settings changed via Palm OS for bluetooth communications.
The image display is quite good while the display for Office and other text related items are like reading text related items. Exporting or sending of Excel expense report to the PDA is another added plus.
Flaky touchscreen digitizer detracts -- 2008-12-27
For the first 10 months of owning my T|X, I thought it was the greatest ever - a 5 out of 5. I suspect many of the good reviews were written by people who hadn't owned theirs long.
At month 10, my touchscreen digitizer started losing its calibration more and more frequently. I sent it in to Palm for repair (and their customer service isn't very easy or fast) and received a rebuilt unit. That one lasted about 4 months (just beyond the warranty) and its digitizer started flaking out.
Today I can't write anything, and I refuse to pay Palm to fix it and get another dud.
Too bad - I've loved Palm for years, but they lost me on a bad product.
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 | Palm Tungsten E2 Handheld
Horrid -- 2009-01-01
How sad is this.
I've been using my E2 for school work and keeping track of my schedule and after using it for several months, it died. It only works for a few minutes after charging or resetting the device, and if you turn it off(it won't let you keep it on indefinetly) after ten minutes you won't get it to turn on. Even after replacing the battery this problem didn't go away.
What to do?
Chuck it
does not worth the money! -- 2008-12-28
I had problems with my PDA the first day I received it.
When I called the customer service guy in India, he tried different things to try to solve the weak connection problems(which made it unable to syn) but nothing worked. After 3 years, I am not even able to turn off this PDA. When I tried to push the start/off button on the top right corner or the button at the bottom middle, nothing will happen. It is just a big waste of my battery and money!
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 | Palm Z22 Handheld
Best Palm I ever owned -- 2009-01-01
This is the best Palm I ever owned. Many Palm branded devices were pleged with problems. The issue some of the early models had was that sometimes if the machine reset or if you let the battery die you would lose the memory and have to hook the device to your computer to reload from the last back up. The problem is with this is sometimes I wouldn't back up right away and I would loose my new to do lists and my new calendar entries. The Z22 fixed this problem by protecting the memory so that it will retain the memory long after the battery ran out of juice. This has been a life saver. I have owned this unit for years and have had very few problems with it.
Some may say this machine isn't that great because it doesn't have WiFi, it's not a phone, it doesn't have a memory expansion slot but to me these are all pluses. I have an iphone for doing everything else but it is nice to have a device with a book reader where I can read and not feel the need to click some icon to check my mail. It is a light dependable PDA that does what it is supposed to do.
Sadly it looks like this unit after all these years is being discontinued. If you can find one snatch it up because you will never find another PDA like this one ever again.
Palm Zire - Wonderful addition to my life! -- 2008-12-23
I had an old Palm Zire that was dying. I saw this new one on Amazon.com and ordered it. It is in color and works beautifully!! I keep all my contacts and calendar on it and love it. Thanks for having it available!!
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 | Sony PRS-505/LC Blue Digital Book Reader
Converting / Reading PDF's and Exercising -- 2009-01-04
Most of the material I read for work and pleasure comes in pdf format from various web sites.
I reviewed the Kindle and decided to go with the Sony because of its ability to handle pdf's. It's not perfect because pdf's come formatted in many different ways, but the Sony definitely meets my requirements.
In addition to uploading pdf's directly into the eBook, another option, is to save the document as a text file (.txt) before uploading. Adobe Reader gives you this option on the File menu to "Save as Text". You lose all formatting, but if you're reading just for content, it's not an issue.
I also like to read while exercising. Another reader stated she removes the cover and puts their Sony in a zip lock bag to read in the bath tub. To take that a step further, I place mine in a larger zip lock bag and keep the cover on. I take mine to the gym and read it on a exercise bike to keep the sweat off.
Although the Sony eBook and Amazon Kindle are not cheap, I view them as an investment and not an expense in today's information age.
Great unit, but not perfect... -- 2009-01-01
I purchased this for my wife and it holds a lot of content. I opted to download Calibre for the library maintenance rather than using the included Sony software. The controls are intuitive, features are on par with competing units, and battery charge lasts days with constant reading. One major item of concern are the random reboots my wife experiences. I verified the firmware is up-to-date so I'm not sure what the issue is here - Overall, a great product that delivers what I expected.
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 | HP iPAQ 111 Classic Handheld (FA979AA#ABA) (110 Series)
Sweet PDA -- 2008-12-26
Sweet PDA. This device is very light and easily stored in a pocket. The buttons are sized and placed well for one handed operation. Th speaker is on the top backside of the unit, an odd placement IMHO. The power/USB port is on the bottom while the headphone jack is on the top. This is a bit annoying if you have both connected.
Be sure to buy a few extra styli. Mine broke where the plastic reset pin and the metal shaft meet.
Over all a great product. I purchased this in March of 2009 for around $299.
it's great... not as perfect as i hoped but then..... technology is not magic -- 2008-12-22
i was hoping to be able to install chinese language recognizer but somehow having trouble synching the device in the first place... keep getting an error message.... dunno if it's due to something on my computer or whether their software isn't uptodate enough? could be just me having this issue... otherwise, it looks very nice, features are well.... not as perfect as i imagined, but i guess technology is not magic. :p
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 | HP iPAQ 211 Enterprise Handheld (210 Series)
Good for a first try, but I'd thought better of HP. -- 2009-01-03
I should have tested one before I bought it. File manager, downloader program, setup are all primitive. Sometimes it will do what I want, and sometimes it won't. Spend a little extra money on something better.
iPAQ 211 PDA -- 2008-12-20
Glad I spent the extra money and got this one. The larger, higher definition screen is definitely worth it. It has decent battery life(about one week on a charge with moderate daily usage). Overall, I'm happy with the product.
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 | Sony Reader Digital Book PRS-505/RC - Sony Reader Software 6" E Ink - sangria red
Best reader on the market -- far clearer than PRS-700 -- 2008-12-28
This past fall, I bought the Sony PRS-505/LC Blue Digital Book Reader a few weeks PRIOR to finding out that Sony was going to be releasing a new model. At first, my inner gadget-aholic was crushed -- I wouldn't have the latest and greatest.
However, after now being able to compare and contrast -- I'm convinced that the PRS-505 is still a better reader.
-- The PRS-505 screen is a non-glare screen so that it doesn't show fingerprints and smudges.
-- I believe the buttons make for a much more user-friendly interface than the touch screen. I just don't really see the value of the touch screen.
-- The screen (and more importantly, the print) is significantly clearer on the PRS-505. This is due to the fact that in an effort to appease the "why isn't there backlighting" crowd, Sony has added LEDs around the frame to try to facilitate reading in the dark. This has had the effect of significantly reducing the contrast and clarity of the type.
-- From a tactile perspective -- I really don't like the ridges on the left hand side of the device. I'm left-handed so I tend to hold the reader with my left hand and it is not a nice feeling.
-- The PRS-505 is nearly 150.00 bucks cheaper than the 700. This will buy a lot of ebooks! And the trade off -- having to push buttons rather than having a touch screen is not worth the money.
It is clear that Sony has put the PRS-700 out to compete with the iRex iLiad Book Edition which has a touch screen and is twice the price. But it just doesn't cut it because the wireless capability is still not there.
If you would like to download newspapers etc, I would suggest checking out Calibre -- though, come to think of it, not sure if it works with the 700.
Calibre is a free/shareware book management utility and it also has a feature that allows you to "Fetch News". The list includes the Wall Street Journal, NY Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, Wired, CNN, BBC, LA Times, and many foreign news sources as well. You can set up a schedule to have them downloaded auto-magically to your computer and to your Sony Reader.
Here is the link for Calibre:
http://calibre.kovidgoyal.net/
Also, the MobileRead Forum is a very useful place to get information on where to get additional content any reader that exists today:
http://www.mobileread.com/forums/
[[ standard disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with either of these sites or organizations -- I just found them to be EXTREMELY useful if you are new to the world of eReaders, DRM issues, device management etc.]]
When you compare the Sony PRS-700BC against the PRS-505 -- you are MUCH better sticking with the 505.
That said, if you are trying to decide between the Kindle or the Iliad, Sony, in my humble opinion still has the advantage.
-- Cost: The Sony PRS-505 is much less expensive than the Kindle and has a much better build and aesthetic quality (no cheap plastic here).
-- Supports a wider variety of formats than the Kindle: Amazon's Wireless Reading Device (though the Iliad is best from that respect -- but not 300.00 bucks better).
-- you can buy from a wide range of stores with Adobe Digital support. Today, I purchased a new fiction book that cost about 6.00 US (it costs 19.00 US via the Sony bookstore!!!)
-- better response time and page turns
No, the Sony still doesn't have wireless -- but again, that is not a limitation for me. If you really want to read newspapers on the eReader, you can get Calibre (a shareware format conversion and library management program) and download periodicals onto your PC and then use the USB connection to get them onto the reader.
For me, the thing that I really like about the Sony readers is that they are solidly built -- they use a metal case as opposed to cheap plastic. This makes the device heavier but to me, that is a bit like reading a hardcover vs a paperback. I personally prefer the more substantial feel.
The upshot -- if you are trying to decide whether to get the "latest Sony Technology" -- don't. Save your money and stick with the PRS 505. However, if you are trying to decide between Sony and one of the the main competitors (Iliad, Kindle, Ectaco jetBook e-Book Reader - Red), then go with the Sony.
NCJAR
Disabled Daughter Loves It! -- 2008-12-06
My 16-year old daughter has a neuromuscular disease that leaves her with weak arms and hands. Reading actual books can be difficult due to the weight and bulk of a hardback or the thinkness of a paperback. This reader is the perfect solution for her.
My avid reader now enjoys reading independantly without the burden of handling an awkward book. She is able to operate all the reader's functions and can easily handle the unit itself due to its light weight.
There are many reviewers out there who speak of the technical side of this product. For me, it is more emotional. If your loved one finds difficulty in handling books, please consider this as an option. It has opened the doors of greater independence for my daughter.
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 | Nokia N810 Portable Internet Tablet
A few months later... -- 2009-01-05
The touch screen craps out after a couple months of use and needs to be returned to the company for replacement...be warned this is a widespread problem that affests nearly all these machines. Check the online forums for more info before buying one.
Don't buy it - you have better options - and yes I own one -- 2008-11-25
Folks, as of today (Nov 2008) - you have much better alternatives to N810 - I own one and I am recommending not to purchase N810.
I recently purchased Nokia E71 - a smartphone - it has everything N810 has to offer except a much smaller screen. N810 has bigger screen with a nice resolution but it is painful to use it in U.S. given that you almost all the time need to pair with a web-enabled phone - it is hard to find free hotspots. N810 is slow and it is not as easy to use it's browser as it is advertised. The commercially available quality software such as Office 2007 tools are not available. There are bunch of software that is available from Maemo Garage, and some of them are nice - but you can not find everything you need - besides most of the same or similar applications are already available for smartphones such as E71. The GPS is very slow to sync with satellites (even with the A-GPS software Nokia Beta Labs recently released) - E71 syncs with satellites almost immediately and there are many GPS software alternatives available.
When there is smartphone devices such as E71 available as of today (Nokia 5800 Xpress Music is coming to U.S. soon as another alternative) and when Acer Aspire ONE is selling around 400$ with a 6 cell battery, stay away from N810. If you do love Linux, install your favorite flavor of Linux on Aspire One.
I have not used my N810 since I bought E71 - I am going to sell N810 soon. Don't buy it - you will regret if you do - trust me.
Hope this proves useful.
Regards
Zafer
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 | Asus A626 3.5-inch PDA Windows Mobile 6.0, Wi-fi (802.11 B+g), Bluetooth 2.0 (edr),
Asus A626 -- 2008-12-15
This replaced my PalmOne Zire 72 which eventually just died from sitting down with it in my back pocket. My biggest dislike of the Palm was ironically Graffiti2. It did not recognize my writing as well as the Toshiba PDA it had replaced. A scratch in the writing area just made things go from bad to worse.
I am very happy with the Asus writing recognition. I started with the Block Recognizer because this is what I was used to. But now I've found I basically use the Letter Recognizer. I have also had luck with Transcriber.
Transferring files from the Palm Desktop to Outlook and then the Asus took some time, but I am satisfied with the results. I am still getting used to ActiveSync. It is giving me some trouble currently. Hopefully I can get these quirks resolved. Knowing how to customize settings so I transfer the contacts and events from Outlook to the Asus is one problem. The other problem is once I disconnect the device ActiveSync will not reconnect without rebooting my PC.
I haven't used some of the more sophisticated features. I didn't need a phone which the Asus isn't, but I also do not surf the net or read my email on my PDA. One of the things I have never liked about Microsoft Mobile is that when you close a program with the X it just closes the window and does not stop the program. This results in too many programs running.
Disillusioned & Dissatisfied -- 2008-12-11
I was totally dissatisfied with this product. I was unable to access the accompanying CDs to set it up, and the PDA froze up so that I could do nothing with it. I purchased this to replace an old HP iPAQ 1910 because I couldn't download some of my subscriptions due to the old operating system. The only thing I could do with the ASUA device was play the Bubble Breaker game!
Also, the one-year warranty is accessed through the vendor from whom you purchased the device. Fortunately I bought mine through Amazon.com and they gave me a full refund. I now am the happy owner of a new HP iPAQ 111 Classic which does everything I need.
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