What's a good PDA in 2009?

March 19, 2009 1:57 AM

I'm on the lookout for suggestions for PDAs or similar devices for my father. His short-term memory is going. While it used to be pin-sharp, it's becoming a real problem, to mitigate it he's been using a PDA - he's always carried one and was a real fan of the Palm series. Now it needs replacing ...

His Tungsten (Vx, I think) is finally giving up the ghost. My sister and I are clubbing together to replace it for his upcoming birthday, cost isn't really an issue, but we are keen to deliver the right gift.

It seems to me that the PDA is not as common as it used to be. The market place is crawling with smartphones and netbooks, but the old fashioned PDA or organiser has gone the way of the Dodo. Most netbooks are just too big and (relatively) slow - this needs to be pocket-sized and instantly on (like a PDA) and he's got a phone and doesn't need or want the regular expense of a smartphone and data plan.

He's technologically fairly able: he's happy to tinker and play, it would be useful to have some that synchronises with his desktop machine. He also has WiFi in the house, so that would be good functionality to have, too.

I'm thinking that, mainly because of the App Store, the iPod Touch is the way to go. There are so many different apps that if you don't like one, you can just move on. But are we missing out on other options?

In particular we think he'd like a proper keyboard, which the Touch doesn't have. Although are they are decent keyboard like accessories?

This is not directly a question about his symptoms, how to cure them and identifying underlying causation, it's more about finding alternative recommendations!

posted by unsliced to computers & internet (13 comments total)

Doesn't address your whole wishlist, but the Tungsten E2 is available, and is a good replacement for the Vx (similar form factor; bright, sharp color screen; fast; non-volatile memory). Unfortunately it sounds like he's accustomed to the original Graffiti, while all newer Palms use the updated version.
posted by jon1270 at 2:12 AM on March 19

Smartphones are replacing PDAs not so much because of voice, but because of internet access - always-available google access, email etc is very popular in addition to traditional calendars, notes etc. The traditional PDA market has virtually disappeared, and been replaced by blackberries, iphones and various windows mobile devices. You can of course use a smartphone as a PDA, just buy it outright and don't bother with a data plan, assuming that model is available that way.

Depending upon how long you have until your Dad's birthday, the upcoming palm pre might fit the bill, even though it's a smartphone. Given it's not apple, you should hopefully be able to get it off-contract and use it without a SIM by paying full price.
posted by ArkhanJG at 2:13 AM on March 19

You can of course use a smartphone as a PDA, just buy it outright and don't bother with a data plan, assuming that model is available that way.

Or buy something like an Apple Ipod Touch.
posted by rongorongo at 2:51 AM on March 19

All the above ideas are good ones. I'll be a little unconventional and mention the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet. It's runs off of Linux and has a good user base that it has a lot of tutorials on installing the type of software you may want on it. You mentioned that your dad likes to tinker and play and this device allows for that, it doesn't have a physical keyboard (the N810 does but isn't as highly rated), and can connect through wifi. Might be something to consider.
posted by Advocate, I at 3:01 AM on March 19

When the short term memory starts to go it makes it harder, much harder, to learn how to use devices like PDAs. The functions are simple enough to learn, but then the memory just learned goes poof. I would stick with another Palm, one that is as close as possible in function to his current Palm.
posted by caddis at 4:34 AM on March 19 [1 favorite]

It's discontinued now, but I'm sure you could pick up a Palm LifeDrive someplace. I'm quite fond of mine: nice screen, wi-fi, built in 4gb hard disk. There's a neat optional folding keyboard available also. Caveat: it appears it's not compatible with Windows Vista.
posted by jzed at 6:51 AM on March 19

Assuming he already has and/or doesn't want a phone, I'd go with an iPod touch. iTunes will handle the desktop syncing. It's easy to use and there are apps for just about everything. The default address book app is good. And you could add a few things like Evernote and Things or OmniFocus if he needs a decent task manager (which it sounds like he might). Typing on it isn't a pleasure, but you do get used to it after a while. It has WiFi. In fact, it's more-or-less an iPhone w/o the phone, camera, and Bluetooth (the first gen ones also lack a speaker, BTW).
posted by wheat at 7:49 AM on March 19

I am 78 and still use my Palm Tungsten E. WIkipedia says this about it.

eBay has them for around $20.00

Good luck!
posted by lungtaworld at 8:48 AM on March 19 [1 favorite]

Agreeing with caddis and the other "stay-with-Palm" people.

Pick up something for him on ebay. My Treo 650 keeps chugging along, and while I do use it as a phone, it would still work just fine without a SIM card (= unlocked GSM phone) and I already pay too much $ to T-Mobile to add a data plan. I never got the hang of Graffiti 2, so having a keyboard is fine. AvantGo still works as well to sync up news stories.

As easy as an iphone / ipod touch is to use, it's different.
posted by omnidrew at 9:51 AM on March 19

I would recommend a Palm Tungsten C, like I have. He would have Wifi and a keyboard built in. I hardly ever use Grafitti any more. I bought mine on eBay, too. The only problem with it is that the audio out isn't standard stereo - it's an oddball Nokia headset.
posted by rfs at 10:29 AM on March 19

I still carry a Palm TungstenX. I love the device. I lament for palms passing every day.
posted by Jonsnews at 1:03 PM on March 19

Palm's last hurrah before the Pre, IMO, was the T|X - only a little larger than a Vx, but it's all screen realestate, which is good if your eyes aren't what they used to be. Just about everybody I know that upgraded to one likes it.

I'd advise against the LifeDrive as mentioned above: They're kind of bulky, fragile and don't have stellar battery life.

The T|X is still available with a warranty for around $250 at a lot of places - I've always had luck with NewEgg, but YMMV.
posted by Orb2069 at 1:55 PM on March 19

I'd go for an old Sony Clie NX70V or NX80V. They're several years old, but I got an NR70 more or less the day the English version hit the streets in Hong Kong and it 1) has been my permanent, daily alarm clock across several continents since the day I bought it, 2) has a battery that still holds a FULL charge - no memory effect whatsoever - after eight or nine years now, 3) it has a built-in keyboard, 4) has a twist-and-flip metal lid which completely encases the unit, meaning you don't need a separate case for it, and 5) has a 320x480 display, with virtual silkscreen that you can get rid of if you want to. It is singularly the greatest little bit of technology I've ever purchased. I use PalmFiction to read ebooks on it as well - PF is pretty much the best ebook reader on any handheld platform (it completely outshines Stanza). My NR70 is OS4 but the NX series are OS5, which means you can use FontSmoother and SkinUI on them and have the interfaces look really nice. NX80 takes CF cards and you can do Wifi with an optional card. Your Dad can use a program like BugMe to scrawl quick notes and reminders, then there's a very handy dropdown that can be used to set an alarm for that note, from a few minutes to 7-days in advance. A minimum of fiddly clickery involved.

And yeah, I'm sure I don't have to mention the fact that Palm's software base still rules uber alles.
posted by tra at 9:07 AM on March 20