Palm Syncing Woes

June 13, 2006 10:43 AM

My Palm hates my mac.

I was just gifted a used Palm Zire 21 that I'd like to try out (to see if a PDA is the kind of thing that I'd actually _use_).

I've run into what seem to be some pretty standard problems with syncing to my Mac. But, they haven't been solved by any "standard solutions". Here's what I've done so far:
Installed Palm Desktop from the CD (version 4.1)
Downloaded the iSync Palm conduit and set it up in the Hotsync Manager (Basically, the first couple steps listed here: Palm with iSync).

When I try to set up Palm OS Syncing in iSync (Devices -> enable Palm OS Syncing), it tells me that the Hotsync software is not properly installed.

So, I'm sorry for asking what seems to be an oft-posted question on the Internets, but 2 or 3 hours of googling and browsing Palm and Apple websites have failed me. HOW DO I MAKE THESE THINGS WORK TOGETHER?

I know that Missing Sync could solve many problems of mine, but I'm not going to buy a $40 program for a device that I may not even end up using anyway. Once I get this work, and once I find out whether or not this little doodad will actually help me, I'll pay the forty bucks. For now, I'm a bit frustrated that this thing doesn't "just work".

P.S. I should note that I intend to continue using iCal/Address Book/iSync. I don't want to have to use the ugly and quasi-functional Palm Desktop as my mac's PIM.

posted by rossination to computers & internet (9 comments total)

The Palm software is a total pain. Get a serial for Missing Sync offof the internets, and if you decide to keep the Palm, buy it.
posted by bonaldi at 10:50 AM on June 13, 2006

I should note that I intend to continue using iCal/Address Book/iSync. I don't want to have to use the ugly and quasi-functional Palm Desktop as my mac's PIM.

That's fine, but as a standard troubleshooting practice you should try to get Palm Desktop working first before getting HotSync Manager to work with other applications.

To do this you need a working installation of Palm Desktop:

The first step is to get the latest version of the Palm components for your Zire 21 and OS X.

The second step is to try to synchronize with Palm Desktop, and if you have HotSync problems, read this FAQ answer to troubleshoot.
posted by Mr. Six at 11:01 AM on June 13, 2006

The latest version of Palm Desktop is "4.2.1 Rev D", which apparently has some fixes for 10.4. The link in Mr. Six's post goes to "Rev A".
posted by trevyn at 11:37 AM on June 13, 2006

Version D does not work with the Zire 21. Read the directions carefully before installing!
posted by Mr. Six at 11:43 AM on June 13, 2006

From what I've read, if you don't buy Missing Sync, a Palm is essentially useless for the Mac unless you want to use Palm Desktop. I can understand your hesitation to shell out the $40 if you don't know if you want to keep the Palm.

But, if you keep it, you're going to get Missing Sync, use Palm Desktop, or live with a fairly hobbled integration between iSync and the Mac PIM apps.

Missing Sync just worked right out of the box for me. They don't have an evaluation?

I remember reading this a while back, in which the author mentioned some pitfalls of getting a Palm to work with OS X. Check it out.
posted by teece at 2:25 PM on June 13, 2006

From what I've read, if you don't buy Missing Sync, a Palm is essentially useless for the Mac unless you want to use Palm Desktop.

Not really. I can sync my Palm (Tungsten E) with Address Book, iCal and some other third party programs, just with iSync. I never open Palm Desktop.

After you download the latest version of Palm Desktop, open Hotsync Manager and check the settings. Syncing must be enabled and it must use the USB port. Also, in Hotsync Manager, check the Conduit settings. You'll have to disable some of them (calendar, contacts) so it uses Apple's conduits instead.

Unfortunately I don't have Palm Desktop installed in this computer, so the menu names might change. I had this same problem once, and I think that's how I solved it. Hopefully this will work for you.
posted by clearlydemon at 3:13 PM on June 13, 2006

I created a special tag for my web journal to tag entries about iSync/Palm. The tag was:

"Terminally, utterly broken pieces of garbage-shit."

I'm not easily frustrated, but eventually I gave up.
posted by ikkyu2 at 7:12 PM on June 13, 2006

I just kept hammering away at mine until eventually it started working. And that's with a Sony Clie for god's sake. :) So, it will work, but everyone is right, it's utterly more sadistic than necessary. (I'm even worse than you, I use iCal/AddressBook synching with Entourage.)
posted by smallerdemon at 7:56 PM on June 13, 2006

And the version that just came on CD with my Treo 700p is 4.2.2. Go figure.
posted by trevyn at 2:07 PM on June 15, 2006