Need a new backup brain/PDA

[redbird]

I didn't read carefully enough; yes, Win7 supports a version of PalmOS, but that version won't support my m515. And I went ahead and overwrote everything, instead of doing some complicated dual boot system.

I think that leaves me choosing between a smart phone and an Ipad. And running off just the portable for a little while: synching is valuable, but doesn't need to be daily.

Thoughts are welcome. Lighter is better.

Comments

[redbird]

What I want is something to replace my PDA; address/phone book, appointment book (on the order of 1-10 appointments/week, but with the capacity for "repeat on regular schedule" if possible), calculator, notepad (which stores things like frequent flier numbers, haiku, and snippets of conversation), and ebook reader. Ideally a shopping list app (which should be trivial) and a version of the MetrO software for directions by mass transit. Bubblet would be nice. (I have some other stuff on my Palm, but that's what comes immediately to mind).

Cell currently is Virgin Mobile, but I'm a pay-as-you-go customer with no contract, and their network is no better than anyone else's in this corner of town.

No opinion on OS.

Yes, the iPad is too big.

[timill]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/technology/personaltech/03smart.html is interesting: "iPhone, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry users can increase their odds by loading the free MetrO app, which covers roughly 400 cities worldwide. And Android users can hedge by loading the free AnyStop app, which covers 125 cities globally."

Otherwise everything you list should be available built-in or from the various Marketplaces, usually for free. Even Bubblet seems to be widespread (available for Android, Blackberry & WinMo at least).

The Android 2.1 Calendar supports repetition either one-off, daily, weekly, monthly (every 1st Sunday or every 6th of the month) and annually (I happen to have an HTC Droid Incredible on loan at the moment). I expect other calendars are similar.

After that it comes down to contract/network if you want a phone.

[kistaro]

If you have no particular need for cellular data, get an iPod Touch. It will do everything you've just asked for (actually, that's about how I use mine), without tying you to AT&T for $50+/mo for two years. It's also cheaper for the same storage capacity, if you care about media.

If you don't care about media, you might want to get the 32GB version anyway, as opposed to the 8GB version, since it has twice the RAM and a faster processor; it will be able to support pseudomultitasking in OS4 once it's released.

If you might want it as your phone, however, or you want a wireless data plan, you'd prefer the iPhone. In that case, wait, because the next generation of iPhone is going to be released before the end of the month (see also: the Gizmodo incident).