I've been in this business since punching 80 column cards to program Southampton Uni's Fortran beast (when computers were real computers and small furry animals from Alpha Centauri were real small furry animals from Alpha Centauri).

 

However, for the past decade I have been unable to get a nice, quick, easy synchronisation between my PC-based address book/diary and a device to carry around. I won't bore you with the details (yet) but believe me, I have tried. I even converted everything from Netscape Messenger to that spawn of the Devil, Outlook and the f***ing thing still f***s up when sync'ing with my Psion 3mx.

 

I quit. And I need your help. A business trip to merry Korea means I can raid duty-free either there or here. Have any of you got a good experience with syncing your handheld (fnarr) with Outlook 2000?

 

What is it and should I buy one?

 

(Or really quit and go back to a diary)

Personally i use a journada, it runs pocketPC which is a version of MS windows and it has no problems syncing.

 

However at the moment I would recommend getting a sony clie, it runs PalmOS in colour and looks absolutely wicked. The ladies in korea will go mad for anyone with one of those shiny babies making a dent in their pocket

 

If you want the windows OS though go for a comapaq iPaq looks a bit nicer than journada (im a ery fickle person)

I've got a black & white Palm (Vx) and it syncs fine to Outlook using Pocketmirror software which was included in the package. I considered upgrading to PocketPC but on balance I found that what I use it for didn't warrant it.

 

Factors that stopped me upgrading were increased size & weight, vastly increased battery consumption and the fact that although MUCH more powerful, the pocket PCs still use handwriting input which is never gonna be quick - so will you really use the power ? Might have been different if I spent hours on the train every day.

 

Dave

I've got a Sony Clie. It uses Palm o/s and again no probs. It also takes 128mb memory sticks and plays MP3s.

thanks for the advice, guys.

 

I'm looking at it as a "diary plus". I don't intend to write reams of stuff - just keep diary up to date and have all contacts to hand. Maybe check the odd e-mail via mobile but no big web-stuff.

 

I once thought it would be great to have one big thing which would give me MP3, browse, a bit of video, e-book etc etc as well as phone, diary and contacts but looking round at the available options I think they're a generation too early and not enough battery life...

 

Maybe the Zaunus, then....