Palm OS compatibility with Windows NT?

[ket703]

Just purchased a PDA which uses the Palm OS (Sony Clie 320). In all my researching and deciding what to purchase, I never thought to ask the question about compatibility with my PC's OS and the hotsynch functions offered by the PDA.

When I got it home and read the box I saw where it specifies Windows 95,98 and 2000 OSs. No menion of NT. I've checked out several support sites and so far can find no mention of NT. Can anyone here tell me if I can load the software and have it work with NT? Or if there is an upgrade or shareware or something that will facilitate this?

Thanks!

[imported_Will]

Doesn't the S320 use USB? And does NT have USB drivers?

just wondering...

-W

[ket703]

I knew that NT and USB weren't compatible (should have been a clue!) but in talking to the salesman he said I could purchase an adapter that would allow me to connect serially. We even looked it up on line.

[imported_StevenGT]

To recap:

Windows NT doesn't do NT, so the standard USB cradle is useless to you. I'm not aware of a USB-to-serial adaptor (unlike the many serial-to-USB converters), but there is a serial cradle available here for the PEG-S320 . . . for an additional US$59.99 (ouch!)

On the desktop compatibility with Windows NT, I wasn't able to find a definitive answer on Sony's Web site, but since Palm's version of the desktop software will run on NT 4.0, I suspect Sony's version may as well. I further suspect Sony's failure to list the OS on the requirements is more due to its failure to run out of the box with the USB cradle than an inability to run or to work with a serial connection.

However, all this is pure speculation on my part, and if you're trying to decide whether to take it back and look elsewhere, I'd factor in the extra cost of the cradle and the chance that it still might not work anyway, and look elsewhere. AFAICR, none of the Palms with built-in expansion (m125, m500, m505) come with serial cradles (though they are available at extra cost), and all Visors come with USB unless special ordered with serial (at extra cost, IIRC). The TRGpro or the HandEra 330 might be your best alternatives, since both use serial yet have expandability comparable to (or better than, IMHO!) the Sony.

[imported_Will]

I dont suppose the NT PC is a Laptop with IR or a even a PC with IR?

Nah... just a long shot.

-W

[ket703]

It is a laptop. But when I'm not traveling it is in a docking station. To be honest, not sure what you mean by IR?

But I have been surfing a little more and doing some other searches. What I am seeing leads me to believe that if I get the serial connector (either just the cable or the cradle) that Sony sells, the software will work. I found at least one post from someone who uses the Sony Clie 300 with NT and hasn't had any problems. I do have a question into Sony about it to be sure. Not sure if they will reply or if they do, it will just be a standard "we don't support NT answer".

[Ben S]

I know of at least one person using Windows NT and a Sony 320 (with serial cradle) without any problems. So it *can* work, if you have all the right pieces.

[imported_Will]

About the IR question... If your NT laptop has an IR port which I assume is working fine, then at least you can sync via IR abeit only at 56k speed.

(Myself, I would upgrade to XP Pro at the drop of a hat)


-W

[imported_StevenGT]

Originally posted by ket703
To be honest, not sure what you mean by IR?

Infrared. Most laptops have an IR port to allow for infrared communications with peripherals . . . including Palm OS PDAs.

[TokyoGaijin]

Hello from Tokyo,

sorry, but you will not have much luck with an IR (infrared) port
on your laptop if you run NT4.0. Because also IR ports are not supported by NT.

... this message being written on a nice DELL laptop having 2 USB and 1 IR port, which all three are completely useless for me as my company requires me to run NT4.0 ..... :-(

Willi