Still using TX?

[cyberqueen]

OMG, I feel as if I've stepped back in time. I'm so glad to see so many familiar names! I too am still using my TX. I hadn't expected that. My husband (who used a Palm for many years) now has an Optimus V (Android) phone, and he loves it. I've never seen him so enthusiastic about any piece of equipment, not even his beloved Palm. He had pretty much convinced me to switch, too. I started looking around to see what was available for Android in general and Optimus V in particular. As much as I love my Palm, and as much as I hated the thought of having to duplicate so much software that I use and love on the TX, I was really looking forward to the higher resolution on the Optimus, plus the fact that I would no longer have to carry a separate phone (not that I use it all that often, but I always carry it with me just in case).

So what stopped me? Well, I wasn't all that enthusiastic about having to use my fingers to select (or, too often, mis-select) keys on the virtual keyboard--I much prefer the Palm's built-in stylus along with myKbd. However, I figured I'd eventually get used to the Optimus' finger-driven keyboard. But what really stopped me (I blush to admit this) was the absence of a decent Scrabble game! One with no ads, multiple levels, and the ability to play against the computer. Like the Handmark Scrabble game I've had on my TX for years, and that entertains me while I'm on plane flights, or waiting at the airport, in the theater, in the doctor's office, etc.

So instead of switching to an Android phone, I've just bought an inexpensive bluetooth adapter that I can put in my computer's USB port so I can sync my TX on my Window 7 64-bit computer. That also means I can keep my memos, my DateBk6, my two Spanish-English dictionaries (Oxford and UltraLingua) plus my UltraLingua French-English and German-English dictionaries (great when I travel), Snapper Mail email program that works well with my multiple IMAP accounts, and, in a pinch, my 16 GB of movies that I can watch on the TX (though I now prefer my netbook for that). Oh, and, of course, my Handmark Scrabble game.

[hal]

Haha, cyberqueen, it is just SO hard to see ye ol' Palm die!! In fact, Android is an already developed platform, but there is still job to be done regarding the resources that we Palm OS users endeavored for years. I'm gonna sound weird, but one detail, small from the outside, but enormous in reality, is one out of a lengthy list of reasons why I'm still using Palm OS devices: I am yet to see a decent doodle app for Android or BB. OK, there are some, but my old friend DiddleBug beats the spirit of all of them hands down. Now that's just an example of something that's easily done in Palm OS, and other platforms don't offer it right away. Not enough? I am unaware of any app that would allow opening or even editing a .dwg document in Android, BB, iOS, etc. .dwg are AutoCAD format documents. As in blueprints. Of course, my intention is not to draft in a Palm device the way I do it in my computer, but the advantage of doing minor corrections on the go is excellent. I purchased an app that allows me to do so.

[Hook]

I am unaware of any app that would allow opening or even editing a .dwg document in Android, BB, iOS, etc. .dwg are AutoCAD format documents. As in blueprints. Of course, my intention is not to draft in a Palm device the way I do it in my computer, but the advantage of doing minor corrections on the go is excellent. I purchased an app that allows me to do so.

Have no idea how good it is, but...

https://market.android.com/details?i...=search_result

[Hook]

OMG, I feel as if I've stepped back in time. I'm so glad to see so many familiar names! I too am still using my TX. I hadn't expected that. My husband (who used a Palm for many years) now has an Optimus V (Android) phone, and he loves it. I've never seen him so enthusiastic about any piece of equipment, not even his beloved Palm. He had pretty much convinced me to switch, too. I started looking around to see what was available for Android in general and Optimus V in particular. As much as I love my Palm, and as much as I hated the thought of having to duplicate so much software that I use and love on the TX, I was really looking forward to the higher resolution on the Optimus, plus the fact that I would no longer have to carry a separate phone (not that I use it all that often, but I always carry it with me just in case).

So what stopped me? Well, I wasn't all that enthusiastic about having to use my fingers to select (or, too often, mis-select) keys on the virtual keyboard--I much prefer the Palm's built-in stylus along with myKbd. However, I figured I'd eventually get used to the Optimus' finger-driven keyboard. But what really stopped me (I blush to admit this) was the absence of a decent Scrabble game! One with no ads, multiple levels, and the ability to play against the computer. Like the Handmark Scrabble game I've had on my TX for years, and that entertains me while I'm on plane flights, or waiting at the airport, in the theater, in the doctor's office, etc.

So instead of switching to an Android phone, I've just bought an inexpensive bluetooth adapter that I can put in my computer's USB port so I can sync my TX on my Window 7 64-bit computer. That also means I can keep my memos, my DateBk6, my two Spanish-English dictionaries (Oxford and UltraLingua) plus my UltraLingua French-English and German-English dictionaries (great when I travel), Snapper Mail email program that works well with my multiple IMAP accounts, and, in a pinch, my 16 GB of movies that I can watch on the TX (though I now prefer my netbook for that). Oh, and, of course, my Handmark Scrabble game.

Great to hear from you after all this time, Cyberqueen!

I would never try to talk someone out of their TX. I still have fond memories of mine (which still functions perfectly, although it is largely collecting dust). I will make a couple of notes.

When I made a switch 2.5 years ago it was difficult. I essentially had to force myself to stop using the TX because I knew I wouldn't give the new thing a fair shot. However, now, I would never go back. I confess I was never that thrilled about pulling out a stylus to begin with, but I find finger UIs to be quite wonderful once you get used to them.

Until Gingerbread (Android 2.3), the onscreen keybaord was nearly unusable, but there are a number of good alternatives in the market, including Grafitti, which works very nicely with a finger.

Keep in mind that Smartphones weren't originally intended to be PDAs, they were intended to be communicators and media devices. That's why Palms are still functionally superior to these more powerful pocket computers. However, third party developers are beginning to fill those voids and I think this improvements are going to begin speeding up.

It's a tough transition to make. No reason to rush it if you don't need to. Just keep in mind, when you do have to, give yourself time to grow into it. You won't love it overnight. However, I am very happy with Android and really couldn't see myself going back to a stylus, even for the added functionality.

Just my two cents. Don't be such a stranger.

[Varjak]

I agree Hook that smartphones developed as communicators and media devices 'first;' but you would think someone would see the open niche for a more powerful business device/pocket computer-phone. After all, PDA's weren't intended to be e-readers, movie players, internet radios, etc. to begin with either.

[Hook]

I agree Hook that smartphones developed as communicators and media devices 'first;' but you would think someone would see the open niche for a more powerful business device/pocket computer-phone. After all, PDA's weren't intended to be e-readers, movie players, internet radios, etc. to begin with either.

That was in part my point. Someone does see the point-- the third party software developers. The same ones who decided a pocket organizer could be an ereader and media device 10 years ago. It took time then. It is taking time now. However, it will happen.

[hal]

Have no idea how good it is, but...

https://market.android.com/details?i...=search_result

Hmmm, I'm gonna have to take me back from a sentence or two OK, it was foreseeable, things are moving on. The day before yesterday I saw at a thrift store a couple of devices, one an iPaq and the other an early Android phone LVBE (Limited Very Beaten Edition ). Perhaps it's getting about time I get a cheapo device to start toddling on another platform.

So I have this bunch of apps that I haven't tried cause I lack the platforms, such as a Pocket Informat license for WM, and this and that app for Android. Just perhaps, I stop procrastinating and I get myself some device to try over.

Being as I am, doodling is say written on the OS. On hal's OS Ever since I was as kid I found out how easier are many things expressed or documented with drawings. So I have a serious difficulty setting aside hand drawing. I have endeared so much the doodling apps for Palm OS, but to be fair, all those apps couldn't take me away from drawing and sketching on paper, cause here comes the JRakes principle to show that life and workie and whatever aren't waiting you to doodle clumsily on a thing the size of a soap just for the sake of doodling on a digitizer. Paper is still so practical. Hence, as I won't be giving up paper any time soon, I think I need to broaden my mind a bit (tough thing), and try something yet different. Now, being a mechanical engineer, and working partly on the desk and partly on the field, I do find portable CAD drafts very convenient. Not that they fully replace a common blueprint, but it's rather practical.

Thanks for the info, Hook

[Varjak]

That was in part my point. Someone does see the point-- the third party software developers. The same ones who decided a pocket organizer could be an ereader and media device 10 years ago. It took time then. It is taking time now. However, it will happen.

Unfortunately that's not sufficient. The hardware sometimes has compromises that are phone-centric and not PDA-centric; and some mobile OS's don't allow certain functions (like Apple and calendar functions). If it was simply a matter of software developers, someone would have come out with a Calendar-ToDo-tasks, etc. app that wasn't compromised and could match the Palm; but based on what I read here, that's not yet the case.

Over time, you may be right; but it's not exactly the same scenario; because with PDA's they were starting from scratch. With smartphones, you already have a bit of a roadmap of what's been successful and a big seller, and what has not. Given that smartphones have been out for 4-5 years already (if not longer, depending on where you want to start counting from); it's been slower than I expected.

[Varjak]

One other thing. I often heard that rationale before (Smartphones didn't start as PDA's, etc., which I think is debatable; because they didn't really start as phones either. It's kind of a chicken and egg thing); but I don't particularly look at calendar functions etc. as being something purely coming from PDA's or that esoteric for a smartphone. From the earliest cellphones I've had, they had rudimentary calendar and task functions, so you'd expect them to have gotten better by now.

[reb1]

The smart phone producers have no incentive to produce a device that useful. They have enough people hooked on cell phone plans to make them happy. I keep a pay as you go that rolls over minutes for a year. I use it when I head out on longer bicycle rides to stay in contact with my wife at her request. I am going to purchase a new PDA with Garnet on it from Aceeca eventually. I have no need for a smart phone that is stupid by design.