My Palm PDA

I used a DayTimer for 17 years, right up to the point where their printing quality began to slip. After repeated contacts with their customer service department made it clear that they had no plans to get back to their former production standards, I was ready to try another system, reluctantly. Being left-handed, I needed a wire-bound system like the one I had been using - or a PDA.

My friend Charlie won an i705 as a door prize at a conference, and gave it to me as a gift (!) It has been bullet-proof, syncs easily to both my pc and Mac iBook, and has the great bonus of Docs To Go software that enables you to load and edit MS Word and PowerPoint. In three days I was faster with it than the DayTimer system, and I haven't looked back at the old paper system since.

I've never used the wireless capabilities. My cell phone and internet connections handle the email fine. The Palm dedicated wireless account is expensive and limited. Don't bother with the optional mini keyboard either; you'll master the hand writing recognition system in two days or less. (Here's hoping that Xerox allows it to be used on future Palm PDA's.)

In less than a year, the i705 has gone from Palm's most expensive to a real bargain - you should be able to pick one up for around $150.00, and they're getting cheaper. It is a powerful, affordable productivity tool. Ironically, I got a great PDA wallet for it from DayTimer - probably the last thing I'll buy from them, along with the handy writing pads that go in it!

If you've been wanting to try a PDA, or if you want to give a pretty powerful business tool to a friend - thanks, Charlie! - check out your local Best Buy, Circuit City or the net for a good price.

Palm Products - Palm i705 Handheld Details