Any experiences with PDA/Phone at the hospital? It seems that for Treo 600 or 650, you either love it or hate it. No in betweens! Are there other PDA/Phone combos? Thanks

I love my Treo 650. I used to always carry my PDA (Visor deluxe) and my cell phone. I got sick of it at long last and traded up to a Treo 600 (recently warranty replaced to a 650).

It's great for what I need it for. I use it as my primary phone (no landline). Short-messenging and wireless email access (gmail or yahoo very readily accessible) are great. With datebook5 the calendar/appointment function is great for keeping track of every place I have to be. The notepad function works to keep track of anything I want to record in a conference. No more scraps of paper that you discard at the end of the day or stack up on your desk thinking you'll "organize" them later (i.e. circular file).

You could consider a Windows Mobile based PDA as well but I don't have any experience with those.

They did just come out with the new Windows based Treo (I know Verizon has it, but I'm not sure the model or who else carriers it). I just got an HP iPAQ for Christmas and just love having the Windows operating system and the Office programs all on it. It will probably be more pricey than the 600 or 650, but I highly recommend looking into the new one and comparing that to the old Treos.

HP iPAQ is the bomb. I have so many original Nintendo games on it and the other students and residents are always trying to play it.

treo 700w...thats the windows based treo...looks good but only thing is no wifi access which means you have to pay verizon for use anywhere internet data plan which could be expensive (like 45 bucks a month)...so may not be worth it to everyone...looks good, but my question with these devices are how reliable are they if you use the phone function heavily and hows the batt life

do the treos allow you to use documents-to-go and software like epocrates?

my question with these devices are how reliable are they if you use the phone function heavily and hows the batt life

I've had no reliability problems with my Treo 650 in the six months or so that I've had it, despite dropping it a couple of times (ouch!) Battery life hasn't been an issue for me, either, but I don't consider myself a "heavy" cell phone user.

By the way...what's up with the "DrJ-Bond" moniker? In medical circles, that's not a compliment ("licensed to kill"). ;)

do the treos allow you to use documents-to-go and software like epocrates?

Yes, indeed. Documents To Go came on the CD-ROM, although I haven't installed it (no need). I have the complete Epocrates Essentials installed on my Treo 650. No problem.

I've had no reliability problems with my Treo 650 in the six months or so that I've had it, despite dropping it a couple of times (ouch!) Battery life hasn't been an issue for me, either, but I don't consider myself a "heavy" cell phone user.

By the way...what's up with the "DrJ-Bond" moniker? In medical circles, that's not a compliment ("licensed to kill"). ;)
Hence the user name...you picked up on it very nicely...especially since I will be a PGY - I this coming july...as an aside I love James Bond stuff, but always found that comment in medical circles pretty funny...it helps that my name starts with a J...