Technology Palm OS emulator for Windows mobile gadgets?

[Tristy]

So my school requires us to use Palm OS to run a mandatory program for third year. I hate being limited if I'm going to buy an electronic gadget!

That is because I like buying good quality things, which may be a bit more expensive but I know that it will last me for many years (I care for my electronics as if they were my babies ), and have more functionality.

My school recommended Tungsten Series, Treos, and Zires. I have a Zire 31 (my very first PDA, so it's a play-doh PDA) but it's 2 Megs short of the min mem requirement.

SO, does this Palm OS emulator exist? And if it does, is it good?

PS: I've never had a pocket PC/smartphone so I have some research to do, or else just buy some cheap-o used PDA that meets the requirements. (That's because I've been set on getting a meizu SL6 (?) for >8mo., and it's the most pretty and sleek thing I've seen after the I-Phone 😛

--No, I've never had an Ipod and I really don't want to get one. Why? No flash memory (and that's just one thing).--

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[187502]

You could look into StyleTap, but it probably won't meet your programs requirements since it can't do external synchronization.

If you have a Windows CE based device the old Palm Simulator might work, but it can be a real pain in the ass to work with if you can even get it running.

You'll probably just have to bite the bullet on this one. If you want a physical keyboard on it then you can get an older Treo off of eBay fairly inexpensively.

 

[Tristy]

I think you're right. I've been thinking about it and it's too much of a hassle.

Besides, I'm just now realizing that on top of everything, I have to make sure that the wifi of whatever I buy (be it just a palm pda or a palm treo/centro) that it is compatible with my school's wireless network...

This is more complicated than I thought!

And even if I got a Palm Treo, cingular reception is absolutely horrible in my hospital (so I would pay the extra data plan for nothing...)

Or I could just forget about the wifi in the pda and put everything into an sd card...

Thanks for the info though 🙂

PS: my mom has a zire 72 with a wifi card and it has been impossible to connect it to my school wifi because of the b/g issue and the authentications protocols <sigh>

 

[187502]

...And even if I got a Palm Treo, cingular reception is absolutely horrible in my hospital (so I would pay the extra data plan for nothing...)...

If you get an unlocked Treo or one that is off-contract from eBay (or some place similar) you aren't required to have a data plan with it, or any cellular service on it for that matter. I got a second-hand Treo from a friend of the family and it doesn't have any cellular service, voice nor data, attached to it.

 

[Tristy]

If you get an unlocked Treo or one that is off-contract from eBay (or some place similar) you aren't required to have a data plan with it, or any cellular service on it for that matter. I got a second-hand Treo from a friend of the family and it doesn't have any cellular service, voice nor data, attached to it.

Yeap 😀 That's what I'm actually doing now, just looking for a Treo on ebay 😀 I've seen people that sell for example, Palm Treo xxx from AT&T/Cingular (and unlocked ones as well). So, I would think that it should work as a phone since I have Cingular if I put my actual chip in it (if I bought a locked one). Is this right or am I totally off?

Also for Treos, is there a model that's better or most recommended?


PS: the RAM difference between Treos and "normal" PDA's is just absolutely stupid...I don't understand why they do it....A Zire 72 with 16MB vs 128MB in a Treo (well, around 60'ish user accesible, but still). 😕

 

[187502]

Yeap 😀 That's what I'm actually doing now, just looking for a Treo on ebay 😀 I've seen people that sell for example, Palm Treo xxx from AT&T/Cingular (and unlocked ones as well). So, I would think that it should work as a phone since I have Cingular if I put my actual chip in it (if I bought a locked one). Is this right or am I totally off?

You're correct, any PDA that is branded Cingular/AT&T or T-Mobile will work on either network, all you need to do is shove the sim in it (you'll probably also have to register the device with your cellular provider), however it will not work with Alltell/Verizon/Sprint. Any PDA branded Alltell, Verizon, or Sprint will work on any of those three networks, but will not wok on Cingular/AT&T or T-Mobile.

...Also for Treos, is there a model that's better or most recommended?...

If you are going the GMS route (Cingular/AT&T or T-Mobile) then the Treo 680 is what you would want. If you are going the CDMA route (Alltell/Verizon/Sprint) the Treo 755p is the model you would want.

 

[deleted87716]

I'm just now realizing that on top of everything, I have to make sure that the wifi of whatever I buy (be it just a palm pda or a palm treo/centro) that it is compatible with my school's wireless network

None of the current Treos support Wi-Fi. If that's a requirement, and you need a Palm OS device, you should look into getting a Tungsten T|X.

 

[DOctorJay]

if you need wifi and don't mind windows go with the at&t tilt - pricey but good

to stick with Palm OS just do the centro - cheap and will do everything the other treos will do, just load everything onto an SD card like you mentioned - no wifi/internet isn't that big of a deal and you'll be able to access the data faster from a card

 

[Tristy]

Bluedog: The TX is a good suggestion, thanks 🙂 I've looking at it and the specs. I don't know if the wi-fi would work because ours is 802.11g...

DoctorJay: I saw the tilt, pretty sweet 👍 The Centro, seems like a lot of people say very good things about it! I thought Treos were better since they're newer models (I think?), but, apparently that's not the case?

I think I can get away with using my old PDA, the specs say it has 16 MB, but when I check it in the device it says 14 MB. I'll just have to try and see if the software my school requires works <crossing fingers>, and then I can do my research with plenty of time on what to buy (I'm not a huge fan of the Palm OS, and I want something that is more than a PDA so my pockets are not full of gadgets-on top of everything else we have to carry around the wards).

I am embarrassed (sp?) to say that I'm falling in love with the new iPhone that's going to come out in July <sigh>...16 Gigs seems like a pretty decent amount of storage capacity. And I think the battery will be rechargeable or something like that now (not really sure). The crappy thing is not having an SD port...And the issue of compatibility with all the medical software.

So basically if my play-doh PDA serves me for a while, then I'll get something nicer for the other stuff 😀 (be pocket PC, PDA+phone, iPhone, or whatever)

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll keep them in mind 😍

Tristy

 

[DOctorJay]

centro is the newest thing out from palm. go to the palm one website to compare/contrast it to the treos. for the price point you can't beat it.

http://www.palm.com/us/products/resources/comparison-smartphone.html

 

[deleted87716]

The Centro is functionally equivalent to the Treo 755p, but in a smaller form factor and with a lower price.

 

[DOctorJay]

The Centro is functionally equivalent to the Treo 755p, but in a smaller form factor and with a lower price.

exactly my point, but like my friend from reading rainbow says, "don't take my word for it".

 

[187502]

Palm says they will have something new by the end of summer. Whether it's a windows model or a palm model no one knows at the moment.

 

[southerndoc]

Palm says they will have something new by the end of summer. Whether it's a windows model or a pal model no one knows at the moment.

Palm makes a lot of promises that go unfilled.

 

[Tristy]

That's why I'm going crazy thinking about the IPhone <drooling>

I have to find out If I'm eligible for it, see the price, and see about compatibility with medical software. If all of the above are OK, then I'm sold! 😍

 

[Tristy]

centro is the newest thing out from palm. go to the palm one website to compare/contrast it to the treos. for the price point you can't beat it.

http://www.palm.com/us/products/resources/comparison-smartphone.html

Ohhh, I didn't know Centro was the latest one, silly me 😛!

I was reading some stuff about the iphone that turned me off, so I guess I'm back in my quest for the palm or smartphone. I'll probably go with Centro (seems like a good device), but if I can I will hold off buying for a few more months until I can figure out what's the best/more functional/compatible device I can get for a reasonable price.

I'm still confused about the pros/cons of a smartphone vs pocket pc vs plain pda.... The ipaq something looks nice but...I don't know much about it...

I feel technology hadicapped because new things are coming out so fast and I find it difficult to keep up with all the new gadgets out there 😳

 

[InternationlDoc]

This is a great thread!

Hey Tristy, I am in a similar position. I look at centro/Palm OS line EVERYDAY on the wesbsite and just can't decide, but you know I LOVE IPHONE. seriously, look at the fluidity, such a smooth device + epocrates is developing software for Iphone and will release at the "end of the summer?" I hope that means around in August. its so much fun to use IPhone.

So, do you guys think it is a good idea to wait for iphone 3g and just go through first rotation without PDA? (I'm doing psych first, can't imagine it to be too intensive requiring me looking up drugs/diagnosis etc)

Centrio is good, but man, WHY IS THE KEYPAD SOOO SMALL? HOW THE HECK DO YOU TYPE FAST IN THERE?

Keep us posted tristy of what you decide, it might sway me and I might just go get palm OS

 

[Milamber]

Ohhh, I didn't know Centro was the latest one, silly me 😛!

I was reading some stuff about the iphone that turned me off, so I guess I'm back in my quest for the palm or smartphone. I'll probably go with Centro (seems like a good device), but if I can I will hold off buying for a few more months until I can figure out what's the best/more functional/compatible device I can get for a reasonable price.

I'm still confused about the pros/cons of a smartphone vs pocket pc vs plain pda.... The ipaq something looks nice but...I don't know much about it...

I feel technology hadicapped because new things are coming out so fast and I find it difficult to keep up with all the new gadgets out there 😳

Quick question,

What is it about the iPhone that turns you off?