Best PDA for my situation?

[BeauJangles]

I'm a poor student (well, there isn't any other kind of student is there?) and I'm pretty disorganized. Mostly around planning events in the future. I was thinking that a PDA would help me out a lot, but I don't want to drop $300 on one. In fact, I was thinking about what I really needed and concluded that an Address Book, Calendar, and To-Do list was just about it. With that information, I began looking at older Palms. I was wondering if you guys had recommendations for models that would be under $120 or so (new, used, or refurbed... doesn't matter).


Anyway Thanks a lot,

Beau

 

[DeviousTrap]

I think a Palm Zire would be just fine for you. The biggest reason some don't like it is because it does not have a expansion slot but I don't think that would be too much of a problem considering your needs. Everything you need is already installed from the factory.

~Eric

EDIT > Hope my 400th post is useful.

 

[Schadenfroh]

personally i think you would be better off geting a good old fasioned planner book. one of my friends has a zire and i can tell you that a planner is MUCH better for the tasks you mentioned. Not only do you have to pay 100 for the zire, but you would also pay a good bit for a keyboard. entering info with the touch screen suxs. plus, with the planner you dont have to worry about low batteries.

approaching my 400th post also

 

[SpeedFreak03]

I bought a set of Michelins for my car and they came with a free Palm Zire. It's pretty cool, but it does suck typing on the screen.

 

[dpm]

I was in much the same position as you, and a pda has really helped - my diary was useless as i never remembered to carry it around. Now ive got my second hand visor edge, I carry it everywhere, because i'm always reading books, or newspapers, or playing games on it while i 'm waiting for stuff. No more notes on the back of bus tickets for me!

You can get it reconditioned for $129 here. You could get a refurbed visor platinum ($99), or an old palm off ebay for cheaper, probably, but i like the fact that the edge is so thin and light, so you don't feel it carrying it around in your pocket.

Or you could get a lowend sony clie, like the sj20 for £130 at mwave. Newer, with better screens.

Anyway, i've had mine for about 3 months now, and its become absolutely indispensable. I wouldn't leave home without it

And about a keyboard - ive actually found graffiti really easy to learn, and pretty quick. Certainly nowhere near as fast as i type on a regular pc keyboard, but then most of my notes and appointments are only a line or two long, so speeds not really an issue. And there's always the onscreen keyboard

*EDIT* Still got a bit to go before my 400th post, but hope this is useful anyway!

 

[EdipisReks]

i would probably get a used palm Vx or the refurb Edge, if i were in your situation. graffiti i fine. it's not as fast as the handwriting recognition that my iPaq 3955 uses, but it is plenty fast for most situations once you get used to it.

 

[BeauJangles]

Wow. Thanks for all the advice guys. I really like the way the edge looks The question is, what color should I get? Silver or Blue?

Thanks again

 

[Wingznut]

The Edge is a very nice, low-cost, PDA.

 

[vegetation]

Stay away from the Zire, it has no backlight. In my opinion, any PDA without a backlight is just a preschool toy if you plan on seriously using it.

 

[TROGDORdBURNINATOR]

any PDA without a backlight is just a preschool toy

Because when you get to kindergarten you take night classes!

 

[TROGDORdBURNINATOR]

I've owned a zire for business purposes. I used the notepad thingy a lot for all sorts of usefull stuff. I used the to do list quite a bit. I used the address book the most. It was amazingly usefull. The lack of a backlight didn't bother me since I only used it while working. The damn thing went about 2 weeks without needing to be charged too!
Then I "upgraded" to a pocket PC for mp3 (big dissapointment.) I wish I had my zire back