Handheld Recommendations

[reicherb]

I need to purchase 10-15 handhelds to be used in a school. They will be used primarily to record student progress in PE. The users will need to view and modify Excel spreadsheets for recording the progress. I'm leaning toward the Palm but basically because that's all I know. We are a Novell shop and use GroupWise for mail so no matter what router we g, we would need to use Intellisync or some other app to sync contacts, mail and whatever else with GroupWise. Can anybody offer any suggestions on make and model? I've got a Palm m125 and it seems like it would work just fine, but maybe there is a reason to go with a higher end model or another manufacturer.

 

[tigerwannabe]

if you need to modify the excel spreadsheets on a handheld, then i'd go with something that runs a microsoft o/s. i recently bought the new hi-end dell axim handheld. the lower end model runs $199, with the $50 mail-in rebate, so it gives a good bang for the buck. you can check out the specs at dell's website. personally, i would go for something that has enough memory & processor to do more than what you want--so you have room to expand. also, expansion slots(e.g. compactflash and/or secure digital/multimedia card) are good--maybe bluetooth capability, but all this depends on how fancy you want to get with them 🙂

 

[MonkeyK]

For gym classes I would look for the cheapest PDA that does what you want. Preferably an older model with a thick plastic body (Hanspring VisorTry, or any of the older Palms). They seem a little less delicate and cheaper in case they are going to be used in environments that will be more likely to damage them (near water, dusty places, sweaty hands).
You might even be able to convice Handspring to donate older models that they may have sitting on shelves.
There are a number of PalmOS spreadsheets that can sync with excel (Minicalc, Quicksheet, TinySheet, SheetsToGo).

-Mike

 

[reicherb]

Thanks guys. I think I'm going to look into some low end Palms. Other than for administrators, I'm having a hard time seeing the value of Palms in education. We have PCs everywhere (except outside and in gyms).