Palmy, But not Palm.

Recently, after realizing that my daybook looked more like the script to Clerks, I decided that it was time to go digital. I took a look at the cost for a palm device, and quickly decided that my three dollar daybook was just fine and dandy.

That was two weeks ago. Today, the headphone jack on my iPod decided it was time to break a solder connection and loose me the use of the left earpiece. Popping it open I quickly decided it was better to leave it alone and use the pod as an external harddrive for my EEE (if anyone wants to point me to a usb harddrive case that fits the ipod harddrives, I'd be giddy.).

That brings me to my point, while several hundred may not be worthy for a glorified daybook, something that could also play my musak would be wonderful. Heres what I need in my palm, perhaps one of you could throw me towards the right direction:

- Calender/Todo (my current daybooking system records estimated duration and actual duration ie: Fix Ipod 10-11 Sunday. Completed 12-1 Sunday.) Barring that, support for some kind of spreadsheet editor would allow me to make my own.

-SD card slot that supports 16GB or more / I suppose an internal harddrive works too.

- Something I can touch, with a stylus or otherwise.

- Syncable with Ubuntu. This isn't the most important thing, but it would be handy.

- Bluetooth/wifi would be handy.

If someone says I've just described the iPod touch, the only thing it can't seem to do well is the daybook part... Correct me if I'm wrong. Besides, I'm looking for alternatives that are either cheaper then the touch, or do more.

at&t tilt--i have one from work and it works beautifully. i don't know if it supports linux as i've never needed to sync it with that os.

An alternative is to get an old Palm III series from Ebay. They cost next to nothing these days, do everything your old `analog' datebook could do, and run from AAA batteries, so you can always `recharge' them on the go.

And you can get the cool foldable keyboard with them!

I recently upgraded my old Palm IIIe to a IIIxe, and am still very happy with it.

well I myself am running a tungsten to much regrets as there is hardly any programs out there for it.

also itv really depends on how uch you want to spend on one though. SO if you dont mind giving out a budget thatd be great

Since I'm using as a replacement for an ipod, the price range is going to be capped at 500, however feel free to recommend something more expensive if its an exceptional product. Money isn't too much of an issue, I would rather have something good and solid that will last me a long time with all the features that I need, than something cheap that wont fit my needs.

Any thoughts on the Nokia n800/n810? It was suggested by one of my cooworkers.

Palm T|X can only do SD cards (Not SDHC) at this time, which limits you to 4GB, however, it plays music well, does all of the PIM functions and plays videos, too. It also has wifi (802.11b) and bluetooth.

There is a developer who is working on building a driver for the T|X to handle SDHC cards, so that size limit may go by the wayside by the end of the summer, if we are lucky.

You can get a T|X for around $250 on eBay.

the T|X does appeal to me... but I'm not too fond of dealing with eBay. Oh, and I already have a cellphone. I don't particularly want to buy a smartphone. The only provider really capable of using a smartphone (simcards) in Canada, would be Rogers and it will be a cold day in hell when I give them any of my pennies.

and thats where your wrong. Telus and bell u can get a smartphone but they're so bloody expensive. Have you looked at the asus pda's with windows Mobile 6.01?

The idea of a windows PDA hurts me inside.

And yes, I know that smartphones work with other providers, but I'm not paying that much for a telus-only phone. Besides I'd be getting it from a place like NCIX, and thus would be getting a simcard one. Besides, I already have a phone.

well from what lve heard is that some of the windows based hand helds can run linux

The T|X is the last of the straight PDAs, and one of the largest screens you can get. You can still purchase them from the likes of Circuit City (and buy an over-expensive warranty package) and such, but for me that's just giving away money.