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View Full Version : getting a new PDA for a Mac and PC


frogg609
03-11-2004, 07:41 PM
I currently use a Handspring Visor, which, while it works, I am not thrilled with. I tend to keep all of my contacts in Address Book on my Pbook (running Panther), and then want to put them in Outlook on my PC. The Visor tends to make a mess of these, which is quite annoying.
What I am looking for is a new PDA, one that will word on both Mac and PC, as well as have 802.11b wireless connectivity. I don't care about games (my gba is for that), or watching videos or anything.
It doesn't seem that PocketPC's support Macs, but at the same time, the version of PalmOS on my Visor, (3.5.2H3.0) blows pretty hard.
Any suggestions out there?

Zack Mahdavi
03-12-2004, 12:08 AM
If you want a first-party supported solution, go with a Palm. The new Palms run on PalmOS 5, which is a farcry from the OS 3 that's on your Visor. You might like the Tungsten E or the Tungsten T3. They are both great values.

If you think you'd prefer a PocketPC, two good third party solutions are PocketMac (http://www.pocketmac.net/) and MarkSpace MissingSync (http://www.markspace.com/pocketpc.html). I personally use PocketMac 3, as they offer an academic discount and a trial. Here's a review (http://www.pdantic.com/reviews/macs2ppcs.htm) that compares both.

I purchased a PocketPC about 3 weeks ago, and it works really well with my PowerMac G4. I can sync via WiFi, Bluetooth, and the cradle. It syncs with iCal, Address Book, Entourage, etc.

Take a look at your options and decide. Post if you have any more questions! :)

Mark Kenepp
03-12-2004, 12:53 AM
I think that syncing a single handheld between two desktops can get messy. When one of those desktops is Mac OS and the other Windows, it could get a lot messier.

Not to say that it can not be done, but I would not be surprised if you run into the same problems with any handheld that you are using as a go between for a Mac and Windows PC, unless, of course, you get a Palm OS device and use Palm Desktop on moth computers. That might be the least messy.

You are, however, describing something that I would like to do. I would love to get Pocket Mac and sync my iPaq 2215 with my iBook and with my Windows 2000 LifeBook that I use at work. I am wondering if anyone here has ever had success with Pocket PC and syncing with both a Windows PC and a Mac.

Zack Mahdavi
03-12-2004, 01:41 AM
PocketMac claims that you can sync with both the Windows PC and a Mac. I haven't been very successful setting up. I have activesync set up for both my PC and my Mac, but the PC will only work with a guest partnership. If you tell it to use a "synchronize partnership," it wants to delete my PocketMac partership.

So I can sync with my Mac and use my PC to install programs, download files, update AvantGo, etc.

Maybe other mac users have had better results.