Pocket Informant basic questions

[hazcaddy]

So PI has a great upgrade to its 2005 PIM, and I see all sorts of rave reviews. But I'd like to go right back to basics and have someone 'splain a few things to me.

They don't want you to put the program and data on a SD/CF card, but I can't find anywhere how much storage it takes up in memory. I run OCN5 as my GPS program and am already hard pushed to create the 30Mb free space they like, so don't need any more big bites out of either Program or Storage memory. How much does PI take?

Right now my iPAQ hx2410 has buttons that will get me to my Calendar and Contacts (I don't use my PDA for e-mail due to the sensitive nature of my business). If I went with PI, would those buttons now take me to the (new) correct place?

What features makes PI so much better than Outlook-based PIM? With what came in the box, I can figure out appointments, look up Contacts, make Notes, set Tasks, etc. Why should I go to PI2005? All these folks write that it's wonderful, but nobody actually says WHY.

Will ActiveSync synchronize my desktop Outlook information with PI's Contacts/Appointments/Notes/Tasks/etc and vice versa, or is there a new synchronizing program required?

Sorry to ask such baby-step questions, but like with many computer-related subjects most folks assume everyone knows the basics and start their discussions and posts at the 5th stair of the staircase instead of at the 1st... :?

[Edgar_]

All great questions actually. Let me see what I can respond to and hopefully others will as well.

Some of these can be answered better on www.pocketinformant.com in their forums - they are quite lengthy and many of these questions are posed there. http://www.pocketinformant.com/Forums/index.php?

Also, this web page has many of the feature comparisons on the right column
http://www.pocketinformant.com/products_info.php?p_id=pi&dir=wm


Overall the PI application makes your data much more flexible. From grouping, to journaling, to linking across all items to adding functionality that is in Outlook desktop but not pocket outlook (such as that linking and journaling). Then you add in extensive category manipulation, extensive view capability, timelines, etc and you get a pretty comprehensive tool vs pocket outlook. And also, as an after thought, PI also integrates with tools like Phat Notes, Diary, etc providing even more flexibility and ease. Have you downloaded the trial and just taken it for a spin?

1>The database that PI uses is the same ones as outlook uses with some added fields. The PIM database, being an OS database not a PI database resides in your main memory, (I think there maybe hacks to move these to cards, not sure). For Program files many people run the application from cards, especially the .dlls. The problem with this arises from a factor of hardware, not software. When a device starts up from suspend (power on) it takes the cards 3-10 seconds to boot up. So, for example, if you are using a today plugin that displays your calendar from PI you would have to wait for the cards to boot to see your today screen. For many they are willing to have the slower bootup to gain the memory.

With all that said, PI rev 4 and above now allows you to install everything except the PItools.dll to memory card (a required 1Mb file in /windows ). And with a tweak you can mod your registry to point PItools.dll to another directory, such as CF or SD. But as said above, you *may* see a slowdown at bootup depending on your today plugins and whether you auto launch PI at startup.

FYI, On Course Navigator supports running from SD/CF, do you have it running from card or memory?

2> In that PI uses the databases used by MS, you have nothing you need to do additionally on your PC to synch all you Outlook information, tasks, calendar, contacts, etc all synch. Also, PI maps itself to all those same buttons (which are, of course, user definable anyways to any program). So instead of launching Pocket Calendar or Pocket Tasks it launches PI in a calendar or task view.


Did I answer your questions?

-Edgar

[hazcaddy]

Thanks Edgar, I appreciate your input. I did try the forums first, but found the subjects rather esoteric for someone who doesn't even know what questions to ask.

I do run OCN5 off an SD card, both program and maps, and have no problems with that. However, a slow Today screen boot-up might be a pain, so I'd still be interested to see how much memory PI actually takes. Doing things like modifying the registry is totally beyond me - I'm just a user, kinda like I know how to drive my car but don't want to get under the hood with a box of wrenches...

I don't do journalling, but the clearer Appointments/Calendar views seem nice. Still, I don't want to download and "take it for a spin" until I know the impact on my free memory. And I'm still unsure whether I really need it - it looks nice but what would I gain not being a Phat, Diary, or anything else user? I do use FlexWallet and a few other job-related and mapping software programs on my iPAQ so can see the benefit of special software, just not at this point the value of replacing something I got free out of the box.

Still open to persuasion, though! :D

[Edgar_]

It's a clean install/uninstall.

I'd download the trial, install to card and try it - me saying its "slow" is my perception and may be related to other items I also load.

The program really is awesome, very flexible and very usable. In addition, WebIS is probably oen of the most responsive software groups around. They have their ear facing the customer, not the bank. PM Alex Kac here on PPCT or on WebIS forums. He is the president and chief architect. He will answer as well.

[Nurhisham Hussein]

However, a slow Today screen boot-up might be a pain, so I'd still be interested to see how much memory PI actually takes.

Quite a bit - the main dll alone takes 1.12MB on my device (this is for WM2003SE, V2005 Rev4). On the other hand, since its not a today plugin, it shouldn't affect boot times at all - loading it up is actually pretty snappy.

[Edgar_]

Correct PI in itself is not a plugin. However, if you decide to use Diary or Breeze or any of the other plugins and define them to interact with PI it will cause a slowdown. Of course, PI could be in main mem and the plugin on card and you would also get a slowdown. And last, if you use startpi or place the PI shortcut in startup while ruinnign from a card you will have a slowdown.