Needing PDA for school--anyone got advice?

[uncballzer]

Originally Posted by The Professor

Dude ... I think iPhone might be your best bet. Epocrates for iPhone will be the most advanced version ever. Check it:

http://www.epocrates.com/iphone/compatibility/

Uptodate uses a web interface, so you should be golden.

As for web, calendar, email, etc. ... I think the recent Apple WWDC keynote says it all. Oh ... and games. All for $199 plus the monthly phone/data fees ($30 unlimited data on top of your voice service).

All that said, I'd seriously consider an iPhone. (but I'm an apple whore, so yymv)

Originally Posted by JacksonCognac

If you already have AT&T and can handle the data fee, I tend to agree with the Prof... the new iphone looks pretty excellent. For one person $30 a month isn't so bad (although my dad claims it's closer to 40, YMMV)... but for a family of 4... well... you can see why we have sprint.

I've seriously considered the iphone. I would love to go that route also as I get like a 15% (probably more like 5%) discount from the school; plus that would cut out an extra bill going the other PDA route. Only thing is that I've heard that some of the hospitals do not like the iphone because it's not completely compatible with their software, or something like that (a lot of the hospitals use a PDA to upload their calendar to for you). I'm going to drop by the ATT store tomorrow for a study break and hopefully they'll have one to gander and drool over.

PS, Nice T-bone professor!

[The Professor]

you sayin' you like my bone?

i wouldn't go to the ATT store, yet. the 3G model is the one that you're going to want, which doesn't get released until July 11th. better idea would be to head to an Apple store -- their geeks are gonna be better prepared to talk about the technical details pertinent to your concerns.

[yayson]

According to your requirements, looks like you'd be best off using a Windows based device that's capable of a minimum of 2GB expansion via flash card (microSD or somesuch).

If you go for a smartphone look at an HTC hermes or kaiser (AT&T calls them 8525 and Tilt) from eBay (250 for new condition vs 600 new) as you can use the wifi capabilities to access the internet (save money on the monthly cell/data access bill). If you have to connect via service these are quadband and 3g so you'd have no trouble.

I know a lot of people like their Blackberry style Win mobile devices, real simple to use. I can;'t see how they do it without a touchscreen but it's what you're used to I guess.

iPhone's gonna cost you on the hardware, monthly service and probably have compatibility issues, certainly with the UpToDate.

[jaharr]

FYI: Treo's and Centro's are full-fledged PDA's with a phone; not a phone with some PDA features.

[uncballzer]

Just an update: I broke down and went a couple saturdays ago and ordered the iphone. Of course, they finally call yesterday to let me know it's in, but I can't go get it because I'm working from the time the store opens, till way past the time it closes. Hopefully I'll get out early enough tomorrow or friday to make the trip to get it.

Thanks everyone for their input!!!

[yayson]

Originally Posted by uncballzer

Just an update: I broke down and went a couple saturdays ago and ordered the iphone.

fanboy!





enjoy brother and best wishes for successful and satisfying work

[Waynegro1]

I've got a Sony Clie that has almost never been used. It's got touch screen, which also turns 180 degrees. MP3, camera, video etc. Very nice. I spent around $500 for it and I'd let it go for very little $.$$ or cigars. Especially to a fellow CS Pisano. I've got the Palm Centro phone so the Clie is just sitting in it's box.