Which Pda To Buy?

[+wild-weaver]

Hello. Not sure if this question has been asked, so direct me to archived forums if this has been asked.

 

I am looking to upgrade to a Premium member on GC.com and want to know what is the best PDA (Palm) to buy to use pocket queries on. I don't want to spend a ton since I'll just be using the palm for geocaching.

 

Thanks,

Wild-weaver

[+Marcie/Eric]

Palm is actually a type of PDA device. PocketPC is another. Like the difference between a PC and a MAC, Palm software will not work on a PPC, and vice versa.

 

I personally prefer Palm. They seem cheaper overall, and they're not Microsoft. Cachemate is next to free, and my PalmVx with 8Megs of RAM cost about 60$ shipped on EBAY: new; opened package.

 

Palm

GSAK

Cachemate

 

are the programs I use. Plus PQs from this website, of course.

[+briansnat]

The best one to buy for geocaching is the cheapest one you can find. All you need is something very basic with 8 megs of RAM (actually you don't even need that much). Get something like a Palm M500 on eBay for $20 or $30 and your're good to go.

 

If you want something new a Palm Zire 21 is all you need.

 

Besides, you don't want to be toting around a $400 PDA on your cache hunts and exposing it to getting dropped, knocked around and wet.

Edited May 9, 2005 by briansnat

[+AB4N]

Hello. Not sure if this question has been asked, so direct me to archived forums if this has been asked.

 

I am looking to upgrade to a Premium member on GC.com and want to know what is the best PDA (Palm) to buy to use pocket queries on. I don't want to spend a ton since I'll just be using the palm for geocaching.

 

Thanks,

Wild-weaver

Cachemate is my PDA software of choice as well, so you will need a Palm unit for that. As it was mentioned, eBay is good for inexpensive units. The Tungsten E is nice if you want a more modern unit. You can find these new for $150 or less now, and they have a color screen which is easier to read than the older B&W screens.

[+Marcie/Eric]

I believe the B/W screens are better for the outdoor daylight viewing.

[+Miragee]

That is what I discovered last week.

 

Actually, I didn't discover it . . . I was always able to read my Palm M500 screen just fine. But my companion, who has a more expensive color Palm Zire, was positively amazed at how easily she could read the screen on mine in the bright sunlight.

[+fratermus]

Palm is actually a type of PDA device. PocketPC is another. Like the difference between a PC and a MAC, Palm software will not work on a PPC, and vice versa.

I think a Palm emulator for PocketPC has been recently released.

[+EScout]

The newer color screens are very good in direct sunlight. My Clie TJ25 has a 320x320 color screen that works well in all conditions. I recommend this model. It is small, light, and cheap (under $100 used.) It uses a memory stick and can view .jpg files, including photos, topo maps, aerial photos. You can get a dual USB/serial cable, and connect directly to a GPSr using serial/null. I would not go back to a B&W PalmOS again after this one.

[+Marcie/Eric]

The newer color screens are very good in direct sunlight. My Clie TJ25 has a 320x320 color screen that works well in all conditions. I recommend this model. It is small, light, and cheap (under $100 used.) It uses a memory stick and can view .jpg files, including photos, topo maps, aerial photos. You can get a dual USB/serial cable, and connect directly to a GPSr using serial/null. I would not go back to a B&W PalmOS again after this one.

Worth looking into if I upgrade sometime..