1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
A handy addition to my briefcase
Date of Review: Dec 20, 1999
I have been using the Palm IIIx for a year and have found it worth the investment. However, there are caveats. If you are not accustomed to electronic scheduling/calendar use, you may find it harder to adjust to using any electronic organizer. I had already been using an electronic calendar on my computer for several years, with the only drawback being that I couldn't take it with me and had to print pages to carry along. So the Palm IIIx solved that major problem and made my life easier. The main things that I have had to learn were how to use the stylus and what the linking software copies from the desktop to the handheld.
Use of the stylus turns out to be a relatively straightforward skill to acquire. It has taken only a little practice to allow me to write detailed notes at meetings with only a few minor glitches showing when I later review the notes.
Dealing with the linking software will depend on what system is on your PC. I am using Microsoft Outlook (used within my organization), so the translation is not perfect but is more than adequate. There are some fields in Outlook's Contacts files that do not get placed onto the Palm, but in general the information provided is adequate. If you use the Palm system on your desktop as well, presumably some of the differences would vanish.
I do not use this device to deal with e-mail because I deal with e-mail at my desks at home and at work, and that is enough for me! If you want true electronic handheld capability, including internet, e-mail, etc., you will want a newer version of the Palm. But if you want a convenient way to keep a calendar, take notes, and in general, stay organized, the IIIx is great and not nearly as expensive as the higher numbered models. It has plenty of memory and is easy to use.
One precaution: I recommend buying a case for it; I had the experience of the back of the battery compartment falling off in my bag, with the resulting loss of a few entries that I had made while I was away from my desk. I now have a case and have had no further problems.
