Treo for Mom

[Russell]

My mother's palm Vx is not working, and I was thinking about purchasing her the basic treo, without the phone service (I think the Treo 90). Do you think I am better off with the Treo 90 or the Palm M100?

[JohnKes]

Those are completely different animals in terms of features and pricing.

Color (Treo90) is useful for digital pictures, etc. You should look at the Sony SJ30, which is similar $ but better screen.

The m100 is B/W and has very little memory.

My wife is perfectly happy with her m500. Similar shape as the Vx, B/W, 8MB. Hers runs 30 hours (2 months) on a charge. My Prism only runs about 5+ hours (1 week).

If you tell us what your mom would use if for and how much you want to spend, we will come up with good ideas for you.

[Russell]

John, Thanks for your reply. My mother, unfortunately, needs the device primarily to schedule all of her doctor appointments. While sitting through the chemo, she might also be inclined to play some games. My thought with the treo was that she might also enjoy passing the time waiting for docs and for the drugs by emailing friends and family. Although I would rather not spend a fortune, it is for my mother and, thus, I will spend whatever is ncessary.

[JohnKes]

On any Palm device, you can write e-mails which are later sent to Outlook's outbox on Hotsync. Just set up the mail sync. I have done that myself.

Or you could get a cell phone with data service (ask the provider). Make sure the phone has infrared. Then your mom could surf the net while waiting around.

Treo300 is CDMA and Treo270, 180 are GSM. I don't know how good coverage is in your area.

I have a TDMA cell phone because coverage is best around where I go. No data service :(

Best wishes

[mariog98]

The Palm M130 is a great value for what it comes with. I had the same choice problem with a unit for my son who has a car detailing business. With the M130 - here are comments based on my research and comments from others on PDA Street:

Color: M130-Color...super great, bright, clear to view in dark setting. (I have a PalmVX BW and notice the improvement right away with the color.

M130 looks and fells great.

M130 has an expansion slot for growth and storage of images. The 8MB it comes with is sufficient for most environments. The expansion slot will offload some things you do not have to have in main memory.


Cost It is $249.00 but till recently there was a $50 rebate which expired 2/3/03. So that will not help you there.

Checkout Office Max and Office Depot for the latest specials...there is always something....now and then.

M130 is cheaper then Palm M515.

I have found a Daytimer Handheld case a great value for the Palm size devices. Office Max has it at $15.00 for a vynil case which looks just like leather and is in a zippered case.

The M130 comes free with: Documents to Go, Photosuite MObile....both great applications. You can transfer JPG images to the Palm (with PHotosuite which converts them) that you take with a Sony digital or similar camera.

Documents to Go works great for seeing Excel and Word documents.

I use Agendus V6.01 to enhance my Palm Datebook to be a great contact manager / to do / meeting scheduler. see Iambic.com

I did consider the Sony units....more expensive...also read review the case was not that great.

Regards,

Mariog98

[ebisix]

I also think that you should look at the Palm m130. You can get it for under $200 now and there are lots of accessories.

I've heard that the Handspring Treo 90 will be discontinued soon.