m130 dying...what to replace it with???

[majormadmax]

Well, after two years and numerous hours of fun with my m130, it is finally succumbing to the harsh life it has led and is starting to fall apart. For one, the on/off button no longer works, I have to use one of the ‘quick start’ buttons (for want of a better term) to turn it on, then let the auto turn-off feature turn it off. That is getting annoying.

So, I am In the market for a new PDA. I am partial to Palm products as I have used them exclusively since my first PDA (a lowly m100 that I still loved, despite only originally having 8MB of memory and no expansion port, plus a pre-historic monochromatic screen). I also have some Palm programs, such as CityTime, that I would like to transfer over to my new PDA.

Thus I am wonder what PDA is popular with prior m130 owners, or, if you still have your m130, what would you replace it with if you needed to replace it?

By the way, I don’t have access to any major electronic stores, I am stationed in Belgium at the moment and would have to order my replacement through the Internet.

Thanks! M2

[JohnKes]

The Palm Zire72 is nice but would they allow cameras where you are stationed?

The Palm TE is lower end but still good. I got one for my wife, and she likes it.

The Palm T5 is the most expensive. I don't know if it would be worth it to you.

I have a Tapwave Zodiac2. It's optimized for gaming so it is a bit big. The big screen and dual SD slots are pretty slick.

If use GPS a lot, the Garmin iQue 3600 is the way to go.

Go here for reviews:
http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/
http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=3628
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/ref=s_e_rs/102-3735733-5041718

[TrekCycling]

I'm trying to figure this out too. How to replace a Palm M130. The screen noise problem is real and evident and I've witnessed it on like 12 devices at 5 stores around the area I live. So all the Tungsten and Zire 72, etc. devices are ruled out. That just leaves the Zire 31, which I think has a worse screen than the M130. What the he** has happened to Palm in the two years since I bought my M130? They've gone to he** in a handbasket.

[majormadmax]

JohnKes, thanks for the advice. I will have to check out those web sites...

Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of PDAs to choose from on base. They keep saying they are awaiting this year's models to arrive, but at this rate we will be back in the States before they show up. I have bene looking at the iQue, last week we flew down to Kabul, Afghanistan and one of the aircrew had one. She really loves it, and has bought the European map set to go on it. However, I have been doing some reading on it and it seems like it's had a lot of teething problems. Many folks have had to have theirs replaced by Garmin. Also, battery life is allegedly very weak. However, I do like the GPS functionality, and I have a bud who tests GPAs for Garmin and is a great source for advice on using the iQue. For instance, many people have complained about routing problems outside of urban areas. My buds says the iQue uses (he believes) CitySelect cartography. This product contains NavTech data, and has very good coverage of major urban areas. It's quite weak when you try to use it for the back roads of rural areas (not back streets, but back roads - secondary highways and so forth). Thus, if you create a route through a rural area and find that the route does not make sense (meaning, big loops and detours all over the place), try turning off the CitySelect maps and allowing the iQue to generate the route using the internal basemap only. The internal basemap comes from a different company (not NavTech), and has better quality coverage of rural areas, but much coarser coverage of urban areas.

He encountered routing problems using CityNavigator and his SP 2650 in Idaho, Wyoming, Alberta and similar areas last summer - when he turned off the CN cartography, the routes generated by the base map alone were excellent. In many rural areas, the base map shows roads that CN or CS won't. But, if you have CN or CS turned on (this applies to any Garmin GPSR), it will displace the basemap, even if the basemap has more appropriate data for the area you are in.

It is inside knowledge like this that I think maps using the iQue more complex than most people would like. However, I understand it is a fairly capable GPS/PDA combo. The biggest disadvantage is not being to use it on the motorcycle (ever try and use a stylus at 75 mph?!?:eek:). However, I don't use my current GPS (an old Magellan Pioneer) too often anyhow, and I would use the iQue mostly in the car when traveling. It is something to think about...

Cheers! M2

[JohnKes]

Here's a Zire72 w/GPS bundle:
http://www.palmone.com/us/products/handhelds/zire72/index_gps.epl

Kind of expensive but a good example. There are several GPS receivers that transmit on Blutooth. From there you could connect with a Palm that has Bluetooth (Zire7x series, Tungsten T series, Zodiac).

So you can choose the GPS with the better maps and the Palm with the fewest problems. I have not kept up on Zires (71, 72). The Tungsten T3 is supposed to be pretty good, aside from screws coming loose. The T5 has odd software problems because they switched memory systems and there were some bugs in the OS.

[TrekCycling]

In the end I personally may get a Zodiac. The Zire 31 looks awful and all the high-res PalmOne Palms have the screen whine or screen buzz problem.

[JohnKes]

I have a "First Edition" Zodiac2. No screen whine but the screen calibration goes out of whack if I handle it too roughly. I put some fluffy stuff in the compartment of my brief case that I carry it in. I have had no problems since.

Aside from that, no problems at all. The graphics chip handles all my video needs very well, so the 200 MHz processor is just fine. The screen is nice and the 128 MB RAM is great!