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Have PDA will travel...

I just took a new job that will require me to travel extensivly (~40 weeks a year). I wanted to get recommendations from people on what hardware and software make traveling easier.

My current set-up: VDX, VisorPhone, MiniJam, Datebook4, Pocket Quicken, and the Eudora Suite, other misc. software. Going to pick up a Hotsync cable this weekend.

I am debating getting some sort of rechargeable battery system (Full Charge) for my VDX. But I am not that excited about having to carry the VP charger and another for my VDX.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Brian

Get a case, preferably one you will never have to take off. Try the new active armor cases, or a vaja. you will pay $30-$60, but it will be worth it, especially since you will be able to hotsync while in the case w/ your cable.

YOU WILL DROP YOUR VISOR

YOU WILL DO SOMETHING TO HURT IT

YOU WILL DROP IT WHEN THE CASE IS NOT ON - that is why the Vaja/Active Armors are so great- NEVER TAKE IT OFF!

Just read my 'I can't believe it happened to me...' thread and you will know what I mean!

__________________

Friends don't let Friends vote Democrat
Victory 2002 - Republicans Win Control of the Senate
Now onto Victory 2004 - FOUR MORE YEARS

Backup Module, Backup Module, Backup Module, Backup Module


Okay, you should get a Backup Module in case something happens while on the road. I always backup at the start of a trip, just in case. I carry the module with in case something happens and I need to restore.

I have the Full Charge system and have been moderately happy with it. There is a loose connection in the charger so I have to turn it just right to get it to charge but other than this, it works okay.

I would also recommend the StowAway, depending upon what you are planning to do on your trips. I have written a couple of manuscripts and untold numbers of memos while on the plane. (I use Documents-to-Go though most around here prefer WordSmith).

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If you don't get a FullCharge, consider this nifty little keychain that holds a pair of batteries:



You can get it from RS Innovative for $3.95+$2 shipping, and it works exactly as promised...really nice product for a good price. The Gadgeteer and the Pocket Goddess have reviewed it w/ 5 stars each.

The only problem i have encountered is the wait to get it - it is a small north carolina town, and regular mail took about a week to get to me (nc -> omaha, ne)

__________________

Friends don't let Friends vote Democrat
Victory 2002 - Republicans Win Control of the Senate
Now onto Victory 2004 - FOUR MORE YEARS

There are some links on www.the-gadgeteer.com to Stephanies Visor Pages that will show you how to rig your VDX up to handle internally rechargeable batteries so you can charge them off your cradle. I THINK you can then use the Prism travel charger to charge it up.

Personally, I used NiMH rechargebale batteries- 2 pairs- 1 in the charger, 1 in the Visor, changed daily. You can find a charger that uses solar or car power for using on the road.

Stow-A-Way is great, but it does need to be on a fairly solid surface to use correctly. The GoType, the half keyboard, or a thumb board might fit your travelling needs better.

Compact Flash adaptor- FlashPlus or MemPlug, and a card reader (to use with your laptop or desktop). Back up on this, as well as carry maps, local info, etc. (If you use the FlashPlus, you'll need JBBackUp or BackUpBuddy to do good back-ups). You can also get a SmartMedia or other format adaptor, but CF is a great format! (By the way, the FlashPlus can be purchased from Innopocket, GetHighTech, or MatchBookDrive)

You'll need a good milage tracker and other business expense tracker (I have no good recommendations).

Mapopolis or another good map program- store the maps on your memory exapnder.

Vindango and other local travel info

AvantGo, especially if you can get a modem to work!

Car mount. Some of the car phone mounts can be modified to work. I have one friend who rigged up a 'travel box' of a tool box with mount on top for the Stow-A-Way and support arm for the VDX and all the gear and personal stuff inside. When parked, he could slip the devices in the box and lock them with a bike cable to the frame of the seat for additional anti-theft protection.

__________________
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are at!

Definitely the backup module and stowaway, the first for safety the second for effective work. Also, I would add xircom or other modem that allows you to connect over phone lines, although with the visor phone it might not be necessary. I occassionally get email over my IR enabled phone, but I find it so slow that I much prefer my xircom 56K modem. Of course, GPRS would change everything...

I would also have to second the Mapopolis option. The maps are not free, but I realized why I paid for the local area ones when I was helping deliver yard signs for the Republicans (Vote Terry/Hagel/Johanns madkins!). All the other groups were using paper maps and not getting anywhere, while I used mapopolis and went from one house to the next, no paper-map-searching necessary. The only problem was the lists we had were not in order, so we ended up going to the same area two or three times, but that is a different story...

__________________

Friends don't let Friends vote Democrat
Victory 2002 - Republicans Win Control of the Senate
Now onto Victory 2004 - FOUR MORE YEARS

Mapopolis maps are great to carry around. The route I would go is to get a subscription. For one flat fee, you can get what ever map you need for a year. For the level of maps, enhanced should do for most applications but if you plan on do a lot of traveling WITHIN a county and doing the planning on the spot, the platinum maps are great.

For keeping track of flights, I recommend Trip Planner 1.6 which you can find at freewarepalm.com . I used this last summer when I did a lot of traveling and worked great.

Jason

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Travel recommendations

I would also recommend a Magellan GPS springboard. I use it in combination with Mapopolis quite often when I travel.

If you need all those maps, I would say ditch the backup module or any flash modules and get a Memplug! I love my Compact Flash version, but if you are really worried about battery life I would say get the Smart Media version.

You could carry every map in the country with you!

Thank you all.

WOW, I did not expect that many responses. Thank you all.

I just picked up a MemPlug (SM) and hopefully a modem from Madkins007.

A Vaja VP case is on my list. A little pricey, but well worth it from the reviews I have read.

Batteries - I went ahead and ordered one of RS Innovations AAA battery cases, for $5 shipped you cant go wrong. I am going to hold out on a Full Charge to see what my battery life is like on the road. While Stephanies upgrade looks great, knowing my luck I would kill my VDX. I may just upgrade to a Pro. Will my VisorPhone travel charger charge a Pro and my VisorPhone?

I also got a case for all of my springboards. I looked at he mesh and flex module cases, but went with the Eagle Creek padded 1/4 cube (http://eaglecreek.com/pack-it_system/40144.html). It works great and was only $12.

I dl'ed Trip Planner 1.6, looks good so far.

Thanks again for all you advice.

Brian

If you can't afford a Vaja case, you should really consider the Active Armor. I have dropped my VPL in the Active Armor many times without ever breaking a thing. Take a look at my review in my sig.

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Steven Roos
Visor Editor
MaximumPDA.com
[email protected]

Review of the Active Armor case