Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Ingleside, Tx
Posts: 68

Okay, guys, this is it. I am a relative newbie in the world of PDAs. In fact, I have NEVER owned any Palm series device and until recently used a Casio B.O.S.S.. Now that I've ordered a VD, I started looking at the different programs you can add to the machine and I have to say I'm a bit overwhelmed and confused.

After going here: http://www.pdacentral.com/pilotzone/ I saw there were hundreds of addt'l applications I could add to the VD, but I'm not sure which are really "must have."

If the users out there would be kind enough to tell me which ones to get and install, I'd be most appreciative. Also, if you could give me a brief reason why they are must have and what they do, that'd be great, too.

I'll eventually print out the entire thread and use it to fortify my new VD. Thanks in advance for any help you people give me.

Ray

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"One can never step in the same river twice."

[This message has been edited by Solo (edited 09-24-1999).]

[This message has been edited by Solo (edited 09-28-1999).]

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Modesto, CA USA
Posts: 599

Here is some other applications that you might want to consider. It's tough to figure out what you want. Most of this is shareware which you can try before you buy. http://www.palmgear.com/software/an...ls&cache=30



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Registered: Sep 1999
Location: San Francisco, USA
Posts: 75

I'm a current Newton owner, and the Visor is the first Palm device that's actually made me sit up and take notice.

I know that I'd like to get good recommendations for some software, before I decide to switch:

- Outliner programs. The Newton has a built-in outliner, and it's absolutely essential to me. I've searched PalmGear and other places, and I found about five different programs. ThoughtMill (Hands High Software) and BrainForest (Aportis) seem like the two standouts. BrainForest seems to have more features, but ThoughtMill lets you drag items around with the pen, and write directly into the outline (which is very much the same as Newton). Which one do people prefer, and why?

- Checkbook/finance apps. On the Newton, the star program is PocketMoney, by Catamount Software. PocketMoney is now available for Palm, but is there a different program out there that's better? Again, there's at least three other choices.

- Book reader. I understand the "doc" format is the standard for eBooks on the Palm platform, and there are lots of readers available. Which one do you prefer, and why?

And finally, do you have a program you just "can't live without" and what is it?

[This message has been edited by mportuesi (edited 09-24-1999).]

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Durham, NC, USA
Posts: 47

For DOC readers, check out SmartDoc. It's a fantastic product that fits in well with the general appearance of the standard (big four) palm apps. Beyond that, it's a reader *and* an editor. This is useful for those long memos you'll have, that would be better suited as a compressed doc file. SmartDoc is very intuitive, has a great number of options, and I haven't even touched on the online capabilities. Check out their website at www.tapworks.com and find out more.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 61

Hit PalmGear H.Q. (http://www.palmgear.com)and then check out the Top 50 Downloads (either Monthly or All Time). They are there for a reason; either they are useful, fun, well written or all the above.

I also recommend checking TealPoint Software - they put out some really nice shareware apps for the Palm.

Enjoy,

jonpod

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 19

This is exactly the kind of question that User Groups are great for!

There's a new book from Peachpit Press called "The Little Palm Book", by Corbin Collins. It probably won't be out until late October, but there's a whole chapter on good add-on software in it. Currently on the market is the much larger and more exhaustive book, "PalmPilot, The Ultimate Guide" by David Pogue, published by O'Reilly Associates.

Some of the prorgrams I can't live without are:
DateBk3 - datebook replacement. The Visor's datebook+ program is based on this, but Datebk3 has icons that I rely on.
HackMaster - system extender. Should be part of the OS.
TealDoc - my favorite doc reader. Does graphics as well as text.

The sky's really the limit with add-on software. Check out EuroCool at http://www.eurocool.com, as they have lists of 'must have' and 'most downloaded' software.

-Mic
President, SFPUG

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The San Francisco Palm/Pilot User Group!
http://www.sfpug.org

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Atlanta, GA USA
Posts: 3

Regarding outliners, there are a number of choices, but none of them have EVERYTHING.

Check out the following page for a pretty good comparison: http://www.jimthompson.net/pilot/outliners.htm

Here's my quick rundown of the ones I've looked at:

Brainforest: Most features of any outliner, and the highest price ($30). Has a neat project feature, many people swear by it. Uses multiple DBs, this is a good thing.

Arranger: Nice capability to manage links to the built-in applications. So, you can write a memo in the native Memo app, but make a pointer to it in Arranger to classify it in your outline. Ugly visual appearance.

Hi-Note: The only outliner that lets you manage pictures as well as text. Unfortunately, it hasn't been updated for about a year, and doesn't have any ToDo capability at all. The style is pretty slick though, and the drawing program is nice. Very small.

ListMaker: Very big file, I haven't used this much. Somehow, it's not really like an outliner to me, but I know some people who like it.

ThoughtMill: Haven't really used it, but my initial impression was that it seemed sort of clumsy. It should be merged with ToDo Plus and MemoPlus by the same company, they seem to have split it into three programs to squeeze more money from people, even though they share most of the same capabilities.

I've talked to the author of Hi-Note (doesn't feel like developing it further) and the makers of Brainforest (not planning to add graphics support anytime soon).

Probably Brainforest is the best choice if you don't mind the price and lack of graphics support. Personally, I'm partial to Hi-Note so I can sketch diagrams, maps, network charts and stuff.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Spokane, WA, USA
Posts: 114

Here's my list of recommended apps:

-->Project Manager: BrainForest from Aportis (http://www.aportis.com). Better than ThoughtMill, with a PC-based version still in beta stage from what I understand. Quick, easy to learn but fairly versatile. Won't do PERT diagrams though.

-->DateBook enhancement: DateBk3 from Pimlico Software (http://www.gorilla-haven.org/pimlico). I personally like the "Icon" option, especially for the Month view, and the Template options for frequently used types of appointments (staff meetings... rehearsals).

-->Document Reader (1): TealDoc from TealPoint (http://www.tealpoint.com). Good reader with ability to display graphics (which can be created by TealPaint).

-->Document Reader (2): iSilo from DC&Co. (http://www.iSilo.com). Can display Doc-type files as well as converted .html files (free converter available at the site). Limited table-display capabilities, but good overall.

-->Calculator Enhancement: RPN from Russ Webb (http://mems.ee.cornell.edu/pilot/). Reverse Polish Notation and programmable. Much appreciated by a solid HP user who hates the = key. :-)

-->Auto Maintenance: KarKareII from Lee Golden (http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/6608/) support four automobiles, tracks mileage and maintenance. Very good!

-->Spreadsheet: QuickSheet 4.0 from Cutting Edge Software (http://www.cesinc.com). Awesome.

-->Database: J-File from Land-J Technologies (http://www.land-j.com). Awesome.

-->Astronomy: StarPilot from Star Pilot Tech. (http://www.star-pilot.com). Awesome.

These are must have's.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Ingleside, Tx
Posts: 68

Okay, guys, thanks! I'll run these things down when I get my Visor.

As far as synching is concerned, can I do that right out of the box (after the software is installed), or are there other things I have to add (read buy) to do?

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Urbana IL
Posts: 144

Out-of box, provided you buy anything above the 'solo' model and have a working USB port. If all you have is serial, you need to buy an add-on cradle (19.99 with your visor order, 29.99 seperately)

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 74

I have to put on votes for DateBk3 and BrainForest, I really wouldn't be as productive without them. I am a huge advocate of OpenSource and freeware (I recommend looking at RichReader Freeware for a doc reader) but I had to buy these two. You can easily drag branches around in BrainForest.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Ingleside, Tx
Posts: 68

Tiroth: I have the VD model (and blue, too!). I HATE sounding like a newbie, but alas, PDAs are not my thing (yet). I'm all into computers and udnerstand the lingo which is partly how I got interested in the Visor (ya know, searching the net and kept seeing an advertisement for Palms).

Anyway, after reading up on the Visor and then making a purchase, I started looking around at these differents apps for them and things called "hacks" and I was like, um, WTF!!??

So, in a nutshell, I guess there is a lot for me to learn when it comes to harnessing the real power of my new toy (yes, for a while at least).

Once again, I do appreciate the responses.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Valparaiso, IN
Posts: 146

Solo,

Where did you get your Visor? I'm assuming promo/press version, but I'm just curious.

Thanks,
Hawk

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Colorado Springs, Co
Posts: 23

It's interesting that you purchased a Visor. I do hope you mean you have ordered one.....

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Ingleside, Tx
Posts: 68

Hakweye and Sooner: I AM SORRY!! I did not "purchase" a visor, but I ordered it over the phone like everyone else. I am simply trying to learn as much as I can about using the Palm Os. Thanks.