Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 2

I was hoping that someone out there could offer some insight as to the relative benefits of the VPL versus those of the TRGpro.

I was hoping that some of you have owned both!

I have noticed that several medical users stand firmly behind the TRG product and say "I could never use anything else." However, with the recent release of the 16mb expansion, the VPL seems to be more fitting that it used to for medical STUDENT use.

I am helping my class place a large order for PDAs and would like to know why I should choose the VPL over the TRG from a functionality/usability standpoint. As many students have a difficult time turning a computer on, much less syncing their PDA.

What programs would be necessary for Med. use. Will they all fit on the VPL with a 16mb expansion? (Taking into account the need for a little overkill -- ie I would like to see the Merck, 5MCC, a drug program (ePoc qID or Lexi) and some med calcs, at the least...)

How easy would it be for a person to use the VPL in such a setup on a daily basis?

Are backups and resets a problem?

Must an amount of internal RAM be left available on the VPL equal to the largest program on the expansion memory (like the TRG requires)?

And finally, can dynamic info (ie - pt. Hx, etc) be written to a program on the expansion card (16 mb)?


Thanks for your input!

--Jeff

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Cape Elizabeth, ME USA
Posts: 73

Medical Users: Advantages of VPL over TRGpro

Handspring Prism.
16 MB Hagiwara Memory Module.
Wordsmith and BackupBuddy from BlueNomad.

Medical references are stored in the module for instant access.
5MCC and Lexi from Skyscape.
Merck from HandheldMed.


H&Ps get written to internal memory with PatientKeeper, printed instantly to the chart with PalmPrint from StevensCreek.

Trust me.

Bruce, The PDA P.A.

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 56

Additional Thoughts

quote:

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Originally posted by gunner_for_hire
I was hoping that someone out there could offer some insight as to the relative benefits of the VPL versus those of the TRGpro.

I was hoping that some of you have owned both!

--Jeff

---

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<i> If it's worth doing, it's got to be done right now.</i>

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Chicago
Posts: 10

I've got the prism and an 8 MB flash card. I have 5MCC, Harrison's Companion Handbook and the Merck Manual on the expansion card and ePocrates, ePocrates qiD, PatientKeeper, a database program and a doc reader with another dozen or so DB's and 13 color games (a couple fairly large). All this and I still typically have around 600-700K free. I guess I'm saying that the platinum with the 16 MB expansion card would be a terrific choice.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 38

I have used the TRG and it was a great way to go before the VPL came along. I have both a VPL and VPR now. While I love the color, for strict medical use, it's not really needed and the tradeoff with battery life is really a drag. I just ordered the innopocket CF card adapter and it, if it does what I hope, along with a VPL would completely negate any reason to get a TRG and be the ultimate medical combo.
Chaz

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 8

Well, I use the VPL with the matchbook drive.
Though this is not as convenient as the TRGpro or the 16mb springboard, I find that the extra memory afforded by the matchbook and the speed of the VPL swing the scales to this combo. True, it is not so convenient to move databases around, but I use the 5MCC, Ped5MCC, MERCK, a few drug databases, and harrisons. I usually don't use them all at the same time....but they are available when I need them.

Also, since I use the visor for other things beside medicine, I can swap stuff into memory really easy.

Right now I have 43 of the 64mb filled on the card, and it won't take long to fill the rest, I am sure.

Hope this helps.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 6

I own a Prism, the 16 mb Hagiwara Flash, an 8 mb flash, the backup module and a Vaja Case. Love them all!

My residency purchased the delux for us, however I found myself using the unit so much that I wanted to upgrade. Of course I went to the best - the Prism.

I have 5MCCC, Lexidrugs Mega database, ePoc, QID, multiple medical calculators (medcalc, medmath, medrules, ob wheel, STAT E&M coder, ABG Pro, MMSE, Shots 2.1, Patient Keeper with over 100 full H&P's stored, and the Merck. Not to mention AvantGO, BugMe, PalmPrint, Handsprings photoalbum, Quickword with several hundred personally input medical references, thinkDB2 to track deliveries and surgical procedures, X-master, and multiple games including Zap2016. Amazingly I still have appx 4 mb left. (All the above on the main memory and the 16 mb Hagiwara). I use the Stowaway for inputing H&P's. I have a travel charger in my bag for long call days (i.e. lengthy game play and reading).

I love the simplicity of the backup module, and feel more at ease having it around in case of an accident.

I feel the Visor offers much more expandibility and a better product than the TRG, which is limited by not being able to directly access information on the CF module.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 384

Platinum is the way to go.

I agree with all of the posts above. The Platinum is an excellent choice for medical purposes. In the past, the major advantage that the TRGpro held over other palm devices is the extra memory through the CF expansion slot. However, with the availability of the 8mb/16mb module, the CF storage modules, and the up-coming MS/SD modules, the problem with the lack of memory and storage options have been solved.

To stress a point, TRGpro's intergration with their CF cards is not nearly as smooth and seemless as Handspring's flash memory module intergrations. Applications and databases can be access directly off the Handspring module. In contrast, the TRGpro utilized a program call AutoCF(I think) that makes it look like applications and database are running directly off the module, but in actuallity the apps and database are first copied to internal memory and then launched or access.

I have a Visor Platinum with a 16mb module(mostly medical stuff), 8mb module(mostly other stuff like literature books, maps, games, etc..) and a back-up module. I still have over 2mb of free memory.

Another advantage of the Platinum is the speed. I have afterburner running also, it's pretty stable and I'm at 303% benchmark!! I also have a quicklink pen scanner so I can just scanner past H&P's, lab/path/radio. reports and beam them directly to my platinum.

__________________
Fat's

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 2

Thanks for the info...

Thanks for taking the time to reply to my rather global request. I have done some further reading and have another question:

Does anyone have problems installing programs to the SBM memory cards?

(i.e. -- I have spoken with individuals at Handheldmed and they stated that it was more difficult to install programs to the SMB expansion, due to the lack of flash rom, than to the CF card of the TRG. I assume it would require a "chunk o' memory" as large as the application being added to the SBM, as this is what I was told. I ask only because we are in the process of recommending a unit for medical student use, and I would like to recommend a unit that is both functional and offers few technical hurdles for the less "computerized" among us.)

Thanks again,
--Jeff

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 56

Some medically related programs that work from the SBM

Some programs work and others result in a system crash. In terms of general programs, it is often a trial-and-error process. Although generally speaking, hacks should not be run from the module.

Here are some of the more useful MEDICAL programs that run from the module:
-5 Minute Emergency Consult version 4.0
-5 Minute Clinical Consult version 3.0 (2000)
-LexiDrugs version 3.1 (Dec 2000)
-Interact version 3.1 (Dec 2000)
-HandHeldMed Reader (& docs)
-ISilo (& docs -though if you want to change the name, do it before moving them)
-MedCalc v2.8
One program that I have not had success with on the module is HanDBase v2.50.

Regards.

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<i> If it's worth doing, it's got to be done right now.</i>