PDAs

Trauma Columnist · Jan 10, 2007

I have a Palm E and am very happy with it. Its two years old and I think you can get them cheaply nowadays. It is a pretty simple one yet you can add memory easily too. I use ePocrates Pro on a daily basis. I have also added the Medicare Part D plans that are most common in my area which helps a lot. I also use the calendar, calculator, notepad on a daily basis. Good luck in your clinical.

akoster · Jan 10, 2007

I use a palm Tx and the E2 is good also. I have had three pda's now. I also don't need camera,phone etc, just memory. Epocrates is a big file so you want to have enough memory for it and other programs.

core0 · Jan 10, 2007

Do you use a PDA in your practice? I'm an NP student and start my first preceptorship in a few weeks. We've been told that we need to have a PDA that we can run epocrates on. What type of PDA do you use? Do you know any good reviews of PDAs for a primary care family practice environment? I'm a student, so I'm broke. I don't need a phone, MP3 player, video player, etc. in it.

Consider a Treo even though you don't need the phone. You save having to carry around another device. It is more capable than most PDA's that you would pay much more for. I think they are about 130 if you can find a 650 and $200 for the 680 (with a service contract). That is the same price as an E2 and has more power. Also look at the student rate for epocrates it is very reasonable. Finally some of the drug reps may be able to get you PDA software (doesn't hurt to ask on your rotations).

David Carpenter, PA-C

Trauma Columnist · Jan 10, 2007

coreO - I was looking at the Treo and Q phones and haven't heard good things about them...which brand do you have and how has your luck been?

Editorial Team / Admin · Jan 10, 2007

I have a TREO 680 and never had one minute trouble. Excellent all round features.

Trauma Columnist · Jan 10, 2007

Thanks Siri - I appreciate that. I am considering an all in one. I use my Palm all day, everyday as well as my phone. I absolutely hate my pager! I have everyone just call me and leave a message and then I get back with them. That to me seems so much easier.

core0 · Jan 10, 2007

coreO - I was looking at the Treo and Q phones and haven't heard good things about them...which brand do you have and how has your luck been?

I have a 650. I was an early adopter and there were some troubles initially with the software and the storage. Once they upgraded things its been smooth sailing. The way I looked at it, I needed a new phone and my PDA was getting old. I got rid of one item in my pocket and got a more powerful PDA. I would think hard about the windows versions, I don't think they have as nice a screen. I like the 680 and will probably upgrade in a few months when I renew my contract. The other advantage of the Treo is you can set it to update epocrates automatically over its internet connection so you don't have to sync it.

David Carpenter, PA-C

core0 · Jan 10, 2007

Thanks Siri - I appreciate that. I am considering an all in one. I use my Palm all day, everyday as well as my phone. I absolutely hate my pager! I have everyone just call me and leave a message and then I get back with them. That to me seems so much easier.

I'm tempted to get rid of my pager and have my office text me with messages. However, there are several areas in the hospitals that we cover, usually the doctor's lounge and radiology that get little or no cell reception so we can't do that yet.

David Carpenter, PA-C

carachel2 · Jan 11, 2007

I have a TREO 680 and never had one minute trouble. Excellent all round features.

I have a 680 and I LOVE LOVE LOVE this phone. It is *wonderful* and the calendar features are amazing. It is sooooooo nice not to carry around a phone AND a PDA. When I am in clinical areas I shut the phone off.

veggiess · Jan 12, 2007

I have and know a ton of people who also have a Palm TX. No problems with it at all and you can store a lot of programs on it.

Mission · Jan 19, 2007

I don't know how I lived before my Treo 700...if it made cappuccino I would dump my fiance and marry my phone. Just kidding of course. But I use it at work, in my clinicals, to make phone calls, listen to music, I have flash card software that I can put my notes on to study while I'm in the subway. I believe it's quite expensive though (the phone and the service are paid for by my school), the 680s just as good and a little more reasonably priced. TXs are good too. Just don't get a life drive.