Pocket PC, Palm, Blackberry, (which to purchase?)

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 3, 2009

I have a 755p that I use strictly as a phone now because I can't things to download without crashing my system or locking up my phone. I also can't get it to sync to my computer without sending everything into a tiz.

I have a iPod touch now that has most of my programs on it and I love it.

jlcole45 · Mar 7, 2009

I'm a recent convert to Mac and so I was glad to see someone promoting the

iphone. Thanks!!

Trauma Columnist · Mar 7, 2009

Okay guys I've gotta defect from Palm to a Blackberry because we have new computerized charting at my practice! Ugghhh...so off to the store I went and bought myself a new Curve - got it on Thursday.

Because I was converting from a Centro to a Blackberry, all my calendar info had to be put in manually - what a pain.

However, I love having my email come to my phone and I love the little roller ball thingie.

Maybe I will like my Blackberry after all!

core0 · Mar 7, 2009

Okay guys I've gotta defect from Palm to a Blackberry because we have new computerized charting at my practice! Ugghhh...so off to the store I went and bought myself a new Curve - got it on Thursday.
Because I was converting from a Centro to a Blackberry, all my calendar info had to be put in manually - what a pain.
However, I love having my email come to my phone and I love the little roller ball thingie.
Maybe I will like my Blackberry after all!

If you use Outlook as your mail program you don't have to manually enter things. Just select outlook to sync when you get the blackberry and its done (I just use outlook for backup GMAIL is for mail).

David Carpenter, PA-C

paulwalkman · Mar 7, 2009

Pocket PC, Blackberry, or Palm? That became an obvious answer after some research. Let me give you some details. I bought a Pocket PC in my phone; a Smartphone. Aside from a phone and a 3 megapixel video camera/camera there are many other features. Products for any of your questioned items can be purchased at Skyscape.com, but so much comes with it.

I have purchased many products I continually use and get updates anytime I sync with my laptop. The Smartphone products are very easy to use and most are low cost and when the yearly subscription runs out you keep the program but just don't get updates for that particular program. I also have a sync with MS Outlook on the Pocket PC/Smartphone. During school that would help download test dates, clinical days, other calendar questions. Of course you would have phone numbers, but also everything else you entered into MS Outlook about the person/company, short Notes you want to remember. Email can also be downloaded FOR FREE when synced. Pocket PCs/Smartphones will download any important file you placed in the folder associated with the Pocket PC which is created when software is installed. It's nice to be able to take notes on you computer, look at a zip drive, MS word full of your research. Also, you have Power Point presentations you or your group have been working on, and can use Excel to segregate the patient's meds names from use/effects/side effects/dosage/ etc. on your Pocket PC that were, and still are, in your computer. It also comes with Adobe Reader, required for some teachers' work, and Windows Media Player. It's not iTunes, but you can transfer the music/videos. If you have enough money buy the use of Internet Explorer. In other works get the POCKET PC/SMARTPHONE.

-Paul

Trauma Columnist · Mar 9, 2009

Agree David - however, my only use for outlook is with my work email and since that is double passworded and secured (due to HIPAA of course), the guys at Verizon said that using outlook wouldn't work for that.

jwl300 · Mar 9, 2009

I have just graduated and used a Palm T/X while in school. I bought it refurbished on Ebay and saved about a $100. The only problem I had with it is replacement of the battery, which Palm wanted to charge me $175. I bought a replacement battery on Ebay for $14, including shipping, took it to a local computer repair shop and they installed it (had to be soldered for $40. The Palm is still functional, performs adequately and will be replaced as soon as I get the almighty dollar coming in when I go to work.

I too do not want to carry both a phone and a separate PDA. So I am going to look at the iPhone or at least the iPod touch, so that I can get more functionality. My preceptor tried using the TREO to run the software like epocrates and pepid, but they ran so slowly it wasn't worth it.

If you want to save money, look on Ebay and consider the Square Trade Warranty in case you get a dud. If money isn't a problem, strongly look at the the iPhone. Good luck with school, it's worth it!

core0 · Mar 9, 2009

Agree David - however, my only use for outlook is with my work email and since that is double passworded and secured (due to HIPAA of course), the guys at Verizon said that using outlook wouldn't work for that.

We use the same thing but you can download the blackberry desktop to your PC and if you have a personal version of outlook installed you can use that to transfer stuff.

The way it works is you syn the palm with outlook then install the blackberry desktop. Then you sync the blackberry telling it to use outlook for contacts. You make sure that it does not sync from outlook but replaces the blackberry with outlook. Then turn the sync back on. As you can see its kind of complicated but anyone that knows their way around outlook can help you.

The whole subject is kind of like when I was a new grad paramedic. I had a ton of stuff on my belt. After about a year it was a penlight and a stethoscope. Same way with a phone. All I really need is a basic drug guide and a phone that works well. Palm/Iphone doesn't work in the hospital well. Blackberry with Verizon works very well here.

David Carpenter, PA-C

Trauma Columnist · Mar 10, 2009

Thanks David. Agree about the "I gotta have all the stuff." At this point, I use ePocrates and my renal dosing program. I also have Up To Date on blackberry.

ivanh3 · Mar 10, 2009

the question would be what to get today. for me that one truly is a no brainer. the palm centro. you can find them unlocked/used all day long for cheap. they run all the current mainstream medical apps: epocrates essentials (don’t think blackberry does this...yet), sanford guide, thomson clinical xpert, etc. again, palm is the only one today...that runs all of these. no other device does. not even pocket pc. pocket pc is device dependent (samsung epix won't run all apps and some incorrectly because of screen resolution). moreover, pocket pc is sloooooww and buggy even on phones with fast specs. maybe that will change with win mo 7.

someone mentioned the iphone. it is catching up, but again, doesn't run all apps and battery life sucks. try to get through a 12 plus hours shift and see what happens. you can, but you have to turn features off and don't talk/surf on it, or charge it at work.

the palm centro is great and it saddens me that palm is a dead platform, but right now today it works and will get you through the day on one charge. get chattermail and do a search for hacks, you can get chattermail to give up an activation code for free. does push, imap, pop, don’t know about enterprise stuff. it did, but now not supported, i think.

hope this helps,

ivan

ps...here is what i have tried: stand alone palm devices (don't like carrying two devices) treo 680 (good but bulkier than centro), tmobile wing/win mo 6.1 (slow, but ran most programs), samsung epix win mo 6.1 (still slow and doesn't run all programs), tmobile g1/android (hardly any programs available), blackberry curve (keep an eye on this one, but right not not able to run all programs, great battery life though and fairly quick).

i have played with the iphone, and again, battery life/program availability is the issue (i am not a "charge at work" person). epocrates just updated iphone support to include essentials (i use that the most). they are pretty sweet though.

DC2FNP · Mar 15, 2009

The iPod touch and iPhone with Epocrates Essentials: http://www.epocrates.com/products/essentials/iphone.html

sandnnw, BSN, MSN, EMT-B, APRN · Mar 15, 2009

Skyscape products on the iPhone blow everything else away. Recent upgrades from Epocrates also sweeten the iPhone dramatically. My palm Tx (loved it) crashed FAR too often compared to the iPhone. Sold the Tx on ebay to another student, still loaded with my skyscape stuff. Boy, have we come a long way since drug cards and handbooks!