Which PDA

I have been looking at PDAs and can not decide which one!

There are sooo many and it seems one must know in advance which software titles you want to add and which PDAs will work with that software before you go shopping.

However, sorting through it all is certainly tanking some time. I know I can sort through it, but if somebody already can recommend a PDA and software titles, I would certainly appreciate not having to do the leg work myself. Yea, I admit, if I can save myself some work, I am willing to do it!

Suggestions? Brand, style, etc.... I've noticed some software only works with specific styles of a given brand. Oh.... so much work and I know so many of you already know the answers! Please share.

My own personal requirements are, it must fit in my pants pocket (scrubs) or be able to hang from said pocket with a secure hook thingy (like a belt hook) I often hang the required nurse cell phone from the other pocket and it holds there.

[analiezel]

It took me awhile but I finally found the one that meets my needs.

I've tried a total of three ones within a 6 month period and the one i feel that meets my needs in the one by palmone, it is a treo 600.

Of course there is an upgraded version whch is the treo 650 but the only difference i think is its bluetooth capabilities.

The reason why this one works is because its a pda, camera celphone and mp3 player in one. I no longer have to carry a seperate celphone, cd player and pda to work. It does have enough memory to keep the software that i need and if ever i wanted to add more then i could just purchase a memory card to install the rest. I work in the icu and the only software that i found really important was efastfacts by kathy white.

It is small enough to carry in my scrubs, measures about 5 by 2.5 inches in fact i carry it everywhere. I have my favorite songs to listen to at work or at the gym, my calender, checkbook and alarm clock programmed, whatelse would one need> There are tons of software that you could download for free, the operating system is palm os of course. I would be lost without it!

For more info here in the website http://www.palmone.com, they also have medical software on this site. i think you could get it cheaper thru your celphone provider though. It just so happened that my celphone contract was ending and i upgraded. Hope this helps.....

I have been looking at PDAs and can not decide which one!

There are sooo many and it seems one must know in advance which software titles you want to add and which PDAs will work with that software before you go shopping.

However, sorting through it all is certainly tanking some time. I know I can sort through it, but if somebody already can recommend a PDA and software titles, I would certainly appreciate not having to do the leg work myself. Yea, I admit, if I can save myself some work, I am willing to do it!

Suggestions? Brand, style, etc.... I've noticed some software only works with specific styles of a given brand. Oh.... so much work and I know so many of you already know the answers! Please share.

My own personal requirements are, it must fit in my pants pocket (scrubs) or be able to hang from said pocket with a secure hook thingy (like a belt hook) I often hang the required nurse cell phone from the other pocket and it holds there.

[LPNer]

It took me awhile but I finally found the one that meets my needs.

I've tried a total of three ones within a 6 month period and the one i feel that meets my needs in the one by palmone, it is a treo 600.

Of course there is an upgraded version whch is the treo 650 but the only difference i think is its bluetooth capabilities.

The reason why this one works is because its a pda, camera celphone and mp3 player in one. I no longer have to carry a seperate celphone, cd player and pda to work. It does have enough memory to keep the software that i need and if ever i wanted to add more then i could just purchase a memory card to install the rest. I work in the icu and the only software that i found really important was efastfacts by kathy white.

It is small enough to carry in my scrubs, measures about 5 by 2.5 inches in fact i carry it everywhere. I have my favorite songs to listen to at work or at the gym, my calender, checkbook and alarm clock programmed, whatelse would one need> There are tons of software that you could download for free, the operating system is palm os of course. I would be lost without it!

For more info here in the website www.palmone.com, they also have medical software on this site. i think you could get it cheaper thru your celphone provider though. It just so happened that my celphone contract was ending and i upgraded. Hope this helps.....

Thanks, I am already looking at that one. Anybody else?

[H60Medic]

For size, color, price, memory, and capability. I reccomend the Palm Tungsten E.

[Dixielee, BSN, RN]

I agree, I just replacecd my "old" Handspring PDA with the Tungsten. It was $179 at Circuit City, but you may be able to find them online for less, but I wanted mine NOW. It has great graphics, 32 mg memory but you can get an upgraded card for much more memory. It is easy to use, and I love it. Everything I had on my old one transfered easily and effortlessly.

I just found out Merck manual is free for PDA's so I added it last night. The only program I have paid for so far is Davis Drug Guide, everything else has been free. Once you get yours, you will find other follks who have them who can "beam" you some of the free stuff. The larger free programs like Epocrates (very good program) must be downloaded from the site. Good luck, once you start using it, you won't leave home without it.

Let me let you in on a secret, but don't tell anyone about this.....since I don't smoke, I never get a break at work. But sometimes I slip into the bathroom, all by myself and play a game of solitare on my PDA. It is my way of "relaxing" in the middle of a hectic shift. Get your sanity where you can!!:)

Edited to add: I have tended to stay away from "machines" that combine too many activities in one device. Technology is moving so fast, there may come a time when everything is one small handsized appliance, but for now, I still like having a separate cell phone, camera, PDA because if I lose one, I still have the other or if one part breaks, it trashes the whole device. But then I am old and resistant to change!

[LPNer]

I agree, I just replacecd my "old" Handspring PDA with the Tungsten. It was $179 at Circuit City, but you may be able to find them online for less, but I wanted mine NOW. It has great graphics, 32 mg memory but you can get an upgraded card for much more memory. It is easy to use, and I love it. Everything I had on my old one transfered easily and effortlessly.

I just found out Merck manual is free for PDA's so I added it last night. The only program I have paid for so far is Davis Drug Guide, everything else has been free. Once you get yours, you will find other follks who have them who can "beam" you some of the free stuff. The larger free programs like Epocrates (very good program) must be downloaded from the site. Good luck, once you start using it, you won't leave home without it.

Let me let you in on a secret, but don't tell anyone about this.....since I don't smoke, I never get a break at work. But sometimes I slip into the bathroom, all by myself and play a game of solitare on my PDA. It is my way of "relaxing" in the middle of a hectic shift. Get your sanity where you can!!:)

Edited to add: I have tended to stay away from "machines" that combine too many activities in one device. Technology is moving so fast, there may come a time when everything is one small handsized appliance, but for now, I still like having a separate cell phone, camera, PDA because if I lose one, I still have the other or if one part breaks, it trashes the whole device. But then I am old and resistant to change!

I want just the PDA, I do not want a cell, camera, or MP3 player all in one. I have my personal cell phone for personal use, but that is not what we use on the floor, we use hospital issued cells. I like my current cell and leave it at home while I work (we do not keep a land line anymore, seemed rediculous to pay two phone bills, so we kept the one that can go with us.) With a free Merck and definately Davis, I would be happy. Thanks!

[RedSox33RN]

I have a Tungsten T3, and love it. I looked at a lot also, knew I wanted Palm OS instead of Windows, and something Bluetooth capable. I researched a lot online, but bought in the store instead of online, since I wanted to hold it, etc. Staples gave me a fairly good deal on it, because I did do some haggling. They wouldn't budge on the price, but I got a lot of extras thrown in. It was almost $500, not including the s/w I d/l'd from Palmone, but I'm sure you could do MUCH better than that price by buying online or eBay, etc.

It also helps to know what software you will want. Many places offer packages when you buy two or three programs. That can save a lot of money.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

the palm platform has a lot more medical software -- especially free software -- than the pocket pc platform. since you don't seem to need a camera, cellphone or mp3 player, the tungsten e seems like a really good choice. it has 32 mb of memory (more can be added with a memory card), a brilliant color screen, and all the good, basic pda functions. i've seen them in stores for as low as $159, but the prices will vary. circuit city, best buy, staples, office depot, office max and similar stores may have a floor model that you can hold and play with.

[color=#4b0082]good luck, and i hope you enjoy your pda!

[color=#4b0082]

[color=#4b0082]ruby

[seanpdent, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP]

This PDA is a lil more expensive.. but well worth the money.

I actually purchased mine through the AACN website. I got the PDA plus about 5 free software packages including Davis's Drug Guide for less than the listed price of the PDA alone.

The normal price for the T5 is $400, but with this package deal from AACN, I got the PDA, and 5 free pieces of softwar for $350. You have a $50 mail in rebate.

The T5 has more memory capabilities as well as a larger screen, and a reversible screen that goes from the normal portrait view, to the landscape view with a tap of a button.

I highly reccomend this product.

Go to PalmOne's websited and see for yourself how nice this PDA is. If you're considering it go to the AACN's website for the deals.

Any questions, email me.

[KrisRNwannabe]

Actually Ruby, all programs that are made for palms have pocket pc programs as well. I have never had a problem finding programs. when pocket pcs first came out there limited programs but that changed a while ago. that being said, i would never buy a palm. I think they are severly over priced for what you get. I love my Dell pocket pc. it came with 32 or 64 mgs and then i purchased a 1 gig card for 50 bucks for it and now i will never run out of space. since i have windows on it, i put our care plan on it in windows that way i could work on it through out the day. a girl in my clinical group bought a palm and when she put the drug guide on it, it took up so much space the thing would hardly run. just my 2 cents

kris

[nrsjo]

I bought a refurbished tungsten E from Overstock.com a few months ago. I wanted memory without the bells and whistles, and I didn't want to spend a small fortune. I was also able to get an extended warrenty on it. Because it's refurbished, it was cheaper than new, but works really well. Fits in my scrubs, lab coat, etc.