PDA for blogging

[skye]

anyone travelled with one? What did you think?

I am considering taking my Palm, as it had all my contacts and info in it, and then I could work on my blog without spending hours at an internet cafe.

Thoughts?

[gougeAway]

It might work - but you risk the chance of not being able to hook the PDA up to a computer once you get to an internet cafe, so it might all be for nought. At the very least, having some games on there will help during downtimes (queues, waiting for/travelling on a train, etc.).

I brought mine to NYC - with a bunch of downloaded maps and the like - it was useful. Not sure what you can find for your destinations, but even some translation software could be handy.

[LHR02]

Netson Doug is currently doing his best to talk me into one of these for upcoming trips. It is his newest, most favorite toy! Hopefully he will sign in soon and see this...he has tons of info on this subject!

ging

[dumbdiety]

Yuppers, I use a Palm Tungsten C for everything. It's got a little built in keyboard and everything! See it here
www.palm.com/us/products/handhelds/tungsten-c/

Anyway, I've managed to get it to sync with Outlook over the Internet, meaning I can set it up at someone's house, and if I need information I can ask them to hunt it down for me, and the next time I sync the Palm, whatever information they found is automatically downloaded. The Tungsten C also has WiFi built in, and takes SD cards. Webbrowser and e-mail client built in, and there's a free program you can use to find WiFi all over the world. Nice and easy!

What model do you have that you'd be taking with you?

[Eagle]

skye, I always travel with a Palm PDA also, and find it indispensable for keeping track of contacts, hotel phone numbers, reservations and travel information, etc. With an external Keyboard, I also use it for diarizing the trip, although I found on my last trip that I wasn't as diligent with that as I should have been, and some of my entries were done from memory. I found that I got too busy touring and by the time I got back to the Hostel, I was just too darn tired to sit down and make any entries. I saved the diary files (Doc's To Go in Word format) to an SD card, so didn't have to worry about exceeding memory limits.

I'm currently using a Tungsten T3 and this doesn't have a built-in Keyboard as Doug's Tungsten-C has. It has Bluetooth but doesn't have Wi-Fi, and theoretically can be set up to access the net by using my Cellphone as a MoDem. However, I haven't bothered looking for the Drivers to configure that, as I'm paying enough in monthly charges on my Cell account as it is. Paying roaming charges to access the net while travelling is not an option!

Unfortunately, I can't give you a definite answer on whether Palm PDA's can be used for blogging, as this is not something I've ever looked at. If you were going to transfer your blog from the SD card to a PC at a Net Cafe using a Card Reader, that would be one solution. However, there's no way I'm willing to connect my PDA to a "strange" computer as I don't want to risk transferring personal information. Also, it would be necessary for each computer that I was using to have Palm Desktop loaded in it, which is not likely. Even though each of the HotSync conduits can be set up to "do nothing", I wouldn't feel comfortable doing this.

If you're going to travel with your PDA (it would help to know which model it is???), there are a few important points to remember:

> make sure that you have a backup of all your files on an SD Card, using software such as Backup Buddy VFS or equivalent (check www.bluenomad.com/ for info on this). With most Palm PDA's, if the battery goes flat you lose everything! SD cards are quite inexpensive these days, so there's no reason you couldn't bring one card for large files and one card (with BB VFS mounted on it) as a backup for all the contents of your PDA).

> make sure that you have some means of recharging your PDA while travelling. The newer colour screens seem to deplete batteries fairly quickly in some cases (the T3 was notorious for this - when the warranty expires, I might get a larger battery installed). I carry both a AA battery based power unit and a "universal" AC travel charger when travelling so hopefully won't have any problems in this regard. If you want information on the AA Battery Charger, check home.earthlink.net/~gmayhak/catalog.html.

Hopefully this will be some help anyway. Good luck and happy travels!!!

[skye]

I have the www.palm.com/ca/products/handhelds/tungsten-e/, very basic model. No keyboard (I have a fold-able little wireless one though), no bluetooth or anything. Basically I got it for work, to use as a daytimer to keep dates and contacts straight.

I am learning there is so much more I can use it for! It would be great to record info all in one place, confirmation #'s, flights, addresses etc.

And gougeAway, brilliant idea about the programs! I will have to look in to some. Any websites you would recommend?

So let's see: if I typed my blog in Word format, then had a card reader to transfer the info at an internet cafe, then cut & paste it into my blog? Would that work? Would you be able to do that at a cafe? I don't have a card reader, but I could buy one. Or at the very least I could save my notes, and then transfer them when I get back to my laptop, which will be a maximum of 2 months at a time.

I think I need to buy some more memory cards. I've only got a 256k and a 1gb, but that is for both my camera and PDA. If the 1gb was in the camera, could I use the 256k as the backup you mention Eagle? And then buy one more? How big would you recommend?

Haven't checked your links yet, Eagle, but I'll have a look!

You guys are truly the best, I appreciate all your help!
Skye

[Eagle]

A few points on the Card Reader. These are available in several types, either to read a single format card or to read multiple formats (ie: SD, CF, Memory Stick, etc.), with connection via USB. These are usually quite inexpensive, but keep in mind that some Card Readers require Driver software. Also, it's important that you "eject" these properly before unplugging them, or strange things can happen with the computer.

As far as Memory Cards it should be possible to use the same card for backup as well as storage for your Blogs. Don't forget that Backup Buddy VFS software MUST BE loaded on the card, NOT in the PDA memory! Which size card you buy will depend to some extent on your budget, but a 512 MB model would probably be more than adequate. I use both a 256 MB and a 1 GB and both are strictly for the PDA as my Camera uses CF cards.

I've also just bought one of those small USB Memory "keys", with a capacity of 512 MB and even with some large files loaded on it (such as my Euro Itinerary), there is still lots of room. Unfortunately I have had some problems connecting it to some PC's as apparently these need Drivers also (stupid PC's, why couldn't everything be as simple as it is on my MAC!!!). I'm mentioning this as it might be a route to backup your files once you've transferred them from the PDA to the PC via the Card Reader?

Hope this helps? Cheers!!!

[skye]

Is there a particular card reader you would recommend? Both my camera and my Palm take SD, do I need to bother getting a multi-format one?
So I should ask at the store if it requires driver software, and get one that doesn't? I am assumin because then I would need it installed on the computer I would be using, and wouldn't be able to do that at an internet cafe, right?

Here's a question about memory cards: I know when they are empty I can switch them between my Palm and camera, I've done that. But let's say on a 1GB card, I take a bunch of pics, can I then put it in my Palm and save things on to it, without losing the pics? (for all the electronics I own, I'm a techno-dummy!)

[Eagle]

I've used both SanDisk and Lexar Card Readers without any problems. If you plan on staying with SD format, there's probably no need to buy a multi-format reader. From what I recall, they're all about the same price anyway? I have two readers, one that takes only CF and one multi-format model. I've found a couple of occasions in the past where it was nice to have the flexibiity of multi-format.

One additional note on the driver software. Even the Readers which don't require drivers apparently have a problem with Windows 98, so there will probably be a disk included to cover drivers for that (again, stupid PC's!!!). That could be a problem when travelling, as you'll likely find a variety of OS in use in net cafes, including OS 9 & OS 10 MAC computers.

I suspect most of the Card Readers sold now are fairly "universal" and will probably work with XP or MAC's without any drivers. You should be able to find these at your local Future Shop or London Drugs. I find FS a bit more "user friendly" as the products are out on a rack where you can actually look at them, as opposed to behind a locked glass display case. I was at FS the other day buying a UPS for my Son, but I'll check out the Card Readers next time I go to familiarize myself with the current "lineup".

Don't feel bad about not being "up to speed" ("techno-dummy") with electronics, as I have to work hard to keep up with this also; it changes so quickly! With regard to switching SD cards between your PDA and your Camera, theoretically there should be no problem but I don't have a lot of practical experience with this as I'm working with different formats.

One potential source of problems could be the file structure which is written onto the Card when it's formatted. Normally, it's recommended that after you've transferred your photos to a PC, you re-format the Memory Card in the Camera before re-using it. Of course if you do this, you'll erase the PDA files in the process. Presumably the file structure is one which is recognized by both devices, as you said that you've done this.

I'm really not sure if you will experience problems when switching cards between two devices? Although not all the "sales associates" at FS are well informed on this sort of thing, you might ask that question next time you're there. You might also post this question on LP Thorn Tree (Computers/Cameras/Phones section) to see what kind of answers you get (LAN would likely be the best one to answer this).

Of course if your new Camera uses a different Memory Card format, you may be using the SD cards just for the PDA. Anyway, hope this is some help. I have to get ready to go to work tonight, but will try and stop back later to see if you have any other questions. It's such a "perfect afternoon" today (beautifully & warm with a light breeze blowing through the Cherry trees, listening to vintage '60s & '70s hits on the radio--brings back a lot of great memories); I could easily spend hours on the net today! However, "duty calls".

Good luck and keep us posted, as I'm sure this information will be useful to others here also.

Cheers!!!

[kena]

You can download the metro maps of most of the world's metros at this site.

It's not a map per say, but you can input your starting and end points, and the software will give you the best way to go there. And they generally have the main tourist attractions and points of interest as well. I've never tried it while travelling, but I've tested it in Montreal and it's accurate.

nanika.net/Metro/

[skye]

ok, I got a card reader. It's a tiny little one, so it should be good for travelling! ANd it does not require additional drivers.
So, now I want to take a "memo" file from my PDA, put in on the memory card, then memory card into reader, and onto computer! Sounds easy enough. Really, how do I do this!! Tungsten E Palm, if that helps at all. (I haven't used it with the memory card yet).

[Eagle]

skye, you have a Card Reader - fantastic! The fact that you're using a Tungsten E won't matter, as all Palm OS units operate pretty much the same.

Normally it should be a simple matter to move files from RAM to the SD Card and vice versa. Unfortunately, I believe this type of operation was "neglected" by those who designed the Palm OS. However, with the "right" software this can be a very easy process. You might find it beneficial to invest in a copy of TealMover. Have a look at www.tealpoint.com/softmovr.htm for all the details. I have this installed in my T3 and I don't use it often, but when it is needed I'm sure glad that I have it. The cost is quite reasonable also (although I believe it's in US $).

With this installed, simply highlight / checkmark the Memo you want to move and then "click" the "Move" box at the bottom of the screen. It will then display a window that says "Move file to Ext. folder?. If you click "yes", it will be moved. Make sure however that no other files are checked.

With Doc's To Go files, I believe you can specify when these are initially set up, whether to place the file in RAM or on the SD Card. This is what I normally use for diarizing my trips, using a Word document. I suppose you could also use a Memo file for this?

Hope this helps. Good luck!