[HELP] PDA type device needed

gvandale

I'll try to make a long story short...

I am a regional salesman, and travel ALOT (mostly by car). A few years back I bought a Palm TX handheld to hold my customer databases, and some pretty simple/basic spreadsheets etc.

Well, now it's taking a crap on me. I like it because it syncs my calendar with my laptop's outlook (as well as contacts / notes / etc), and I can easily manage files to & from it from my computer.

So looking online today, these style of handhelds aren't really made anymore (thank you smartphones). So there is an HP iPaq, but it is ridiculously expensive compared to what I bought the TX for.

So I guess the short route is: Should I pony up the jack for an iPaq (updated palm pilot), or just spend a couple extra and get a tablet?

If I go tablet, do I get an iPad or I found a Huawei - Ideos S7 Tablet on the cheap....any recommendations?

Foomy

if you just want it for pda like functions a used iphone or ipod touch. or android device, would work just fine, just dont bother getting a phone plan for it.

Abracadaniel

an iPod Touch might suit your needs. If you're going to go tablet, I highly recommend the iPad (3G version if you need to be connected on the road a lot and wifi is hard to find). The business productivity apps (Numbers for spreadsheets, something similar to Bento for your db needs [probably overkill for a basic customer db, but it works]) combined with something like Dropbox would keep all your data synced to your desktop (as well as available from a client's internet-connected machine) and a remote desktop app such as LogMeIn or TeamViewer could connect you to your desktop for anything 'heavier'


I've been looking at AccountEdge's accounting/small business software and their iOS app can allow a salesman or any sort of service personnel to create sales orders, invoices, service billing all right from their phone/iPad/(maybe iTouch) and using Dropbox it syncs it back to the desktop application. Combine that with something like Square and you could even take payments on the spot (and even send invoices via Billing Touch or through AccountEdge's desktop app)


There's also the advantage of setting up your email/calendar/contacts through Exchange server or Gmail, there's a number of options there.