Mobile Computing: Insuring Your Notebook

Handhelds

News: Wise Words on Your Palm

Need something clever to say in a hurry? Just whip out your Palm PDA, tap a few keys, and you've got 20,000 quotations to choose from. The 17th edition of the venerable Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, now available as a Palm Reader EBook, includes recent quotes from the likes of Tammy Wynette, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, along with the classic "To be or not to be" stuff. Bartlett's is available as a download for $22.45. That's nearly $8 less than the $30 Amazon.com charges for the hardcover version, though Bartlett's is infinitely more fun to browse in traditional book format. You may quote me on that.

Tip: Super-Fast Appointment Entry

The Tips & Tricks section of Palm's Web site has some handy shortcuts. For instance, here's how you can save time when entering appointments:

1. In the Datebook application, enter the first digit of a new appointment's start time on the right side of the Graffiti screen. For instance, if you're entering a new appointment for 3:15 p.m., write the numeral 3.
   
   
2. In the Set Time screen, 3 a.m. will be selected. To continue filling in the time, simply write 1 on the right side of the Graffiti screen, then 5. When you're done, 3:15 a.m. is your start time.
   
   
3. Because only vampires make appointments for 3:15 a.m., you'll want to set the start time to 3:15 p.m. To do so, simply write P on the left side of the Graffiti screen. Click OK. You can now enter the reason for your appointment (such as "Tea with Mussolini") and you're done.
   
   

News: Double-Digit Treos

Handspring recently began selling its Treo 180 and 180g Communicator devices for $99 (after a $150 rebate). The two Treos are Palm OS-based GPRS voice and data devices with monochrome screens. The 180 includes a built-in keyboard; the 180g doesn't. Both offer phone capabilities via T-Mobile cellular service. The price drop came soon after Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Palm introduced lower-price handhelds.