One of my coolest tools
My Clie UX50 PDA
Hi... my name is Marc and I'm a gadget freak. I admit it.
I've been using Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) for years. My first was the original Newton Message Pad from Apple. Since then, I've used various units from Psion, Palm, Handspring, and lately Sony.
The UX50 is the ultimate tool yet (if you don't insist on your PDA also being a phone - if you need a totally converged device, go for the Palm Treo 600).
This handheld offers too many cool features to list them all but here are my favorites:
- The most usable thumboard yet
- Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth for wireless connectivity
- Memory Stick Pro for virtually unlimited storage expansion
- MP3 and Audible.com playback
- Flash Player
Almost a mini-laptop, the UX50 accompanies me almost everywhere. I can quickly capture notes in a meeting, check e-mail in the office or at any WiFi-enabled location, listen to music or audio books, surf the web, or write my next blog post. It's freed me up from lugging my laptop with me many times.
I'll write about some of the software I can't live without in future posts but here's a short list of must-have's if you use a Palm OS device:
- Agendus Pro by iambic - a Personal Information Manager (PIM) that creates a unified environment for contacts, calendar, and tasks using the built-in Palm OS databases.
- Thought Manager - a terrific outliner with a companion desktop application.
- ZLauncher - the most configurable and powerful application launcher. ZZTechs, the publisher updates this application constantly based on direct input from a very vocal user community.
- Bejeweled - the most addictive game ever because sometimes, you just have to lighten up. This game is perfect when you're waiting in line, sitting in the waiting room for your next appointment, or anytime you need to clear your head.
And, if you use a Sony Clie, you must visit Clie Source, my favorite community site.