I've been trying to find a way to accomplish more with my daily 24 hours which includes more time to read the Paddlewise posts. (Jackie, notice the paddling relationship here) I've use a Franklin Planner (tm) for several years and am considering a PDA to replace it. If anyone has had some experience with these, I'd like to hear about it. I value the list member's opinions. Well, most of the opinions. TIA, Bill Ridlon Southern Maine Sea Kayaking Network *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
On Sat, 9 Jan 1999 outdoors_at_biddeford.com wrote: > I've been trying to find a way to accomplish more with my daily 24 hours > which includes more time to read the Paddlewise posts. (Jackie, notice the > paddling relationship here) I've use a Franklin Planner (tm) for several > years and am considering a PDA to replace it. If anyone has had some > experience with these, I'd like to hear about it. I value the list > member's opinions. Well, most of the opinions. > TIA, > > Bill Ridlon > Southern Maine Sea Kayaking Network Aha, my area of expertise :) I personally use the Palm III and love it. It is a much better PDA than any windows CE device in my opinion. The WinCE devices are not PDA's, but rather mini-pc's, with the attending host of operational difficulties that any windows based desktop (e.g. frequent hourglass symbols, occasional crashes, and filled with MS-bloatware). Don't be fooled into thinking that the extra memory, larger and/or color screen, and higher prices of the WinCE machines means they are better than a Palm III. A PDA should be functional, not fancy. You would have to be a masochist to willfully buy a WinCE device. The Palm III however is very fast and has many well designed PDA specific functions, such as an effective calendar, to-do list, address-book, and memo pad. The to-do list and address book are especially good at sorting by category (e.g. work, school, kayak, family, friends, etc), so only the appropriate items or numbers are visible. Very functional. It is the industry standard in PDA's, and after you own one, you will know why. However, the best feature of the Palm III is that its operating system is open-source, which means that anyone can write an application that runs well. And guess what... everyone does! There are so many quality programs for the PalmIII, and it will do some amazing things. It has a relatively fast CPU and can do lots of neat calculations. The majority of the software is shareware, so you can try before you buy. Some of the best software is even GPL'd, so it's absolutely free. :) Software that all kayakers should have! 1. Tide Tool! Tide Tool! Tide Tool! http://www.toolworks.com/bilofsky/tidetool.htm Worth the price of the PalmIII all by itself. It uses the same database of harmonic constants as Xtide, and calculates tides and currents for 1500 locations worldwide. Every time I have checked the output with a tide or current table, it has been spot on, if not more accurate. I use it to plan trips to the standing wave at Skookumchuk tidal rapids, and to Deception Pass. And even better, it is released under the GPL (Gnu Public License). 2. Delorme TopoUSA and a GPS. www.delorme.com You can plug in your GPS to the Palm, and see your location on a map of anywhere in the USA realtime. Includes topographic maps. I haven't tested this yet, but it looks really good. A couple of more points, 1. Buy the PalmIII off the web. Save at least $20-$30. Go to www.shopper.com, a search engine for computer prices, and buy it from the lowest advertised vendor. I saved $75 from the cheapest retail outlet in Seattle when I bought mine six months ago. 2. Get your software from www.pilotzone.com, the best source of shareware, and freeware. Happy Palm kayaking :) Kevin ___________________ / Kevin Whilden \ |Dept. of Geosciences \___ |University of Washington \ |kwhilden_at_u.washington.edu| \________________________/ > > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > *************************************************************************** > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
On Sat, 9 Jan 1999 11:54:22 -0800 (PST), you wrote: >> I've been trying to find a way to accomplish more with my daily 24 hours ... >Aha, my area of expertise :) >I personally use the Palm III and love it. <snip> Speaking of new technology - weren't we? - I saw an announcement the other day that a Casio watch would soon be available that incorporates a GPS. And I thought that my Timex Explorer with the compass on the watch band was pretty neat. :-) -- cheers, Stephen stephen.bird_at_superaje.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 1/9/1999 11:52:34 AM EST, outdoors_at_biddeford.com writes: << I've use a Franklin Planner (tm) for several years and am considering a PDA to replace it. If anyone has had some experience with these, I'd like to hear about it. >> I have been using a PDA for several years. I find that they work best in busy waterways. They tend to track well, but are also maneuverable. They are quite serviceable, but tend to only last a year. After that they usually need replaceent. All in allI think they are good canoes to paddle. John *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 1/10/1999 7:03:52 PM EST, nil_at_nol.net writes: << I've found that PDA tracking can be improved even more with the use of Canadian Ballast Rocks (tm). >> Geeze! No man! Those damned Canadian ones sink. Tie on a pair of genuine south seas pumice ballast rocks and they will serve as floating markers for your PDA should you drop it overboard. CBR's will only hasten it's dive for the deep six. John *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I would stick to the Canadian Ballest Rocks. They are denser and thus much more effective than the average PDA currently on the market. While you pay a premium for the real McCoy, I think CBRs will be cheaper in the long run considering the number of PDAs you would need to buy to achieve the same results as one decent sized rock. If you intended the PDA as a navigational device, I would stick to a compass. Even a handheld compass will be easier to use, not to mention cheaper. Given the low power of most PDAs the current produced makes a very weak magnetic field. I think you will find they will sink long before they become aligned north and south. Use as a safety communication device is also questionable. Even if you have the cell-phone-modem built in, any distress call posted to this list would probably produce so much debate regarding whether you actually should have gone out that we would forget to call the Coast Guard. A mirror would probably serve you better. As the technology evolves I'm sure PDAs will become more useful. At this point, I would stick to the tried and true. If your Franklin Planner works for you, I would not replace it. At 11:07 AM -0500 1/9/99, outdoors_at_biddeford.com wrote: >I've been trying to find a way to accomplish more with my daily 24 hours >which includes more time to read the Paddlewise posts. (Jackie, notice the >paddling relationship here) I've use a Franklin Planner (tm) for several >years and am considering a PDA to replace it. If anyone has had some >experience with these, I'd like to hear about it. I value the list >member's opinions. Well, most of the opinions. > >TIA, > > Bill Ridlon > Southern Maine Sea Kayaking Network > >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ >*************************************************************************** Nick Schade Guillemot Kayaks 10 Ash Swamp Rd Glastonbury, CT 06033 (860) 659-8847 Schade_at_guillemot-kayaks.com http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/ >>>>"It's not just Art, It's a Craft!"<<<< *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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