4/26    What electronic device (PDA?) on the market today would convenient
        substitute for notes, diary, and travel log?  --- never owned one.
        \_ what is wrong with notes, diary, and travel log?  They work.
           they don't break/run out of batteries.  They don't make you look
           like an idiot.
        \_ Just about all of them will do, as long as you like their
           input mechanism.  I'd recomend either the Palm IIIx or Vx,
           depending on whither you want an internal battery pack or
           regular AAA's you can change. - seidl
        \_ The truth is, none of them are really appropriate for Notes,
           diary, or travel log, since all of those would involve (presumeably
           a middling to large amount of text)  The pen input systems on
           palmtops are appropriate for adding someone's address, or putting
           in an appointment.. (I love my palm for these things), but they're
           a nightmare for inputting a lot (more than 10-20 words) of text.
           You probably want the lightest, thinnest, wimpiest, cheapest
           laptop you can get, and you'll be much happier.  --dbushong
           \_ Actually, the Palm Pilot when combined with a Palm Portable
              keyboard performs this role excellently, and is lighter
              and smaller than the wimpiest laptop, and has fullsized
              keys.  -nweaver
           \_ Another possibility is the IBM Workpad z50.  I own both a palm
              pilot and a z50.  I haven't had as much time to play with the
              z50 as I'd like.  They're discontinued, but you can get them on
              auction sites.  Don't pay more than $350.  The z50 has a really
              nice keyboard, and gets about 6 hours of battery life, but the
              screen kind of sucks.  It's a wince device, but if you want to
              plunk down another $350-$600 and play frankenbox, it can run
              NetBSD. -dans
              \_ I just want to be able to write and edit diary or essay
                during travel and save to regular computer after the trip.
                It doesn't need to do anything else, but must be cheap.
                \_ If you will do a LOT of journaling, I'd recommend it
                   because, as I said, the keyboard kicks ass (i.e. really
                   comfortable).  The palm plus palm keyboard is also a viable
                   option (ask Nick for more info about the keyboad).  Things
                   to consider:
                   The z50 is larger, but you only need to carry the z50 and
                   the AC adapter (as I said, ~6 hours battery life).  The
                   palm and keyboard combo will be smaller, but you need to
                   carry more pieces (palm + keyboard + cradle + AC adapter
                   or, for like another 35-50 bucks, you can get an AC
                   adapter that plugs directly into the palm, instead of into
                   the cradle which is used for both syncing and charging).
                   I'm not certain, but I think you'd end up spending more on
                   a palm because, at the very least, you need to add the
                   keyboard.  I don't know what the battery life is like on a
                   palm when using the keyboard (it talks via the serial port,
                   and that can eat batteries up pretty quickly).  Also, I
                   would avoid using a palm that uses AAAs because, though it
                   hasn't happened often, the batteries in my pilot (before I
                   got a V) have occasionally died out completely causing me
                   to lose the info on the pilot.  This isn't as much of an
                   issue if you will be syncing regularly.  E-mail me if you
                   have questions, I'll see if I can help out some more. -dans
                   \_ It depends on the PALM.  A  Palm3e ($150), and Palm
                      Portable Keyboard ($100) are together lighter &
                      smaller than
                      the z50.  You don't need an AC adaptor (the III uses
                      good old AAA batteries, and you can change them
                      without losing device data), and if you want a
                      cradle, you can just pack one of the cable-cradles.
                      It is a very nice solution for that problem, and
                      CHEAP, too (<$300).  Email me if you have any questions
                      on how it works.  -nweaver
        \_ Palm V with a laptop that has an infrared port is the way to go.
           Main purpose of the PDA (for me) is to be a quick data store of
           useful info when I'm on the road (ie; flight confirmation #'s, appts
           and alarms, phone numbers, etc.).  Using a PDA for computing (ie;
           pocket word/excel)?  Give me a break!  How practical is that?  Just
           dl Pac Man or a blackjack game (free) on the Palm V and you're good
           to go.  Now if anybody can tell me how to activate the IR port on
           a Nokia 6185 (Sprint is provider) and sync it to my Palm V, I'd be
           in heaven.
           \_ How about Nokia 9000 or 9110?
                \_ I think these don't have any IR shit in them. FCC
                   approval/time to market issue, probably.
                   \_ They do have an IR window on the top.  Is that only for
                      decoration?
                        \_ Nokia 9000 has IR port, assume 9110 does also.
                           But dammit only 9600 baud dialup thru GSM--oj
        \_ Although it's a lost cause, you might want to look into a crosspad.
           For about $200, it'll let you right down all your notes and will
           store your files digitally. Once uploaded, you can try and perform
           handwriting recognition on your data.
        \_ Tandy Model 100 portable computer.  Hard to find but light weight,
           has real keyboard, real video, etc.