h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello, from my iPod touch. This really is an absolutely incredible device. Apple crossed all the "t"s in the interface. There are a few odd things here and there, but for the most part this is an unbelievably useful thing. You done know that you need one until you have one.
Best part is that my office paid for it. It's Witty's tax dollars at work.

That's cool. I am way behind in the gadget department. Will probably stay behind.

I my iPhone as well. It's the same interface.

You're welcome, d'E. Can I borrow it on the weekends? Oh, and I get to pay for it twice, since I have a kid in one of the state colleges.

More importantly, would you consider it a replacement for a Palm pda? I'd love and iPhone, but I am not willing to pay for the data plan because I would hardly have the need for net access. I don't even text message. My dream device is a Palm TX with a phone function.

Witty, that depends on what you do with the iPhone. It does not have full business functionality (I can't connect to my work Exchange server, for instance). It does phone calls well, it's interface is awesome, it's data is not the fastest, but you can connect it to a wireless AP easily. The iPod piece is very good (as to be expected). The plans are not overly friendly, but I was already with AT&T.

My one cellphone lies neglected on the desk at home. It has no functionality in my life at all. If I didn't live in a deep valley, if I didn't work where I live, maybe I would use it. I love the idea of these new tools, though.

I don't care about downloading email, either. I'd like wifi so I can post to hootoo from my sofa. I am currently with AT&T as well. I have a Cingular 3125 smartphone (no data plan) that runs windoze mobile. I want my contacts, calendar, notes and tasks. I also want my handyshopper 3rd party app in the palm version.

Don't hold your breath for third party apps for the iPhone any time soon.

I know. I've been watching. I like brighthand dot com for handheld and smartphone news.

But if the iPhone does what I want out of the box, that isn't an issue. It's the expense of the data plan that is putting me off.

There's no getting around the iPhone plan. It's mandatory.

It's temptingly close to a PDA, but not quite there. It can handle contacts and calendar, but it's missing to-do and notes (at least the iPod Touch is, I think the iPhone may have some of that). Apple announced a software development kit that will be available in February so we actually should see 3rd party applications fairly soon. But there are simple ways of dealing with the missing pieces too - you can take notes in the address book or on the calendar for instance, which turns out to be kind of convenient in its own way - my notes are either alphabetized or organized by date. And *if* you have network access you can fill in most gaps using web tools. That little "if" makes me regret not getting the iPhone.

Still I can't see myself ever picking up my old Palm Tungsten T3 ever again. And my boss is close to saying he would use it instead of a laptop in the classroom - it can send a presentation to a projector but not the web browser, and he needs both.

I do have a notepad on the iPhone. And I can't wait to see what third party apps are actually made. If I can get exchange integration (the ability to get my calendar from Exchange) and SSH I will retire my iPaq for my personal iPhone.

I just read this today:

http://www.talkiphone.com/dont-need-data-remove-it-125/

It seems you can get rid of the data option now, and just have voice.