[Pontecorvo]

My ancient and clunky Palm LifeDrive has succumbed to old age (forgotten when I bought it but it was more than five years ago). I am no brand slave but I have nearly 800 contacts and addresses on the database, which is backed up on my Mac. No way I'm typing that lot out again, and no way I am switching to PC.

I need something that will do what the LifeDrive did but is compatible with the Palm software (and the Mac too, so I can type stuff on the computer and transfer it to the Palm) but where to go? The LifeDrive could dial up through my much humbler mobile (SE 770i) but now that it is gone, I guess the best option is a Palm-compatible phone but what to get?

Does it have to be a Palm-manufactured phone, and if so which? Are other brands compatible with Palm software.
I am not shelling out 400 smackers for the Palm Pre, but I must have MP3, the calendar and contacts, camera, browsing and email capability. Which of the Treo lot would do it, and can I get anything decent for less than £100-150?
Thanks in advance

p.S. I have to admit it was clunky, slow and almost impossible to use the WiFi on without it being plugged into the wall, and waiting ages. But the bluetooth and the ability to transfer typed in data from the computer, including Word documents, photos and the life to the LifeDrive were what I valued it for, especially when wanting to travel without hoiking the laptop about.

[RobM]

Nokia S60 devices often have plugins for iSync and Mac compatible Bluetooth modem drivers/software. If you browse the Nokia site and search for iSync you'll find a list of compatible devices.

This will allow you to keep your contacts on the Mac and synchronise with the phone via iSync.

The other option is to use an online 'cloud' services such as Googlemail, ZYB etc. This keeps your contacts, calendar etc backed up and accessible online, so not specific to a PC/Mac platform. This also massively widens your handset choice.

[Pontecorvo]

Thanks Rob but all my 800 contacts and their details are on Palm Desktop, which synchronises from the Mac to the LifeDrive or other Palm OS device via cradle, cable or bluetooth. This is what I cannot afford to lose or have to re-enter. Though the LifeDrive is shot, the Palm Desktop data exists on the computer.
To boil it down, I guess I am asking 1: is the Palm Desktop data exportable to other formats or OSs, and if not what is the best phone/PDA by Palm that I can get to use the data on? I have read very mixed reviews of Palm phones.

[mitor]

Hi
You're in luck, the palm desktop software will export to a variety of file types including the commonly accepted .csv (comma separated values). You can then import these into gmail (which is supported by a great many smartphones) outlook (which you could always use a free trial of) and many other sync solutions.

Phone wise you should be ok with any modern smartphone, certainly the palm pre would work well, though it is expensive and the build quality leaves a little to be desired. You might also find that the iPhone is a good choice as it has a similar user interface to palm OS.

However Symbian, WinMo and Android will all also have ways of importing your contact data. Just remember that it may take a little while to correct the odd badly attributed value which, I'm afraid, is inevitable when doing this kind of thing.

[Pontecorvo]

Thanks mitor, that's very useful to know. I got some bank statements online in CSV format, and they were horribly basic. However, that is a very good steer and at least I know now I can export the address book and calendar if I end up not fancying any of the Palm phones. I looked just now in Palm Desktop at the export formats are given as "Tab & Return" or "Vcal". I suppose Tab & Return is CSV?

I could just replace the LifeDrive, I suppose, but they are only available second hand, and as far as I can see none of the other Palm non-phone PDAs have anything like the storage capacity of the LifeDrive.

[Pontecorvo]

I have just discovered how cheap some bluetooth GPS receivers are and I have decided I will replace the Palm Lifedrive with another one so that I can use it as a GPS device in conjunction with one of the Bluetooth GPS receivers. But the big question is, would I have to use the Palm OS dedicated GPS software, or would any of the standard or freeware GPS systems work with the Lifedrive and the GPS receiver? Of course, Palm itself does not support the Lifedrive any longer and so I can't find out from them.