Saying Goodbye to Palm

It is with a sigh of sadness that I say goodbye to Palm. I've given up the struggle, and have gone, neither the iPhone nor the WinMob route; I chose a Nokia N78 running Symbian.

I took delivery of my little gem just over 2 weeks ago, and apart from sending a couple of things (notably mobipocket documents) from my Sony Clie TH55, I've barely touched that worthy old device since.

And I have been faithful! I've struggled for months, now, trying to get my aging device to run more modern software, accepting that I may notice a small reduction in speed.

I tried to upgrade to a better browser, following all the advice and instructions on the web. Sadly, despite every effort (I tried to install Java for Palm in order to continue on and install Opera Mini) I have been forced to continue my web browsing habits using NetFront. It's not even that this is particularly dreadful, unless you try using a site like YouTube, or even Google Calendar, neither of which will work on my old device. Pop over to either of them on the new phone, and you're in!

What I like best is that so far, with a couple of initial hiccoughs, the phone has worked as required. The obvious is there - I can make and receive calls (when Vodafone finally saw fit to release my number). I feel this is a pretty fundamental requirement for a phone of any type. Then there's the web access - a little shaky setting up the connection through my wireless LAN, but that's now set, and I can browse the web. In fact, I've not found anything I can't do on the internet - that said, I've not gone far yet.Google Maps, downloaded and installed, and works.

It will even work with my wireless home network, something I have trouble doing with the version on the Sony - sometimes it might just work, more often I'll be told that I need a data contract to run the program. Goosync works, similarly, either with the wireless network, or with the 3/3.5G connection, and I have my calendar synced. I like the downloaded version of Google Mail better than I like the installed mail application.

It's this whole "It just works" feeling I'm enjoying most. I unfold my bluetooth keyboard, press any button on it, and it's automatically connected. OK, it took me a little while to set up the web access, but I don't feel that a couple of hours investment in learning how to get the most out of my new device is time wasted. After all, I've been a palm fan for the last 10 years, The point is that while I could get my palm and the keyboard connected, it took a bit of a song and dance to do so. And then, when I’d finished using the keyboard, I’d have to remember to go back into the wireless keyboard program and stop the keyboard, before I was able to turn off Bluetooth.

There were all sorts of things which didn't work well – I was never able to get the Frogpad keyboard working consistently well. In fact, more often than not, it wouldn’t connect at all. Despite the claim on the Expansys web site that the Frog would work with Palm, the drivers were not included in the package, and on download they were flaky. There was an option to pay an extra £25 for a driver which would work, but I don’t know about you, I need to know that this will work before I’m prepared to fork out that kind of money on something which should have been included in the original package. Moving on to the N78 – once paired with the Frogpad using the wireless keyboard program, all I have to do is turn it on, and it’s connected. I feel an overwhelming urge to use the American “Booyah!” at this point!

On the, very slight, downside, the built in calendar program is a bit lame. I actually do want a calendar program which will allow me to create just one appointment, and repeat it weekly on certain days - I'd rather not be woken on Saturday morning by my normal weekday alarm! I'm sure that, upon searching, I'll find an excellent replacement. After all, given just how much money I’ve spent on Palm software over the years, it should be clear that I’m not averse to spending a little to get what I need.

There is another downside – the case is astonishingly easy to scratch, and the front, after being pressed up against my not-that-grubby-thankyou ear has a constant smear of grease over it.

In defence of Palm's legion software writers, there have been some astonishing pieces of software written for the Palm platform. For example, TCPMP is a superb piece of software, and genuinely plays videos with a level of control of which I can only dream on the Nokia. DateBk has exactly the right level of control for a calendar application, Filez is a truly excellent file manager, and FXPilot is wonderful for taking on holiday with the latest exchange rates.

So to the tireless, endlessly imaginative, think-outside-the-box, Palm software writers I give my thanks, for producing some of the most useful, inexpensive and brilliant software I've ever used. Can you see why I sigh?