Should You Get a Palm Pilot Instead of a Smartphone?

I don't remember what it was advertising, but I still remember the commercial. This teenage girl was sitting at the table at her birthday party, and she'd just pulled this huge, clunky, 1980's camera out of a box and was giving her parents a weird look. "What is this?" she asked.

"It's a camera," her dad said. "You know, a device that takes pictures by means of controlled exposures of film coated with a light-sensitive chemical emulsion?"

She stared at him in disbelief. "What kind of crazy science fiction is that! Hello? What good is a cameraphone without a phone!?"

It's sorta like that ...

You know what a smartphone is, right? One of those phones with a touchscreen interface or keyboard for texting, that's more like a mini computer than just a cellphone? Well, a Palm Pilot is like a smartphone without the phone. Literally, in fact, since Palm's newer Centros and Treos are like Palm Pilots that can make phone calls! The name comes from the very first models created ... there hasn't been a "Palm Pilot" in like a decade or so, but you can call any similar device a Palm Pilot and people will know what you mean. Sort of like how you can call any MP3 player an iPod.

With the exceptions of a few of the crazier models made by Sony, a Palm Pilot is basically a touchscreen computer about the size of one of those tiny, handheld notepads you can get at convenience stores. Each comes with a stylus that you can use to select things from the menu and input text, although you can use your fingernail if you want. Beyond that, their features vary. Some have color screens for viewing pics; some have SD card slots and a headphone jack so you can listen to MP3s; and some of the newer ones have built-in wi-fi, so you can use them to go on the 'net at wireless hotspots.

Back in the 90's, they were the devices to have. Businesspeople today have their Blackberries; back then, they had their Palm Pilots. Pretty soon, though, Palm and other companies like Sony were making these Palm Pilot things for everyone, in a variety of colors and designs, and they could take pictures and play video games and everything. They just couldn't make phone calls, which is why they've largely been replaced by smartphones nowadays.

So why would you want one of these crazy devices, especially since odds are 99 out of 100 that you already have a phone? Well, for starters ...

You can easily input text on a Palm Pilot

Are you a writer? Do you often make grocery lists? Or maybe you just need to take notes every now and then, and you're getting tired of taking a marker to the inside of your hand! Cellphones can technically be used to type things in, like for text messaging and such. But if you really want to get something written down, and your phone doesn't have a good keyboard, maybe you should consider a Palm Pilot.

The Palm Pilot's spiritual precursor, Apple's Newton, had a touchscreen interface and stylus as well, but was notoriously bad at recognizing your handwriting. Palm solved this with the Palm Pilot's Graffiti software, a simplified alphabet that was easier for the computer to recognize. Graffiti characters look like normal letters, but don't have as many strokes, so it's also quicker to write in it. And while it can take a little while to learn, most Palm Pilots come with a sticker to put on the inside of the cover, that serves as a cheat sheet. You can also access the Palm Pilot's help at any time, if you forget a letter or number.

Not only is it easier than trying to use a numeric keypad to type in a "txt tlk" note, it's also classier. Instead of looking like you're playing a Game Boy, you'll look like you're writing something down -- which you are! People keep complimenting me on my "neat phone," and they don't even realize that it's a five-year-old Palm Pilot.

Vast library of third-party software

A handheld computer is only as good as the software that runs on it. And Palm Pilots do not disappoint in this area. They've been out since 1996, and there are scads of Palm Pilot programs to download, many of them free, or free trials.

You can get almost anything you want from websites like Palmgear.com, or even Download.com's PalmOS section. (PalmOS is the operating system that Palm Pilots run on, sort of like how most PCs run Windows.) There are even hundreds of totally free, Open Source Palm Pilot apps at http://www.palmopensource.com/. The software available for Palm Pilots includes music players, book readers, picture viewers and video games! And while some of it costs money, almost all of it has some free trial version you can download to see if you like it or not.

Beyond that, Palm Pilots always come with a basic software assortment that lets you perform basic tasks. And their built-in applications, like the memo pad and calendar, can be "synced" with your Mac, or your Windows or Linux PC. Just plug in the cable and press the button, and all of your data is backed up, so you still have it even if your Palm Pilot gets lost or stolen. How cool is that?

Cost

A new smartphone, like Apple's iPhone, can run you hundreds of dollars. Plus, they might make you pay for a data plan, whether you're planning on using it to connect to the Internet or not. Are you ready to make that kind of commitment? Are you sure that it's worth that much to you?

Palm Pilots, on the other hand, can be bought used off of Amazon.com or eBay. And while the most advanced Palm Pilots, like the Palm TX and Tungsten E2, still go for hundreds of dollars, the cheaper Z22 is only $65 as of this writing. No data plan, no charging a five hundred dollar cellphone ... just get it and start playing with it! It has a full-color touchscreen that's a lot easier to get around than a cellphone's menus, and it can hold dozens of ebooks and pictures. Other models have memory card slots and headphone jacks, if you want to use them to listen to MP3s.

The Upshot

Maybe a Palm Pilot isn't for you. But on the other hand, there are a lot of people who could put these toys to good use, and might even think that they're kind of neat. Know anyone who has trouble keeping organized, and is always writing things down on his or her arms? Then point them to this article! And leave a comment, if you know of anything that could help. Good luck!