Closing post

This blog has been archived. I'm going to try to migrate it to the new blogger, but it may not make it! If the migration fails it will become an orphaned blog.

PDA Specialists will now repair the CLIE TJ27

Society for the Preservation of the True PDA (SPTPDA): July 2004

I'd posted on this in July when PDA Specialists didn't repair broken CLIE TJ-27 glass. I was advised to check back when parts became available, and indeed there's now a TJ-27 repair option. I'll report on how well it works. $66, cheaper than a new PDA.

Google Groups: View Thread "Backup and memory cards: is there really no auto-bac..."

Google Groups: View Thread "Backup and memory cards: is there really no auto-bac..."

From: jfaughnan@spamcop.net (John Faughnan)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot
Subject: Re: Backup and memory cards: is there really no auto-backup with HotSync?
References: <262db19b.0407061840.461dfb66@posting.google.com>
NNTP-Posting-Host: 208.138.188.194
Message-ID: <5c0dbfb4.0407070556.62fa47a2@posting.google.com>

Jim Anderson wrote in message news:...
> > My CLIE TJ-27 has a 64MB memory stick. I put a few things on the
> > memory stick, in particular SplashPhoto, JFile, and even AvantGo will
> > use the memory stick.
> > Problem is, the MemoryStick is not backed up during a HotSync.

> The backup model for the Palmone is;
> Everything you Hotsync to the RAM or the SD Card is copied to c:\...
> \palm\[username]\backup, the only thing left to backup is the data in
> RAM.
> Why keep backing up the stuff that does not change?

Unfortunately, it's only the data on the PDA itself that's
automatically backed up by PalmOne's software. MemoryStick or other
memory card data is not backed up. The BackupBuddy site confirms this,
as does my testing.

BackupBuddy will do a backup from the memory stick, but it won't do a
restore. You have to mount the MS in a card reader and restore via the
Windows file manager. (There's another even less elegant approach if
one lacks a card reader.)

I suspect BB can't do a restore because there's missing OS
functionality. This is really functionality PalmOne ought to provide.
I suspect it's one of those things that went overboard at the end of
the 2nd golden age [1].

I'll use my MS to store data that is not essential and that can be
regenerated as needed. I'll also use the SONY CLIE MemoryStick backup
utility for the OS.

john

[1] Society for the preservation of the true pda.
http://onetruepda.blogspot.com/
The first golden age was the Newton. The second ended after the Palm
Vx when Microsoft destroyed the "one true" PDA market.

Why I won't pay over $200 for a PDA: shattered glass

PDA Specialists Palm Repair Palm Upgrade CLIE VISOR HANDSPRING PALM

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I pulled my CLIE TJ-27 out of my backpack the other day. Shattered glass!

Every 2 years or so I trash my PDA. Typically I lose a few days of data. Annoyingly I had recently installed a Memory Stick in the TJ-27 -- I could have been backing up to the stick, but I wasn't. Just hadn't gotten in the habbit.

Turns out there are MANY services that do repairs for these things for $60-$70. I'll see what SONY charges (it was two months old) as well and see which of these companies has a better rep.

I bought a new TJ-27 -- I can't wait for a repair. A few lessons:

1. I bought the TJ-27 with my AMEX Blue. It has loss replacement for up to 90 days. It looks like I'll be covered for this loss! We'll see, but this is another reason to get an AMEX Blue (if it works). Besides, I like the cash-back and the AMEX security policies.

2. If you are a member of the cult of the TRUE PDA, you always have your PDA with you. If you're an active person it will, sooner or later, get trashed or lost. A good reason to keep purchases at the lower end.

3. Backing up to removeable media won't help if the PDA is stolen, but it sure helps if the glass breaks! Do this when traveling -- but beware security issues. Use encrypted databases if you want to keep data safe, don't depend on PalmOS security.

4. If the broken one repairs well, I may sell the new/good one on Amazon. So it will be a good deal for someone since it'll have been used for only a few weeks! (I won't sell the repaired one.) Or keep it for a backup.

Update: The ideal approach to PDA vulnerability is probably something like:

1. Backup routinely (automatically) to internal memory card daily.
2. Buy a very generic PDA, so when it breaks one can run over to OfficeMax, open a box, plug in the memory card, and restore. Thirty minutes ought to be enough.

Now, back to KeySuite ...

Chapura > Products > KeySuite

I'm back to KeySuite in my long battle to survive the Palm <-> Outlook (Online/Offline/2003SyncMode) <-> Exchange kludge. Over the past few years I've ping-ponged between Intellisync, PocketMirror Pro, BeyondContacts, and KeySuite. It's been a hell of a ride, and costly to boot (though my time cost DWARFS the relatively low cost of the software). Nothing's worked well, but the Tungsten E's revised data model was the kiss of death for PocketMirror.

Now I'm in CLIE land, using SONY's less severe hacks on the old Palm databases. At least my home sync with Outlook using PocketMirror seems to work again! Hallelujah.

Meanwhile, at work, I could now try PM Pro again (sigh), but lately I've stayed with the "safer" alaternatives of BeyondContacts and KeySuite. In the past 3 months both have gone bad. BeyondContacts was the last one to give me a mess of duplicate items (contacts, tasks) and to hose my calendar.

I did learn something new in the latest go-round. I studied modification dates in Outlook, and I learned that modification dates on tasks and contacts were changing -- even when I'd not touched the tasks and contacts and even between palm synchronizations. So, something is messing with my data when it sits on the Exchange server. I can see why that would hose my synchronizations!!

KeySuite lets me sync to folders that aren't the default folders. Also, it was updated last January. Lastly, I really detest DataViz's approach to customer support and tech support -- the worst I've ever seen.

So now I'm trying KeySuite again but with a twist:

1. I created an external PST file.
2. ALL my tasks, notes, and contacts live in the external file. THEY NO LONGER SYNC WITH EXCHANGE. Only my calendar continues to sync with Exchange.
3. I sync KeySuite with the external PST folders. For the calendar I'm running with Outlook overwrites HH for now.

We'll see how this works! I'm oddly optimistic that by taking Exchange largely out of the equation that life may take a turn for the better. Maybe oneday I'll even return to PocketMirror Pro!

Twilight in the Palm PDA world

Today Sony announced that it will no longer develop and sell Clie handheld models to the United States market, at least for the foreseeable future.

---

So now there's only PalmOne, and within PalmOne there's really a focus primarily on the Treo. I'm not sure the PocketPC world is much healthier.

The current CLIEs may on sale at great prices unless SONY has been able to restrict the channel sufficiently.

I wonder who PalmSource is selling to now? How many phone licensees are there?

USB Charge and Sync cables for CLIE TJ-27 -- Zip-Linq

Pc-Mobile cables for PDA, GSM and GPS

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I've got a few threads on this topic in earlier blog postings and on usenet. I found this page by searching on the battery specs for my TJ-27 - 5.2V and 800 mA (it can be so hard to find unique search terms for Google work). This site also has a nice selection of CLIE connectivity cables for sale.

They wrote:

Important note: Turn off power management (at least to the USB port), particularly if you are going to charge the Clie via USB port unattended. Otherwise no power will be delivered to the USB port thus no charging current.

Depending on the models, USB charge cable will charge a nearly out of power Clie to about 75% capacity in 3-4 hours (710C may take longer) and the charging rate drops significantly afterwards. 320 (and models with Li-ion batteries) could be charged to nearly 100% in further 3-5 hours, while 710C (Li-polymer battery) can be charged to maximum of about 80% or more.

Power output from Sony AC adapter is 5.7V/800mA, output from standard USB port is 5V/500mA. 5V is just about minimum to be able to trickle charge the Clie while it is being used. It is recommended that the Clie to be turned of while charging.

USB power output from computers varies and most are about 5.0-5.2V (some can deliver as much as 5.3V, in that case, it can charge even 710C to 100%). If you connect it into a hub, the hub must be powered. The computer USB port will not have enough power to operate more than one device as well as providing power for charging.

Here's the result of the research:

1. I ordered two CLIE Sync-N-Charge I
ZIP-DATA-P05 / UPC# 724580610410 Zip-Linq cables from PC Connection. The Zip-Linq site states these are compatible with the TJ-25. I am very pleased with them. I think I paid about $24 for the two plus shipping, I should have ordered three of 'em.

2. My TJ-27 does NOT use the 5.7V/800mA battery of the older CLIEs. It's a 5.2V/800mA battery. Since USB output is 5V/500mA this is actually a BETTER match to the TJ-27 than to earlier CLIEs.

I'm not bothered by the charge time. I leave the PC in a special power saving mode I defined (basically running with drive spun down and display off) and let the PDA charge overnight.

This is a vast improvement over the ridiculous contraption that ships with the CLIE. SONY should bundle the Zip-Linq cable with the TJ-27.