I currently have ACT 6.0 and would like to get a PDA to link to it so that I have all my contact manager info with me all the time. I've been told that the Palm OS is the more popular one. I heard about cell phone/PDA combos coming out in the near future. I'm also trying to figure out if I REALLY need one....I would love to be paperless in my business though.I've spoken to people that bought one and never use it and to people who can't live without it. Any thoughts or opinions? Anybody using a PDA "effectively" in your business?

Using a PDA (Palm M125) for about three years. Before I purchased this, I needed a PDA to do three things: 1)Be able to fully sync my contact management software (Microsoft Outlook), 2)Be able to sync documents I have generated (Microsoft Word & Excel) and 3) operating system that has a large database of real estate and business shareware programs.

PDA is a valuable tool for me. Before I leave the office, I do a sync just taking 15 seconds and have the my most current contact information when on the road. When meeting with prospects, I can use my own spreadsheets to do buyer qualify, for example or utilize any number of shareware programs for loan programs or car expense logs.

Their is a 3rd party software program which will sync prpperty information from our local mls to PDA, but the information is only about 20% of what I print out. I think that the WAP tech will be more viable for accessing property information via cell phone, so am waiting patiently.

Hi Jim,

I noticed some models have built in keyboards for your thumbs (thumbpad?)...would it be faster to input info this way? Have you become quick at inputing info with the m125 using the stylus and the recognition software? I guess I would have to learn the software...I tried one with a thumbpad at Staples and it was quick and easy to input...but, then again, I'm not familiar with the recognition software.

I have never found the need to get a keyboard for my PDA (they are available). For me, most of my PDA input is lookup, query or single cell entry. If there was not a sync function to my desktop, then data entry would be extensive and a palm keyboard would be necessary. If one does need to enter alot of numbers or text, the PDA has a 'software' keypad that allows one to enter characters quite easily without having to 'draw' the individual characters... or a PDA keypad could be purchased.

You might want to consider the Treo 650 smart phone. It's a PDA+phone and quite convenient for realtors.

If you have ACT 6.0 you can sync your ACT data with a PDA in two ways. I have the Treo 650 and you can get ACT for Palm it's about $70. (Your ACT may even have come with it for free.) It installs as a seperate application on your Palm.
You end up with ACT data on your desktop synching with the ACT application on the palm. The advantage of using ACT for Palm is that if you have seperate personal contacts that you want to leave out, you can keep them in the palm address book and all your ACT data stays seperate. Another advantage of using ACT for Palm is that you can use ALL the fields that are used on the ACT desktop software, on the palm as well. The Disadvantage of using the ACT for palm is that is is TERRIBLY slow. It takes a long time to open the application on your PDA and it's agonizingly slow to look up a contact.

If you sync your ACT data on you desktop directly with your palm (without using the seperate ACT for Palm software) then it's much faster to get to that information in your PDA. You can't sync all of the fields that exist in ACT on the desktop, for example sales info etc.

You can also sync with a number of other PDAs.
I had a kyocera smarphone before and I was able to sync that with ACT in either one of the above ways.

Keep in mind that the ACT link for palm is different that ACT for Palm. ACT link for palm allows you to sync ACT data with the palm address book, calendar etc.
ACT for palm allows you to install the ACT software on your palm. Do not use both or you'll have a mess like I did when I first tried to get it to work.

Whatever you do .. pick one calendar and only use that one calendar. Task lists, calendar and reminders are what make PDAs so great. Also having a phone/organizer in one is wonderful!

I use the samsung with the Palm built in. I love the fact that I have it syncronised not only to my outlook but also to my yahoo so that if I need something and can't get it on my phone, I get it on the web via, my yahoo.