[thechat] Handhelds as gifts

[Hugh Blair]

> -----Original Message-----
> On Behalf Of Erik Mattheis
>
> My sister is getting married next weekend and I'd like to get the
> bride and groom matching handhelds. They're both entering college
> next year, so I figure they'd get a lot of use out of them.
>
> My problems are:
>
> 1. I know nothing about what handhelds might me most useful to students
> 2. I know nothing about the pricing of handhelds
> 3. I still haven't gotten my brother, whom I have met once, a wedding
> gift for he and his wife, and I don't think they'd either get much
> use out of handhelds
> 4. I know nothing about handhelds
>
> So questions:
>
> 1. What handhelds might be most useful to students?

Almost anything. Your first decision is Palm or Win compatible. Either
will work well. Palm: more users, more software. Win: similar GUI to
Windows, software catching up. Look at Handspring.

> 2. Am I crazy for thinking I might be able to get something decent
> for $200 or less a piece?

B/W Compaq (Win) or B/W Palm

> 3. Under $300 a piece?

In the color price range with more memory.

> 4. What would be an equally cool gift to get my brother and his wife?
> They live on a hobby farm and I think my brother does construction.
> They don't have a computer ... I don't think.

Tools. Gift certificate for tools.

> 5. How the hell am I going to find time to dry clean my suit, buy new
> shoes, wash clothes, get hotel reservations for the trip out there,
> find someone to feed my cat and see Spiderman ... before Thursday?

Get a slave? Hire an assistant?

Links: (watch wraps)

Palm $199 B/W http://www.palm.com/products/palmm125/
Palm $299 Color http://www.palm.com/products/palmm130/
Handspring $199 B/W
http://handspring.com/products/visoredge/index.jhtml?sub_nav_section=Overview&pr
od_cat_name=Edge
Handspring $299 Color
http://handspring.com/products/visorprism/index.jhtml?sub_nav_section=Overview&p
rod_cat_name=Prism
Compaq B/W iPAQ (can't find link) about $160 - look in stores
Compaq Color (high end) $599
http://www.compaq.com/products/handhelds/pocketpc/H3850.html

My SO also goes to school and has found the $99 full-size keyboard
is great. http://targus.com/product_details.asp?sku=PA840U It fits
most palm models by almost all vendors. I also bought this case:
http://targus.com/product_details.asp?sku=CHCK01
and it holds both her palm and the keyboard.

Decisions, decisions. Good luck. And let us know what you got.

-Hugh