Advantages of the Palm/Visor:

  1. Size
  2. Simplicity
  3. Battery life
  4. Infrared beaming is easier
  5. Wider range of other medical programs
  6. Netscape Calendar Compatibility

Size

The Palm OS devices have always enjoyed some size advantage over Windows CE devices. While this is less with the current generation of PocketPCs, they still have the lead.

Simplicity

This is the "raison d'etre" of Palm - KISS. All Palm OS devices are centred on a core of simple applications that are fine tuned for maximum efficiency for a set of tasks that comprise 90% of what you do with a PDA ie Addresses, Calendar, To Do lists.

There are no nested folders and all Palm OS hardware functions in basically the same way. This simplicity also makes it easier for developers and so there are a greater number of programs available for this platform.

Battery life

Of course, this depends on how much you use the device but, with typical use, Palm devices generally run for about a month on a full charge, whereas PocketPCs only last 10-12 days. This is important if you go on holiday - leave the device in the charger (see notes about PocketPC battery life). However, most users should synchronise their device with their desktop at least 2-3 times per week - use the cradle to recharge at the same time... and so in real terms, the difference in battery life is not that important.

Beaming

Infra-red beaming of information from one Palm to another is much easier than with PocketPCs. It is feasible on the latter and indeed there are programs (PeaceMaker and HanDBase) that allow PocketPC users to beam stuff to Palm devices, and vice versa. However, it is quicker and more seamless on the Palm.

Number of Programs

Because the Palm platform has been around longer than Windows CE, and because it is easier for developers to write for, there is a much greater number of Palm applications available. This is particularly true in the medical world. However, the ratio is not nearly as high as some would claim. A lot of Palm applications should really be considered pages or documents, rather than programs. For example there are approximately eight versions of the list of questions that encompass a Folstein Mini-Mental Status Exam.

Each platform has unique features which provide the developers with a set of tools that can be harnessed. The Palm OS is itself one database and so it deals particularly well with simple databases. Windows CE is multitasking and has greater extensibility - sound capabilities are built in, as are many other features, but this all adds complexity for the developers.

Netscape Calendar Compatibility

For those people who use Netscape Calendar for central meeting coordination, the Palm OS platform was preferred. There had been, up to this point, no easy way to synchronise PocketPCs with Netscape Calendar.

However, Steltor has bought Netscape Calendar and is building on it to develop Steltor Calendar server - UofC has bought a licence with this company so things appear to have stabilised. There is now a conduit that allows linking between Netscape Calendar and PocketPCs - this works well. This is no longer so much of an issue.

Page last modified on October 31, 2005