Best software to use with Palm Pilot

Question

I recently made the conversion from PC to Mac. I am still haveing a hard time converting my Palm Pilot over, however. I have tried Palm desktop's software for Mac (Palm Desktop 4.2.1) and I have also tried the built in mac programs for addresses and datebook/to do items. The mac address book and Ical are better than the Palm versions but I still have some questions. First, should I give up on all the memos that are on my palm pilot or should I buy "missing sync" in order to keep my memos? What are other palm users who are using macs using to keep their lives in order on the mac platform? Also, if I buy "missing sync" (or some other 3rd party software) will I still be using Ical and the mac address book? Please give your personal preferences. Thank you!

Answer 1

Most users of the Missing Sync for Palm OS do use it to synchronize with the Address Book and iCal. You can, however, use it to drive other conduits instead, including those bundled with the Palm Desktop.
Mark/Space includes the Mark/Space Contacts conduit to synchronize with the Address Book, the Mark/Space Events conduit and Tasks conduit to synchronize with iCal, and the Mark/Space MemoPad conduit to synchronize with the OS X memos application they also provide.
In addition, Mark/Space provides conduits for iPhoto, iTunes, AvantGo content and a conduit to synchronize the internal clock of your handheld with that or your Macintosh.
The Address Book and iCal will behave just as they do using iSync with your handheld organizer, with a couple of exceptions: the address you have in the Address Book need not be labeled Home in order to synchronize, for example.
You should read these articles to gain a better understanding of how fields are mapped by the Mark/Space conduits:
For the Address Book: http://www.markspace.com/support/index.php?x=&mod_id=2&id=2560
For iCal: http://www.markspace.com/support/index.php?x=&mod_id=2&id=2563
Memos are synchronized using the Mark/Space MemoPad conduit they provide, to their Mark/Space MemoPad application. Maybe the best way to explain how it looks and operates is to say that the OS X application exactly mimics the Palm OS application. It looks on you Macintosh, just like the Palm OS version looks on your handheld.
I do use precisely this setup with a PowerBook G4 12" 867 MHz and a PalmOne Treo 600, synchronizing via USB.
And, no, I do not now work for—and have never actually worked for—Mark/Space, either as an employee or a contractor. As often as I recommend their software packages, however, I probably ought to!