Just bought new Palm and not sure how to set it up best to sync

Question

I just bought a new Palm TX. The manual says to connect the sync cable to palm and to computer usb port and connect a/c adapter to palm and an outlet and charge for 3 hrs which I'm getting ready to do. Before I start setting up my whole system I to am trying to determine a couple of things first.
Based on all forums I've read today, I want to use the missing sync with ical and address book rather than palm desktop. I also plan to sync using bluetooth rather than usb. (My goal plan is to use this set up to digitally implement kgtd - so the categories issue is key for me).
Thus I wonder, is there any reason to insert the palm desktop software cd and/or install isync palm conduit. It seems missing sync 5.x replaces isync palm conduit and installation of the missing sync will remove the isync palm conduit anyway.
Is there anything I will possibly miss with palm functionalities if I don't use that CD first and then switch to missing sync? Are there any pros or cons to loading isync palm conduit and Palm hotsync software and then switching almost immediately to missing synch with ical and address book. I guess what I'm wondering is, are there anything from the CD that I need or downloads or updates that I initially need to get that I can't get without new palm software installed initially rather than only having the missing sync installed.
On the other hand, are there benefits in immediately installing missing sync and not bothering with mucking things up with the new isync palm conduit and palm hotsync being on my system.
I seem to have isync 2.3 automatically from 10.4.8. I am afraid to, at least initially, upgrade to 10.4.9 given the many problems that seem to be reported from the upgrade regarding syncing and I have very little in ical or address book as of yet and an old palm desktop 4.2.1 that I haaven't used in over a year. I am not interested at this point in transfering anything from the old palm desktop (not so much there either and none of it current) although would be interested in (unless told it could cause other problems for me or be in any way suboptimal) keeping it as a sort of archive.
Also, why do I need to connect the USB port while doing the initial charge if the plan is to use bluetooth? Any pros or cons in doing/ not doing this - both using bluetooth and connecting the USB cable during the initial charge?
Any guidance on some or all of these things would be greatly appreciated.
iBookG4   Mac OS X (10.4.8)   palm tx
iBookG4   Mac OS X (10.4.8)   palm tx

Answer 1

Welcome to Apple Discussions.
Great questions, and we'll attack them one at a time.
Q: '…is there any reason to insert the Palm Desktop software CD and install the iSync Palm Conduit?'
A: Actually, yes - there is. Mark/Space very strongly recommends that you perform one last synchronization event with the Address Book and iCal using iSync and the iSync Palm Conduit prior to installing and configuring the Missing Sync. It is therefore necessary that you synchronize using iSync and the iSync Palm Conduit at least once prior to your initial use of the Missing Sync for Palm OS, and iSync and the iSync Palm Conduit require that the HotSync Manager and Transport Monitor—components of the Palm Desktop—be installed in order for iSync to launch, supervise and terminate a synchronization session with a Palm device.
Q: '… are there benefits in immediately installing the Missing Sync and not bothering with… …the new iSync Palm Conduit and Palm HotSync…'
A: No. It is critical that you overwrite the contents of your Palm device with data from the Address Book and iCal during the first synchronization event with the Missing Sync for Palm OS. Absolutely critical. Users who skip this required step always end up with synchronization problems later. In order to do that, you have to have first equalized the contents of the Address Book and iCal with the contents of your Palm device. Otherwise, you'll be overwriting the device with empty record sets. The easiest way to equalize them is to synchronize at least once using iSync and the iSync Palm Conduit. Because the iSync Palm Conduit does not support categories, all field labels and extended attributes supported by both the Missing Sync for Palm OS and your device, you'll have some record cleanup tasks to perform as a result. But, don't skip that initial device overwrite requirement, or you'll put your data at serious risk and only spend much more time later on cleaning up the resulting mess.
Q: 'I am afraid to, at least initially, upgrade to 10.4.9…'
A: Don't be, though it makes little difference if you apply update before initiating the iSync synchronization, or afterward. You indicated that you have an old copy of Palm Desktop installed which you haven't used for more than a year. If that copy is not as recent as the once bundled on your CD-ROM, then install the CD-ROM copy. If they are the same version, or are different versions but neither are Palm Desktop 4.2.1 revision D, then download and install that package before configuring and using iSync. The package is available here:
http://www.palm.com/us/support/macintosh/macdesk421revd.html
If you aren't sure, then install this downloadable package, as it can only improve and not damage your currently installed Palm Desktop configuration.
Q: '…why do I need to connect the USB port while doing the initial charge if the plan is to use Bluetooth?'
You don't, although your device can obviously only charge with a USB-powered cable or cradle, or an AC adapter-powered cradle. I recommend that you initially configure it to synchronize via USB with both iSync and then with the Missing Sync for Palm OS, and then pair it using Bluetooth and synchronize using that pathway if you wish. Remember two things: while Bluetooth may be more convenient, USB moves substantially greater data in a shorter period of time—important during slow, initial synchronization events—and, the Missing Sync for Palm OS also supports network synchronization with your T|X, using it's WiFi capability. Initially using USB, later reconfiguring for Bluetooth and then for WiFi gives you literally one-button choices when using the Missing Sync for Palm OS.
In summary, you ought to…
• update the Palm Desktop suite to 4.2.1 revision D using the downloadable package
• add your device to iSync via USB using the Enable Palm OS Syncing… option under the iSync Devices menu
• be sure to change the label of any contact address you want synchronized to <home>, as iSync ignores addresses not labeled that way
• merge the data in the Address Book and iCal with your Palm Device
• back up the Address Book data using the Back up Address Book… option in that application
• back up your iCal data using the Back up Database… option in that application
• install and configure the Missing Sync for Palm OS
• set your three Mark/Space conduits initially to overwrite your handheld with data from your computer
• synchronize initially via USB and include the TimeCopy conduit in this effort
• follow the Bluetooth wizard instructions in the Missing Sync to pair your device and add the Bluetooth option
• follow the network wizard instructions enable WiFi synchronization
• create sets of conduits appropriate for your workflow, and associate them with an interface: USB, Bluetooth or network
• correct your handheld data to reflect address data field label changes, calendar and contact categories, and so on
• synchronize again via any chose interface to propagate the corrected data