Most Mac Friendly PDA?

[andym172]

Of the PDA's currently on the market, which syncs best with OSX?

I've been recommended an O2 XDA Exec (read: Qtek 9000 , i-mate JASJAR and T-Mobile MDA IV etc), but am put off by the Windows software.

Is anybody able to offer any recommendations?

 

[DeSnousa]

The missing sync is a great application and even works for windows software. I have not used it but have read members pointing this out

http://www.markspace.com/products.html

Apart from that I believe Palm has excellent native sync with iSync

 

[Sesshi]

In terms of normal syncing I don't thing there is a problem with the Mac and anything mainstream right now. I have an Exec which is a nerds dream but is such a tank to the extent that I never carrry it around with me (which kind of defeats the object of having this in the first place but I'm stuck with a contract). I also have an O2 XDAIIs which I keep going with a push email service. That is never synced with a computer as it stays in sync automatically with my Exchange Server account. Both are fast but I just don't like using them a lot. This has a lot to do with personal preference I think.

Despite it's more old-tech approach I use the Nokia 9300i more, and it's my main PDAphone right now. I downloaded an iSync profile off the Tao of Mac and it works perfectly. It looks like a telephone (albeit a 10 year old one but then I'm not exactly a fashion guru so it doesn't matter) and has real telephone buttons for a start, something I find immensely annoying on the HTC PDA's due to their inconsistent touchscreen pickup when I try and dial normally. The problem with the Nokia though is that it's noticeably slower in general use and not as stable as the Windows Mobile devices. I've yet to lose any data but I've crashed in the browser quite often. As a comparison my XDAIIs crashes about twice a week in heavy use, but the Nokia crashes at least once every day in heavy web-based use. And maybe mine is faulty, I suppose I should have it looked at, but whenever I try and put files on it via USB (and it does claim USB2 support) it is slllllooooowwwww. Oh yes it hasn't got a camera but I dont see the point of those anyway unless the camera is decent (and it looks like next year is the year for true phonecameras, when I will buy one).

I suppose you could look at the XDA Mini if you fancy something that you can actually carrry with you on a daily basis even if you haven't got a backpack.

 

[nihilisticmonk]

My PDA ownership has gone

Windows mobile >>> Nokia 9500 >>> Treo 650

I have to say that the treo is by far the most mac compatible.

The windows mobile pdas with the missing sync or with pocketmac, should work perfectly for syncing, the major problem is windows mobile software that only has .exe software that you're suppost to run with windows.

Sure you can get software to strip the windows mobile info out, but this won't work for every app, so some apps you'll want to use, but won't be able to install.

Nearly all palm software is a .prc file that can be installed onto the palm with no problem, making this nearly no problem.

I did the 9500 isync hack from osxhints (not sure about the other method that is mentioned in this thread.....sounds like it may be the same hack with an installer)

This isn't perfect either, as it messes with the MLSync info on the 9500, and causes issues backing up your nokia databases to a memory card in the future....