hgoldner

As a former Palm user (12 years, starting with a III and ending with a Treo 755p), I've also read extensively wonderful posts like the above post and other forums where Palm devotees have migrated to Android and have reached slightly different conclusions.

First of all, if you have Outlook Exchange running on the PC, you are in better shape than if you are coming directly from Palm Desktop.

Outlook Exchange offers a seamless path for synchronization of Contacts, Email and Calendar, so that part's easy.

More problematic for me were the following databases/apps:

1. Notes
2. Tasks (absolutely critical for me)
3. Shopping (via Handyshopper) and
4. Passwords.

My password software, SplashID is now available on the Android platform with a desktop program as well. Transfer was as easy as exporting from SplashID for Palm and importing into SplashID for Android. Synchronization with the Droid is via wifi and is very simple, if not automatic.

Shopping was done by getting *****ket Android which, while not as robust and all-powerful as HandyShopper, is a good second place choice. Don't ask Chris about an Android port. He's not interested.

Notes can be done a handful of ways: (1) synchronization of Notes to Gdocs; (2) CSV export and import into Noteworthy, and Android application; (3) Products liked Gsyncit, Companionlink, or Markspace. I used both Gdocs (for the Droid) and Noteworthy, and prefer the latter.

For tasks, I have only just solved this problem to my satisfaction. Markspace does not yet sync tasks. Gsyncit and Companionlink do sync tasks, but require you to create or use your Google calendar to do so. Basically, the software floods your calendar with "all day events" that are your tasks.

There is also a great todo application for Android called Todo Task Manager which will, with a little data manipulation, import Outlook tasks very nicely and, if you aren't syncing with a desktop app any more, would be my first choice for Android to-do managers. There are also a handful of other options with third party sites for synchronization such as Evernote and Astrid, with Remember the Milk.

My choice for tasks, and again, remember that I am synchronizing with Outlook tasks via Activesync exchange, is Dataviz' Roadsync, which is the only product running on Android that directly syncs Outlook tasks. It also handles email, contacts, and calendar, but I don't require the redundancy.

So, to repeat:

Database/Palm/Android
1. Notes/Notes/Noteworthy Pro
2. Tasks (critical for me)/To-do list/RoadSync
3. Shopping/Handyshopper/*****ket
4. Passwords/SplashID/SplashID

Like I said, there's no one way to skin a cat (sorry PETA people) and one other constraint I particularly face is another layer of synchronization between Outlook and Timematters, my firm's practice management software, but after 6 weeks with an HTC Incredible, my Treo 755p's in the box and I don't power it up any more.

Harold