Palm OS Bible [With CDROM]

by Glenn Brown

Packed with insider tips and real-world examples, the Palm OS? Bible covers everything from Graffiti and Date Book basics to software enhancements for e-mail, financial management, OS performance, and much more. Complete with a CD-ROM loaded with great Palm OS applications, it's the one book you need to take your Palm handheld to the max.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764534084
• ISBN13: 9780764534089
• Release Date: June 2000
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 806 Pages
• Weight: 3.01 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.9" x 7.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Good coverage of 3rd party stuff for the Palm

Firstly this book title is misleading - it isn't a book for operating system hackers/app developers. What it is is a very good guide to the built in apps and add-on applications (mainly software, though there is a bit out of date section on hardware).It isn't condesending or authoratarian, rather it comes across as a set of balanced well thought out independent reviews. Not all of the reviewed s/w is on the CD - and the CD front end is slow and clumsy. The reviews of applications give the impression the author has actually used them and isn't regurgitating the applications marketing. He describes what each program does and, in may cases, what it doesn't. For most apps he gives the cost, memory requrement and developer, plus lists developers web sites. There is a good list of contacts in the back. Hardware section is good with pictures of most of the stuff. A good section on batteries but nothing on the serial connector. Not all available hardware is covered, though of course thats asking a bit much. One thing missing is a consise list/table/index of all the apps covered. I'm looking forward to an update of the book and definately recommend it to anyone wanting to expand thier palm functionality.

Good Primer and FAQ

Brown does a good balanced job. Example is that his chapters are arranged such that I was able to skip ones (PalmVII,Mac,Handspring) that I had no interest in but still came away with a good experience. You don't have to read it cover to cover to get something out of it. The CDROM is full of lots of files from PalmGear. Only difference between this one and the O'Riley one (Definitive Palm Pilot Book) is probably the CDROM--theirs uses s/w from Handago (formerly PalmCentral).

Useful, insightful and a good read to boot

Is there such a thing as too much information? Well maybe not all of it is useful but, thanks to Glenn Brown and his informative colleagues, the Palm OS Bible is loaded with countless tips, how to's and related PDA info. for novice and advanced Palm users. Glenn balances both PC and Mac connected users with excellent step-throughs and some hidden tricks. The reviewed applications are probably some of the best you'll use to enhance your Palm experience, not to mention the Palm Gear CD included to get you started. Now if only my Unix buddies could get a chapter or two...

New "Must Have" Palm OS Reference

The new Palm OS Bible will be a "god send" for those who are interested in the very popular Palm handheld resource. This book is very complete and covers the 3Com and newly released Handspring Visor format. It also gives insights into forthcoming improvements in this arena as the author is a member of the "inner circle" of development. The supplied software is fantastic, and very comprehensive. It offers old standards and late breaking examples of useful applications for the Palm OS. The text also lists several useful retail applications and offers the trial versions of the software as well. There are many useful shortcuts and new ideas listed here that I have not seen in print elsewhere, adding to the novelty and must have status of this text. I recommend this book to any Palm OS user, you won't be sorry.

Detail how to use the Palm

This covers the use of the Palm rather well. It shows how to setup and use many applications. It includes applications that do not come with the Palm. It covers the Palm OS from a user's perspective and not a programmer. Maybe the name of the book should have implied that the book is a user's guide and does not go into programming aspects of the Palm OS.This is a good book if you want to use your Palm (Handspring or other Palm OS device) for more than the basic date book, address, memo, and to do list. If you want to get more use out of your Palm OS PDA, this is a good book.