What PDA for genealogy work?

[No Spam]

Hi,

Until now I've not been interested in owning a PDA. However I am now
thinking that having one to hold my genealogy stuff while I travel
around various places might have advantages over carrying paper
records [ which often don't include the ones that would be useful that
day] or the very few occasions that I venture out with my laptop.

Any suggestions please?

Other points:

If I had a PDA I would also want to use it to run a GPS wirelessly so
would prefer a PDA with a bluetooth function.

I currently use Family Tree Maker 2006. My database contains 17191
individuals, 308768 text records and is 229102 KB in size [it includes
lots of photographs and digital images of registrations. In addition
my "genealogy" directory on my PC is nealy 1.0 GB in size - probably
too much to expact to have on a PDA though.

[Helen Castle]

I have a Mitac Mio 168 which is also is a GPS receiver

http://www.mio-tech.be/products/gps/168/

I use the Pocket Genealogist and it is fine.

Have not used it extensively for genealogy but it is great little tool

Helen Castle
Narangba Qld 4504


"No Spam" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

Hi,

Until now I've not been interested in owning a PDA. However I am now
thinking that having one to hold my genealogy stuff while I travel
around various places might have advantages over carrying paper
records [ which often don't include the ones that would be useful that
day] or the very few occasions that I venture out with my laptop.

Any suggestions please?

Other points:

If I had a PDA I would also want to use it to run a GPS wirelessly so
would prefer a PDA with a bluetooth function.

I currently use Family Tree Maker 2006. My database contains 17191
individuals, 308768 text records and is 229102 KB in size [it includes
lots of photographs and digital images of registrations. In addition
my "genealogy" directory on my PC is nealy 1.0 GB in size - probably
too much to expact to have on a PDA though.

[John]

On Thu, 29 Jun 2006 19:00:44 +0100, No Spam <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi,

Until now I've not been interested in owning a PDA. However I am now
thinking that having one to hold my genealogy stuff while I travel
around various places might have advantages over carrying paper
records [ which often don't include the ones that would be useful that
day] or the very few occasions that I venture out with my laptop.

Any suggestions please?

Other points:

If I had a PDA I would also want to use it to run a GPS wirelessly so
would prefer a PDA with a bluetooth function.

I currently use Family Tree Maker 2006. My database contains 17191
individuals, 308768 text records and is 229102 KB in size [it includes
lots of photographs and digital images of registrations. In addition
my "genealogy" directory on my PC is nealy 1.0 GB in size - probably
too much to expact to have on a PDA though.

Some of the newer PDA's can use 2GB memory cards, so IF the PDA
genealogy program supports reading/writing data files on the memory
card (instead of the base internal memory of the PDA), then you may be
able to take most of the data with you.

Different programs handle the transfer/import of data differently.
MyRoots (Palm platform) imports from a GEDCOM file. Others
(specifically PocketPC programs) may be able to use/import directly
from a desktop program.

I have a desktop (backup system), fairly new laptop (primary system)
and an old laptop (field data collection - got it free because it
needed a new keyboard, which was $20 on eBay). If something happens
to the old laptop, I've only lost the current day's research. I also
have an 80GB USB drive that I use for backing up the primary laptop
(Paranoid about losing data? Who, me?)

John
Retired, but busier than ever before...

[Dennis Lee Bieber]

On Thu, 29 Jun 2006 19:00:44 +0100, No Spam <[email protected]>
declaimed the following in soc.genealogy.computing:

I currently use Family Tree Maker 2006. My database contains 17191
individuals, 308768 text records and is 229102 KB in size [it includes
lots of photographs and digital images of registrations. In addition
my "genealogy" directory on my PC is nealy 1.0 GB in size - probably
too much to expact to have on a PDA though.

Well, if you insist on fitting the images onto the PDA... <G> (find
a PDA that takes 2-4GB CF cards and you could still do it)

I'm running an OLD iPAQ (though post "Hiccup" period*) with a 64MB
SD card (along with internal 64MB)... I have no problems using Pocket
Genealogist (along with a slew of "reader" files -- public domain
literature like Tom Sawyer, Machiavelli "the Prince", etc.).

Pocket Genealogist runs on WinCE devices; There is a program for
PalmOS
--
bieber.genealogy Dennis Lee Bieber
HTTP://home.earthlink.net/~bieber.genealogy/

[Lesley Robertson]

"Dennis Lee Bieber" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

On Thu, 29 Jun 2006 19:00:44 +0100, No Spam <[email protected]
declaimed the following in soc.genealogy.computing:

I currently use Family Tree Maker 2006. My database contains 17191
individuals, 308768 text records and is 229102 KB in size [it includes
lots of photographs and digital images of registrations. In addition
my "genealogy" directory on my PC is nealy 1.0 GB in size - probably
too much to expact to have on a PDA though.

Well, if you insist on fitting the images onto the PDA... <G> (find
a PDA that takes 2-4GB CF cards and you could still do it)

I'm running an OLD iPAQ (though post "Hiccup" period*) with a 64MB
SD card (along with internal 64MB)... I have no problems using Pocket
Genealogist (along with a slew of "reader" files -- public domain
literature like Tom Sawyer, Machiavelli "the Prince", etc.).

Pocket Genealogist runs on WinCE devices; There is a program for
PalmOS
--

I use an IPAQ 4700 with a 1 GB card and Pocket Genealogist. I've never kept
images in FTM, so don't have that problem. Until now I've not bought the
bridge programme that allows instant updates from FTM, I upload to the PDA
via a gedcom.
I also try to be disciplined and use the files in the PDA for reference
only - changes are only made to files via the PC (except under special
circumstance when I'm travelling, in which case, I upload to the PC as soon
as I get back. This is because in the early days I got into a big mess with
3 different files - on my home and work pcs and my laptop. Sorting it all
out, and reconciling the files took too long when I could be getting on with
research.
I use my IPAQ for a lot of other things including my professional diary, Tom
Tom navigation, etc, and haven't had any conflict problems. It IS important
to store your files on memory cards though, whatever you buy - I didn't
realise that at first and ended up choking my poor PDA's own memory.
Llesley Robertson

[Mark]

Howdy all
I purchased a "PalmPilot" about a year ago - sole reason being genealogy
(though it has become handy in many other ways as well). I use TMG as my
Genie program and I have bought a program for the Palm called "Gedstar Pro"
which correlates very well with my PC's data. I can thoroughly recommend
this "bundle" or configuration. Overall, it is really convenient to have ALL
my family history data available to me when researching in the field!
Whatever way you go, a PDA makes a great deal of sense!
Regards
Mark (Sydney, Australia)
"Lesley Robertson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

"Dennis Lee Bieber" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
On Thu, 29 Jun 2006 19:00:44 +0100, No Spam <[email protected]
declaimed the following in soc.genealogy.computing:

I currently use Family Tree Maker 2006. My database contains 17191
individuals, 308768 text records and is 229102 KB in size [it includes
lots of photographs and digital images of registrations. In addition
my "genealogy" directory on my PC is nealy 1.0 GB in size - probably
too much to expact to have on a PDA though.

Well, if you insist on fitting the images onto the PDA... <G> (find
a PDA that takes 2-4GB CF cards and you could still do it)

I'm running an OLD iPAQ (though post "Hiccup" period*) with a 64MB
SD card (along with internal 64MB)... I have no problems using Pocket
Genealogist (along with a slew of "reader" files -- public domain
literature like Tom Sawyer, Machiavelli "the Prince", etc.).

Pocket Genealogist runs on WinCE devices; There is a program for
PalmOS
--

I use an IPAQ 4700 with a 1 GB card and Pocket Genealogist. I've never
kept images in FTM, so don't have that problem. Until now I've not bought
the bridge programme that allows instant updates from FTM, I upload to the
PDA via a gedcom.
I also try to be disciplined and use the files in the PDA for reference
only - changes are only made to files via the PC (except under special
circumstance when I'm travelling, in which case, I upload to the PC as
soon as I get back. This is because in the early days I got into a big
mess with 3 different files - on my home and work pcs and my laptop.
Sorting it all out, and reconciling the files took too long when I could
be getting on with research.
I use my IPAQ for a lot of other things including my professional diary,
Tom Tom navigation, etc, and haven't had any conflict problems. It IS
important to store your files on memory cards though, whatever you buy - I
didn't realise that at first and ended up choking my poor PDA's own
memory.
Llesley Robertson

[Dennis Lee Bieber]

On Fri, 30 Jun 2006 07:12:06 GMT, Dennis Lee Bieber
<[email protected]> declaimed the following in
soc.genealogy.computing:

I'm running an OLD iPAQ (though post "Hiccup" period*) with a 64MB

Forgot to put in the * footnote...

The stock symbol after HP & Compaq "merged" is HPQ -- I always felt they
should have used "HQP" (a very cynical "Hewlett Compaqard" <G>) and
pronounced hiccup.
--
bieber.genealogy Dennis Lee Bieber
HTTP://home.earthlink.net/~bieber.genealogy/

[Jack]

Hi!

Acer N50 is good PDA with nice price, it has CF and SD slots. (and wlan+bt)
From http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/Index.asp?mid=4A17Nvi
you can get Pocket Genealogist and Legacy from there.

Maybe you could start with 1GB SD-card and leave pictures into laptop.

"No Spam" <[email protected]> kirjoitti
viestissä:[email protected]...

Hi,

Until now I've not been interested in owning a PDA. However I am now
thinking that having one to hold my genealogy stuff while I travel
around various places might have advantages over carrying paper
records [ which often don't include the ones that would be useful that
day] or the very few occasions that I venture out with my laptop.

Any suggestions please?

Other points:

If I had a PDA I would also want to use it to run a GPS wirelessly so
would prefer a PDA with a bluetooth function.

I currently use Family Tree Maker 2006. My database contains 17191
individuals, 308768 text records and is 229102 KB in size [it includes
lots of photographs and digital images of registrations. In addition
my "genealogy" directory on my PC is nealy 1.0 GB in size - probably
too much to expact to have on a PDA though.

[GrannieAnnie]

I use the O2 XDA IIi with My Roots software.
TomTom Navigator 5 satellite navigation.
This PDA comes with Word; Excel; Phone; SD card slot (I have 2 gig card);
Camera. It's great, I wouldn't be without it. I'm going to try and use it
as a modem with my laptop this year.

Annie