***Just for the record (so I can justify continuing OT): A PDA (specifically a Palm OS device) is so darned valuable for EDC that anyone whose life brings them into the power grid once a week or more often REALLY ought to seriously consider getting even a low-end inexpensive one and using it. I resisted getting one for a long time (heck, my brother was an upper management guy at Palm, and even survived the 3Com take-over - you think I had pressure to get one? Yeah!). When I finally got one and started using it - well, inside of a month I was totally hooked - I shoulda got one years earlier.***
This was a timely OT discussion for me, as I followed thru with my intent to get a replacement yesterday. First impressions of my T can be boiled down to "This was a no-brainer after all..." It is so much more useable in poor light - heck, in the dark. (the m500 was fine in the dark but frustrating in dingy unlit buildings, predawn, twilight, etc). I dunno if it will replace my micro-cassette recorder, but I don't carry that EDC so it's kinda new territory for me in that regard. The hi-res screen instantly spoiled me - you're right; ease of reading ebooks shot up dramatically. This is a better field PDA than the m500, hands down.
I have cradles at home and work also (T uses same cradle as m500) - the most durable data I have is on the Palm for that reason. Got a serial port cradle stowed away somewhere - artifact from older OS at work and I figure it can't hurt to hang onto it. I use the PPK when I'm on a trip although I may have to pass it on to Collegeboy and get another one. No sleeve/case for the T yet as I did not like any of the ones on the shelf and I am resisting putting it on my belt - my PDA has always been in my shirt pocket or in a more robust case in a cargo pocket on outings. I probably should get an Otterbox for it and stow it in my pack on outings. The aluminum case looks like it might be OK for my EDC but I need to handle one to be certain.
The IS folks use me as a crash test dummy for new stuff so I'm going to ask them pick up a Bluetooth gizmo for me at work - for printing distribution copies of field notes, if nothing else, although I'll fiddle with it. We just started a new cell phone contract as well, so I'm going to ask them to replace my new phone with a BT phone.
I'm not going to move several hacks to the T because I so rarely use them but one really saved me a ton of work: Tealmover. The m500 won't synch (my fault) and I procrastinated doing something about it until my folks started getting really cranky - so I had way too much stuff changed/added to try to manually beam over. Tealmover beamed over everything I needed without a fuss and no errors - phew! THAT hack was worth many times what it cost just for that alone. Now I can hammer the m500 and if it loses everything and/or I can't fix the synch <shrug> Palm can fix it and I'm not out of touch with all my current data. There's a synch parable in that situation somewhere...
I use JackFlash on the m500 but don't think I'll move it - I keep so much stuff on SD cards that system RAM is not an issue anyway. It's awesome and robust for PDAs with flashable ROM and no expansion memory.
I bow to your superior geekness - I've not used a PDA nearly as long as you. Your thoughts on screen protectors, please? I tried a couple and decided I could put up with wear and tear/minor scratches but not the feel of the run-of-the-mill screen protectors. The Graffiti area of the m500 is erm, well-used, as in "matte finish" - not that it affects anything. I've read mixed reviews on the hard screen protectors and am interested in your personal observations.
Apologies to everyone else for staying OT...
Tom - aka "T" to my close friends (see, the clue as to which replacment PDA to purchase really was in plain view all along...)