Announcing - LIL PIM

It came to me last night; I guess I should say early this morning because it was about 2am. I've been looking for a name for my shiny and new (as yet un-named) Pocket PC. You see, I always name my computers, sounds nuts but I feel like it gives the usually impersonal things a chance at having a personality. It isn't much but it's a bit (no pun intended) of hope for the poor things. Here's an example, my workstations are all named after the dwarfs from Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. My home PC is Sleepy and my work PC is Happy. I had a laptop named Dopey but that's another story.

Until early this morning, I was having a hard time finding a name that fit my Pocket PC; maybe because I just don't feel connected to it yet. Or, maybe because he doesn't have a wardrobe yet, don't know at this point. So I was laying in my bed, staring at the white ceiling, wishing I had passed on the late night espresso and SHAZAM! it came to me. LIL PIM. My new Toshiba e740 Pocket PC had a name. The name fit my new toy perfectly. I almost shot out of bed to write the thought down but the plan faded quickly along with the espresso buzz.

Where did the name come from you ask? Or maybe (most likely) you really don't care but you're bored so you'll keep reading this. I was cleaning up my favorites page and I came across and oldie but goody, mediatrip.com. I decided to give the link a click for old times sake and the 1st thing I saw was a web comic called LIL' PIMP. I let the comic run its course and I even sent a link to my LIL brother but I left it at that with no further thought until last night; SHAZAM! A little espresso, a pinch of creative thought and LIL PIM was born.

Why LIL PIM? What's the connection? Not sure yet, it's a vibe. Maybe LIL PIM used his 802.11b wi-fi abilities to vibe the thought to me. I'll never know for sure. He is LIL, although he could lose a few ounces, he knows a lot of phone numbers, he makes lots of calls and need be, he can handle cash transactions.

I'm not sure what my Pocket PC thinks of his new name but it fits his personality. LIL PIM

PDA Password Keeper

Every PDA should come with software for helping you manage your passwords, bankcard numbers, pin number, and all of that other stuff that consumes our daily lives. The Palm OS doesn’t ship with it and Pocket PC’s don’t either. It’s a real shame.

So the 1st piece of software I just had to have would be for my passwords. I discovered Handango.com, a Palm and Pocket PC software site, during my Pocket PC research so I headed there to search for a solution. A quick search of the site using the word “passwords” quickly resulted in a couple dozen options. Handango.com is great about providing screen grabs of the product and at least enough information to point you towards the vendor site for more detail but it doesn’t do enough.

There were too many options to make a decision on my own so I headed off to [Pocket PC Magazine’s] web site for a little help. A review of Code Wallet and Ewallet that recommend both got me started quickly but I ended up with a product called PassWord Juggler by My Pocket Technologies because I liked the price $19.95 and the U.I. The package included software for both my desktop and my (as yet un-named) Pocket PC; a must as far as I was concerned. Try entering seventy passwords into your Pocket PC. I still can’t figure out which of the four input methods to use. I don’t have enough experience with Password Juggler to judge it just yet but I’m sure I’ll have more to say in the future. I was disappointed to find that the desktop application doesn’t automatically synchronize with the PDA application; just doesn’t make sense to me but overall it’s working well.

I’m still getting to know my Pocket PC and well; I just can’t seem to name it.

My Pocket PC Has a Partner

I thought only the politically correct could have partners? But it isn't so, I established a partner for my (as yet un-named) Pocket PC today with my office computer Happy. Happy was a little hesitant at 1st but he eventually ended up shaking hands with the (as yet un-named) Pocket PC.

No, seriously, I'm talking about my 1st experience with Microsoft's ActiveSync technology. The software that allows my computer and my new Toshiba e740 Pocket PC to talk to one another. The installation experience was pleasant although I'd have to say there are plenty of ways a novice could screw themselves up but compared with my previous Palm Synchronization experiences it was cake. I live in Microsoft Outlook and the ActiveSync feature was the only thing standing between me and a new Palm TungstenT and I stand by my decision. ActiveSync made the "switch" worth it.

My Pocket PC and I are getting to know one another. I'm looking at it and it's looking at me and we're trying to figure out how we're going to work with one another. I can't figure out which form of input to use; the Pocket PC platform supports four! The Block Recognizer is Palm like, the Keyboard is easy-to-use but it feels like I'm pecking at my poor Pocket PC, the Letter Recognizer is probably my preferred input method at this point, and the Transcriber is interesting but it's going to take some getting use to. But I do like having the options!

Now I’m off to find the software I need for my day-to-day palm computing. Passwords 1st and then some kind of photo album to show off pictures of my son will probably be next on my list.

Pocket PC Travels

My Toshiba E740 Pocket PC arrived at my home in Eugene Oregon this afteroon. It traveled all the way from New Jersey to it's home in the Pacific Northwest.

I made the mistake of taking Amazon.com up on their "Super Saver" shipping option when I ordered the Toshiba on November 26th. It arrived today, Monday the 9th of December via UPS aka Brown. What's up with that marketing campaign?

If you'd like to know more about my Toshiba's trip across our great country, see the extended entry. It even spent some time on a train!

All aboard!