A couple of years ago my wife just had to have a Palm pilot, she used it for a little while, but then it just sat there. So the other day she looked at it and said, if you want it it's yours. So I looked a little on line for some possible things I can do with it, and nothing really struck me. Anyone have any good software or hacks for a Palm Zire71. It is old, but still works.
I never found much else to do with my Palm other than scheduling/contact information. Most of the software was just meh for me (except Dope Wars... great time waster). That is why mine is in a box somewhere in the basement. Just don't need it anymore.
A Zire 71? Hmm... I'm a Palm OS fan, and have used that OS on my handhelds since 1999. I started with a Handspring Visor Deluxe and I currently have a Tapwave Zodiac 2. As for your dilemna, well, it depends on what you'd like to do. The Zire 71 has a basic digital camera and is an all around decent PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). It could also be a good Game Boy type gaming device. Since the IR range on it is limited, that means using it as a universal remote is out. Also, it does have Bluetooth, but most carriers with the exception of T-Mobile and Cingular won't allow you to use their Bluetooh phones as modems so you can't surf the web with it. Unless, you get the SD WiFi card for it with memory (256MB) you can't surf the web wirelessly, and with a Zire 71 that is only recommended on short-term basis. The Zire 71 COULD be used for a basic PDA, but before you do anything there is one thing I'd consider doing. A lithium-ion battery only lasts through so many charge cycles before it's battery life is reduced. If you genuinely plan on using the Zire 71, I'd suggest doing a battery replacement. When going through Palm directly, you're looking at a MINIMUM out-of-pocket cost of $125. You can do it yourself, if you have the tools. Here are some helpful sites: http://www.palm.com/us/support/zire71/ http://www.1src.com http://www.palmgear.com http://www.palminfosource.com http://www.pdabuzz.com
