The DROID Pro reminds me of the Palm Treo

Some of you lived in the era of the Palm Treo. I did. Well, the upcoming DROID Pro is a candybar smartphone running Android 2.2 (Froyo) and it has a hardware QWERTY keyboard that looks like the types of buttons you would find on a BlackBerry. So, if you're thinking about switching to Android, this could be the device for you if you're a former Treo or BlackBerry user who really wants to have a QWERTY keyboard that doesn't slide out.

Have you tried the BlackBerry Torch 9800?

I think the BlackBerry Torch 9800 may be the best BlackBerry smartphone yet. I've used the Bold, the Storm, and many other BlackBerry devices. The Torch combines the best of both worlds: a touch screen with a hardware QWERTY keyboard. I'm not sure why they chose the vertical slider orientation as opposed to the horizontal slider. Maybe they felt that the majority of their users would prefer the vertical orientation.

Personally, I'm a big fan of the vertical slider. Why? You can type you're holding the device in one hand. All you need is a single thumb that can move across that QWERTY keyboard. You can try that on a horizontal slider, but you'll have some difficulty balancing that phone if you're only using one hand.

If you're a former Palm Treo user, the BlackBerry Torch 9800 could remind you of the old Treo (except the Treo wasn't a slider). 

It's too bad that the Torch is only available on AT&T.

Do you remember your first smartphone?

What was your first smartphone? Some of you were early adopters and you may have purchased a Palm Treo 180 back in 2002. Maybe you waited until 2002 so that you could have a color screen and you bought the Palm Treo 270 or 300.  Do you remember the name of the company that made these devices? Handspring.

If you were a true early adopter, then maybe you had the Nokia 9000 Communicator.  The Nokia 9000 Communicator was used by Val Kilmer when he played Simon Templar in the 1997 remake of The Saint

My first smartphone was a Palm Treo 700wx. I had been a long-time Pocket PC user and I was migrating from an HP iPaq. Your first smartphone was probably running Palm OS, right?

There are so many young people who will remember the Apple iPhone 3GS as their first smartphone. What a difference to compare that device to some of these old devices! Wow, I used a smartphone back in the dark ages.

HP iPAQ Glisten

One of my first PDAs was an HP (Compaq at the time) iPaq. It was a revolutionary device, but it wasn't a smartphone. It ran Windows Mobile (Pocket PC at the time) and it was considered a "state of the art" piece of technology.

Today, we live with so many smartphone options. My wife and I both used to have a Palm Treo and I still see that many health care professionals are using the Treo. Well, if you like the Treo form factor (touch screen plus QWERTY keyboard in a "candybar" model), then you may also like the HP iPaq Glisten on AT&T. This 3G smartphone runs Windows Mobile and it resembles a BlackBerry. However, the touch screen feature makes it easy to navigate on this device.

If you're a former BlackBerry user and if you're switching to Windows Mobile, this may be the device for you.

Is Palm dying (or almost dead)?

Some experts are reporting (and blogging) that Palm is dying. Is this true? How many people still use a device running the original Palm OS? I think the number is quite substantial in the health care industry. Perhaps the critical question is: what device will these individuals get when it's time to upgrade smartphones?

Many doctors still use a Palm Treo (or even the Palm Centro). OK, maybe it's not really that many, but there are some. If you're still using a Palm Treo (or even a Palm PDA), then you're not alone. Doctors generally tend to be late adopters of technology because they're so busy saving lives and keeping up with the high volume of patient care (although this trend is changing. see: Docs cut work hours)

In any case, is Palm dying? What about all the excitement around the Palm Pre and webOS? Has Android, iPhone, and BlackBerry swept webOS into the ocean? Will Windows Phone 7 Series add some additional pressure on a dying Palm? webOS was built as an entirely new OS and it doesn't represent the original Palm OS (which is both good and bad). For many doctors, if they're going to learn a brand new smartphone OS anyways, why not get the iPhone, BlackBerry, or Android? Why choose webOS?

Authors at PC World and the Wall Street Journal seem to think that Palm is dying. What do you think?

Top 10 smartphones according to PC World (and my thoughts)

According to PC World, the Motorola Droid running Google's Android OS is the #1 "top smartphone." Surprised? The Apple iPhone 3GS is #2 and the Google Nexus One (Android OS) is #3.

• There are no Windows Mobile phones on that "top 10" list.
  
• Also, the BlackBerry Storm2 didn't make that list.
• 5 out of the 10 run Android
• 2 out of the 10 run webOS
• 2 out of the 10 are BlackBerries
• There's only one Apple iPhone
  

Speaking of the iPhone, many people will argue that the iPhone 3GS should be #1. For 2010, I could make a very compelling argument that the iPhone is the #1 medical smartphone. However, I'm also a strong believer that this could (and probably will) change over the next few years. Having said that, let me say that I still highly recommend the Apple iPhone to physicians who are interested in getting a new smartphone. Many physicians still use older devices like the Palm Treo and they're accustomed to the original Palm OS. They have a Mac at home and all their colleagues in the hospital have an iPhone. Should they get an iPhone? Yes! Should they get an Android smartphone? Not unless they're willing to wait for the release of additional medical software like Epocrates or PEPID.

If you're planning on getting a new smartphone in 2010, go with the iPhone (unless you can't switch to AT&T). If you can wait, then wait and see what happens with Android. You may also be fairly happy with webOS as long as you can wait for software, but why would you want to choose webOS over Android?

To view the PC World list of the "Top 10 smartphones," click here.

My wife needs a new smartphone

My wife is a family physician in private practice and she needs a new smartphone. Let me give you a bit of background on her:

• One of her first PDAs was a Sony Clie running Palm OS (remember those?)
• Then, she switched to Pocket PC/Windows Mobile. She used an HP iPaq for a while.
• Then she upgraded to a smartphone. Her first one was a Palm Treo 700wx running Windows Mobile.
• Her most recent smartphone has been a Samsung i760 (pictured above). 
• Now, she planning on an upgrade with her "new every two" program on Verizon Wireless. 

She could leave Verizon and switch to AT&T to get the Apple iPhone, but she's "stuck" on Verizon since the overwhelming majority of our friends and family are on Verizon.
She could get another Windows Mobile smartphone on Verizon, but she wants something different.
She also uses a Mac, so she's more inclined to get a non-Windows Phone this time.

So, which smartphone will she end up getting? Stay tuned to find out! (Although at one point we were both using a Palm Treo 700wx running Windows Mobile, I don't think she would get the same phone that I would get.) Will she go with Android? BlackBerry? Or back to Windows Mobile?

Palm Pixi (webOS) at a bargain price

The Palm Pixi is a "budget" smartphone for those who insist on having a smartphone running webOS. If you can't afford the Palm Pre, then you can probably afford the Palm Pixi. Circulating rumors are suggesting that you can purchase the Palm Pixi for only $30. Visit your local Walmart this holiday season and good luck finding one. You'll need to be on the Sprint/Nextel wireless network to use this CDMA smartphone.

The Palm Pixi is like an ultra thin and slim version of the old Palm Treo. Did you own one of those? Many people are actually still using a Palm Treo (either running the original Palm OS or Microsoft Windows Mobile). It's coming to Sprint on November 15 for $99.99, but look for some rebates (or simply go to Walmart) if you're on a tight budget. Ah, those good old medical school days when I used to be on a really tight budget...

How long have you had your smartphone?

Have you noticed that physicians and other health care professionals seem to be upgrading to new smartphones every year or two? As the price for the average smartphone continues to drop, it's not surprising to see more physicians upgrading to newer models.

My wife (who is a family physician) still uses a relatively old smartphone. A few years ago, we both had the same smartphone: a Palm Treo 700wx (remember those?)

Now, she uses a Samsung and I use an HTC. I've had a few different HTC smartphones and I find them to have some of the best features, but I also think that Samsung makes some really nice phones. I like the fact that all my HTC smartphones have used a mini USB connector. I'm a bit surprised to see that they haven't adopted the micro USB connector yet, but I'm not complaining because I can still use all my old chargers.

So how long have you had your smartphone? Do you even remember your first smartphone? Planning on upgrading this fall? Maybe you'll get a new phone for the holidays. Or, perhaps you'll make a New Year's resolution to use a new smartphone? (did I just talk about New Year's Day?)

Samsung Intrepid reminds me of a thin Palm Treo

Is that a BlackBerry? No. It's a Samsung running Windows Mobile.

The Samsung Intrepid on the Sprint network is a Windows Mobile 6.5 powered smartphone that has a touch screen. It may look like a BlackBerry to some, but the hardware QWERTY keyboard combined with a touch screen is a feature that you won't find on any BlackBerry devices right now.

The Intrepid is like a thin version of the Palm Treo. Samsung has a slightly similar phone on the Verizon Wireless network called the Samsung Saga. This world phone never seemed to gain much popularity because of its limited battery life.

So, if you're stuck on the Sprint network, should you go with the Palm Pre (and have limited medical apps due to the fact that there are few medical apps for the new webOS), or the Samsung Intrepid (where you'll have a greater selection of medical software thanks to Windows Mobile)?

Palm to focus only on webOS

Palm has announced that they will focus on a single operating system for all their smartphones: Palm webOS

• Gone are the days of grayscale screens (did you have one of those?)
  
• Gone are the days of the classic Palm OS. 
• Gone are the days when Palm would make a Treo that ran Windows Mobile
• Gone are the days of standalone PDAs since all the focus is now on smartphones
  

The Treo was a great smartphone. My wife and I both had the Treo 700wx running Windows Mobile. The latest version called the Treo Pro is a really nice device, but it didn't get around very much (and it won't last long at this point). I doubt that we'll see the name "Treo" associated with any new Palm devices. Remember who made the first Treo? Handspring (180, 90, etc). Did you have one of those?

Smartphones are here to stay. Standalone PDAs are disappearing (unless you count the iPod touch as a standalone PDA). Now, let's see who ends up winning the battle of the smartphone operating systems.

Best Windows Mobile smartphone on Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless has some new smartphones coming out this fall. For now, they have a limited selection of touch-screen smartphones running Windows Mobile. Their best smartphone (and well-kept secret) may be the Samsung Saga. This slim smartphone resembles the old Palm Treo. It has a square screen, built-in keyboard on the bottom half of the device, and several hardware buttons. Why do I think it's currently the best smartphone for healthcare professionals stuck on the Verizon network? I say this because the Palm Treo was such a success among medical students, residents, and attendings who needed a smartphone. I miss my old Treo 700wx running Windows Mobile.

The keyboard buttons are small and the battery life is limited, but you can get an extended battery. The device also has a built-in GPS so you can use this as a GPS navigator.

The new Windows Mobile phones running Windows Mobile 6.5 should be really nice. I know that we'll be seeing updated versions of the HTC Touch Pro, the Samsung Omnia, and probably a few others. If you're able to wait, that's the best option (in my opinion). As for me, I'm still trying to figure out what to do since my current phone needs to be replaced.

Get a Free Palm Pre as a Reviewer

Want to review the Palm Pre and get a free phone plus service for 6 months? Then go and apply to be a reviewer (by going over to the Palm Blog). They will announce reviewers on May 8th.

I was a beta tester for the Dash GPS service and I got a free GPS out of that experience. I hope to get the chance to test the Palm Pre through this reviewer program. It's an ingenious idea to market their product. I had a Palm Treo, but now I use the XV6800. Image source: Slashphone

Do You Love or Hate Your Smartphone?

My friend hates his smartphone. I can't say that I love mine, but I also don't hate it. It does its job and every time I get a new smartphone, I think about which features I liked and disliked about my old one. This way, I can almost imagine what my next one "should" be like.

For instance, I started with a Treo 700wx (Windows Mobile). It was a "candybar" design. Nothing slides in or out. No flips. It was a nice phone, but it was bulky. It had a small screen and the buttons were small, but I could use it with one hand. No Wi-Fi, slow EV-DO speeds. No GPS.

Now, I have a slider phone (the Verizon XV6800, AKA Sprint Mogul or HTC Titan or PPC6800). This phone is roughly the same size. It has a larger screen and since the keyboard slides out, the buttons are larger. This one has Wi-Fi (which I hardly use), fast EV-DO speeds (great for tethering), and has a built-in GPS (if you load a custom ROM and radio).

I'm hoping that my next phone will be more like the Treo in terms of design/form/function. I hope it's thinner than the Treo, but it will need an internal aGPS (I've grown to depend on this so much, especially when I travel and drive in a new city). Fortunately, there are currently several phones that I can select that would meet my "requirements." However, I'm not in the market to purchase a new phone, so I'll wait patiently.

Smartphones and Swine Flu

The potential swine flu epidemic has everyone scared. Everyone's talking about swine flu. There are interesting discussion on Sermo. It's almost like SARS all over again, but this time it's on our continent. It's not thousands of miles away in Asia. How will smartphones and other mobile devices impact how healthcare professionals communicate regarding outbreaks? My guess is that if this really turns into an epidemic, then it will be imperative for healthcare professionals to remain constantly connected via smartphones and other Internet-connected mobile devices.

Thank You PalmDoc Chronicles

Thank you PalmDoc Chronicles for adding this site to your blog list. I've done the same here at MedicalSmartphones.com and I hope you'll help me spread the word about how smartphones are changing the landscape of medicine. I remember when the Palm OS was the dominant operating system among medical students and physicians. I'm talking about the days before the ubiquitous Palm Treo even came out. We had devices running the Palm OS made by Palm, Handspring, Sony, and a few other companies. They were called PDAs or handhelds because they weren't phones at the time. How technology has changed things! We now have one less item to carry in our pocket.

What's the Best Smartphone for Physicians?

This is one of those topics that gets debated endlessly (unless you're in a room full of Apple lovers). What's the best smartphone for a medical student, resident, or attending physician?

Several years ago, the answer would have been simple: Palm Treo. Then, the answer may have evolved to: Treo (either Palm OS or Windows Mobile). After the Apple iPhone came out, the resounding consensus among young physicians was: iPhone. Now, we see doctors carrying the BlackBerry Storm (among other BlackBerry devices). There's a newer version of the BlackBerry Storm that's coming out. The Palm Pre running Web OS is a hot new phone that has many people excited, but will it beat out the iPhone? The Palm Pre has a hardware button keyboard, so that may be a very attractive feature for people who want to type quickly. What about all those Windows Mobile users out there? I admit that I'm still one of them and I use an older HTC Windows Mobile device (the xv6800 which is also known as the Sprint Mogul and HTC Titan).

So which phone is the best? It's so difficult to answer because technology evolves too quickly. We can't keep up with the advances and as soon as you buy what you think is the "best" phone, a new mobile device pops up that's faster, cooler, and better.

Upgrade Your Treo 700wx to Windows Mobile 6.1

You may have heard that some developers have gotten their hands on Windows Mobile 6.1 for the Palm Treo 700wx. If you want to learn more, then take a look at this forum on XDA-Developers:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=397134

Flashing a phone's ROM is not for beginners. This is true especially when you're loading a custom ROM. If you make a mistake, then your phone may turn into a permanent brick that you can use as a paperweight. I always advise people to ask for assistance or to hand the phone over to an expert who can do the flashing correctly.

In my opinion, there are significant advantages to running Windows Mobile 6.1 over Windows Mobile 6.0. That change from ".0" to ".1" at the end of 6 makes a big difference. Now we have Windows Mobile 6.5 but that's not available for the Treo (at least not now). Not sure about the version differences? Take a look at this chart that provides an overview of Windows Mobile 5.0, 6.0, and 6.1:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/meet/version-compare.mspx

Windows Mobile 6 on Verizon Palm Treo 700wx

For Verizon Wireless customers: The Windows Mobile 6 ROM update is now available for the Palm Treo 700wx

Get it here:

http://www.palm.com/us/support/downloads/treo700wxupdate6/verizon.html?AID=10380937&PID=1511436

Make sure to read the fine print. Sounds like there may be some problems if you use TomTom navigation software with your Treo.

Windows Mobile 6 isn't a huge improvement over 5, so it may not be worth the trouble unless you want some of those features. It's a shame they didn't make the update a Windows Mobile 6.1 update.

Choosing a PDA and/or Smartphone for medical school

Medical students are often asking: how should I select a PDA and/or smartphone?

I currently use an XV6800 with Verizon, but if I were on AT&T, I'd probably switch to the Treo Pro.

When you look for a PDA and/or smartphone:

1. Always get a touch screen device so that you can effectively run important applications such as epocrates.

2. Go for Windows Mobile. the Palm OS has been dying a slow death.

3. Get a device that has Wi-Fi. This way, even if you don't purchase a data plan, you can still use your PDA/phone in the hospital during your rotations.

4. Get a built-in hardware keyboard. Here is where the iPhone falls short. When you're using certain applications, it really helps to have an actual keyboard.

5. Get something where you can easily remove the battery. Once again, here is where the iPhone falls short. During some of your overnight rotations, you may want to have a spare battery with you - since you may never get the chance to plug your phone in and charge it.