In the must-have category, in my opinion (especially if you travel a lot), is the Palm HotSync cable ($20 SRP). This accessory largely duplicates the function of the Palm cradle, but without the bulk. Since this cable attaches to both Palm III and previous Palm models, it can be used in situations where different Palm models must HotSync to a single PC (recall that cradles are not cross-compatible).

The only functional difference between the cable and the cradle is the absence of a HotSync button on the cable. This isn't a problem, though, as a HotSync can be initiated via the Palm's HotSync screen. By the way, the cable will NOT work with the recently released Palm V, which features a different hardware interface.

For Palm road warriors who expect stay in touch by phone using Palm III or prior units, 3Com sells a compact 9600 bps modem ($129 SRP) that attaches to the bottom of the unit (avoiding the need for a modem cable) and is held in place by spring-loaded clips. The modem is powered by its own pair of AAA batteries, or you can buy an external AC power supply ($20 SRP).

Theoretically, the modem clips will engage any Palm or Palm III (but not Palm V, which uses a different modem that accommodates its redesigned interface), but practice shows this not to be the case for some Palm IIIs. There's no need to worry if this happens, though, since 3Com provides a free fix for any users experiencing this problem.

Other modems can, of course, be connected to Palm devices at speeds of up to 57.6 Kbps via an appropriate cable, although this may involve some fiddling with AT commands for proper initialization.

I use the 3Com modem, primarily because of its compact size. I use it primarily to retrieve e-mail over a TCP/IP connection with my ISP. I've tested the HotSync capability via modem, and while it works, I much prefer to connect to my laptop or another local machine. I would consider doing a modem HotSync only as a last resort, to restore lost data.

Since acquiring the modem over a year ago, I've replaced the batteries only once, as I tend to use the modem sporadically for a few days at a time. Although I would have welcomed a faster device, it does the job it's designed to do and is otherwise rather unremarkable in its operation.

An implicit assumption in the design of Palm computing devices is that you don't need a keyboard to jot down someone's phone number or the details of an appointment. On the other hand, there are times when the volume of data that must be input into a Palm - such as might occur when writing a weekly column - demands a keyboard.

Soon after the introduction of the early PalmPilots, some enterprising soul figured out a way to connect them to keyboards originally manufactured for Apple's Newton PDA. Other alternatives were also developed, including setups that allowed old TRS-80 Model 100 laptops to be used for Pilot input. While these approaches worked, they were... well... awkward.

Recently, however, a company called LandWare released a compact, portable keyboard for the Palm called GoType! ($80 SRP). Closed, the keyboard measures about 1.5 x 4.5 x 10 inches, or about the size of two Palm units placed end to end. The keyboard opens like a clamshell to reveal a connector that snaps onto the Palm's HotSync interface (for all models but - you guessed it - the Palm V), a 61-key QWERTY keyboard (a Dvorak layout is supported in software), and six function keys. A stiff insert may be extended from under the rear of the unit to provide additional stability.

Software must be loaded on the Palm to make it work with the GoType! keyboard, and two versions are provided by LandWare. The first version works on Palms that have Hackmaster installed; the other version is intended for Palms that do not run Hackmaster. Once installed, the software lets you type just about anywhere you can input text and permits you to define (or redefine) the function keys to access up to 24 programs or functions. What the software does not support is non-English keyboard layouts (I'm out of luck as far as Russian is concerned, for example, as are French, German, etc. users). I also noticed - and this is not LandWare's fault - that the GoType! software does not port seamlessly to the new Palm IIIx (for example, the 'ShortCut' key does not work).

What might be considered LandWare's fault, however, was a slight bowing of the keyboard case that caused it to rock ever so slightly on a flat surface. A dab or two of rubber cement applied to a set of rubber washers quickly fixed the problem. A second problem with the unit I bought was the disk, which turned out to be unreadable. Fortunately, LandWare makes the drivers available via its Web site, so I experienced only a short additional delay in getting to work with the keyboard. Overall, these were not big problems to overcome, yet considering the rather hefty price, one might presume such gyrations on the customer's part should not be necessary.

Installing the Hackmaster version of the GoType! software required some juggling when it came to enabling hacks on my Palm, which is one of the risks you face when using Hackmaster. The GoType! driver apparently competes with another installed hack upon unit powerup (TealGlance, from Tealpoint Software), causing a reset if care is not taken to enable the hacks in a particular order. This type of problem isn't anyone's fault, and if TealGlance wasn't so valuable, I'd have disabled it in favor of GoType!

In use, the keyboard's real estate is a little cramped, but even with my gargantuan front paws, I can still manage to touch type. And while the keyboard does not require any batteries, I have noticed a somewhat shorter lifetime for the batteries inside my Palm, especially with heavy use of the keyboard.

In the final analysis, the GoType! keyboard allows me to do a broader range of things with my Palm, without forcing me to carry a keyboard around with me everywhere. It works for me.

Of the three items I've mentioned, the HotSync cable gives me the ability to conveniently connect my Palm to a computer while on the road, or to other devices. The other two - the modem and the GoType! keyboard - give me the freedom to perform keyboard intensive tasks (such as writing lengthy articles and reports) and then send the fruit of my labor along its merry way, without requiring me to pack a laptop or find a desktop.

3Com Palm Web site:
   http://www.palm.com
LandWare Web site:
   http://www.landware.com
Connecting a PalmPilot to a TRS-80 Model 100 laptop:
   http://www.galexi.com/alex/pilot100.html

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