TRGpro Handheld Computer
Average Customer Rating
(5.0 out of 5)
Amazon Customer Reviews
Most Helpful First | Newest First (5 out of 5)The Bad @ss PDA that has been Sooooo Under Rated!!!
This is an undercover Power House with the ability to be expanded to 1GB of memory with a flash card and still fit in the Palm of you hand. You can go wireless web, Get on your Intranet and more, this is one of the best devices ever made, I can't wait for the color one!
Now you never have to be without important information, documentation, addresses, or contact numbers. Organize your meetings, e-mail, and calculate expenses even when you're away from the office. The TRGpro handheld computer is geared toward the mobile professional and is the first handheld computer to incorporate the simplicity and rich application environment of the Palm Computing platform with industry-standard expandability. By combining a CompactFlash expansion slot with the Palm OS, the TRGpro enables mobile professionals to access large-scale information and databases normally confined to a desktop PC.
TGRpro comes with standard Palm desktop software such as date book, address book, to-do list, memo pad, expense, and mail. The expansive 8 MB EDO DRAM memory stores approximately 24,000 addresses, 6,000 to-do items, 6,000 memos, and 800 e-mail messages, and accommodates many third-party applications.
The pop-up onscreen keyboard has three onscreen icons for system control, one user-configurable onscreen application launch icon, and four user-configurable quick launch applications buttons. The LCD display has enhanced contrast and backlit display, which makes it easy to see at all viewing angles, even in sunlight or dim light.
It comes with two AAA batteries so that you can get started right away, a user manual, a protective flip cover, and a HotSync cradle.
(5 out of 5)The Bad @ss PDA that has been Sooooo Under Rated!!!
Get this item above for almost Half the price!!! ($$$) not a bad deal for all you get. 6 Flip covers, An Extra 8MB Ram, for a total of 16MB. Upgradable to 1GB with the IBM Micro Drive... You can even go wireless with this kewl device. Get it while you can!!!
Now you never have to be without important information, documentation, addresses, or contact numbers. Organize your meetings, e-mail, and calculate expenses even when you're away from the office. The TRGpro handheld computer is geared toward the mobile professional and is the first handheld computer to incorporate the simplicity and rich application environment of the Palm Computing platform with industry-standard expandability. By combining a CompactFlash expansion slot with the Palm OS, the TRGpro enables mobile professionals to access large-scale information and databases normally confined to a desktop PC.
TGRpro comes with standard Palm desktop software such as date book, address book, to-do list, memo pad, expense, and mail. The expansive 8 MB EDO DRAM memory stores approximately 24,000 addresses, 6,000 to-do items, 6,000 memos, and 800 e-mail messages, and accommodates many third-party applications.
The pop-up onscreen keyboard has three onscreen icons for system control, one user-configurable onscreen application launch icon, and four user-configurable quick launch applications buttons. The LCD display has enhanced contrast and backlit display, which makes it easy to see at all viewing angles, even in sunlight or dim light.
It comes with two AAA batteries so that you can get started right away, a user manual, a protective flip cover, and a HotSync cradle
(5 out of 5)The Best Handheld Computer/PDA In The Planet!!!
If you want the Best Handheld Computer/PDA thats is for profesional,defendable,and rugged???then look no forther,this is for you.No problems,not like the other handheld units,even the new model ones,have problems.It worth every penny...
The TRGpro looks just like a Palm IIIxe, apart from the TRGpro logo in the top left-hand corner. The TRGpro comes with a flip cover and cradle, again the same as the Palm IIIxe series apart from the TRG logo on the cradle.
Upon closer inspection you can see that the rear of the case has been expanded and has a slight bulge to allow for the CompactFlash card slot. This has made the case 1.7 mm (0.068 inches) thicker than the Palm IIIxe. The bulge is about 60 mm by 64 mm (2.35" by 2.5") in size,it makes no difference in handling or use. The TRGpro has fitted in my old cases and accesories for Palm IIIxe.If anything it is more comfortable to hold.
Weight-wise, it is a little heavier than the standard Palm IIIxe, though not by much.
There are some nice touches, like the fabric pull strip to make removing the batteries easy. The Palm Computing Platform logo on the battery door confirms that it does run PalmOS.
You also notice--on the back of the TRGpro just above the battery door--nine holes in the rear of the case for the speaker. Yes, the TRGpro has a real speaker capable of real audio.You don't even need to have the volume turned all the way up to hear the alarm in the next room.
CompactFlash
The main feature that I was interested in when I bought the TRGpro was the CompactFlash expansion slot. Real memory at last.
When you look in the end of the TRGpro with the CompactFlash door open you can see the IR transmitter and receiver.
The CompactFlash card just slots in and you now have as much memory as you can afford--up to 1 GB if you want, with an IBM Microdrive.
I bought a 256 MB CompactFlash card,I have not filled it yet. There are no tricks to inserting the CompactFlash card as it will only go in one way. Just push it in and away you go.
It was not until a week or two after I bought the TRGpro that it dawned on me that I had more storage and computing power in my hand than I my previous PDA's.
The Display
The LCD is the same enhanced contrast 160x160 FSTN, 16 grayscale, backlit LCD that is used in the Palm IIIx,Palm IIIxe and Palm V. The display is very easy to read in any lighting conditions whether it is bright sun or complete darkness.
Software
The TRGpro comes with the standard Palm Desktop software version 3.0.1.
As far as the TRGpro itself goes, it came with PalmOS version 3.5.1 loaded. There are the same applications that we have come to expect from Palm OS: Date Book, Address Book, To Do List, Memo Pad, Expense, Calculator, Security ...You can upgrade it to V.3.5.3 Palm OS version.Just go to the HandEra websites to see more upgrades and add ons such as AutoCF.
There are some extras, though. Of course, these are mainly OS extensions for handling the CompactFlash cards. There are two TRGpro specific applications: CFpro and CFBackup.
CFpro
CFpro is the main utility for manipulating files to and from the CompactFlash card memory. This program is much like Windows Explorer is to Microsoft Windows.
In the CompactFlash card you can create directories in a similar fashion to MS Windows. The file system used is compatible with MS Windows and these directories can be read directly if used in a PC or laptop computer with the appropriate adapters for the CompactFlash card.
The main uses of CFpro are shown in the Tools Menu.
You can:
Copy files to the CompactFlash card with or without changing the name,
Move files to the CompactFlash card,
Delete files from RAM, and
Format the CompactFlash card
An important feature to note is that the files are copied or moved to whatever directory is the current directory on the CompactFlash card.
When you have switched to view the CompactFlash card memory the Tools Menu changes to allow:
Copy files to RAM,
Move files to RAM,
Delete files from CompactFlash card memory,
Rename files or directories,
Make a directory,
Format the CompactFlash card, and
Play a .wav file.
This is a basic utility for managing your files. It should be noted that the AutoCF and TRGpro Backup directories are special directories.
CFBackup
CFBackup does basically what its name would suggest: this is the backup program for the TRGpro. It is fairly basic in operation, taking less than 25 seconds to backup around 4.5 MB of the TRGpro RAM to a file about 3.5 MB in size. From this file you can restore your entire TRGpro or just a selected file.
This is great when traveling. If you can't HotSync each night, you can easily backup to the CompactFlash card. If anything should go wrong, you can restore back to a known state. I find it is excellent when you are working with beta software--you can always set things back to the way they were.
The special directory TRGpro Backup is used by CFBackup to store the backup files.
Other Software
FlashPro
The TRGpro comes with FlashPro on the CD. FlashPro allows data to be put into the built-in FLASH RAM.Though with the CompactFlash card this is not really necessary. The only thing I have used it for is to store the AutoCF application components in FLASH so they are available after a master reset.
AutoCF
AutoCF is the application that has really made the TRGpro useful. The AutoCF application allows direct access to applications and files stored on the CompactFlash card. Applications and files that are stored in the special AutoCF directory on the CompactFlash card can be accessed just as though they are located in RAM. The files are moved to and from the AutoCF directory using the CFpro application.
The AutoCF application is loaded as an OS extension and as such does not have an application icon.
AutoCF options are accessed through the PalmOS Preferences application and through the Application options menu. Through the Preferences application you can enable and disable AutoCF as well as change the directory.
Through the Application options menu you can select whether the AutoCF directory should be created and whether you want items resident in the CompactFlash card to be identified with a dot.
There are some minor limitations with using AutoCF: files cannot be edited while on the CompactFlash card and if the file is an application it must reside in the AutoCF category.
This mass storage has been great for things like dictionaries and thesauruses, which normally take up a lot of RAM. Large databases are not a problem either, though as I look through what I now have on the TRGpro I find I am starting to carry around some things that I don't need.
Sound
The sound output of the internal amplifier and speaker is great. The original Palm should have had this standard.
The volume is adjusted by tapping on the speaker symbol at the top of the Applications display. A pop-up slider control appears to enable the volume to be changed or muted.
With such a loud alarm it does not go unnoticed.
As an added bonus you can even use DTMF tones to dial phone numbers with one of the programs available from the Internet, like FoneHome--this software is not supplied with the TRGpro. Having a proper audio amplifier means that all tones can be generated correctly.
In Use
I dont have any problems at all with the TRGpro.My applications were installed with no problems.
I am now able to take as many DOC files and Quicksheet spreadsheets with me as I want. My collection of databases can be taken anywhere. There is now no difference between what is on my computer and what is on the TRGpro as far as data is concerned. No compromises. The TRGpro is better than a laptop computer as the batteries last longer and it can be used anywhere. The GoType! keyboard allows rapid text entry when you have a lot to type.
I have not really noticed any difference in the battery life of the TRGpro compared to the Palm IIIxe. I guess they may not last quite as long, though I find that I am using the TRGpro more than I ever used the Palm.
I can also now keep a larger selection of AvantGo channels on the TRGpro since I have room to burn.
Ratings Defense
Excellent presentation, quality of production, and flawless implementation. The best PalmOS platform for anyone to whom memory is important.
The ability to carry an almost unlimited number of data files and you don't have to worry about how much memory is left ever again.
Marketed as the "Premier Palm OS Device for Mobile Professionals," the TRGpro certainly has plenty to be pleased about, allowing access to large amounts of information anytime, anywhere.
"Two Thumbs Up and Definitely 5 Star!!!"