Palm Pilot Issue No More.

[Taz24th]

I'm commissioning here in about 3 weeks, and just got word from supply that the graduating class was not being issued Palm Pilots anymore. I never knew we were supposed to be issued one in the first place, but was notified first that we were getting them and now that we are not. It's kind of like Santa Claus bringing you a new bicycle on Christmas Day, only to rip it back up the chimney before you can even touch it :cry_125:. Anyways I'm just checking out to see if any other graduating seniors (NROTC, OCS, Naval Academy) were denied the Palm Pilot issue. Congradulations to all of us soon to be commissioning officers, and we'll see yall in the fleet soon shipmates.

NOTE: For the record I am a firm disbeliever in Santa Claus...lol

-Taz24th

 

[TrunkMonkey]

The palm pilot I got when I was commissioned has been in the back of my closet for over a year now. I turned it on once, didn't want to take the time to sync it up with the computer, and have not used it since. PM me and I will send it to you for the cost of shipping if you want.

 

[Brett327]

I don't know what model they were giving out, but I doubt that it was a very modern one. That said, the PDA can be your friend and I used mine extensively in my daily squadron life. Best bet is to find one you like and shell out the cash yourself. Just know that you probably wont be able to connect it to your work computer - thank NMCI for that.

Brett

 

[Taz24th]

Hahaha..nice one TrunkMonkey. I'll pass on buying your Palm Pilot. I had no idea that we were supposed to be issued these in the first place though. Was it for organization on-the-go for new junior officers? I figured if you had the right software it could be quite useful. My fiancee has Outlook and Word on her's which she syncs her to-do lists for the day, but I don't know what else she uses it for besides that. I'd personally try using it to download my gouge for a upcoming hop and scroll thorugh it a couple times before the briefing, instead of rifling through a ton of papers. Seems compact too, convenient to fit into a nav bag or something. Anyways I was just curious about since it was an issued item, because its not something I would normally go out and purchase on my own accord. Looks like the government found where to cut unnecessary funds, by cutting out JO Palm Pilot issue. That money probably can go for more important military assets now I guess...lol

-Taz24th

 

[Taz24th]

Thanks for the info Brett. I wa going to ask supply what the standard issue Palm Pilot was to find one that might be compatible with NMCI systems. But again, I was looking if JOs actually go use or it served a plausible purpose before going out and buying one of my own. Could you elaborate Brett on how you used your Palm Pilot in aviation. What sort of programs did you find most useful for aviators. I'm not big on trendy gadget, but if it could serve a good purpose for me in aviation I might just purchase one. Thanks again to both of you for your advice on the issue.

-Taz24th

 

[Taz24th]

I guess I'll have to use a magnifying glass to read the 2.5" screen then..lol..I was trying to find some useful application for the PDA is all, by scrolling through a simple word document that had a list of the hops manuevers, procedures, or other useful knowledge. Not talking about diagrams, figures, or anything that you need to see in any great detail...lol..Thanks again for all your replies.

 

[Taz24th]

I found an interesting use for a Palm Pilot for naval aviation....

Naval aviator carries full operating manual in flight

by Michael J


There are a number of ways my Palm Powered handheld has made my life more useful, but perhaps the greatest thing is its capability to hold information--I am never at a loss for what type of information I can store or retrieve.

As an aviator in the Navy, there are a variety of items that I use, but most significant is the entire Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) manual for the E-2C Plus Aircraft that I have on an SD card. While all aviators carry a Pocket Checklist (PCL) with them when they fly, a NATOPS manual is simply too large and heavy to carry with you on a flight--not so with my Palm Powered handheld. I just slip in the SD card, and look up the information that I need...quickly and efficiently. Another tool that I use flying around the country is a PDF version of the Instrument Flight Rules Supplement, a listing of just about every airfield in the continental United States. Again, the ability to retrieve this information anywhere makes it indispensible.

Do not know if that is better than having the PCL with you in the cockpit..I'll find that out in do time though.

-Taz24th

 

[Brett327]

I wa going to ask supply what the standard issue Palm Pilot was to find one that might be compatible with NMCI systems.
-Taz24th

It's not a compatibility issue. For all practical (read $$$) purposes, NMCI does to allow you to connect PDAs to their computers, but that's not such a big deal because you can usually just email stuff home and synch up there. I never used anything fancy as far as software - just the basic address book/calendar/to do lists that come with the Palm OS. You'll be surprised at just how many contacts you end up keeping track of in the course of a fleet tour, and I'm a big list maker, so to do lists were essential for me.

Brett

 

[gregsivers]

I used mine to make an address book of all my college friends, then haven't turned it on since. To be honest, I don't even know where it is now.

 

[usnphoenix]

I know one or two guys that used them for the first week of API then never turned them on after that. From what I've seen they are pretty much useless in the training pipeline as far as students are concerned.

 

[dodge]

Grab one of these:

Then pick up one of these:

Problem solved.

 

[mmx1]

I'm also a big believer in pen and paper. No batteries to recharge, no sync problems, none of that. Mr High Tech here also has a $3 one year date book for redundancy (Franklin Covey can bite me). Also, this is probably the QA in me talking, but if a PDA ended up in an airplane, that stupid little stylus may as well have a big red FOD flag on it.

And a pencil isn't?

I like pen&paper, despite being a geek. But a PDA isn't a substitute for a notebook (at least it's a ****ty one). It's biggest benefit is the ability to push info to it via wifi or syncing.

Ditched my PDA when I moved to linux (syncing issues). Now that work's got me back to an MS shop, I've been eyeing an Axim (or whatever's out there now)

 

[KimberlyD]

Mine is a Palm Tungsten E & I love it, I'm the wife though so that tells you how often my husband uses his! He got it December 2005 when he Commissioned, serves me well!

 

[BOMBSonHAWKEYES]

I use it to write down all headings, altitudes, frequiences, and altimeter settings. I like to play a good game of scorched earth enroute. Its so easy to use that I often find myself writing letters and notes in the unique Palm alphabet.

I don't know what I would do without it. Palm pilots for all pilots!!!

 

[Brett327]

You're right. I should have said the whole PDA itself. How do you plan to secure it to anything? And really, what purpose would it serve? Curious, I can't come up with one on my own. Gouge factory? So which hand are you going to operate the PDA with? Your stick hand or your PCL hand?

But no, if you secure a pencil securely it won't become FOD. I haven't had a problem with mine yet. Use the guts of some 550 cord to tie the pencil to the kneeboard, then wrap that part of the pencil with duct tape, making sure to burn both ends of the 550 cord to prevent it from slipping loose (that's just my technique, not a procedure).

And thanks for reminding me-no connectivity issues with the Mead 3x5 notepad.

I'm all for high tech and gadgets, but if anyone is taking their PDA flying, well, they're just gay. That said, Prowler bubbas have a laptop they can bring to receive ADM messages and satellite downlink data. It would be wrong and unprofessional to install porn on said laptop and I'm sure such a thing has never been attempted. We need a SIPR version of AW - oh the tales I could tell.

Brett