Profession/hobby-specific uses for your handheld, and the applications that go with

[Microcosmos]

Hello all! I've been perusing the Treo forums for a while, and I haven't seen a thread quite like this, so I thought I'd start it!

I know the Treo can be used for a lot of things, but how does it help you with your one main passion, and what are the applications (with descriptions, please; links would be outstanding) and web or other resources that you use to beef up your Treo's ability to help get your job or hobby done?

My plan is to purchase the Treo to use as a reader/translator. I've already downloaded Ultralingua and Adobe Reader for Palm, what I see as two necessities, and I plan to spend many happy evenings learning Spanish without needing to lift or switch between heavy books or turn any pages! Plus I can take notes for further research and study without getting a pad and pen (and losing the scrap anyway), and switch between many tomes without piling up a stack of books (as I tend to do now, because I rarely read a book all the way through in one sitting, and I tend to go to a different book when it's time to sit down for another reading session).

I'm excited about the possibilities! :tongue: But I'm also curious about how other people use it, so I can know what I'm talking about when I try to convince friends and family with other personal and professional interests to go Treo! For example, can someone in the medical profession give a detailed list of things that would be essential to the daily responsibilities of, say, a registered nurse? I have a friend who carries lots of heavy books around and is trying to memorize the differences between different types of IV drips and what drugs conflict with what and on and on. I'm thinking the Treo would be a godsend for her but don't want to recommend something that just adds to her confusion as she tries to learn this stuff, but rather enhances her ability to get it down pat and have instant access to valuable references. Or are there any professional/hobbiest computer programmers out there who use the Treo not just as a toy but as a tool? My brother does all kinds of techie stuff professionally, the most basic of which is dynamic web page design (using hand-typed HTML, none of those web-page designing software programs for him!), and the advanced stuff involves all sorts of acronyms like JAVA and GNU (those are the ones I remember) and the C++ language all combined to make a type of magic I don't understand. Basically, he gets into the bowels of computer programs and redesigns them, or writes them from scratch. Can the Treo assist with that?

Dred, the teacher guy, I am interested in the kinds of programs teachers use, and I'm sure there are other teachers out there who are browsing the net right now in search of something that might make their lives a little easier.

In addition to helping professionals and hobbyists get the most out of their Treos in a kind of one-stop-shop format, this would also be a great chance to get to know a little bit more about each other!

[Microcosmos]

Ooooookay... No takers huh? It seems like either maybe this is just a pipe dream of mine, or I still have a whooole lot of perusin' tah do....

[rcaine]

As a fellow teacher and also obsessive information addict I use my Treo for a number of things. In DocumentsToGo I keep a one page copy notes of walking tours I give for the AtlantaPreservationCenter (if anyone ever visits Atlanta the tours are a great diversion). Most of these details are in my head but I often need to look up and review the detail (architects name, number of rooms, date built). I also have my class schedule with the dates for tests and assignments. Students always try to stump me with questions like “When is it due?” and “When is the next test?” Treo is much quicker than firing up a laptop or keeping up with the paper handout.

I also use an outliner called Shadow Planner which has my to do list as well as keeping track of all the details of my life. I have one file that has only my school information—mailing address, phone number, class section times and section numbers, final exam times. I’m always looking those things up and having them in one consistent place helps. I also have a few helpful details like a checklist for getting a projector to work with my laptop in a classroom, including the phone number for media services.

Shadow also has my “to checkout” list of books, websites, movies, and software.

That’s not a complete list but it should get some discussion going.

[Kreth]

I use Docs To Go quite often at work. Our install docs are typically done in Word, so if we have a new package, I'll hotsync the install docs to my Treo so I have them on hand for the first few installs. I also make frequent use of Memos for notetaking when talking with clients, meetings, etc. Then I have them available from within Outlook to follow up.
On the hobby side, I have a spreadsheet in Docs To Go to calculate my bowling average. I also use a freeware app called Golf Score (guess what that one does...).

[Microcosmos]

Thanks guys! So basically, it seems that the Treo can be used as a memory-enhancing tool for practical everyday purposes, but isn't exactly essential for any particular duty. Sounds swell, I think I'll get one anyway! It'll be fun to have. But I don't think I'll be recommending it to my RN friend, simply because electronic versions of needed texts are as expensive as hard copies, and when she's assigned to a hospital they already have dedicated PDA's for everyone to use anyway. Or for my brother, because he's happy with his ipod and book collection and uses a desktop at home [for World of Warcraft] and work [for the heavy-duty stuff].

[Kreth]

E-books have one major advantage over hardcopy: searches. Most e-book readers have a search capability, which I think would be great for a RN who needs to look up say, contraindications for a particular drug...

[rcaine]

As a computer tech the memory aids have been lifesaving. I have been able to use my reference files in the server room with a dead server which means no workstation/internet access. Keeping ip addresses to ping to diagnosis connection issues has been a life (network) saver several times. I also have some SQL server commands that I need to refer to (usually in the server closet where I have few reference materials). Online help is great when the server is up and running but those lifesaving commands you need for when it’s sick (and you have been up troubleshooting for 24 hours) it’s a necessity.

In a hospital setting the portability may not be needed. For a visiting nurse, or for Dr. House Cat who tends to our cats, the portable reference materials can be well worth it.

[Stillrockin]

Going back years ago, I installed a Guitar Chord device on my Pam IIIc. It was a shareware program but it was pretty cool, even if it was only a grayscale display. It had a very elementary 440 tuner, and it allowed you to feed it say a G#m and it would put dots on the frets to show you how to create that chord on the neck. Obviously I no longer use it and really haven't even thought about it, until I read your post and I recalled this program. But it was "hobby" specific, and was really pretty neat.

[bbad2k2]

Im a new user but had to chime in. I'm a geologist (no glory, really), and have some specific apps/web pages that are truly becoming a necessity. First, docs to go as my reports are on word, boring logs on excel, and laboratory analysis on adobe. MobileWrite is vital as my thumbs are WAY too cumbersome. VolumeCare as I am on Cingular and can't hear a thing. Some conversion app (i can't remember which) for converting many different units. As far as web pages, Im also a weather nut, so I have the NEXRAD loop for my area (using wunderground - i deal w/ the ads). I also use microsoft terraserver to view aerial photographs for anywhere in the USA. Also someone mentioned guitar, i use the tuner (which doesn't seem to put out the tone i want) and the chord database, which is pretty cool. So there, prolly too much info, but its fun stuff. If anybody has any suggestions, im still a new user so im all ears!!

[kdallen]

I don't think I have any work-specific apps but I do use my Treo at work. I'm a Drill Sergeant and I use DocsToGo to keep the Excel spreadsheet with all my Soldiers' info, which comes in particularly handy. I also keep documents and regulations in Word format for quick reference when we're out training. I've got Agendus Pro, which gives me weather at a glance, which is invaluable. In December, it allowed us to have advance warning of severe storms, that I then kept track of via the web, that could have been dangerous if we'd waited to get notified through regular channels, as we were spending a week in the woods. I use Butler alarms sometimes for different things. When we have downtime and we're out in training areas, I use MobiTV or the browser to check out things online.

Don't know if there are any Army-specific apps out there but that's what I use mine for at work.