HP webOS Profile and Services

[#1]

I bought my first Palm PDA ten years ago and later upgraded to a Treo 680. I synchronize to Palm desktop ver 4.2. I want to replace the Treo with a WiFi enabled device and am considering the Palm Pre, which appears to have all I want except an FM Radio, which I am prepared to forgo. I spend about GBP2.5 per month on mobile phone calls and texts, and connect the mobile to the internet about twice a year, though I would do this more often with WiFi hotspots. I therefore use Pay-As-You-Go.

If I get the Pre, I note your recommendation to synchronize on the web, and would expect to do this eventually, but initially I want to continue to Hotsync to the Palm desktop. To do this, should I first download the latest version of HotSync (6.2, I believe) and sync it with my Treo, or sync the Pre to 4.2 before upgrading the software?

If and when I decide to sync to the web instead, I note that, if I enter a new calendar event or contact into the Pre, it will "automatically" update the web. This suggests that the Pre will automatically connect and do this - very clever, but I would prefer to wait until I get home or find a WiFi hotspot. Connecting to the internet either involves a one-off charge or a monthly tariff; I am not prepard to pay the latter and wish to keep control over the former Is it possible with the Pre for me to ensure that I only get connected to the internet only when I choose?

Post relates to: Treo 680 (Unlocked GSM)

[#2]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I use Windows XP home, in case it helps.

[#3]

Both my husband and I went from Treo 680 to Palm Pre Plus on AT&T. No significant problems to date but here's a couple of important tips.

First, that online update happens once a day automatically when connected. You don't even notice it. 

Second, using my home WiFi, I continue to synchronize whenever I want with Palm Desktop by using Chapura Synch Manager for contacts, dates, memos, and todos and by using Classic to synch everything else.

New WebOS applications are downloaded directly to the device and photos and music are moved via a USB connection to your desktop computer. Windows XP works fine on this but crashes sometimes when moving a lot of files at once. If you prefer to use WiFi to transfer (but not file) files, then WiFi Media Synch works great.

Classic is the application that will run your Palm OS legacy programs, one at a time, while pretending it is a Palm Centro. Weird but it works.

Use Web OS as much as possible because it is multi-tasking but it won't directly run your Palm OS programs. And, there are some applications still missing such as a version of MS Office Suite. A full version of Documents to Go is not available in WebOS, nor is Worldmate. However, the applications available are usually cheaper than their Palm OS versions and there are a lot of them.

Also, Web OS 2 is not going to have Classic available. So, be very careful to get a Pre or Pre Plus and not a Pre 2 unless the company makes a change in the future.

[#4]

Thanks lk, this will be really helpful if I decide to stay with Palm, which is what I'd like. It seems that all the Pre 2 gives is a better camera and more memory, neither of which I need, so I would certainly go for the Pre.

However, I am still a little worried automatic synch-ing. I live in UK, am retired and normally spend about GBP3 (about 5 US dollars) per month on calls and texts. I therefore opt for a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) contract - I don't know if you have that possibility in the USA. My choices in the UK with a Palm Pre would be (1) to buy the phone outright for GBP210 and spend about GBP3 per month on PAYG or (2) Pay a monthly tariff of GBP25 in which the phone comes free, but I'm locked in for two years. Option 2 also has free internet, but with option 1, I have to pay a fee each time I connect of  up to GBP2 in the UK but much more if I am in another country. But I would not normally want to connect to the internet (except at home) more than about 3 times a year, it makes more sense to have a PAYG contract and synch the phone at home with USB, bluetooth or WiFi.  

If I am travelling and make a new entry in my calendar or address book, I don't need that info to be synched to my PC until I return home. So my big concern with the Pre is that I could be travelling in France or the USA and decide to send a text message. To send the text, I would need to connect to my phone company, which would cost a few pence, but I would not want the Pre then to "automatically" decide to synch my new entry and connect to the internet at a cost of several pounds.

This would not be a problem if I opted for a monthly tariff, but the long term cost of this rather than PAYG would be several times greater and not justified by my phone usage. I need to know, please, if it is possible for me to prevent the Pre from automatically connecting to the internet once a day if I need to make a call or send a text.