Comments on: Palm Desktop 4.0 for windows out now

Palm has released a significant update to the Palm Desktop software. Version 4.0 offers a fresh new user interface, useful new views, time-saving features; improved security, color themes and new ways to share, send, and receive appointments and address book information. It can be downloaded here and there is also a FAQ at Palm's site.
Return to Story - Permalink

Article Comments

 (44 comments)

The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. PalmInfocenter is not responsible for them in any way.
Please Login or register here to add your comments.

Comments Closed Comments Closed
This article is no longer accepting new comments.

Down

ugly and annoying

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2001 5:22:22 PM #
Jeez, what a step backwards. Better to keep the current version + desktop reminder -- the only good upgrade is the desktop alarm feature (which isn't even as effective as DR). Plus, the interface is nasty.

I hope they keep the software designers for the desktop away from os 4.0!

RE: ugly and annoying
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2001 7:20:47 PM #
Heh, I've seen dozens of reactions to the new desktop, and only TWO negative ones (both Anon posts).

I like it.

RE: ugly and annoying
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2001 11:24:00 PM #
There is only four themes...any reason for the user to be unable to make the changes?

RE: ugly and annoying
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/15/2001 8:18:26 PM #
I could not agree more that this "upgrade" is a mess. After my first install, I got "Cannot enable the rich text support." when I try to launch the desktop and the desktop won't run. After 2nd install, the install blue screened my Windows ME box. Now, I'm back to the rich text error. Reminds me of all my problems trying to sync with MyPalm. Sending out beta software to their true customers. And the support staff is even worse than the software. Why is Palm taking such a long time to produce lousy software? Most companies don't take half the time to screw up this bad.

Handspring

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/12/2001 9:30:47 PM #
will desktop 4.0 work with the Visor?
RE: Handspring
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/13/2001 1:46:57 AM #
I tried it before. Not WORK
NO USB Support. But I never try the serial sync
Don't waste the Time


RE: Handspring
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/18/2001 12:20:03 PM #
All you have to do to get Desktop 4 working with the Visor is to RE-INSTALL the desktop software that came with the Visor, select a Custom Install, and ONLY install HotSync Manager (which is where the USB support resides).

Works like a champ with my Prism...

RE: Handspring
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/25/2001 9:21:41 PM #
It's OK with USB hotsync. But I can't open Palm desktop 4.0 any more after I reinstall USB driver from CD. I got message: "The PALMUI.DLL file is linked to missing export PALMCMN.DLL:1000". Can anyone solve problem? Mine is Visor deluxe.

Jonathan

RE: Handspring
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/31/2001 12:29:39 PM #
The install went seamlessly for me and my visor. Just ran the installer and synced. No problem.

I like it

Clymmer @ 1/12/2001 10:01:20 PM #
I think it has a nice look/feel to it. However, I use Outlook and am weighing if there are any simplicity/ease of use advantages in the new desktop over the more robust functionality of Outlook. I guess we'll have to see . . .

C.


Upgrade?? Really?!? Gee... My Hotsync got downgraded!

Rusty @ 1/13/2001 1:08:03 AM #
I just finished installing the Palm Desktop 4.0 over my installation of the updated desktop that came with my Palm 3.5 upgrade (Palm Desktop 3.1 and HotSync 3.1). Lo and behold, my HotSync software was DOWNGRADED to 3.04. What's the deal here Palm??!? And as far as I can tell, there is no way to upgrade the HotSync only to 3.1. OS 3.5 users beware!

RE: Upgrade?? Really?!? Gee... My Hotsync got downgraded!
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/13/2001 9:07:41 AM #
Huh . . .

That's pretty interesting . . .

Let's see how Palm corrects this issue . . .

RE: Upgrade?? Really?!? Gee... My Hotsync got downgraded!
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/13/2001 10:17:01 AM #
from the desktopreadme.txt file installed with version 4.0

OTHER ISSUES
============

HotSync(R) Manager software version number
------------------------------------------
This release of Palm Desktop software includes HotSync Manager
v3.1.1. In the About dialog box of HotSync Manager, however, the
version number is incorrectly shown as 3.0.4.

To find the true version number:

1. Locate the HotSync.exe file (normally installed to c:\Palm).
2. Right-click the file name and choose Properties.
3. Click the Version tab.


Not me!!RE: Upgrade?? Really?!?GeeMy Hotsync got downgraded!
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/16/2001 11:35:01 PM #
Everything worked fine after I upgraded to
4.0 on both my home and work systems..
and I do USB at home and serial at work!
No it ain't me babe!

Is it my fault?

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/13/2001 9:35:53 AM #
I installed thr new desktop, and found that I can't "send a mail" and "forward as a Vcard" via right click on a contact. The selection was in grey font and unavailable, why?



RE: Is it my fault?
bcombee @ 1/14/2001 5:07:34 PM #
I'm using Outlook Express as my email client, and I saw the same thing. I've sent a mail off to Palm support to see if anything comes up -- this was going to be one of my favorite features of the new release.

With this, the 3.0.4 label bug, and the date view bug people have seen, I'm wondering why the 4.0 desktop was rushed out. The README file with it is dated on December 1st -- surely they could have fixed the known bug with the hotsync manager in the 5 weeks it took to go from that version to their website.

No USB support

Carlos @ 1/13/2001 12:01:33 PM #
Installed Desktop 4.0. Liked it. BUT, Surprise! Couldn't HotSync my Visor. No support for USB. Since I don't have a serial connection, I had to uninstall it. I had to start all over again! (install again my original Palm Desktop). Not good.
RE: No USB support
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/23/2001 1:54:47 AM #
RE: Handspring
Posted by: I.M. Anonymous @ 1/18/01 12:20:03 PM

All you have to do to get Desktop 4 working with the Visor is to RE-INSTALL the desktop software that came with the Visor, select a Custom Install, and ONLY install HotSync Manager (which is where the USB support resides).

Works like a champ with my Prism...



RE: No USB support
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/1/2001 6:54:02 AM #
Palm Desktop 4 does support USB.. That is what i use.

Wanna know how?????

Can work with Visor + USB

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/13/2001 12:10:21 PM #
Saw this at www.palmstation.com, thought a few people here could use this too...


Or, you can just re-install the Handspring Desktop, a Custom install, and ONLY install HotSync Manager (which is what I did, and Desktop 4 works just fine with both my serial Palm cradles and my USB Visor cradles...)

Enjoy, Colin

RE: Can work with Visor + USB
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2001 1:45:19 PM #
The link you listed to palmstation.com seems to be a blank page, any ideas? Thanks!

RE: Can work with Visor + USB
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2001 5:05:52 PM #
Hmm, odd, getting totally blank for me as well. Here, you can go directly to the thread with this link...

http://www.palmstation.com/view_article.py?article=3515&flat_mode=1

later, Colin

DT 4.0 is nice...as a consolation

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/13/2001 3:53:32 PM #
DT 4.0 is a nice consolation prize for us Palm III-series users who expected free OS upgrades to continue and were let down. Even though DT4.0 is much-improved over earlier versions, it still has its shortcomings, especially in the Month-view. I am annoyed by the fact that there is a down-arrow icon to show that more info can be displayed but it does nothing more than take you back to the day view. Similarly, there is no right-click "Edit Event" menu item like there is in the other views. I am particularly fond of Month Views, but not with this limited functionality. Let's hope that the MyPalm/AnyDay team pays more attention to details! As for the new look, it is far better than the original, mundane interface, and I have noticved a few areas in which the DT4.0 team has come closer to a uniform look and feel between the desktop app and the handheld one. One additional minor complaint: 3rd party icons (e.g. WordSmith, Secret! Desktop) on the left-hand side toolbar have their icon text truncated, and the toolbar is not sizable! One last thing: I am looking for desktop integration for Pimlico's DateBk4 tool. If anyone knows of such a desktop tool, please post a reply.

DT 4 doesn't work with Dataviz Desktop To Go

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2001 2:34:46 PM #
I have been HotSyncing for a long time successfully, but have just encountered a problem immediately after upgrading to Palm Desktop 4. The HotSync panel opens as usual when I start HotSync, but shows that it is syncing mail. It syncs mail to the handheld, but then hangs, without an error message or creating a log file. I have never asked it to sync mail before, and do not want it to. I can't find anything in Dataviz, Palm Desktop 4, Outlook 2000 or the handheld to tell it that I don't want to sync mail. Is this a bug in Palm Desktop 4? How do I get back my syncing capability?

RE: DT 4 doesn't work with Dataviz Desktop To Go
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/15/2001 11:00:58 AM #
I posted the above comment. I solved my own problem by changing the HotSync options in the Palm Desktop 4. Apparently the default DT 4 option was to HotSync Mail. When it did so, it took so much time that I thought that the system had frozen. When I changed the DT 4 option to "do nothing" with Mail, the problem went away.

Palm Desktop 4...hmmm

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2001 10:42:43 PM #
I think all that Palm is doing is leading up to the new release. Look at the icon-PALM V(c?)-I think that Palm is making us wait for the Vc, and this is one of the ways! Nice contemporary look, one thing I HATE- you used to be able to just drag memos to word (c), now you have to goto edit, send to, or something like that

edit / make your own themes in desktop 4.0

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/15/2001 11:42:30 AM #
there are some .ini files in the \themes sub folder of the \Palm folder. You can tinker with those .ini files to modify or create your own themes for the Palm 4.0 desktop software. P.S. - I like the new 4.0 desktop. It is an improvment...

RE: edit / make your own themes in desktop 4.0
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/11/2001 4:26:38 AM #
Does anyone have information on how to change the colors in the Desktop 4.0 themes?

slightly OT: Palm Desktop for Unix

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/15/2001 6:30:56 PM #
I'm using HP-UX here at work. Is the palm desktop available for HP-UX?

Confused

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/15/2001 6:52:38 PM #

I am new to this and after extensive reading at this site and others I had decided to sell the Prism that I got for
Christmas and wait for the Palm Vc running os 4.0 to come out because the features for the Palm Vc would
include, The new SDM expansion slot which is ( considerable smaller than the springboard modules ) it
would the USB palm cradle that will become the standard for all future palm devices and it would support
Blue Tooth Technology through an upgrade in the os in the future. And hopefully the Palm Vc will not be blue in color like the Prism is.

But can see from the posts here that the usb is not working, are any of the other features said to be in OS 4 in
os 4? Should I not Wait for the Palm Vc?

From Carl Yankowski Keynote Address at CES:

IN OUR NEXT-GENERATION PALM OS 4.0, ADDING TELEPHONY, EXPANSION, USB, AND
16-BIT COLOR WITHOUT DEGRADING OR COMPLICATING THE USER EXPERIENCE

PALM'S EXPANSION SOURCE IS THE SECURE DIGITAL AND MULTIMEDIA CARD FORMAT.
WE MADE THIS CHOICE BECAUSE IT IS AN INDUSTRY STANDARD, WITH MORE THAN 150
MEMBERS AND BECAUSE OF ITS DESIGN AND ELEGANCE. AT THE SIZE OF A POSTAGE
STAMP, IT CAN HOLD POWERFUL DATA APPLICATIONS AND ALSO PERFORM AS AN I/O
DEVICE IN ALL WITHOUT BEING INTRUSIVE. YOU WILL SEE THESE IN OUR DEVICES IN
THE SPRING.


RE: Confused
I.M. Anonymous @ 3/10/2001 6:27:52 AM #
If I had a Prism, I would be tempted to stick with it rather than moving to the Palm Vc. The reasoning being that the Vc will probably be very expensive in the early months and I doubt you will gain much additionally functionality from the Vc in the early months.

I shall probably stick with my Palm IIIc until the end of this year. Will be interested to see Handspring's new products.

RE: Confused
twizza @ 4/6/2001 12:32:45 AM #
to the person that started this thread:


this is not os4 but palm desktop 4. big difference. usb is not on any palm device. only handspring and to a small extent sony support usb in hardware. the m500 and everyhing else released by palm will support palm. keep waiting and dont let what u her sway you. u are waiting for a great product. and if u decided to change your mind wait till the new sony comes out. you will not be disappointed.

those pussies forgot something

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/15/2001 8:00:26 PM #
they forgot to make email adddresses and web addresses hyperlinks.. so that i could click on a contacts email address and send an email.

overall.. its SOOO much better..

Palm Desktop 4.0

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/15/2001 10:41:57 PM #
I have a Visor Prism. I am able to hotsync it under Palm desktop version 4.0 at work with a serial cable but not at home with a USB cradle. When I "downgrade" back to the version supplied with my Prism the USB sync works just fine.

Nice Job

Ken Peterson @ 1/16/2001 2:46:26 AM #
I don't see the need negative comments, it's nice and I like it.
RE: Nice Job
twizza @ 4/6/2001 6:20:51 PM #
jsut another nice point about dt4. my palm syncs much faster. i dont know if it is the USB tuned drivers or what but this increase in sync time has really been good at keeping me from being late cause i want to sync before i walk out the door. i know that i have been wanting a usb connection but this development has all but made me reconsider.
at least till i get another palm in a year or so.

Nice look

RonR @ 1/16/2001 8:40:53 AM #
Just wanted to say that v4.0 looks more like Windows 9.x instead of Windows 3.1. So why upgrade?

Why complain?

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/16/2001 11:34:36 AM #
I can't see the reason to complain. I'm sure the upgrade isn't perfect, but I think it's defenitly a step in the right direction. For as slow as Palm moves to make any "big" changes I welcome this one. The interface is more "elegant" to use and gives it a more professional feeling to it than the old interface. I personally have decidede to use this as my main App for all my appointments and the such since it does sync up seeminglessly with my Palm based PDA and keep in running in the backround at work.

Mobile Internet Kit doesn't work with Desktop 4.0

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/16/2001 5:12:32 PM #
If you consider using Palm's Mobile Internet Kit, be sure to install it BEFORE you install Desktop 4.0. The install program for Mobile Internet Kit will check if you have Desktop 3.0 installed - and doesn't recognize that 4.0 is a higher version.

Tss, tss - somebody didn't test this product very well!

Great New Look, But...

dbltrbl @ 1/17/2001 1:08:20 AM #
The new interface and features look very nice, but could someone tell me how to make the appointment time selector use 24hr format?

Think it's quite good

bernard @ 1/17/2001 7:17:36 PM #
not bad i think, especially for something that's free. kinda makes me want to use my palm desktop more these days.

Palm Desktop 4 and Handspring Visor

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/21/2001 8:22:26 AM #
I'm using Outlook as my desktop PIM, but Palm Desktop 4.0 is an improvement over the previous version.

USB definetely works with the Visor if you reinstall only the Hotsync program from the Visor CD (Custom install), as others have pointed out.

I had a PalmCmn.dll error message when starting Palm Desktop 4, but it could be solved by copying the newer
PalmCmn.dll from the Conduit manager folder to the P.D. folder.

Password

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/1/2001 9:36:00 AM #
I have noticed that the new palm desktop has a flaw.

My palm desktop is set to be accesed only through a password, but if the alarm for an apoinment is active, as soon as you start the palm desktop application, a screen pops up with the apointment (before entering the password), if you click OK to the apointment, you bypass the password entry form, and gain access to all the information.

The wise

Works Fine with My Visor Deluxe!

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2001 5:12:23 PM #
Although Palm says that DT 4.0 is ONLY for PALM products, this is obviously a load of crap as
I downloaded, installed, and ran, both DT 4.0 and HS 4.0 with NO PROBLEMS! What sucks is that
HANDSPRING is not offering this release on its own site!

Top

Account

Register Register | Login Log in
user:
pass: