Comments on: Review: TinySheet 4

iambic has just announced a new version of their spreadsheet application, TinySheet 4. This new version adds over 30 new functions and a new tool for doing charts and graphs, called TinyChart. Both the spreadsheets of TinySheet and its charts synchronize directly with Microsoft Excel on a Windows PC. TinySheet 4 is available now for $30 and it is free to registered users of the previous version.

News Editor Ed Hardy brings us this review.

Read the Full Article Text Here

Article Comments

(21 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
This article is no longer accepting new comments.

How many people are doing spreadsheets on a handheld?

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/20/2001 3:35:19 PM #

I am curious to know how many PIC readers are using their Palm devices to view and create spreadsheets. To those of you who do, how convenient is it to view and create spreadsheets on a handheld? In your opinion, is this a real business solution or more of a novelty item?

RE: How many people are doing spreadsheets on a handheld?

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/20/2001 3:46:36 PM #

I use it extensively in my business to keep track of data matrixes. It's better than lugging a laptop around and then I can sync whenever I enter data to either (I use the palm more frequently to enter data whenever I'm in the field).

As a registered user of TinySheet 3 and QuickSheet, I prefer TinySheet. It's formatting abilities make it identical to Excel (Quicksheets formating abilities are very limited).

One think I would like to see to see Iambic release is an Office application (word, database, etc...). Does anyone know if they are coming out with one in the near future.

RE: How many people are doing spreadsheets on a handheld?

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/20/2001 3:52:22 PM #

I'm a QuickSheet user. It's much more than a novelty. I use it to keep track of expenses, sales, time spent on projects, checkbook registry and on and on. I can easily port the data over to HanDbase if I want to make it easier to do data entry (using pop-ups and check boxes). Then I can port the data back over to Quicksheet and run a chart if I want. Very nice.

Of course, I also use it as a golf scorecard too. Hee hee. Yeah, it's kind of a novelty too.

Regarding the new version of TinySheet, I have no reason to switch from QuickSheet, but I'm curious how the new version of TinySheet compares. Please post if someone has used both.

RE: How many people are doing spreadsheets on a handheld?

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/20/2001 4:11:45 PM #

My $.02,

I'm a Network Engineer and Docs-To-Go user and find that having copies of sheets on my Palm allows me to carry quite a bit of information to the field. While I can't speak directly about TinySheet, I can contribute a couple general comments about using spreadsheets on my handheld...

I keep records of IP addresses, net connections, equipment lists, etc., etc. This stuff changes constantly and its nice to have a current copy available when I sync. Having all this data available when I'm at a site is great.

I don't do a whole lot of editing, but when need be, its not too bad. Not as easy as the real thing on a PC, but it works.

I have made major strides to banish paper from my life... tools like these go far to make it so.

RE: How many people are doing spreadsheets on a handheld?

robrecht @ 9/20/2001 4:44:27 PM #

I use QuickSheet extensively to sync and have with me the most up-to-date versions of several Excel files or Excel versions of Access database tables. It is quite useful and convenient and allows for electronic searching and resorting of data that would otherwise require a laptop.

The use of spreadsheets on handhelds is one of the most important reasons for the encouragement of Palm, Handspring, and Sony to adopt the landscapable soft-graffiti screen that is available on the Handera 330c. Especially spreadsheets are much more easily viewed on such a screen.

Thanks, Robrecht

RE: How many people are doing spreadsheets on a handheld?

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/20/2001 5:01:26 PM #

I use TinySheet for a variety of purposes: keeping track of things like blood pressure; my employee stock purchase program; and anytime I want to do things like compute probabilities, perform what-if scenarios, etc.

I was skeptical of using a speadsheet on a handheld, but I find I get a fair amount of use from it - sometimes a spreadsheet is just the best tool for the job.

RE: How many people are doing spreadsheets on a handheld?

NAHuber @ 9/20/2001 5:48:57 PM #

I could not live without my TinySheet. I have also had the opportunity to play with the Beta release of TS4. It's pretty cool and the chart feature is a welcome addition..though somewhat limited in capability. I would not recommend using a huge complex excell file on the palm..for the obvious limited visibility of data..to unwieldy

RE: How many people are doing spreadsheets on a handheld?

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/20/2001 6:20:49 PM #

I created a few spreadsheets in Tiny Sheet for someone I work with. He is a loan officer who also owns a Palm (He has a Palm V, and I have a Palm IIIc.) I help him track what loans of his have closed with loan amounts and monthly totals. When he comes up for a sales meeting each month, I beam him those spreadsheets. It's really fun.

RE: How many people are doing spreadsheets on a handheld?

2sheds @ 9/21/2001 12:21:48 AM #

I would like to answer second poster's question: this summer iambic purchased MegaDoc word processor from Russian developer MegaSoft2000. Obviously, we would have a chance to see next version soon, though I ain't no insider so this is just my suggestion. Remembering outstanding quality of MegaDoc app I think that it would stand up to the challenge offering you as much pleasure in use as TinySheet does.

RE: How many people are doing spreadsheets on a handheld?

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/21/2001 12:30:58 AM #

I use MiniCalc all the time (tried TinySheet and Quicksheet - no comparison).

There's nothing like going for a quick meeting at a coffee shop and having a live spreadsheet right there to go over proposals and scenarios with the boss...

The best thing, though, is being able to write and manipulate spreadsheets from the comfort of my couch, cuddling up to my wife rather than at my desk focused on a monitor.

RE: How many people are doing spreadsheets on a handheld?

flywheel @ 9/21/2001 5:57:08 AM #

Well, I'm new to this world!
And I've never used spreadsheets much anyway...

But....an almost fullblown spreadsheet that I can have in my pocket and is able to update at any time I want to....wonderfull to keep track of expenses....

Last month I bought, by impulse, a Palm Portable Keyboard and WordSmith..and actually it has become my primary wordprocessor...wonderfull for having some work dome during traintravel...
My primary reason for buying something like TinySheet would be to keep track of my expenses...due to the Excel integration I would be able to import the sheet into 1-2-3 for further analysis...

TinySheet 4 is on my to-buy list.
Hopefully BlueNomad will take advantage the the new API for integration purposes....that could be a rather nasty combination...

Live long and prosper...

RE: How many people are doing spreadsheets on a handheld?

Boomer @ 9/21/2001 8:33:27 AM #

I use MiniCalc - it is awesome. MiniCalc can also use files directly off of the Memory Stick on my Clie.

If you use a spreadsheet on your desktop/laptop, then you will also find it useful on your Palm.
I use it to track expenses, frequent flyer miles, business info [such as login ID's], ...

Having HiRes is what really makes it much more useful - you can actually see more than a few cells.

RE: How many people are doing spreadsheets on a handheld?

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/21/2001 5:11:59 PM #

As an engineering student, I used Quicksheet all the time.

I've since graduated, but I still use it often. There are limitations because of the small screen, but's definitely more than a novelty item

RE: How many people are doing spreadsheets on a handheld?

easypeasy @ 5/6/2002 5:09:59 AM #

I used and Excel compatible on my Power Zaurus in 1997.
It was a bit slow then, but has all the basic functions unlike DoToGo :)

See how much we've progressed in five years... now you have to buy it as an optional extra.

argh. iambic, what are you doing?

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/22/2001 3:37:09 AM #

great. woo. like there aren't 17 zillion spreadsheet apps already; COULD YOU PLEASE UPDATE FRIGGIN ACTION NAMES ALREADY? fer cryin' out loud, stop letting your marketing department drive sales, and let customer requests instead...at least for a little bit. i know people who want this, me included.

thanks and with much love.

RE: argh. iambic, what are you doing?

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/24/2001 11:48:47 AM #

I totally second that, and add my argh! to the mix as well.

RE: argh. iambic, what are you doing?

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/25/2001 4:58:40 PM #

I second the sentiment of the first comment.

How can Iambic let one of their flagship products (and a very good one too) fall so far behind the operating system? How many months is it now? All their dbase says is 'considered for a future release'

How many angry customers bought it for their m50x and find they can't use - STILL! - their os4 features? In business, the LED is invaluable when a beep just won't do.

Iambic, this is the first product I have bought from you. Please do not make people who bought this since the m50x series came out pay for the upgrade. I won't.

tinysheet v4

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/23/2001 4:25:09 PM #

inspite of many comments from bea users, Iambic issued this new version with major problems including many of the date and time functions don't work!

I can't understand the developer's attitude!!

RE: tinysheet v4

I.M. Anonymous @ 9/24/2001 8:52:34 AM #

Be sure we did test it and thought all major problems were resolved before release. Anyway, we make all efforts to get bugs fixed as soon as they are discovered, and we're happy that our customers be the real judges!

If you have specific details about any major or minor bugs, please post them so we can look into it more.

Thanks.
J.F.
(iambic development team)