In the end, I couldn't keep my urge anymore and decided to upgrade from Zire 71 to Tungsten T3. One of the main reason was the small 16MB memory of Zire71 which makes it difficult to store many of my often used programs. With the Tungsten T5 just launched for several months already, the Tungsten T3 price has been steadily reducing in price. 64MB I figure it is more than enough for my needs. Besides, I have many accessories like my travel charger that can be used on the T3, but not on the newer T5.
So in the early January 2005, after getting my bonus pay, I went round checking the prices of PDA. I found a shop that actually did trade-ins and selling second hand PDA devices. I thought of maybe buying a second hand T3, but my wife advised me to buy new though the difference in price was about RM$200. A brand new T3 was going for RM$1,100. It had drop much since its initial launch from RM$1,500+. Ah, how the prices drop for digital devices! Boon for consumers because it becomes cheaper to buy, bane when you have to sell it at a much cheaper price!
And that's just it! I traded in my Zire 71 for only RM$300! Even though the 2nd hand price is going for RM$600. I asked around my church members but there doesn't seem to be any takers. Though one regreted not making the decision to buy from me when I told him about my trade in price.
Ah, them the breaks!
The Tungsten T3 has a very spacious 64MB memory, though cannot compare with that of T5, which has whopping 64MB+256MB flash memory! I could still wranggle another 6MB of flash ROM memory using JackFlash program. Till now, I still have plenty memory in my T3.
Somehow, the O/S version that came with this T3 was faulty. I had many syncing problem with my PC. Until finally even my input alignment was out! I guess I regreted a bit for getting such a device with so much trouble. But nevertheless, I made a complaint to Palm Inc and they request that I send in my Palm for warranty.
I opted for repair rather than replacement, since my device is still kept in very good condition. Yep, went without a PDA device for two whole weeks! Fortunately, I don't rely heavily on this thing for my daily work. More of like having one for the fun of it! Still it has many useful stuffs like dictionary and Holy Bible, which I use regularly!
Finally the device was repaired. I doubt they change my Tungsten touch screen, though they did load up a newer O/S version. The alignment problem was solved. Though it still happened when I reloaded my backups. I just deleted the offending DB file, though it took me awhile to hunt down the misbehaving file.
I guess the new O/S version is better, because it has also solved all the bad syncing problem I experience previously. The downside was a few of my software couldn't be used anymore and causes a memory manager error! Though the program was useful, but it wasn't essential. So I just deleted it.
Voila! My Tungsten T3 is working as good as new!
And now, the itchy finger starts again! With the launch of the new Tungsten T|X, it has a host of features that seem pretty enticing, like WIFI, longer lasting batteries (the T3 batteries sure drain out fast!), and no more sliding panel (which was actually more troublesome than useful anyway!). Though the memory was reduced in size to 128MB as compared to T5, it is still very spacious and very much more than enough.
Right about this time, my good old Hewlett Packard HP320LX, which I have been dutifully keeping it alive for sentimental sake by recharging the AA batteries every so often, the LCD screen was showing sign of damage. At first, two bubbles appeared on the LCD screen. Then, the whole screen was turning black! I think the LCD liquid is leaking within the screen! It makes it very difficult to see the display. Ah, well, I had this PDA device for so long since 1997! It's amazing a digital device lasted this long anyway!
I guess I won't recharge the device once the screen turns totally black! It's like unhooking it from a life saving support machine! There goes my old very first PDA device.
And will I be upgrading to the Tungsten T|X?
Let's just wait and see how I can stay my urge to upgrade...