Have had the Datebk3 since my second (PalmPilot Pro) Palm organizer. Have the
PalmIIIx now. The newest version is even better, there is a 6th screen added
that gives a multi day review, located after the yearly view. I know I don't
use all the features, but what I do use is great. The 4 Meg of RAM in the IIIx
make its large size not very important. Recommend it very highly. Too bad US
Robotics, now 3 Com did not buy this version of PIM in the first place.

Because I consider the Datebook the most important part of my unit, I try
out every enhancement that appears. I have tried Datebk3, but it is
ActionNames that I use. Datebk3 is full of features that, to me (and others
I know), are of no practical use. The preference choices are endless, and
of little benefit: is someone really going to bother to set the display so
that priority3 todo's in one category show, while those in another do not?
Icons can be helpful, but only if they serve as more efficient indicators.
Here they do not, as they are no improvement on plain text . I put them in
(manually! how else?), and never looked at them. The year screen is
unreadable: what was it supposed to do? And if I have a busy day -
appointments and a list of todo's - the screen gets jumbled and hard to
read. Datebk3, in fact, does not change the appearance of the built-in
Datebook at all - yet this is where change can make a huge difference in
clarity and functionality. ActionNames greatly improves appearance and
readability, by using different fonts and sectioning off appointments and
todo's (and also automatically inserting one of three icons, so that one
can easily distinguish between meetings, todo's and calls - the latter two
being the most typical todo's).  I use all its displays (the trimester one
only rarely, though). Moreover, the entry of appointments and todo's is far
easier in ActionNames: it is easy to call up the Addressbook, and a timebar
shows exactly what is open. Three caveats: there is no provision for repeat
ToDo's, FindHack is not supported, and the program is not Flash-rom
enabled. Still, it is my clear preference.

Philippe D. Radley

Although I've tried Datebook3, I didn't get much value out of the extra
views (week, year etc). In practice, I found they added little extra
functionality.

By contrast, Iambic's ActionNames did far more. Integrating the ToDo's
with daily & weekly events was useful (so you can see everything that
you have on each day). The customisable screens in the latest version
also extra flexibility.

I'm sure that each user of this type of software will have slightly
different needs, depending on their circumstances. Personally, I felt
that ActionNames took the Pilot'sbuilt in applications much further than
Datebook3.

Colin Malsingh

I cannot do without this pilot program.
Lenny Bauer
So. California

Hi:

very good of you to review datebook 3. I find the program SO useful that
I really don't mind the space it takes up!
One thing on it's speed though: If you install Ecohack and speed up the
clock for datebook 3 to 21 or 23 Mhz the speed is NO problem. I do this
and it works fine.

Cheers: Evert, Holland

The datebook 3 is the best add-on program for any PIM I've had inclduing
HPs, Zaurus, Wizard,etc.  I wish 3Com's Desktop could keep pace with these
innovations!

I have had datebk3 for some time now, and it just keeps getting better!
Plus the author will actually return my email when I have questions!  As
for the large memory, that was a minor problem before I upgraded to the new
TRG board, but now I run it in flash, and that works out great! Palm III
users can purchase flash from TRG and do the same with out any other
upgrade, and it is well worth it! Also, I have eliminated other software,
no longer needed, such as snoozer, todo plus and quick agenda as datebk3
does all what they did and better (and fewer resets!)

This is also as close to bug free software as you can get, I have had zero
problems with datebk3. Wish I could say the same about a lot of other
software I use/try! (Snooze loses it snooze, bug me is always causing a
soft reset, etc.)

This is one the best values on my Palm!

Larry

Great review.  I am also a fan of the program, which is permanently
assigned to the calendar button.

A couple of things that I could Add.

+ Datebk3 can be put in flash to overcome the ~200k memory usage.

+ Try out Shuji's IconEditor to enhance the icons.  It is easier than
doing it on paper or in your head.

My only other question - Why do you keep 4 _years_ on the pilot still
<G>

Thanks,

Roger

Julie,

I just love DATEBK3!  I've found that it replaces not only the original
DateBook app, but also TealGlance and Snooze (I never could get Snooze to
work reliably anyway).

     - David Lavin

Great review of DateBK3!  I registered early on, and the folks at
Pimlico Software have been VERY responsive to users' suggestions.
(Especially, those who register!)  As for the size: Yes, it's large, but
I got a Palm III, and, using FlashBuilder, installed it into the Palm
III's FLASH RAM.  This freed up a lot of space.  The features/functions
far outweigh the size issue for me.

My only complaint was that editing the icons was difficult, but with the
new IconEditor program, it's a snap.

The different views are great, and the ability to copy events and create
templates has been invaluable.

3COM should use DateBK3 as the next replacement for the native DateBook
app.  I have tried all the other DateBook replacements/enhancements, and
DateBK3 is the only one I bothered to register and use daily.

Keep up the great reviews!

-Jim Barr

Julie,

Didn't know about the year view.  I'm just reaching the end of the 45-day
trial.  Time to register and get the new features!  For about $50, you can
get an extra 800K out of a Palm III using TRG FlashBuilder software.  This
program is loaded in my flash and takes no "real" space.

Brian

Datebook three is a perfect example of software that REALLY executes
what the Date module in the Palm OS should do. It's fantastic! The
categories feature, however, can't be reconcilied within your desktop
file that you sync with, until a conduit is written to handle that. That
is too bad because the abailty to filter  JUST what you want to see in
Datebook 3 is one of the incredible features of it.

Julie/Tom,

Excellent review of datebk3.

The ability to attach icons to events really make the month view and
yearly view useful.  Now if
we could only attach icons to todos that would make it perfect.

Dave

Saw the review and I'll start off by saying that Datebook 3 should be the standard app for the Pilot.  I've used it for sometime now and enjoy it.  One thing that should be mentioned is that even though Datebook3 is 176kb, it can be installed in Flash for those with the TRG SuperPilot boards.  Just wanted to pass that on to you.  Keep up the great work.

Leo