Palm Pre

As far as Top Producer is concerned I would suggest you contact them about their plans for Palm in the future. I synch my TP database to my Palm Centro and chose that route rather than a Blackberry because I didn't want to spend another $15/mo with TP. The downside is that TP is a download to the Palm, not real time. And your contacts and schedules aren't the "Palm" contacts and schedules as they would be with Outlook or Palm contacts. This means that even though you have at TP contact on your phone, the caller id won't recognize the contact unless they are entered into the phone's contacts. However, you can dial out from the TP database. Considering where technology is today I would say the TP Palm app is quite antiquated.

Chris

Chris,

I agree that TP on Palm OS isn't the best setup. More and more agents are switching to Outlook for Contact and Time management. Many agents are looking for ways to cut cost without shinking advertising or other business building needs. Free Outlook can be one of those savings.

Dick

Dick,

I know this isn't the forum to talk about Top Producer, but I wanted to follow up your post. I often wish I had pursued the Outlook path because of the money I spend with TP. After 4 years I think it would be difficult to switch. And I was disappointed with the rollout of 8i that didn't seem ready for release when it was introduced. That aside, I utilize many of the features and plans and I believe it keeps me more organized and saves me more time than if I used Outlook. And when my laptop died last week it was a relief that I could access my contacts from any computer! I preach backing up to everyone else but seldom do!

Chris

Chris,

Actually this is a forum to talk about contact management and programs like TP. I do teach a 3 hour class on both Contact Management and Time management and the reason I do is how it ties into Mobile Technology. In watching agents work more then 90% of the time they use their Smartphone for contact and time management. If you want to make a phone call and you are sitting in front of your computer what do you do? You don't look up the number on the computer, you find them in your phone. If somebody ask you about next Tuesday at 9:00 what do you do? You don't look it up on the computer, you check your calendar in your Smartphone.

So whatever system you operate has to play with the phone! Had a comment yesterday about the fact TP was loaded on a Centro and how it didn't use the Centro's contacts so no caller ID, not good!

I have 600 contacts that I consider Primary like clients etc out of over 2,000 loaded into my Smartphone. I can't tell you the last time I looked at my contacts on my computer.

I say it in my classes, some Contact and Time management programs make your Smartphone dumber, why not pick a program that let's the Smartphone be as Smart as possible.

Dick

Julia,

Wow you are setting yourself up for a rough time! New computer and first Smartphone at the same time!

You have a deadline of the 14th which not sure why but that might not be the best plan. All the phones you listed are good devices but you need to explore how they operate with your wish list. Sorry I can't say buy this one because I do not have some of the programs you listed. Ask around or better yet let's see if anybody here is using the programs you listed.

Hey group, anybody using the following and if so what device;

TP

Housevalues

Prospect Plus

Zip Forms

Also about the computer, go to some place like Best Buy or call Dell and give them your shopping list.

Dick

I too have had tp for several yrs and am disappointed w 8i. just gpt a mac book & storm.will be dumping tp asap.too slow & over done.

Good write up Dick!

Have you seen a side by side comparison website? I'd like to compare the iPhone - Palm Pre - HTC Touch - Blackberry Storm

Your thoughts?

-Andy

Andy,

Not yet because Palm hasn't released the Pre yet for people (like me) that would do a side by side. I am sure in the next 30 days or so we will see a side by side.

Dick

Andy - if you do some Googles of each phone, you'll see some cool videos that give you a pretty good idea.

I have heard the iPhone is too cumbersome for much typing.

If you want to specifically Google videos, just go to http://videos.google.com

Sean Goerss
Realtor, St. Paul, MN
www.RealEstateTechnologyExperts.com

Debbie,

You ask about when the Pre is going to be releases, I checked Sprint's website they have added spec etc. Check out the website you can use your mouse to spin the Pre around. I also heard the GSM (AT&T) model is close to being released.

http://now.sprint.com/pre/?id12=iSearch_MA_010809_Pre

Dick