Palm Books
The Complete PalmPilot Guide
Late last year, two books on the Pilot appeared simultaneously in the USA, and small numbers have made their way to specialist bookshops in the UK. Now a new book on the PalmPilot has been released in the States by O'Reilly, and should be available more widely over here soon.
The better of the two original books was The Complete PalmPilot Guide by Calvin Parker, of the Palm FAQ web site fame. However, it only covers pre-OS3 models, and much of the book was a long list and review of software available at the time of publication, which dates quickly. If you have access to the web site, then you already have most of the information in the book in a much more up to date form that you can even install on your Pilot. The Complete PalmPilot Guide is published by MIS Press, ISBN 1-55828-586-5, for $29.95, and is supplied with a CD of Pilot shareware products.
The new book covering PalmOS 3 is PalmPilot the Ultimate Guide, by David Pogue, $29.95 from O'Reilly, ISBN 1-56592-420-7. I have been buying O'Reilly books for over ten years, since they were spiral bound quick reference books for Unix. My normal recommendation on technical books is that if O'Reilly publish a book on a subject you are interested in, you should buy it, because it is certain to be the definitive work on the subject. This one is no exception. As well as covering PalmOS 3, it also is structured better and is less likely to date. Third party programs are covered, but in a integrated review of each subject area, with each chapter ending with a set of executive tips for quick reference. As with the other books, a CD of shareware and freeware is included.
Words and design by:
Paul Lynch
Last updated: March 31, 1999