Which Palm / Pocket PC Should I Buy to Run PlecoDict?

We often receive e-mails from prospective customers who are interested in buying a Palm or Pocket PC device primarily to run PlecoDict and want to know which particular type/model would work best with our software. What follows is our attempt to answer that question. Feel free to contact us at support@pleco.com if you have any more questions after reading this page.

Suggested Palm OS Models

Low End: Palm Zire 31 or Z22

Each of these models can be found for under US$100. Please note that the Z22 is only able to run the Basic edition of PlecoDict; the Zire 31 has a memory expansion slot, so with the addition of an inexpensive SD (Secure Digital) memory card you can run any PlecoDict edition on that. (a 64MB card can be found for around US$10 in many places)

Midrange: Palm Tungsten E or E2

These models generally cost around US$200 (or a bit less for the E). Their main advantage over the Low End models is that they come with high-resolution screens, which means that each character has four times as many pixels (dots) as it would on a low-resolution screen; this makes Chinese text much more readable. The E2 also supports Bluetooth, which allows it to browse the web or check e-mail with a compatible cell phone and service plan. Each of these models requires an SD memory card (see above) in order to run the Professional or Complete edition of PlecoDict.

High End: Palm TX or Treo 650/680/700p/755

The TX costs around US$300; the Treos range from US$200-$600 depending on whether or not you buy them with a cellular service contract. The TX is faster than the Low/Mid models and supports WiFi (802.11b) so you can use it to access the internet if you're near a wireless hotspot. The Treos are combination handheld/cellphone devices, so they can browse the web, check e-mail, and receive phone calls, and they have built-in keyboards which make Pinyin input a breeze. (they also have touchscreens, so you can still use them for Chinese handwriting input) Both the Treos and the TX have high-resolution screens. The Treo 650 and 680 require an SD card in order to run the Professional or Complete edition of PlecoDict, the TX and Treo 700p and 755 do not.

Suggested Pocket PC Models

Microsoft keeps very tight control over the changes its licensees can make to Pocket PC hardware designs, and because of this there tends to be much less variation between Pocket PC models than there is between Palm ones. Microsoft's website has a very nice listing of current Pocket PC models:

Handhelds

Smartphones

As of February 2008, every model listed in each of these guides has the necessary specifications to run PlecoDict, so pick whichever one you like best (or can get the best deal on). If purchasing a smartphone, make sure that you get one with a touchscreen; Microsoft uses the same "Windows Mobile" brand name to refer to both touchscreen-equipped and non-touchscreen-equipped phones, but our software will only work on the ones with touchscreens. (the "Smartphones" link above lists only those touchscreen-equipped phones)

As far as specific recommendations, for non-phone devices, our top recommendation at the moment would be the HP iPAQ 110/111/112/114 series (the model number varies in different markets but the hardware is identical); for phones, we recommend the Treo 700w/750 or the sliding-keyboard HTC models like the TyTN II.

You'll also want to purchase a memory expansion card (we recommend at least 1 GB) in order to store all of PlecoDict's data files; the format varies depending on the device but a 1 GB card generally won't cost more than US$10-$20. The retail price for most new Pocket PC handhelds seems to hover around US$300, and for smartphones it's closer to US$500-$700 depending on your cell carrier and service plan.

Used Models

Many people are surprised to learn that our software will actually run quite well on a used handheld; in some cases these can be had for as little as US$30 or $40, so they're an economical way to get started using our products. eBay and other online classified and auction sites are the best place to find used Palms. (used Pocket PCs are also available, but the majority of those are too old to run our software)

There are dozens of different used models available, most of them made by Palm and Sony. The three main features to look for are Palm OS version 4.0 or later, a 320x320 or 320x480 high-resolution screen (not required, but it makes Chinese characters a lot easier to read), and an SD or Memory Stick expansion card slot (needed in order to accommodate PlecoDict's massive data files). With the release of the next version of PlecoDict, many features (including the flashcard system) will only be available on handhelds running Palm OS version 5, so we strongly recommend that you pay the extra for a Palm OS 5 model.

Some particular models to look for: the Palm Tungsten T2, Tungsten T3, Tungsten C, and Zire 71/72, and Sony Clie NX60/70/73/80, TG50, or TJ25/27/35/37. Used versions of the "suggested Palm OS models" listed above will also work; the Tungsten E in particular was very popular a couple of years ago and there are lots and lots of used ones available now. The differences between most of these models are pretty minor as far as running our software is concerned, but generally you get more if you pay more, so try to find a model you like the look of that's within your price range.

Note that most used handhelds come with little or no warranty support, so try to purchase one from a seller with a generous return policy and be prepared for the possibility that they could stop working after a while. If the cost of a handheld represents a serious investment for you, it would probably be best to purchase a new model so that you'll be covered by the manufacturer's warranty.

Some of the new models discussed above may also be available on eBay at a substantial discount over their retail price, though the same warranty concerns apply.

Note: the preceding reflects only the personal opinions of Pleco employees, and is not intended as a statement of company policy or an assertion of fact. All trademarks are property of their respective owners. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.