Pocket PCs are Windows desktop companions, according to Microsoft. Palm organizers, meanwhile, are simply desktop companions. So it should be no surprise that Palm organizers are much easier to connect to Linux desktop computers than are Windows CE devices. But it is possible to do it with both types of PDAs and this article should help the "penguin lovers" out there make the connection.

Let's start with Palm and then tackle Windows CE.

Palm OS. There are several utilities available to help you connect a Palm organizer to your Linux desktop. Red Hat, possibly the most popular Linux implementation, offers the Pilot-link utility. Pilot-link provides command-line connectivity via your desktop's serial port. At the shell prompt you can enter the command string ln /dev/ttyS0/dev/pilot -or- ln /dev/ttyS0/dev/pilot depending on whether you are using COM port 1 or 2. You can then use the command which /usr/bin/pilot-xfer to check for the Palm synchronization tools. But you'll probably want to install J-Pilot in addition to Pilot-link. J-Pilot adds a graphical user interface (GUI) to make synchronizing your calendar (see desktop screenshot below), to-dos, and contacts much easier.

If you'd prefer KDE desktop synchronization software you may want to try KPilot (see desktop screenshot below).

OK, Palm was easy but how about Windows CE?

Windows CE. Sorry. There are no such Linux synchronization utilities available for Windows CE devices at this point. But with a little bit of Linux coding you can make the ultimate connection.

Here's a link to an excellent example:

Connecting Linux and Windows CE via Serial & IrDA by Arthur Tyde and Bryan Abshier of Linuxcare, Inc., from Chris DeHerrera's CEWindows.net site - March 2000

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