Which PDA is easiest to synchronize or integrate with Lotus Notes and
Mail?  It need not be free: money is not a problem for us, but
maintenance and downtime is a problem.

Hello benreaves, 

I believe what makes the integration of a PDA and your desktop version
of Lotus Notes & Mail possible is the application, and not the PDA
itself. Since  all of the integration software I found supports all of
the main PDA operating systems in use today, selecting a compatible
PDA should not be difficult. Choices of PDAs depend on your needs and
personal preferences. At the end of my answer, I have listed some
highly rated PDAs.

I have found 6 Lotus Notes/PDA/PC integration programs that appear
user-friendly and easy to use, as well as 2 websites that can write an
integration application for you and an integration program for a
Handspring PDA. They all appear to be reliable and do what you
require. Since I can only rely on what I am reading and not actually
test the software, I would venture a guess that the first application,
XTENDConnect is the more comprehensive program. It has support for
multiple PDAs and multiple PCs.

===========================================================
Extended Systems offers a synchronization and management program
called XTNDConnect PC that allows you to sync several PDAs to a single
PC application (Lotus, in your case) and also several PC applications
to one PDA. The synchronization process is started from your PDA
without the need for starting the program on the PC first, as in many
sync programs. There are versions available in 11 languages, including
English, German, and Spanish. XTNDConnect supports PDAs with the
following operating systems:

Windows CE 1.0 , 2.0 , 3.0 , 3.01
Pocket PC, Pocket PC 2002
Palm OS
Casio Personal Organizers
Sony Ericsson mobile phones:
R520m, R300d, R300LX, T39m, T60c, T60d, T65, T68m, T61, T68i

http://www.extendedsystems.com/XCPC/Support/default.htm
http://www.pdastreet.com/articles/2002/12/2002-12-9-Extended-Systems-PC.html

The Extended Systems technical specs for their synchronization
software can be downloaded here, in PDF format. (This is a very long
link - if it does not work from within this answer,you may need to cut
and paste in sections)
http://www.extendedsystems.com/NR/rdonlyres/ezbvg2ammqqbpaz6a7yk7i7sujs2l2gma5c7hb74j6y4qevgll5prgocbazf2rpdqqyc6iyq7jhuuyjee5yqvuoabbg/XCPCDS0503.pdf

The cost of this application is $59.95 USD online, and has support now
for Lotus Notes 6.0
http://www.rimroad.com/articles/2002/12/2002-12-9-Extended-Systems-PC-print.html

One caveat about this interface, found also their own website:
?Question: You cannot use both Lotus Notes and Lotus Organizer
translators to synchronize with Windows CE. Why?
Answer: It is true that both Lotus Organizer and Lotus Notes share the
same database, but our translators do not. Therefore, you cannot use
both Lotus Notes and Lotus Organizer translators when synchronizing to
your mobile device. If you choose to synchronize with both the Lotus
Organizer and the Lotus Notes translators, duplicates will occur. ?
http://www.extendedsystems.com/XCPC/FAQs/Supported_Applications.htm#lotus_notes
Extended Systems can be reached at  800-235-7576

==============================================================

EasySync Pro, from IBM has an integration application for PCs and
PDAs, and supports these operating systems: PalmOS 3.x, 4.x,5.0;
Hotsync Versions 3.x, 4.x and Windows CE/Pocket PC 3.0 and 3.01, 2002,
Pocket PC Phone edition, Windows CE-based devices (OS version: 2.x).
The website says  ?place the PDA in its cradle and touch the Sync
button. All information on your PDA and on your Lotus Notes desktop is
bi-directionally synchronized, including deletions. For maximum
efficiency, EasySync Pro enables you to specify what information you
want to synchronize with Lotus Notes and/or download to your PDA.?
English plus French, Italian, German and Spanish are enabled
http://www.lotus.com/products/product4.nsf/wdocs/79bd8f7a75d604fd85256d73006e799f

and 

http://www.lotus.com/products/product4.nsf/wdocs/easysyncprooverview


Intellisync Software from PumaTech  also makes an integration
application for PDAs and PCs running Lotus Notes 4.5/4.6/5.0/6.0,
Lotus Organizer 5.0/6.0  . Intellisync supports Palm OS device
(including Palm OS 5.0 devices); WinCE, Pocket PC 2000, Pocket PC
2002, Pocket PC for Phones, Pocket PC 2003 .  The site presents some
nice screen shots so you can see what the interface looks like. One
caveat here: ? Intellisync does not support the synchronization of
Lotus Notes custom forms. If you create a new template that is not
based on the default template, Intellisync can not synchronize any
fields. Intellisync can support the synchronization of some fields of
a custom template if it is based on the default template.?
http://www.pumatech.com/is_desktop_main.html

The cost is $69.95 USD, online
http://www.digitalriver.com/dr/v2/ec_MAIN.Entry?CID=0&SP=10007&SID=43465&DSP=0&CUR=840&PGRP=0&CACHE_ID=0
=============================================================
Lotus EasySync Pro is another choice of  PC/PDA and Lotus Notes
integration programs. It supports Microsoft Pocket PC, Microsoft
Windows CE,  and Palm OS  PDA operating systems. The price range for
this software is $60-$90 USD online.

?Lotus EasySync Pro synchronizes your IBM Lotus Notes e-mail,
calendar, tasks, contacts and journal with your PDA. It lets you
choose which information you want to upload to your Lotus Notes
desktop and download to your PDA.?

http://www.dealtime.com/xPO-Lotus_EasySync_Pro_4_1_Full_Version_PC_AH09QML#fulldesc

http://www.dealtime.com/xPF-Lotus_EasySync_Pro_4_1_Full_Version_PC_AH09QML

http://prodspec.ibuyernet.com/proddescrspec_id_250492_LOTUS-AH09RML.htm


Mnotes I found through an online forum, as a recommended integration
package for the HP iPaq, but can be used on any PDA with Palm OS or
Pocket PC.  A sinlg license is $75.00 USD online. You can download a
free trial version too!
http://commontime.com/

Here is the forum link :
http://www.pocketpcmag.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2202
===========================================================
You might also have a look at this IBM application, Mobile Notes, from
IBM.  ?Mobile Notes works on handheld computers running the Palm,
Pocket PC  and Symbian operating systems, as well as on WAP? Runs on
IBM Domino Server.
http://wireless.newsfactor.com/perl/story/20369.html
===========================================================

This Train Your Way website claims to integrate your PDA to Lotus
Notes applications.  ?You select the tool and we will turn your Lotus
Notes applications into PDA applications?
http://www.trainyourway.com/LotusNotes/PDADev.htm



==========================================================
Gislen Software also connects Lotus Notes to PDAs. 
http://www.gislen.com/about%20us/technologies/lotus_notes_and_domino.htm

==========================================================

CNET has a good review of PDAs on this page. 
http://reviews.cnet.com/4521-6522_7-5021304-1.html?tag=tp

I personally like the Handspring Treo 600,  which incorporates a PDA
and a cell phone.
(I have the same model minus the phone capability and have never had
any problems whatsoever. The battery holds up remarkably, and I am
quicker on the keyboard than scribbling letters with a stylus.) This
model does not come with a docking cradle (but can be purchased) but a
USB docking cable. (I use this and actually prefer it as it takes up
NO room!)
http://reviews.cnet.com/Handspring_Treo_600/4505-6452_7-30520851-3.html?tag=subnav

The above review mentions that Treo does not come with software to
integrate Lotus Notes, but since that review, Treo has come out with
Treo Mail. According to Handspring, ?Powered by Visto, Treo Mail is a
personal wireless email service that provides integration with a
Microsoft Outlook/Exchange, Lotus Notes/Domino or POP3 email inbox.
The company said users can compose, send, receive and delete messages
right from a Treo Communicator using an existing business or personal
email account. Messages are formatted for the communicator display,
compressed and delivered securely between Treo and the desktop.?
http://www.visorvillage.com/articles/2002/11/2002-11-4-Handspring-s-Treo.html

http://www.pdastreet.com/articles/2002/11/2002-11-4-Handspring-s-Treo.html


Recommended too is the HpiPaq. 
http://reviews.cnet.com/HP_iPaq_H4350/4505-3127_7-30571424.html?tag=topprods



CNET also highly recommends the Sony SPH i500, but not if you need to
do ?Serious e-mailing?
http://reviews.cnet.com/Samsung_SPH_i500/4505-6452_7-20783166.html?tag=topprods


PCWorld recommends the Palm Tungstun T, which uses the Palm OS 5
http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,108406,pg,1,00.asp


If you have not purchased a PDA yet, make sure it uses one of the
operating systems that is compatible with the integration software you
select.

I hope this answers your question, benreaves. If any part of my answer
is unclear, of if I have duplicated any information you already had,
please request an answer clarification, and I will respond as soon as
possible.

Regards,
crabcakes-ga

Search Strategy:
Lotus Notes + PDA
Lotus integration software PDA

Thank you for your very thorough reply.  I'm sorry I was out of the
country for a while, hard to check internet during that time, so I'm
just now replying.  Why I didn't give it a 5?  Because you wrote about
the pdas that "can" be synchronized with Lotus Notes, but I was
actually looking for which one is the "easiest".

By the way, our company has decided to migrate away from Lotus and
towards share360, and I'm using a Palm Pilot, to our configuration now
is kind of stuck.