Using just the built-in To Do List application can be done, but just the amount of extra work you've got to do indicates you'd be better off going with one of the other solutions.

ReDo is an excellent application, and if you can do without any type of coupon, quantity, or pricing information, I'd highly recommend it. In addition to being able to use it for your shopping list needs, it was designed for scheduling repeating To Do events, meaning you're almost getting two applications in one!

SmartShop has some good features, but in my opinion the overall interface doesn't lend itself to the way that I shop. If you shopped at more than one grocery store, you'd have to enter in the same items in each store's list, or perhaps consolidate into one generic "grocery" store. However, SmartShop is good for folks that want to always buy the same items at the same stores, and it's the only solution if you want to keep track of prices on items and total your purchases with your PalmPilot before getting to the checkout.

JShopper, on the other hand, fits the way I shop. When I need an item, I simply check that item off and at the same time I can quickly select an amount and indicate whether I have a coupon for that item. Or, I can easily check items with coupons as I clip them. The quick locate features lend themselves to keeping a large list of items (you'll be surprised how quickly this list will grow), as does the automatic removal of a purchased item when checking it off at the store. Missing is SmartShop's price feature, but I think just checking off each item on my PalmPilot as I shop is enough to ask of myself.

So, if you're looking for a way to manage your shopping lists with your PalmPilot, I'd say look no further than either ReDo or JShopper. Each application has its own strengths and benefits, and both have the potential to make shopping just a little easier.

Jason Perlow is a ZATZ Senior Technical Editor. When he's not recompiling his Linux kernel or scouring the net for great Linux software, he can be reached at perlow@hotmail.com.