How do you perform a HotSync synchronization when your PC is so far away? Well, you could perform a Modem HotSync operation, but that of course requires that you carry your modem, find an analog line to plug into, and pre-configure your PC with a modem as well. But if your PC is hooked up to your company's LAN or WAN (local area or wide area network, respectively), you can drop your organizer into a colleague's cradle (provided that he or she has a HotSync network connection as well), press the HotSync button, and voila, you are synchronized with the PC back on your own desk!

Also, if your network is equipped for remote access, you can use your PalmPilot Modem to synchronize with your desktop PC even if you're nowhere near another computer. All you need to do is dial in to your network, and the HotSync software will identify your PC on the network and synchronize--even if your desktop PC has no modem on its end.

How do you take advantage of this new Palm III feature? Honestly, this can be a little confusing, so pay attention. First of all, the PC that you normally synchronize to must be connected to your workplace's LAN or WAN in order to synchronize to it in this way. If you don't have a network at work, there's this great little company that can sell one to ya. Here's a clue: it starts with the number "3," ends with "Com" and also makes your favorite connected organizer.

Okay, here's the tricky part. If you have a new Palm III organizer, you don't need to buy any additional software. What you do need to do, however, is download a special "enabler" program from the Palm Computing website (see the product availability section at the end of this article). Don't worry, it's free and it won't take long at all to download, but you must get it in order to activate the HotSync network connection feature. Now, if you were a PalmPilot Professional organizer owner, you have previously used the Network HotSync software and you have now got yourself a Palm III organizer, you don't need to download this enabler. The Palm Desktop 3.0 installer is smart enough to know that you've already been using Network HotSync and will make sure that you can continue to use it after your upgrade.

Poking around
Did you office manager forget to order more paperclips again? Whatever will you do if you need to reset your Palm III organizer? Sure, if you've got a paperclip laying around when you're at the office or at home, you can unravel it and use one end to poke the reset button hiding in the back of your organizer, but what if you don't have one handy, say, out doing survey work in Yellowstone Park? Please don't try to use a twig.

If you thought the new stylus that comes with the new Palm III connected organizer was cool because of the new metal shaft that gives it a more comfortable weight or because you can get it in different colors, just unscrew the top of your stylus (the "butt" end) and you'll find a surprise. Under the plastic cap, you'll find a small blunt pin that you can use if you ever need to reset your organizer. You still need to be gentle when pressing the button, but it's the best thing to use next to the good ol' paperclip.