As an alternative to the GoType keyboard, it is also possible to use a Newton keyboard and the PiloKey software adapter. The Newton keyboard is a wonderfully comfortable keyboard and Landware will continue to support this solution in the near future. However, Newton keyboards will not be around forever.

Language
For those who are not gifted linguists, Small Talk from Concept Kitchen can help you get your message across. While the hefty (by Palm software standards) $79.95 price tag may deter some people, Small Talk is a graceful implementation of interesting idea. Small Talk translates what you want to say into the language of the country that you are visiting. It also provides potential answers in the foreign language . People you need to communicate with can read a translation of your question or idea. They can then choose from several potential answers in their language and tap a "translate" button so that you will understand their response.

This seems like 2001 stuff to me. I wondered if Small Talk would work in the real world. Oddly enough, PalmPower's editor-in-chief, David Gewirtz, was unwilling to fund my trip to Japan to try out the software in action, so I went down to my local gourmet Japanese fish store. I showed the staff the Japanese language introduction to Small Talk and within seconds we were tapping away at each other. Later I explained that I was doing field research for this review and asked the staff's opinion of the product. They wanted to buy a Palm organizer with Small Talk,of course, and all thought it was genuinely helpful. They were convinced it would really work in Japan, a country in which they explained to me that, "Everybody studies English, but few people feel comfortable speaking it." They also said that the Japanese translation was quite well done--that it was "good Japanese".

Small Talk Deluxe includes English, French, Spanish, German and Italian modules at present. The Japanese language module (shown in Figure C) which I had a sneak peek at, is due to be released very shortly, and will be included in all future versions of the product at no additional cost. Current owners of Small Talk deluxe will be able to download the Japanese language portion of the product without charge once it is available.

FIGURE C


Here's a preview of Small Talk's Japanese language module. Roll over picture for a larger image.

Another interesting piece of software is LinguaFranca from StandAlone. LinguaFranca's goals are not as ambitious as Small Talk, but the sticker shock is substantially less, too. LinguaFranca is a phrase book with about 250 phrases in each language, This may or may not contain what you are looking for, but with a little resourcefullness it will help you in many situations. What tickled me about this program is the sheer variety of different languages available. From Arabic through Hawaiian and Yiddish, your choice of 34 of languages is available.

Conversion utilities
Just how much in American dollars (or any other favorite currency) is that genuine antique ceremonial mask that you're just dying to buy? The menu price in lire is in the thousands, but how much will the filetti di halibut con funghi you are about to eat really cost you? If it's three in the afternoon, should you call the office back home or not?