Casio Cassiopeia PV-S400Plus Pocket Viewer

Sorry to take so long to get this review done. My other digital diary had crashed & so I ordered this in the middle of the worst & final huge tax deadline of the year and I am still crawling out from under the aftermath. The Casio is everything I expected and exactly as presented on Amazon. It arrived in great shape & only a couple of days after ordering it, so your service was amazing! I hadn't expected it to arrive for a couple of weeks after ordering it, so Thank You! It is quite simple to use, just like other reviews said. I am still trying to find time to figure out all the synching capabilities and whether or not it will synch to Excel. I believe the reviews about it said that it would but I haven't yet had time to figure that part out yet. I HAVE successfully synched it to my PC which is great - - it's the first one I've had in the last 20 years that I have been able to figure that one out! Again, service, advertising, price and product are GREAT and everything I expected! Great job, Chris & Amazon!

If you're looking for an inexpensive PDA to help organize your life, and don't need things like full color screens and wireless e-mail, look no further. I wanted a something to help keep me organized, but didn't want to spend hundreds on a bunch of high-tech toys I didn't need. The Cassiopeia PV-S400Plus Pocket Viewer is simple to use and a great value for the money. I read some reviews here complaining of it using up batteries quickly. I don't know where they're getting that. I bought one of these seven months ago and haven't had to change the batteries once. Highly recommended to anyone who needs an inexpensive, no bells and whistles organizer.

I've recently upgraded to the PVS400 Plus from earlier inexpensive PDA's and I'm thrilled with it! It's not as heavy as Palms, looks just as sleek and is the best PDA ever...

It includes all the basic functions... multiple contact lists (personal, business, etc.), great calendar functions (one time events up through yearly birthdays - all with optional alarm functions, which activate even when PDA is off!), memo areas (one where I keep passwords, medical info, emergency info and the other which is free-hand to take down quick notes, phone numbers, etc.) expense area (not used - can't comment), games (2), calculators, and a super large screen which avoids need to "wrap around" and scroll down to read... all of which can be password protected!

I purchased mine for $50, including cradle and set-up disc. For those who have Outlook Express (OE) which you can't sync with, (unlike the real "upgraded" Outlook), it's great that Casio has it's own operating system (OS). I couldn't tell you how many PDA's (4 at last count!) I purchased, and returned, because I couldn't sync w/OE and/or OS's weren't included.

This is a great gift... update family info on PC program and download into various PDA's and voila! Great for students of any age, kids finally moving out... they'll all have current contact info, birthdays, medical info, etc. at their fingertips, and with individual docking cradles, they can update as needed.

I could go on and on... I even talked my Dad into buying one and he loves it!

If you're not looking for email, camera functions, etc., this is the PDA for you! For $50 you can't go wrong... trust me!

I have used the PV-S250 for over two years and recently just got the PV-S400Plus for even less because the PV-S250 has been rather well used and I didn't want one of these overcomplicated power hungry expensive units. The software is virutally identical, so I was interested in extending the life of my PV-S250 and the PV-S400Plus was just the item.

I use the unit for two things: I make notes of system network ID's, device names, logons, common command syntax, support phone numbers, etc. and I synchronize with outlook all the time. I carry it around in my pocket and check my scedule liberally. The system can carry about 100 alarms, so I usually get a beep at my default reminder time in my outlook (15 minutes before a meeting). I also have access to all my Tasks and my Contacts.

The really useful aspect for me is the ability to modify my contacts, add phone numbers, email addresses, personal information, etc. to my Casio and then synch it back with Outlook. I can also take everything in my Outlook Contacts and Schedule with me whereever I go and never have to worry about remembering to put something into my Outlook if I have my PDA available. On the systems which I support that I don't touch very often, you can't imagine how useful it is to have the system ID number, network address or device name available because I saved it in my handheld. Plus, if you need to, you can password protect those items.

I am not interested in email on my PDA or anything really complex. I don't need an MP3 player or wireless web access. The spreadsheet capability is great if you really want to invest the time to synchronize with the Excel tool, but the screen is so small, that I find it not very worthwhile and I don't use it.

The simple expense tracking system is very useful and simple. I use it to track expenses on business trips and it does a great job.

I have not, as of yet, had any problem synchronizing with my PV-S400Plus, but I did occassionally with the PV-S250 and it was a royal pain to have to then do a full-synch since it ran about 9600 baud the whole time.

If you have a modem, you may wish to make sure you don't have interrupt conflicts, because my past experience with the PV-S250 was that it didn't like my fax modem being on at the same time.

One other drawback is that if you want to sychronize any of the other information like your notes, you do have to make a separate transfer from PCSynch. I don't like this aspect and I rarely use it. To date, I have never lost anything from memory in two years. I wish it had the ability to synch with the notes folder in Outlook instead. Also, while the Excel compatibility gives the unit a bit a power for calculations, I personally would rather have a it be able to read WORD files instead. But that is getting into bigger color units that are expensive.

My PV-S250 is still performing flawlessly even though it is showing some serious wear on the plastic exterior. Nevertheless, the unit has never failed me and the batteries last for over a month with regular use...try that with a color handheld PC!!

Three months ago, I went out and bought an expensive PDA. I returned it after one week because I did not find it to be a very good value. I found the PV-S400Plus on sale for peanuts just recently. It is a VERY good value and I have only had it for less than 48 hours. I'm considering getting a few more as a gift for my family. Here is what I like about it:

1) Syncs very well with Outlook (contacts, calendar, to-do)
2) Nice text sync program
3) The finance program looks simple and efficient (although I don't use it)
4) Pocket sheet is supposed to sync with excel although I still have not gotten that to work.
5) Cool Chess program and other games!

For what you are paying, and the value this delivers, you should have no complaints. You could pay 20 times more for something with better connectivity, storage capacity, and features, but that's what desktops are for. This device is small and synchronizes well with Outlook and Act! Buy one of these and take your desktop with you.

I've had the Casio Cassiopeia Pocket Viewer for some time now and have found it to be a PDA worthy of rivaling any Royal brand organizer and can surpass any Sharp or other brand name organizer (under $100) I've seen out in the market. Among its many features, includes a calendar, scheduler (complete with To-do list, reminders, appointments, etc.), expense manager (which can calculate expenses by payment or expense type from particular dates), conversion calc, two games, and memo. In addition, it includes a Quick Memo feature which enables you to simply write out what you need to remember. You can also create a screensaver which briefly appears every time you turn on the Pocket Viewer from this feature. I especially like the great backlighting on this PDA. Also, I enjoy the Pocket Sheet feature which enables you to create your own mini spreadsheets. I've found it particularly useful for keeping track of class and textbook reading assignments. Apparently, you can also download Excel documents from your PC into your Pocket Viewer and vice versa, although I haven't tried it myself yet. You can also download other documents (games, etc.) from the Casio website by installing the free software that comes with your Pocket Viewer onto your PC. So overall, I'd say this PDA is great for anyone who wants the feel of a PDA (this PDA is actually more slimmer and easy to take along with you than most regular PDAs I've seen)--that is easy to use and has some good features on it-- without having to spend $100s of bucks for.

My old Sharp Zaurus was too bulky and I needed a PDA with a scheduler, a system that allows me to jot down notes, something to keep me busy when I'm stuck waiting and a phone book. I was shocked at how well this inexpensive unit does all of that. The scheduler allows you to link appointments with contacts in your phone book - double bonus. Another plus is the `quick memo' that allows you to write notes on the screen. Negative: the cradle has a serial port while many PCs have USB connections. You can buy a converter for about $...though.

I have used a Palm III and Palm VII. I wanted a [inexpensive] Palm-like organizer, so I bought this unit. THe display is dim and fuzzy. There are NO INSTRUCTIONS for installing the PC Sync software, and no troubleshooting help available. The device would not communicate with my WIndows 2000 or Win 98 PC. It comes with a serial port connector (not USB) and "PC Sync 99" software. The unit is light, toy-grade plastic, the touch screen is too sensitive. There is nothing about this device to recommend. Spend a few more bucks for a Palm or a Handspring.

I bought this a few weeks ago and I can not remember the last time I got more for my money. It keeps you organized and that is it...period. Not alot of fancy junk, but for the money you can't beat it. It takes a little while to figure out because the manual is less than stellar, but anyone should be able to play around with it and make it work. It links well with Microsoft Outlook. All I can say is I am happy with it so far and I have the piece of mind to know that I didn't give up a mortgage payment just to have a handheld!

I've had mine for a year and it has functioned beautifully. Pocket Chess is fun -- you can switch turns to either white or black depending on how challenged you are at any point in the game. What's most functional are the different calendar views with appointments, multidate items and to-do items, as well as a contact book. I copy my emailed travel itineraries to memos on my PC's planner and then press the sync button on the cradle -- downloading it to the Pocket Viewer. This makes my itinerary available in a moments notice, and literally as close as my pocket. The best testimony i can give to its durability is the night it survived after having slipped out of my bivvy bag, and then under it, on the side of a mountain. Having become soaking wet and bearing the weight of my body too, it functioned just fine after i dried it off. Amazing!

This organizer works great with Outlook! You can store all of your contacts in the organizer and take them wherever you go.

***BUT***

Using the Pocket Sheet Sync to send and receive Excel files is like pulling teeth. I have tried changing every setting on my computer and in the software, but this will NOT work at all for me. I am using Microsoft Excel 2000 on a Windows ME system. I can send the files from the organizer to my computer, but not the other way around. The error tells me that I need to contact technical support, but they aren't helpful with this issue at all. The only thing that they could advise was that I change the batteries. I tried that to no avail. They had no other suggestions.

HORRIBLE LITTLE PRODUCT--WASTE OF MONEY AND TIME

I just wanted something handy that would remind me when bills needed to paid, when appointments were scheduled, and maybe a little extra. The Cassiopeia provided the scheduler/reminder function that I wanted and even a notepad to jot notes down that don't necessarily need to be scheduled. It runs on batteries, so it doesn't have an adapter. But the alarm sounds even when the PDA is off. It also serves as an address book, which is very handy for me. I know there are awesome PDA's available that do so much more, but this is all I really needed. If an electronic scheduler is all that you need in a PDA, then I recommend it.

The answer is yes. The CASIO PV-S400 Plus is a serious business tool with some games thrown in to help maintain your sanity. Over all it has been easy to use and increasingly more and more useful. It just seems like there is always one more use or piece of data it can maintain. In regular use both the PDA and the desktop application are used. The PDA provides the instant access to either retrieve or save data, and the desktop application makes it easy to make updates.

The screen is very easy to see and has adjustable contrast. In normal and even poor lighting the backlight is not needed. It is a little taller than some of the other PDAs so either get a case specifically made for it, or try it out before you buy one for it to make sure it fits. The slightest touch can turn on the PDA so it is good to keep the cover on. When using the PDA the cover can be snapped onto the back for temporary storage. The connection to the computer, being serial instead of USB, is dated but works very well, and synchronizations take less than a minute.

On the desktop side there are three applications, Harmony, Pocket Sheet Sync, and PC Sync. Harmony is used to Synchronize Outlook Contacts, Schedule, and To Do. Pocket Sheet Sync synchronizes spreadsheets with Excel. PC Sync lets you manipulate all the applications except Pocket Sheet. With PC Sync you can do all the data entry easily on the desktop system, transfer it over to the PV-S400, and then save a backup copy to disk.

The built in applications are Pocket Sheet, Scheduler, Contacts, Memo, Expense, Quick-Memo, PC Sync, Secret, Conversion, and Game.

Pocket Sheet - Is a basic spreadsheet program. I am just a basic Excel user and so can not comment on it�s limitations, but it does do everything I need plus a lot of functions I never have used.

Scheduler � It can be viewed as a one, two, or three month view, or weekly and daily views are also available. Things can be added as schedule for a one time event with alarm, and note or as a reminder. Reminders have the option of being repeated every day, week, monthly on either a specific date or day, and yearly on a specific date or day. The alarm is soft and unobtrusive, shutting off after about 15 seconds, which is perfect for me.

Contacts � Contacts can be listed by Latest Calls, All, Business, and Personal. The available fields are Name, Phone (H), Fax (H), Mobile, Address (H), E-mail, Company, Phone (B), Fax (B), Position, Department, Address (B), and Note. The Note field can contain 1,890 characters counting spaces. There is a drop down menu for selecting the particular list you want and the alphabet at the bottom for quick selections. It does lack a search function.

Memo- Memos are good for To Do lists, notes, urls, details on your cars or whatever else. A memo is able to accept 1,953 characters.

Expense � Track expenses by day, amount, type of payment (cash, check, credit �), type of expense (mileage, fuel, parking, taxi, meals, phone, entertainment, hotel, misc.), and then a field for a note. Data can be viewed by Payment type, Expense type, or description.

Quick-Memo � This is a free style note pad then lets you write and draw. Just like everything else it can be synchronized and saved to the desktop system.

PC Sync � It is there but don�t know why, since it is easier to do it from the Desktop PC Sync application. To synchronize plug the PDA into the cradle, then click the synchronize button. The PDA will automatically power up and synchronize. Then touch the Off button on the PDA and tilt it forward in the cradle to easily lift it out.

Secrete � This sets up a password protected secrete area in the PDA. Data can be added to this area and then only accessed by entering the password.

Conversion � A money conversion application, displaying any three currencies at a time from the list. The list is US, DEM, FRF, ITL, ESP, NLG, BEF, PTE, ATS, FIM, IEP, LUF, GRD.

Game � Mine only came with two different solitaire games.

They now come with more bundled software such as calculators, and more games.

For more information on them check out:
[web sites]

To verify the character counts a document was copied into the desktop application PC Sync that would fill the particular field. It was then synchronized to verify it would all show up in the PDA. Then from PC Sync it was copied into Microsoft Word to get the character count.

I have the Cassiopeia PV-S450/400Plus and I have had it for 3 years. I LOVE IT! I thought I was ready for a "real Palm" and ended up returning it because my Casio is so easy to use and so "down to basics"! I hotsync it every couple days, depending on activity, and I have never had a problem with it. The batteries seem to last forever. I did get it VERY WET once and i thought it was ruined. I took the batteries out and propped the door open for a day or two and when it dried out it was business as usual. It is absoluetly wonderful and I don't think I'll ever buy a "real palm". If you are contemplating buying one, definitely do it as you won't be dissapointed!

After having a Palm VII for 2 years I realized that more is not necessarily better. The Palm only had 2 megs of ram and was getting dangerously low in space. I didn't have funds to get a more expensive PDA and basically only use it for schedule and contacts. The PV-S400 had 4 megs of storage. Twice that of the Palm VII. Monochrome interface is passable, still hard to see against indoor lighting sometimes. Performance is quick though and the interface is intuitive. Warning though Casio's sync software tends to get confused if you have a modem hooked up to one of the COM ports. But there are workarounds. For less than $50 bucks, this is a smart little pda.

All features of this PDA worked as expected except for the update of Excel spread sheet files. When the spreadsheet files are sent back to the PDA, via Pocket Sheet Sync program, cell attributes change. This problem has been verified by Casio technical support.

This is the best handheld I have ever had. It by far surpasses my old one in any catagory. My cousin got one, and I tried his, and liked it. You can download games onto it from a CD. it has a downloading base to do that.

Okay, you were right. The manual is USELESS and it is difficult to figure out how to synchronize. However, my whole life is in there now and I love it. I will contact Casio to iron out the bugs in syncing. Overall, it works great, is easy to configure and compact. Now I can simply grab my purse and go.

I bought The Casio PV 400 for my wife for Christmas. Now I'm back on ordering another one for myself. This is a great PDA for the price. It does all the basics, Calendar, contacts, To-Do lists. You can even download a bunch of programs from the internet for addtional functions, ie: handwriting recognition. This little PDA is even better then the new Palm Zire, the Casio has a backlight, Zire doesn't. Casio has 4 mb of memory, Palm only 2mb. Casio has made a fantastic product for a fantastic price!!!

It may only be black and white and lacks many "wow! cool!" feactures. But if all you need is an appointment calendar and phone book, the PV-S400+ is what you need at a reasonable price.

Plus, if you have Outlook (not Outlook Express) on your PC, the PV-S400+ can synchronize calendars and address books through the cradle which connects to your PC serial port.

This is a basic organizer. You can't call Aunt Sally, take pictures of your "oh-so-cute" baby, surf the internet, open your garage door or a can of dog food with this unit. If that's what you expect, look elsewhere. I wanted a simple, small organizer that would let me keep a list of contacts, schedule, memos, and some other basics. I wanted the Xircom Rex, but it's not made anymore, and I wasn't about to pay exorbiant prices for a discontinued unit. So, I arrived here. Not bad. It's a bit larger than I would have liked, the screen cover is a little flimsy, but once again, for the price, it's exactly what I wanted and not anything more.

I just received the item I ordered in yesterday's mail. It arrived promptly and very well package and was even better than it was described with all original packing items included with software and accessories. The seller also contacted me very promptly to let me know of receiving my order, and then again to inform me of it's being shipped. I would recommend this seller highly.

The Casio Pocket Viewer is excellent for being cheaper than a Palm Pilot. If you are looking to just organize your life this is the way! You really don't need to spend hundreds of dollars to organize your life. This is the way to go.

As another reviewer also found out, I had a terrible battery life problem, running through several (expensive) AAA pairs very quickly with little use...Since I live in Mexico and bought this on a trip to NY at Compusa, I probably won't be able to get a refund...now I'm buying a Sony Clie on Amazon. My advice: stay away from this cheapo stuff. Although the PV 400 is a very decent "lo-fi" PDA, you're better off buying quality products!

I looked at the Palms and the Handsprings but was unsure if I wanted to spend so much on something I wasn't totally sure I'd use. I happened to see the Casio at the store, asked about the return policy in case I hated it or it didn't work with my computer, was assured I could return it if needed, and decided to take the plunge. I got it home and within a few hours I was hooked. I'm not sure how I ever lived without this thing! I've already stored tons of schedules and address book info, and 4 or 5 excel worksheets and I've barely touched the memory capacity. The only problem I've run into is finding a nice case that fits comfortably, but that will be resolved eventually. I definitely recommend this handy little gadget!

I was shopping for one of the more expensive PDAs, but I always had my eye on the PV-... When I saw that Best Buy had dropped the price of theirs... I couldn't pass that up. This little device is a bargain for all the things that it does. If you do not need to surf the internet or process large documents, this is the device for you. If you are looking for a basic organizer that has the functionally of the more expensive units, this product can't be beat.

It's not just an organizer, it's a full functional pocket computer. It's not true it cannot support handwrite recognition - you can upload a graffiti software ....It can be your real pocket friend :)

Overall, I find the PV-S400Plus to be a very solid product. I tend to be fairly rough on electronics and other delicate products, and haven't managed to break this after 2 months of hard use. I only find one or two real problems with it.

One is the lack of built in handwriting recognition. Even the 2MB models from Palm have this feature. However, there are software programs (PVMerlin) that are available for download and install that will do this for you.

Which brings up the other problem. Adding software to this Pocket Viewer is, so far, a task I wouldn't put on anyone but a very computer literate person. Any software I have had to add to my PV I have had to practically re-write so that it could be installed without any problems. Using SDKs (Software Development Kits) is generally confusing, so I don't recommend using them to anyone who doesn't know computers well.

However, I am sure that as this model becomes more popular, more programs will be written for it by original programmers, which will make things easier on us all.

I always tell people that if this ever falls out of my pocket, I'd have to call my wife for directions to get home. This little thing keeps me organized! All of my appointments are in here, and if they aren't then I'm in trouble. It is easy to use, and holds up to 10,000 items (4 mgs of memory). The unit is backlit, and the indiglo light will stay on for up to 30 seconds. I thought that it would take some getting used to become comfortable using the stylus to peck and poke away at the letters and numbers, but it was easy to learn, and you can actually use your fingers if you have to.

The PV400 Plus also has a memo pad, an address list, a calendar for the next 200 years (should one live that long), and a couple of solitaire card games. But for those who are looking for more perks such as email, mp3 download capability, and a color screen, you won't find it here. You'll have to get a Palm Pilot or a Sony. But if all you need is an easy way to organize your life, this unit will suffice.

The only negative thing I would point out about the PV400 Plus is that it seems easy for dirt or dust to get underneath the LCD display. There is one prominent piece of dust right in the middle of mine, and I always feel tempted to want to wipe it off and I have to remind myself that I can't because it is embedded inside the glass. You'll want to keep your PV400 plus under its plastic cover whenever you are not using it.

I have been using the PV-400 and the previous model PV-200 for a couple of years in my charter fishing business and it works great. It is perfect for keeping all my bookings up to date and syncing with my PC. I also have several years worth of contacs and other data. The ability to jot down quick notes helps my overloaded brain remember important items. The to do list helps me keep up with my boat maintence. I have used this device on the high seas for a couple of years it a salt enviroment and droped it too many times to count. Its like everyready bunny, it just keeps on ticking. Now what I would really like is a casio and cell phone combo.

Thanks
Dan

I received this as a gift. I was real excited and ready to use all the features. However, my excitement was short lived. In the three weeks I have had it, I have gone through at least 5 pairs of batteries. It seemed as if every other time I tryed to turn it on, the batteries were dead. Also, I never did figure out how to work the PC synchronization. I tried from home and work and never could get it to work. Even after printing out the 300 or so pages of documentation. I finally decided mine must be defective since it was eating batteries so fast and I was hardly using it, so I took it back to the store and got a full refund. I would not recommend.

I Like My Casio S400-plus alot. I use it every day in many acaishions. I mainly like if for it reselution and its compactness. I highly recomend you to by one!!! because I am a very disoganized person an this helpes a lot with school work and remembering things. I also want to down load some stuff for my Casio S400-plus, but I don't Know if all of that palm os and palm pilot ect... is compatabal with my S400-Plus. if you Know Please tell me in a review "and" or "or" a good wed site for downloading programes. Thankyou!!!
Excuse my spelling sorry!!!

This piece of equipment is great for the price. I would like to find a keyboard for it, if one exists:).

My wife is not the most technical when it comes to electronics, however she LOVES her new toy I bought her. It is a very basic model for doing basic tasks and keeping records of phone and finances. Perfect for the technical beginer.

I like it, but the backlight could stay on longer.

If you are like me, and basically just need to be better organized without having all the fancy "web-surfing, camera connecting, etc" capabilities of the more expensive organizers out there, then the Casio PV-S400 Plus is a sure thing for you!
This little sleek & stylish organizer comes with most everything you will need! And if you feel like you need to add in a few things to expand, then you can easily do so by downloading free software available on the internet and uploading it to your unit! It's as easy as that! It comes with a nice, very bright backlight to access information in total darkness, and the overall ease of use is quite good. The PC-Sync software is adequate and makes it easy to transfer information from your PC to the unit. The only draw back is that it's 4MB of memory are not expandable. If you are a first time buyer looking for an inexpensive pocket organizer, I recommend this one. It's a great buy!!

OK, I admit it...at first, I was scared. I had been exposed to the HP Jornada and the Palm at work (I work in the IS department, so although I didn't have one, I got to play with them). However, their prices were much higher (some 10 times higher). I didn't want to spend that much money on something I didn't know I'd use. Then, I saw the Casio Cassiopeia PV-S400Plus at a local discount store, and they had one out that I could tinker with. Since this was to be my Christmas present, my wife told me, "Go ahead, spend more money and get what you want." But, I kept eyeing this in the stores, so she finally told me to go ahead and get it. It did everything I wanted it to do. The manuals are virtually useless, but it can be figured out nevertheless. The syncs with Microsoft Outlook and Excel are awesome! And, for a few dollars, I have a PDA that does everything I wanted. If you're not stuck on a name, or don't have any use for whistles and bells, then this is the PDA for you.

Now, almost a year later, my wife has a new job, and she has decided that SHE needs one too! Since she works with spreadsheets, she likes the ability to transfer Microsoft Excel files to the Pocket Viewer. Also, there is a great Shopping List add-in that we've used dozens of times on our many shopping trips. It took me a matter of minutes to transfer my list of contacts to hers, using the PC Sync program. That's another great thing, if you want to do most of your typing on your computer, then transfer the files to your Pocket Viewer, you can do that.

I've seen a couple of reviews from people with battery problems, but mine still has the batteries that were shipped with the product, and I've had it now for 10 months. The backlight can severely curtail battery life, but I don't use it in the dark. I've carried it in my briefcase, my backpack, and in my pants pocket. I know plenty of people who have more expensive PDAs, and never use them, but I definitely use this.

I have had this pocket viewer for over a year and would be at a loss without it. It synchronizes beautifully with Microsoft Outlook to add your appointments, contacts and tasks to the viewer so you can have the information with you at all times.

I recently bought this PDA by Casio and was very impressed by several things about it. First, the built in applications are easy to use. And you have a choice of how you access them. Either tap on them from the main onscreen menu or select them on the menu bar right below the screen.Secondly, the PDA itself is easy to learn how to use. The "On" switch is clearly visible. It's big, blue and in the center where you can't miss it. The arrow buttons are on either side of it. Another well thought out part of the PDA's design.I would have preferred the "On" switch also be the "Off" switch as well. Instead, the "Off" control is located above it and to the left near the backlight key. Very odd considering most PDAs have an on/off button instead of seperate On and Off buttons. Fortunately, the PV-S400 Plus switches itself off after one minute if you don't do anything. This makes the seperate On and Off buttons no problem at all.Thirdly, the PV-S400 Plus has a very useful notetaking application built in. If you merely want to jot down a phone number or someone's name and number, you can just write it on the screen. This not meant for long notes or directions to someone's home or office. Just the sort of scribbled note you'd use a cocktail napkin for. When you're done, tap the "Save" button and it's stored away safely.You don't even have to spend time closing the file or exiting the application if you don't have time for all that. Just wait 2-3 seconds for the PV-S400 Plus to save the note and then you can turn it off.By the way, if the beeping sound the PV-S400 Plus makes every time you tap on the screen gets on your nerves, you can switch that off too. This is VERY helpful if you are working somewhere quiet like a library. That constant beeping sound can be extremely distracting to other people.All you have to do is switch off the beeping sound before you enter the library and then switch it back on after you leave. This also takes only a few seconds to accomplish.One thing that I was pleased to discover is that the PV-S400 Plus is ready to go as soon as you put in fresh batteries. Even though it comes with a docking cradle and a CD-ROM with extra software, you don't have to use them if you don't want to. It's your choice. I do just fine with the basic built in applications.The last thing I'll mention about the PV-S400 Plus is how light it is. It makes other similar PDAs seem heavy by comparison. Also, the clip on lid is useful for keeping the dust off the screen. It's not on a hinge so you don't have to worry about leaving it on or taking it off. It attaches and reattaches easily.All in all, the Casio PV-S400 Plus is a very useful little PDA if all you need is something to jot down notes and a few other basic functions. It's easy to use, very light, doesn't cost too much and is well designed in general. I strongly recommend it.

I was, frankly, totally nonplussed in trying to find out what handheld organizer would work for me. All I wanted was a decent amount of telephone directory information, and a few games; I could care less about using it as a camera, or accessing the Internet, etc. Nobody at CompUSA or anywhere else I went to, could do much more than point out what was on sale. I went for the new Royal purely because of price plus the keyboard cradle, but it never shipped, which was a good thing because I then read the Amazon reviews and they were not laudatory. One reviewer recommended the Casio, so I bought it. For a few hours, it was a bit confusing; the manual is a joke, and the online manual (after you install the software) isn't much better, but their telephone Technical Support got me going -- it is really a matter of operating style. If you can type, it quickly becomes easy to enter information with the stylus; however, it is simple to move the database from the PV to the PC or backwards. About the only complaint I have is that the built-in solitare games are designed for somebody with 20/10 vision, but even there, I could work it out eventually. There is a whole bunch of other stuff in it (currency convertors, clocks, reminders, calendars, etc., etc.) that I'll get to one of these days. All in all, I love it.

On a whole I loved my little Casio, but it had some flaws that really annoyed me. The PC sync only works on one computer for some unknown reason. You cannot take it to the office sync it with that pc, then sync it withyour home pc. Also, the sync option didn't work period for me. I couldn't get it to run. And the screen broke a week after I bought it.
That being said, I liked to planner function and address book alot. The format is wonderful. I also liked thetouch keyboard. Since grafitee is owned by palm, the casio uses a little on screen keyboard. It can be hard at first to use, but you get used to it quickly. I am buying a palm soon though. Mostly because of the pc sync issues, and the fact that more software is out there for palm os systems.