Customer Reviews

Xircom Rex-3 DS Organizer with Docking Station

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I like the Rex more than the RexPro precisely because it doesn't allow data entry. Instead, I enter everything into Outlook (where it belongs) using a real keyboard on a real screen. Then, before a trip out of town or to the corner, i replicate Outlook to Rex and I have all my info in my pocket. Wonderful!

A memory card with an LCD display. Resumes, procedures, driving directions, articles, anything that you would want to keep handy or save for later reading can be put into the rex. Imagine carrying your favourite news articles from your favourite newspaper in your pocket in a small inconspicuous package. The price is even lower. I hope more people see the benefit of a REX over a Palmpilot. It'll be a shame if this product disappears from the market like most non-popular products do.

It's definately useful-- in fact, if you find it as handy as I have you'll have to stock up on those little batterieis which, unfortunately, it does go through a good number of. The display is super easy to read! And the company, though under new management is quite helpful-- my LCD screen got cracked and when I called in they let me pay half price for a new one and shipped it right out. And this price just can't be beat! Plus you get the docking station-- The computer interfacing is easy! If you want a portable computer buy a laptop-- if you want a great, handy, affordable PDA that you're not constantly worrying about buy the REX.

This gadget is great. I was able to remove about an inch of paper from my day timer and a pound from my back. All the information I need like, my bank account number , my grocery list, websites I want to visit, all my friends email addresses, phone numbers and all those appointments I kept on scraps of paper. I now keep this in the same little wallet that I keep my business cards and spare change.

I bought my REX to solve the problem of carrying regular size PDA when all I need is my telephone book and my notes - like shopping list or a short memo . I would feel kind of stupid to look thru my Palmheld being in a veggie aisle in a supermarket, so the size is a GREAT plus. Any of the existing PDAs are bulky and I think everybody who ever had one would agree with me ( even superslim 3Com models owners). I think it worth every dollar I spent on my REX since it cost almost nothing and it comes with a docking station, which cost more then entire kit when sold separately ( which makes no sense for me). It has a leather case, which I found very attractive, memory is more then enough for its functions and Xircom has pretty decent tech support ( but not an 1-800 number, so be ready to pay long distance). BUTÉ. I have a laptop and when I was going to buy it I thought " how nice that I would keep my COMM port free and will stick it into my PCMCIA slot to sync it", but I never ever was able to do this, I called tech support and they told me, that REX does not support PC card slots made by several hardware makers Ð I can tell you for sure that Texas Instruments 1131 card bus controller is one of them I wish I had a list of conflict hardware before I bought it. So if you want to use PC Card slot for sync Ð check your hardware manufacturer first, otherwise youÕll have to use cradle ( minus some space on your desk and plus an additional cable) and youÕll loose your port. But overall I found it very useful, dirt cheap, and the size will make you forget about all its cons. About previous comment Ð there is a possibility to import your Outlook contacts and calendar into REX desktop software, but if you make updates in your Outlook youÕll have to import a new version again and again and again. I have 2 organizer software on my computer now Ð maybe not very convenient, but you can live with that. I think it may bother you if you have 2 different organizers synced with one computer. If you are going to use REX only Ð you may use its software Ð I found it pretty and convenient. Backlit display, however, would be a big plus, but again what do you want for this $. IÕm sure that paper notepad in a leather cover would cost more.

REX and its included Starfish organization software is a flexible and easy-to-use organizer. Only the requirement that all input be via computer to REX prevents me from giving it five stars. I use Schedule+ as my base organizer software and find that importing its data to the REX version of Starfish's TruSync software is simple and painless, as is the synchronizing download to REX. The current price of $50 for the REX, its docking station, and its software CD is an amazing bargain. The ability to load any text including whole stories and books (in aproximately 200K chunks)into the Memo section is a plus for me, as is the ability to use REX as a stand-alone alarm clock. I get around the update-from-computer-only restriction by keeping notes on the pad carried in the included leather case until I return to the office and enter them into Schedule+. I would recommend REX to anyone who already uses Schedule+, Sidekick, Outlook, or any other PC organizer software as a simple way to take your calendar, contact book, todo lists, and other notes and references with you in the smallest possible package!

I will not repeat all the excellent reviews already posted. However, I do give REX five stars because although you cannot enter data directly with the basic REX, you can move up to the REX Pro, if you really need that capability. Otherwise, why bother? The leather wallet that comes with it has a handy packet of business-card size note paper that I use to record any information I need to enter later on my PC. Using a Zip drive at home and at work, I can also easily update and transfer the latest data between work and home, working at either place to update my REX card.

The only missing feature is where to find additional business-card sized note paper to carry in the wallet. I have to use blank business card stock from an office supply outlet as the handiest replacement. Hopefully, I will find a supplier for the paper one of these and may be the manufacturer (or Amazon.com) will oblige.

For me, the ultimate benefit is size as well as function. I used to carry a Week-At-A-Glance mini-organizer (paper) in my pants pocket. And last year, I started using a Franklin Planner (paper). Now, I carry REX and will never have to replace an address book ever again! Plus, it holds so much more than the mini-organizer and most everything I really need from the Franklin Planner. Bliss!

The Palms and other electronic organizers never impressed me--too hard to input data, too expensive, not quite small enough. My trusty Day-Timer was smaller, more convenient, and cheaper. But the Rex changed all that. It's easy to use--the data goes into my laptop Outlook application, without any of those clunky styli or miniature keyboards. Synchronization takes literally a few seconds. (Note: if you use a laptop, you don't need the optional cradle). The batteries last about 6 months. And the thing is so small that I can slip it into a shirt or jacket pocket. This is technology I can use!

I received one of these as a gift recently. My first thought was "this is exactly what I need." I often have to scramble from one city to another, often at the last minute and it's easy to miss important meetings.

If the software worked with Meeting Maker, I'd be happy, but it doesn't and for some reason when I convert from Meeting Maker to Outlook, the software hangs during the Outlook import. So basically, the thing is useless for me. Starfish and Xircom apparently have no interest in helping me out. Too bad, because it's really a great idea, a small, inexpensive, essentially disposable gizmo with a lot of memory.

I'm really pleased with this cute little product - and now you can synchronize with Excite it is even better. I can fill out meetings and notes and addresses at work, using Excite, and then they will be automatically put in my Rex when I get home. I lost my previous address book but because all my files are at home and on Excite I finally feel that my data is safe. The only problem is that some of the Rex's fields are too short for a long e-mail address.