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Chapura KeySuite

paulceaston by paulceaston
Last updated: 09/08/2007

Chapura KeySuite

Chapura is a company that Chou Doufu is proud to support.  I've used Chapura products since I purchased by first handheld device (Handspring Visor).  Actually, anyone who has synchronized a Palm OS device with Microsoft Outlook has most likely used Chapura's PocketMirror as the conduit, as it is provided with most Palm device installation CDs. 

The purpose of this lens is to introduce my favorite Chapura product: KeySuite.  KeySuite is my primary PIM.  Since I tend to look up contacts and check my calendar more often from my phone than my laptop, I probably use KeySuite more often than I do Microsoft Outlook to stay on top of my schedule and look up telephone numbers.

I hope that you find this information useful.  If you do and you decide to give KeySuite a try, please get the application by clicking on links provided on this site.

You can download a trial version of the software now by clicking on this link. 

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Thank you for your support.

 

 

Pros

Why I Bought It, Use It, Love It

Below is a list of those features that I led me to purchase the product and have kept me from switching to competing products. My intent is not to provide a comprehensive list of features. That would make this lens too long and you can get this information easily elsewhere. Rather, I focus on those features that are of most use to someone like me: an Outlook power user and road warrior who manages several teams and projects and needs to stay on top of multiple calendars and contact lists. If you want a full list of features, click here to visit Chapura's KeySuite pages on Handago.
  1. Supports Multiple Outlook Items: I have to manage multiple projects. Each project has its own SharePoint Team Site with a calendar, contact list, and one or more task list. I also have a personal calendar, address book, and task list. In addition, I have Google calendars from a Google Hosted Apps account that I manage for members of my family which I synch one way from Google to Outlook. I use Microsoft Outlook 2007 to view and manage all these these items.

    KeySuite was the one device that would work with the Palm OS that allowed me to easily synchronize my multiple calendars, address books, and contact lists.

    For the past four years I've use various Treo models (currently I have a Treo 680). KeySuite works well with the Treo and it is easy to navigate among my multiple calendars, contact lists, and calendars.

    Unlike other application that use categories to separate multiple calendars, KeySuite uses folders and it supports an unlimited number of folders. You can have thousand of calendars if your device has the memory to support them.

  2. Superb Technical Support: It is hard to find decent technical support these days, especially when it comes to Palm application developers. But Chapura has consistently provided the best free customer support of any software company I've sought help from. In addition to quick, on point answers to any questions I've submitted by e-mail, every application I have ever purchased from Chapura remains available for download on the company's Web site for years after I've purchased the software, without having to pay for any kind of extended download service. Also, the software is not tied to your HotSync identity, so if you change your HotSync ID (e.g. when you upgrade to a new device) you want have to repurchase the software or beg for a new registration code.
  3. Supports ALL Outlook Fields: If you are an Outlook power user, you probably have more fields than the few customizable fields provided in the factory-installed datebook application on your Palm OS device. That mean all 19 phone numbers, all three e-mail addresses, and all three mailing addresses. Never again will you need to have multiple contacts for the same person on your handheld device.
  4. Categories are for Categories: Many applications that use the default PIM databases on the Palm OS use the "category" field to distinguish multiple calendars or for other purposes. That is a problem for someone like me who uses Outlook categories as the main means of organizing my events, calendars, and tasks. I use categories like tags and replace the need for foldering by grouping my items by category. Moreover, I use Taglocity to give del.icio.us type tagging ability to Outlook. Taglocity uses the Outlook categories field. Because KeySuite uses its own databases and supports foldering, it can leave the categories alone and sync your categories on Outlook with those on my Treo. That means I can navigate among multiple calendars AND within a calendar, among my Taglocity tags/calendars.

Cons

Problems, Annoyances, Let Downs

Nothing in this world is perfect, not even KeySuite. Below I discuss those aspects of the program that bum me out.
  1. Doesn't Play Well With Others: Because it uses its own proprietary databases, rather than being built atop those that come with the Palm OS, Key Suite will simply not work with many other applications. Most annoyingly, this includes the factory-installed applications on devices like my Treo 680. The phone dialer will not show your contacts in its address book. You can dial from KeySuite, but I have not found an easy way to send SMS messages from contacts in my KeySuite address book. I'm not sure why some do and some don't. It probably has to do with who has worked with Chapura to get information on the database. Anyway, I'll compiling a list of applications I've tried that do and don't work with KeySuite. See below.
  2. EXPENSIVE: KeySuite is an application created for power users. Business people, supervisors, and road warriors with complicated lives. The application cost reflects this. At almost $70 (as of 09 SEPT 2007) you could almost buy a low-end palm! But if you are someone that NEEDS its functionality, then you are probably someone who can afford it. NOTE: Prices my change more often than this lens is updated. For the current price, CLICK HERE.

The Competition

Other Good PIMs for your Palm

I love KeySuite, but I realize that it may not be for everyone. I've used other applications and am aware of popular alternatives. While on this lens I am acting a bit as a shill for KeySuite, I do try to provide information to help you make your own educated decision. I don't want you to buy something I recommend and feel that I misrepresent it or that there were better products available. Please do your own research. Check out some of these major competitors.
  1. Datebk5: This is an advanced version of Datebk+, the calendar application that came with the Handspring Visors. For less than half the price of KeySuite, it provides one of the most advanced feature sets of any datebook application available for the Palm OS. I've used the product and loved it. But for heavy Outlook integration, it isn't so hot. If you don't use multiple calendars in Outlook and don't use many of the extra fields then check out Datebk5. If you ONLY use your Palm OS device for the calendar (and just backup the data using the Palm Desktop software) then DEFINITELY check out Datebk5. In addition to be a rock solid, feature-rich application, it has great tech support, an active user base, and all profits go to charity (a Gorilla sanctuary, last I checked). Find out more about this application and download a trial version from Handago, by CLICKING HERE.
  2. Aggendus: I've never used Aggendus, but this feature-rich productivity suite by Iambic is very popular. There are several versions of this program. You can learn more about each one by clicking on the links below.

KeySuite Strangers

Applications that DON'T play with KeySuite

The following are applications that do not play or play well with Chapura KeySuite. I'm only adding those that I have installed and tried out. I'll only try a very small number of applications; so if you know of any others that don't work (well) with KeySuite, please let me know by posting about them in the Guest Book, below.
  1. YourCall for Palm OS Professional Edition. I have not installed the professional version, as the standard version, which I bought, does not work with KeySuite. Also, there are a lot of complaints about the professional version interfering with calls and other bugs.
  2. YourCall for Palm OS Standard Edition. I installed and purchased YourCall based upon the great reviews it received on various Treo blogs. But many of the features will not work with KeySuite. You will need Iambic's Aggendus or the standard Palm apps. It is unlikely that Iambic will choose to support one of its major competitors.

KeySuite Friends

Applications that play with KeySuite

The following are applications that play well with Chapura KeySuite. I'll only try a very small number of applications; so if you know of any others that work well with KeySuite, please let me know by posting about them in the Guest Book, below.
  1. Chapura CallLog+. Not as rich in featurs as YourCall, but if you simply want to log your calls, this is a great application that works with KeySuite. It syncs information about calls you made and received, including any notes you made about the call with Outlook's journal and associates them with the appropriate contact.
  2. Slap by Hands High Software. I love this little app. You can type in date or address info and send it to your datebook or calendar and it will fill in the forms for a new contact or event. Or you can just take notes and send it to your memos app. This is pretty much where I do most of my typing. Much quicker than choosing an app, clicking, new, and navigation among fields. Just open Slap, type in the info, and slap it into the appropriate application. Very cool. Only problem is that the Treo 680 doesn't have a memo button and it his hard to give up one of the other buttons to map it to Slap.

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paulceaston

I am the Managing Director for Global Colleague's Asian operations.
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