The main competitor to Datebk is Agendus by iambic. Below are some posts (slightly edited) that were made to the Datebk Yahoo group regarding the differences between the two products. To gain an unbiased viewpoint, I suggest you also ask for advice on the Agendus forum. There have also been several other posts on the Datebk group about this topic; the ones below are merely the ones that I saved when they were posted. Add more posts or your own text to this page if you wish! There is also a good comparison page.
Note that reasons to use one product or the other may change with future versions of the products.
This page has not yet been updated for Datebk6. There might also be new versions of Agendus to be considered. But let's face it, Datebk is still better. :)
Top 10 Reasons Why Datebk5 is better than Agendus 8:-
So therefore, Datebk5 vs Agendus 8 = drum roll Datebk5 WINS!!!
Firstly, as has been stated before, Agendus is pretty much focused on Contacts and the appointments are all driven by contacts (and yet I find it strange that only with this latest Agendus 8 Pro can you link to more than ONE contact per appointment – something that has been requested for YEARS)… Datebk5 is definitely mostly concerned with Appointments and Events (including things To Do) but integrates the functionality to allow for linking to multiple contacts, Todo's, memos and other events and has since Datebk3 days (and maybe earlier).
You have the "advantage"(?) of having a device that is "doing its own thing" in the way of Contacts and Appointments that the latest version of Agendus now "supports". However, you are paying for a product that is touting features and functionality that is NOT equally supported with all devices… Meaning if for whatever reason (good, bad or indifferent) you change to another device, you LOSE those features in Agendus – yet don't bother asking for a refund ('cuz you won't get one). By "supporting" proprietary databases of one or two devices and saying that it's a feature of the app itself, you're simply asking for trouble.
Datebk5 links to Contacts, Todos, Memos and other Events on EVERY DEVICE. Datebk5 supports Categories on EVERY DEVICE. It uses icons and color, Templates, Saved Views, etc., on EVERY DEVICE. You change to a different device tomorrow and the features are THE SAME. Yes, navigation on the device may be different (and device- specific), but the FEATURES of Datebk5 are IDENTICAL. You just cannot say that with Agendus. (Soon they'll have to split off into different versions of Agendus… Agendus 9 Pro for Tungstens, Agendus 9 Pro for CLIEs, Agendus 9 Pro for Low-res devices, for Smartphones, etc., etc.. And each will have its own upgrade schedule where they'll charge you for bug fixes and maybe one small extra feature.)
Datebk5 supports the use of locations – and has done so LONG before the T3 was even a twinkle in PalmOne?'s eye – it is the CONDUIT that decides if the information is synced to the desktop and vice-versa. And Datebk5 runs just FINE on the T3 (I know, I have one). I've disabled the DataManager Patch that palmOne included since THEIR patch was buggy, but there are T3 users who have chosen NOT to do that and are not having any problems (tanker_bob is the main one I can think of off-hand).
Admitting that Agendus ITSELF is buggy, and then putting that ON TOP OF the buggy DataManager (DM) Patch from palmOne is just downright SCARY to think of the potential problems you could run into… CESD knows not only that the DM Patch is buggy, but he's FOUND the bugs and has worked around them for Datebk5! Iambic seems like it's having a difficult enough time just trying to keep up with their OWN bugs, much less any present on proprietary devices. (But they don't seem to have any problems claiming that the features of the devices are features of their software. Hmmm…)
So, it may look like Agendus gives you the "full potential" for your T3 but you'd certainly have a tough time trying to convince ME. (I saw the potential for my T3 as soon as I disabled the DM Patch and have been BLAZING along in Datebk5 – and all other apps – since.)
What I don't like with Agendus is the bugs which the programmers do not seem to notice, or care to correct. Also on any view, knowing which day is to-day is a pain. The contact history is nice, but once you rename a contact, it's history is lost.
What I like is the ability to display the phone book by company. For any company displayed, all contacts from that company are listed and you can view any of them.
I also like the interface. I could start using the program without even reading the manual: everything is so intuitive. The 2 only times I had to consult the manual is to know whay's the bottom right button is for (go to to-day button) and what is the Tap & hold menu.
As someone looking to upgrade my clie datebook I offer the following observations, I am not a 'fan' so this is totally unbiassed.
Overall Agendus seems to be that very modern phenomenon of style triumphing over substance. If you want something that looks really good to upgrade in a few months I would say Agendus is an excellent choice. If looks are less important than functionality then Datebk seems to be the choice, I will probably purchase before the trial is up , just checking everything works as I expect :-)