I’ve been using Palm devices since 8th grade. A total of three Palms have served me since then. My first Palm was an m100, then a Sony Clie PEG-SL10/U, and now my current Palm, a Zire 72s. I bought my first Palm to aid me in school, and I haven’t looked back since. Palm is a wonderful platform for students, especially if you’re a forgetful student like myself. Palms allow you to manage your school work efficiently while having fun in between breaks.

Throughout the years of having Palms I’ve played with a lot of Palm software. Some of it has been wonderful and found it’s way into my regular day to day use, while other applications meet the almighty delete shortly after the first Hotsync. Finding the perfect application can be difficult, especially since the Palm platform has a wide array of software choices. That’s why I’m writing this application guide for you.

Keep in mind that this top ten application list is being written in the eyes of a student. Since the Palm platform appeals to almost anyone, not all application are useful in every case. For example, business workers will want personal information manager applications, while the average joe is interested in games. While some applications may be useful for anyone, I’m really intending the list to be for students. Now that we got the basics down, let’s get into it.

10. Klondike Solitaire

Every device needs a solitaire application, even the Palm. While I’ve tried other solitaire applications for the Palm (and trust me there are a bunch), I keep on coming back to Klondike Solitaire. Maybe I keep on coming back to Klondike Solitaire because it looks good. Maybe I come back be because it doesn’t try to mess with the basic game of solitaire, like other solitaire games do. Or, it could be the fact that it came free with my Palm. Whatever the reason, it’s a damn good solitaire application and will definitely help you through those boring moments of class. If you’re unlucky and it doesn’t come free with your Palm, I’d say the $11.95 price tag is worth it.

9. HandyAid

Most of the time when carrying a Palm device from class to class, you’re going to stick it in your pocket. This can lead to the bumping of buttons on the Palm, turning the device on and wasting precious battery power. HandyAid solves this problem through a number of methods. It gives you the option to disable application button power on, require a special button modifier, or monitor if you actually start using the device.

HandyAid also allow you to turn the Palm off after an alarm (a common battery waster), dim the screen when not in use, turn the Palm off after various annoying power ons (such as Hotsyncs or SD card insertion), and even functions as a button launcher, allowing you to push one button several times to cycle through applications.

Although HandyAid isn’t free ($11.95) the battery power you’ll save is well worth it. Next time you pull out your Palm only to find it’s on with 10% battery power left, think of HandyAid. You’ll thank yourself later.

8. Bejeweled

Bejeweled is on almost any platform, and there’s a reason for it. It’s a highly addictive game and a great time waster. If you’ve never experience Bejeweled, you’re in for a treat. This is yet another game which will help you get through those boring moment in class or waste some time in between classes. Just don’t play Bejeweled when you’re suppose to be studying for a test, and you’ll be fine. Word of warning, this yet another application which isn’t free (I promise I have some free ones!). Bejeweled costs $19.95, but its replay value should cover that.

7. DA Launcher

Think widgets for Palm. That’s the closest analogy I can think of for DAs. DAs are small little applications which provide useful features. To run these little apps you’ll need a launcher program, which is similar to a widget engine on a PC. That’s where DA Launcher comes in. DA Launcher is one of many programs out there which will run DAs. I consider DA Launcher one of the simplest DA launchers, while provide useful features such as quick launch DA functionality. The best part of DA Launcher is that it’s 100% free.

Now that you have DA Launcher, you’ll need some DAs. My personal favorite is VolumeDA. VolumeDA solves the problem of forgotten alarms going off at the wrong time, such as during class. Launching this DA will toggle your sound to mute or back to it’s initial volume depending on what you did last.

6. DateBk5

Some people think that the basic Calendar application that shipped with the Palm just isn’t enough. I’m not one these people, but if you are there’s DateBk5. DateBk5 is all about making managing your appointments easier, and it does a wonderful job. Features such as color coded appointments, strikethroughs for canceled events, and powerful searching are all features DateBk5 adds to your daily schedule management. If your one of those who doesn’t think Calendar can handle your busy life style, then DateBk5 is for you; just be prepared to pay the premium of $24.95.

5. AvantGo

Want to read the news in class, or browse your favorite RSS feeds? AvantGo makes this a reality. What makes AvantGo better than the rest? AvantGo is partnered with several news organizations such as CNet News. These news organizations have custom Palm formatted pages, making things easier to browse. If you want to read something other than their partners AvantGo also allows you to add RSS feeds. It’s not going to replace your existing computer RSS reader, but it will help ease the pain when you’re away form it.

What I find great about AvantGo is that it can sync with your computer, sync wirelessly over a cell phone service (Treo models), or sync with a WiFi hotspot. Most Palm RSS readers will only allow you to sync one way, or are limited in their features. AvantGo has it all. Unfortunately Mac support is very shoddy, but if you have another method of syncing this application will serve you fine.

4. Palm Reader

Assigned a book for class? Save yourself the trouble of lugging the paper copy around and get the eBook. Palm Reader, my favorite eBook reader, will cover the eBook reading easily. It’s light and simple, focusing on the text instead of the features. However, if features are your fetish, Palm Reader covers the basics and more.

3. Documents to Go

Alright, I’ll admit it. This is a cheap choice, since it comes with just about any Palm nowadays. However, it still ranks up there among my favorite applications. Documents to Go (Mac version) is the office application for Palm. Documents to Go allows you to carry your school essays or spreadsheets with you at all times, and even edit them on the fly. With support for Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and PDF files, this application is just an essential for any student.

2. powerOne Graph

If your taking any math related courses you’re going to need a calculator. The basic Palm calculator just doesn’t cut it in these situations. That’s why there’s powerOne Graph. powerOne Graph is a fully functional graphing calculator which ranks up there with real graphing calculators such as the TI models. In my opinion it just doesn’t rank up there, it exceeds. Palm’s high resolution screen makes estimating functions a breeze, and color coded graphs help distinguish between functions. It’s hard to explain all the features without confusing the non-Math geeks out there, so I won’t. Just know that if you need a graphing calculator, this is the one.

At only $59.99, powerOne graph is a steal compared to the basic graphing calculators. A basic graphing calculator will set you back at least $100, while one with this functionality will cost you in excess of $150. Just keep in mind that you may not be able to use this calculator on certain tests or with certain teachers. For example, the AP Calculus test prohibits Palm calculators to prevent cheating.

1. Due Yesterday

If you’re a student you’re going to have assignments to manage. I find that the basic ToDo application that comes with the Palm just doesn’t have the functionality I need for managing them. That’s why I use Due Yesterday. Due Yesterday makes managing assignments a breeze. You can categorize assignments by class or due date. You can even keep track of grades and your GPA. On top of that, if you have a weird schedule, you’ll never forget what class you have because Due Yesterday will even manage that.

What makes this application even better is it has a desktop application which will work on either Mac or PC. This is just icing on the cake for an already awesome application. And to top it off, both the desktop application and Palm software is 100% free. I’m sure you appreciate this, because if you’ve bought all the previous software, you’re probably going to be eating ramen noodles tonight.