A simple reset can get around OnlyMe's locking mechanism.

That is, when the device is locked, anyone may poke the reset hole in the back of the device with the end of a paper clip and avoid having to enter the OnlyMe password.

This problem has been absolutely verified on certain T3 devices after a particular OS upgrade. And, it has been reported on some of the devices listed above.

• Turn off the Instant Lock option.

• Turn off the Require Power Key option.

• Enable OnlyMe.

• Run a program other than OnlyMe - AddressBook or DateBook, for instance.

• Turn off the device.

• Poke the reset hole.

• OnlyMe should demand a password.

Try variations on this procedure.

For instance, the Require Power Key option setting should not affect the results. And, for obscure security reasons, OnlyMe should recognize the reset and lock the device whether the Lock Delay time has expired or not or whether Instant Lock is set or not. And, it should not matter what program is running when the power is turned off.

We have not found any good alternatives. Nor have we heard of any. Quite a few people have sent emails indicating that they have searched pretty extensively and tried various alternative programs. None have been reported to work in a satisfactory way.

The built in Security app is the most likely to work without trouble, as it is likely to be more extensively tested than other programs against the particular OS and device.

There are various secure data storage programs. Unfortunately evaluating such programs is difficult, at best, for people who are not fascinated by and experienced with such technology. Some discussion about encryption is given here.

There is an old list of PalmOS security programs here.

Send an email to onlyme_info@tranzoa.com asking about v5.11 of OnlyMe. This version has the OS fuss removed (it's a simple numeric check).

Your email will be saved in a special folder and, should there ever be a change in the situation, we'll contact you about it.

On the other hand, when my own TE dies, I may find an old M500 device to use. The M500 was, by far, the best Palm device for my own use I've ever had. If my morphing eyes can still see the M500 screen and read eBooks, I'd be a very happy camper with an M500.

If I were forced to use a newer, incompatible device, I'd either:

• Bite the bullet and try to fix OnlyMe in some way. Or, at least, try to fix the reset problem. I would still not trust OnlyMe on the device, though. Testing OnlyMe is a bear. There are eleventeen jillion combinations and circumstances to check - many very, very esoteric. And, with the newer OS's NVFS (and certain other) logic thrown in to the mix, I don't believe that it's possible for me to be satisfied with any amount of testing, given the newer OS's unfriendly architecture.

• Build a version of AddressBook that encrypts the data (and returns to the UI context after a program switch, for gosh sakes) and uses OnlyMe's password entry logic. Or find such a program. (There was such a program - and it was probably well written. But, the last time I checked it was no longer on the market.)

Both options are a lot of work. So, again, the M500 is probably the way to go. Better battery life. Plenty of memory. Smooth as silk with OnlyMe. And SloppyType works! Like a charm.