If you just want to sync between your PDA and PC, you can’t go wrong by using trusty old KDE. The current version is 3.5, but you’ll be fine with anything greater than version 2.0. Simply start KDE’s KPilot tool, which is usually on the main KDE menu under Utilities.
If this is the first time you’ve used your Palm PDA with Linux, you may be a bit daunted by the prospect—but don’t be. KPilot makes the process completely automatic. When you start KPilot, it recognizes whether you’re linking for the first time, and starts its wizard to identify which USB device to use. This removes the only possible headache in the whole process—the need to know which devices KPilot should work with. (As a matter of interest, it will probably be /dev/ttyUSB1, but don’t worry, the wizard will find the right one.) You don’t even need to remember your user name for your handheld device, since KPilot looks it up once a connection is made.
When KPilot has finished the setup process, you will have a handy little PDA that can be used with Linux. KPilot will start every time you reboot the PC and wait in KDE’s system tray. Press the sync button on the PDA and any changes that you’ve made, such as new notes or email message, will be passed back to KDE’s KOrganizer and KMail. If you don’t like working with these, you have the option of using Evolution, a desktop personal organizer and email application.