Was I a complete idiot to buy a new Palm PDA?!

Has little to do with Palm. Software developers tend to develop to the platform with which they work. That's mainly Windows. Sometimes these .exe files are actually self-extracting archives. If you have Stuffit Deluxe it may be able to open these archives. If not, you could use a PC emulator to open the archive, then copy the PDA executable to the Mac side so you can install it. Otherwise, contact the author/developer and arrange to have them email you a usable package that doesn't require a PC to de-archive. Also, look for Palm apps from developers that provide both PC and Mac versions of their archives. Keep in mind that the PDA executable doesn't care whether you have a Mac or a PC.

I use a Palm Tungsten E without problem. I use The Missing Sync to handle syncing duties. If a PDA app is provided only in a Window's archive I use Virtual PC to de-archive it, then copy the PDA files over to the Mac Desktop for installation on the Palm.

What software do you mean? Palm desktop for the TX should be on the Cd that came with it.

For other apps I've never had any problem with palm software loading for a mac. What software in particular do you mean?

Well, apart from the odd crash (only to be expected as it is windows after all) no real problems using, installing new apps (you only need the .prc file anyway so whether it's Mac compatible is not always an issue as a quick double click sets it up for a hotsync install). Wasn't happy about the TX's inability to offer native sync over wifi, although we did try 'the missing sync' and couldn't get that to work either - it even messed up the normal cable hotsync after deleting it too (so much for its uninstaller).

There are a few apps that require an app on the computer to work with and many of these are Windows only, but most are Palm apps (prc files, as you say) and doesn't matter.

Bluetooth is so slow it's very possible to think it isn't working and turn it off, for that reason alone I don't recommend it. I had to try it three times before I decided to just walk away and come back later and then it worked, but about 5 times as long as cable sync. And when switching back to cable there are settings both in Palm Desktop (setting the conduit) and in the syncing software on the Palm so you have to make sure they are set the same, and the Palm's settings are confusing.

They do have a trial just visit their website at http://www.markspace.com/downloads.html and choose the 5.0.3 updater.

iMac G4 800 SuperDrive 512mb, iBook 12" 1.33, Mac OS X (10.4.3) Lacie 250gb, Canon Pixma IP3000, Linksys wifi Router, iPod Mini (4th gen)