Hunting For a New PDA

I have watched the PDA market for years now. The miniaturization of personal computing fascinates me. Back in 2001, I was wondering if I should purchase a Visor when an old Palm IIIx came my way. It came from work, as all the full-time employees had upgraded and didn't want it. Now this may surprise you, but that PDA was my trusted companion for four years, taking all sorts of accidental abuse, until last year when it fell from a desk, screen first, onto a table leg. The screen was toast. I never felt the need to upgrade from that Palm. The screen was clear in the mid-day sun. The battery life was great (about two weeks) and I had a system of rotating AAA batteries that never forced me to conserve power. I nearly always had my laptop handy, so I didn't need portable computing power. I just needed reliable access to contacts, appointments, and a digital notepad. Well, I have been without a PDA for about a year now, and I feel like I'm growing old and forgetting things left and right. It's time for another PDA. But nothing seems to match the essential goodness of that old Palm III. I abhor cell phones, so a smart phone is my last resort, and yet that is where any of the latest innovations seem to be. The Palm TX is my top choice right now, but a 4-8 hours battery life, without swappable batteries is absolutely stupid, a travesty. It's insulting. I'm awake at least 16 hours a day. Shouldn't my "assistant" be accessible for that long, at least? But I don't think I have too much choice. I have found a few review sites and the pickings are slim. I would just buy another Palm III, but I do want an MP3 player and WiFi (yes, WiFi is the worst battery killer). A few years ago, a Sharp Zaurus tempted me with its hackability and Linux brain, but I don't hear of them anymore. So what PDA's might you recommend? I'm going to wait until my employment is sorted out and see if my new employer will spring for a PDA (they should, as I will probably need one). I have some time, if I don't get lost in it.