Not writing frequently any more - work demands curtail my time!
Not writing frequently any more - work demands curtail my time!
Member since:26.07.2000
Reviews:575
Members who trust:274
Once you have mastered Graffiti, which takes next to no time, then the Palm is an excellent tool to have at one's disposal. It has an advatage in terms of size over the Psion in that you can really put it in a shirt, jacket or trouser pocket. The software (Chapura Pocket Mirror) supplied, which allows you to connect the cradle to your computer and synchronise your Palm with Outlook is excellent, and is something I use a great deal, rather than using Palm Desktop as a syncing tool. Indeed for users of other software, it is possible to download from the web anything you require.
The range of freeware and the easiness of installation via HotSync is outstanding. Whilst the IIIe is for everyone, the Vx is certainly more for the business man, which explains the IR link, allowing you to beam contacts, appointments and other things to other palm owners, as well as to Siemens phones with IR. If you want to add ringtones to your Siemens phone, then the software s25util (works on all IR capable Siemens mobiles) is for you, and it also allows you to change operator logos. At launch its memory of 8mb was as much as anything offered, although other manufacturers, including the PalmOS clone, the Handspring Visor, have larger storage capacities and also expansion capacities.
With regular synchronisation, your data is also easily reloadable in the event of your Palm crashing, and the Palm Desktop software for Windows is very capable too. As far as the supplied software, you get Address - an address book/contact management program, Calc - a calculator, Date Book - a diary, Expense - an expenses management program, Mail - allowing you to compose short e-mails (4000 characters to then send from your computer when you synchronise your Palm) and Todolist - a programme for reminders etc. as well as a few games. such as giraffe (to help your graffiti skills) subhunt and hardball (Arkanoid/Fireball type of game).
I experienced some problems with my Palm, and when I checked at the website it emerged that certain models made between November 1999 and May 2000 had got a bug in their DRAM, causing them to crash if used for extended periods of time. However there is good news, namely that there is a test module available for download, and then if the test proves there to be a problem, then you can download a patch that fixes this problem. Since then my Palm has been running very smoothly, although I would urge people to check this problem, so that they don't lose their data.
One further, if not quite obviously comment on battery life, is that the battery life is greatly reduced if you use the backlit mode for your palm. For people who are always on the move, and not always near a charger, there is also a highly useful thing called the power clip (see www.powerclip.de), which allows you to charge your Palm from a 9V battery, only half charging it, but this may well stop you from running on empty and thereby losing everything.
Similarly using the IR beam is another way to diminish battery life, and it is reckoned that 1 minute of beaming takes 1 hour of the length of time the battery will hold for. For anyone syncing with a desktop computer, then there is also now a USB syncing cable, which also includes a charger, which eliminates the need to have to find a plug socket to connect the charger part of the hotsync cradle to.
I would recommend this to anyone wanting a discreet PDA/organizer, but at the same time still needs a powerful solution. Battery life is also very good, and the HotSync cradle doubles up as a charger, and travel plugs are supplied as standard. You might be advised to hold out until the M505 is available readily in the UK, but on the whole after a year's use, I am still very happy with my Vx.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Handheld - 128 MB RAM - Screen: 4 in inch - Display: TFT active matrix - CPU: XScale PXA310 - Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi - Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0, Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 Classic
I still prefer the keyboard of my Psion. Take care, Michael.
MikeWhalley 01.06.2001 10:48
The Palm is a great piece of kit, but I think I'll stick with my Psion Revo+, as it's not too big and fits in my pocket quite easily. Good op! - Mike.
markuszwickl 15.01.2001 23:44
I think the Palm Vx will go down in popularity with the new Palm VII coming out. Mind you with AvantGo web clipping it is very hard to beat for storing info. Markus
Jul 26th, 2000
(May 31st, 2001)
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