.KEYWORD newpalm
.FLYINGHEAD IN-DEPTH PRODUCT REVIEW
.TITLE The Palm IIIx and Palm V
.FEATURE
.SPOTLIGHT FIGALT newpalm-cover.gif
.SUMMARY Palm Computing has shipped its latest crop of new machines: the Palm IIIx and the Palm V. You may have heard the buzz, but what’s the real story? Are they worth getting? If you’re a Palm device owner now, should you hand-me-down your current machine and rush, cash in hand, to the nearest retailer? Just how good are they? Just how cool are they? If you’d like the answers to these questions, look no further. Claire Pieterek, our hard-testing, take-no-prisoners, product reviewin’ contributing editor has put both machines through the torture test. The results? You’ll just have to read this article to find out.
.AUTHOR Claire Pieterek
Spring is here, and what do we Palm device users have to look forward to? Two new models now, and the Palm VII out later this year. Following the trend of the past two years, Palm Computing introduced its new computers in the spring (or close enough for some wishful thinking). The Palm IIIx and the Palm Vare the two newest members of the Palm device family. Both the Palm IIIx and Palm V have a lot to offer both current Palm device users and those just joining the Palm community.
.CALLOUT Current Palm device owners without the need for additional memory will have a difficult time walking away from a store without buying one.
.H1 New screens
Both of the new models sport better screens than the earlier devices, although the color hasn’t changed significantly. Resolution is still 160 x 160, to maintain compatibility with the thousands of third-party software titles currently available. In low light conditions where you might need to use the backlight on earlier models, both of the newer models are easier to read without using the backlight. They are both also easier to read in bright light conditions — the screens have much less glare, and can be read more easily at more different angles than previous Palm devices.
There are now two backlight modes, normal and inverted, both of which can be toggled using a shortcut. Normal backlight mode leaves the background dark and illuminates the text, and inverted backlight mode illuminates the background, leaving the text dark. I have to admit to being confused by the terminology here. Inverted mode is more like the backlighting found on earlier Palm devices, which seems more "normal" to me.
By the way, people with earlier backlit Palm devices can use LightHack to provide both backlight modes, or use LightHack to set the default backlight mode for the new models to inverted mode (which will seem normal). If you have to reset your Palm IIIx, or Palm V, and you’re not running LightHack, the backlighting will default to normal mode until you execute a shortcut. You’ll need a copy of HackMaster to use LightHack.
.H1 New processor
Both models are based on a new processor, the Motorola DragonBall EZ, rather than the DragonBall found in earlier models. The DragonBall EZ offers some behind-the-scenes advantages to Palm’s hardware designers, most notably smaller size. Its main advantage to the Palm IIIx or Palm V user is lower power consumption, which means even longer battery life. Also, according to Julie Strietelmeier who runs The Gadgeteer (at http://www.the-gadgeteer.com), the new devices are approximately 12% faster than the older ones, at least based on the one prime number sieve benchmark test she ran.
.H1 Integrated memory but no upgrades
Both models also overcome the occasional need to reseat the memory board found in earlier models. Instead of a separate memory board, the memory is integrated into the main board. Because of this, there really isn’t any way to upgrade an earlier Palm device to either the Palm IIIx or Palm V without replacing the entire unit. Palm’s thought is that Palm device fans will go out and buy the new model of their choice, and pass their time-tested companion along to another family member. At this time, Palm doesn’t have an upgrade path or program for owners of earlier models. I do think Palm Computing should reconsider this policy, perhaps in the form of a rebate-with-return, similar to that offered when the Palm III was introduced last year.
Based on Kenny West of PalmPilotGear’s experience with swapping his Palm III’s screen with a display from a Palm IIIx, the option to have one’s Palm III screen replaced with a Palm IIIx screen for the customary $100 fee might be nice. However, the official line from Palm is that the improved clarity is not simply a function of the display alone. A quick look at the DragonBall EZ literature suggests that part of the improvement may be due to the new CPU, but I can’t say for sure.
Both models run Palm OS 3.1, which is an incremental upgrade for the new processor. This version is not needed for older Palm devices. As for flash upgradability of current Palm III boards, there is still no word from Palm as to when they will provide the facility. The capability is there, but official Palm software for the task isn’t yet.
.H1 The Palm V hardware: Size does matter
The Palm V, shown in Figure A, brings a completely new dimension to the Palm device family.
.FIGPAIR A The Palm V is one sexy little machine.
Its anodized aluminum housing contains the sleekest, lightest, and thinnest PDA I have ever seen, yet it still packs the power and flexibility that has made Palm a leader in the PDA market. Figure B shows how the Palm V, the Palm III, and the PalmPilot compare in terms of thickness. The Palm V’s design is truly striking, and will impress everyone from aesthetes to geeks. It’s nice to look at, and nice to hold. Current Palm device owners without the need for additional memory will have a difficult time walking away from a store without buying one.
.FIGPAIR B Less is more, as this comparison shows.
The Palm V provides 2MB RAM and 2MB flash. Although it uses an AMD flash chip, FlashBuilder III won’t work on the Palm V. TRG will be introducing a new version, FlashPro, in March. The new version should work with all Palm devices that contain AMD flash memory. This would still exclude the Synapse pager card, which uses an Intel flash chip.
The Palm V is completely self-contained. It offers rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that are topped off when the unit is placed in its cradle. A full charge takes only three hours, and Palm states that users should be able to go for a month between charges. Those on the go should probably consider purchasing the Travel Kit, which includes a Palm V HotSync cable, AC recharger, and adapters for international plugs. The included cradle, shown in Figure C, and AC transformer are pretty hefty, relative to the size of the Palm V.
.FIGPAIR C You can’t reuse your old cradles with the Palm V. If you expect to HotSync at work and home, you’re going to need to buy a new $49.95 cradle for home.
The display has better contrast than earlier Palm devices, even though it is slightly smaller than previous models (77mm long, including the Graffiti area x 57mm wide). You’ll have to trim your screen protectors to fit, and homebrewed protectors that adhere by slipping the edge under the case’s bezel may not work. There is very little clearance between the screen and the case, and some overhead transparency material will be too thick.
The power switch is on the top right, near the right stylus silo, and the contrast dial is gone, having been replaced by a button on the top left, near the left stylus silo. Pressing the button brings up a software slider, labeled Adjust Contrast, which can be dragged for large changes or tapped for smaller adjustments. The Big 4 buttons and the up and down rocker switch on the Palm V are concave, rather than convex, and the icons have been changed. The rocker switch on the Palm V also has an audible click, unlike that of the other models.
The Palm V is a sealed unit. According to a post to the Palm newsgroups by Doug DeVries of TRG, it can be opened only with great difficulty and much perseverance. This means that the Palm V can’t be upgraded. I’m hoping there will be a "Palm Vx" in our future, for we diehard Palm users who need more than 2MB of RAM, and covet the new design.
Because of the Palm V’s small size, the serial connector has been completely redesigned, as you can see in Figure D. This means that none of the current Palm device peripherals — such as the HotSync Cable, Palm Modem, or GoType keyboard — will fit. There’s a new 33.6Kbps Palm V Modem that snaps into the Palm V’s HotSync port, and covers the back.
.FIGPAIR D The HotSync connector in the Palm V is completely new and incompatible with old peripherals.
Cables for connecting the Palm V Modem to GSM and analog wireless phones can be purchased separately. Landware, maker of the GoType keyboard, states that Palm V compatibility will be offered at the end of the second quarter of 1999. I foresee a market opportunity for an enterprising company to produce an adapter for the Palm V to preserve investment in existing peripherals and provide connectivity to specialized devices, such as the Minstrel Modem or Unilinear Parachute PCMCIA card adapter.
The aluminum housing and integrated memory should make the Palm V somewhat more durable than earlier models. The Palm V comes with a leather flip cover. A more stylish way to inhibit damage is the optional Palm V Hard Case, which is plastic-lined aluminum. When secured within the Hard Case, the Palm V’s form factor is almost identical to an uncased Palm III. There is no chance of the Palm V inadvertently falling out of this case–the hinge (also known as the center rail) fits into the left-side stylus silo and locks in place. The Hard Case opens like a book, and the Palm V need not be removed to HotSync or charge. There are depressions in the case lid, so that the case does not press against any of the buttons. Although the metallic case looks nice, it doesn’t seem quite as sturdy to me as a Rhinoskin Cockpit or a Pilot Armor, so I refrained from doing any drop testing with the review unit. [That was a joke right? Tell me it was a joke. –DG]
The Palm V comes with two styli–a metal one with a built-in reset pin in the right silo and a plastic one in the left silo. Although it distinctly resembles the original Pilot stylus, the Palm V stylus is significantly smaller and lighter than previous models. The best option might be the Palm Dual Action Stylus, which sports a combination pen/stylus design remarkably similar to TTools’ Throttle.
Overall, the Palm V is a very attractive device. Many hard-core Palm fans are torn, however. Choosing between the attractive look and size of the Palm V vs. the extra memory of the Palm IIIx will be a really tough decision.
.H1 The Palm IIIx hardware: beauty is only skin deep
Outwardly, the Palm IIIx is a twin to the Palm III. Inside, it sports many of the same components as the Palm V, but offers 4MB of RAM and 2MB of flash, plus an open expansion slot for forthcoming devices, such as pagers and memory upgrades. TRG has already introduced the "xtra xtra Memory Board" and announced the "xtra xtra Pro Memory Board" for the Palm IIIx. Both boards fit in the open expansion slot to double the Palm IIIx’s memory to 8MB. The "xtra xtra Pro" (which is currently slated only for the Japanese market) adds an additional 2MB of flash memory to the 2MB onboard the Palm IIIx. If you’re like me and you’d really like to see an "xtra xtra Pro" model with additional flash for non-Japanese speaking markets, please email info@trgnet.com).
Other than the screen, one of the most immediately noticeable differences between the Palm III and Palm IIIx are the silkscreened icons on the Graffiti area. The Palm V’s icons are identical to the earlier models, but the Palm IIIx’s iconsare somewhat smaller, do not have labels, and the pictures are drawn in more of a straight-on view, rather than curved. As shown in Figure E, the Applications silkscreen, formerly denoted by an arrow, has been changed to a house. The Menu silkscreen now sports a downward-pointing arrow to denote the pull-down nature of Palm device menus.
.FIGPAIR E Check out the new silkscreened icons!
Because the Palm IIIx uses the same housing as the Palm III, any peripherals or cases that fit the Palm III will work with the Palm IIIx. Screen dimensions remain unchanged from the Palm III, at 81mm long (including the Graffiti area) x 60mm wide.
.H1 The software: No big changes here
Unlike the introduction of the Palm III last year, there are no big changes in the Palm OS. There is a new Welcome icon that pops up the first time you turn your new Palm device on, to walk you through digitizer calibration and country/date/time setting, and a brief Graffiti tutorial, which you can also access through the Graffiti icon.
Perhaps the most welcome changes for many users are included in Palm Desktop 3.0.1 and HotSync Manager 3.0.2. An Outlook conduit (which the folks at Chapura tell us is a licensed version of their PocketMirror product) is now included in the box. When you install Palm Desktop, it will give you the option to link to either Palm Desktop or Outlook. US users will note that Network HotSync is automatically installed with the new version of Palm Desktop. And, Mac users will be happy to note that the long-awaited upgrade to their version of the Palm Desktop will be officially available as by the time you read this. The Palm Desktop and HotSync Manager incremental upgrades are not yet available for download from Palm’s Web site, though.
.H1 Easy upgrading
I unscientifically tested the Palm IIIx by loading it full of applications that I had had no problems running on my Palm III. I encountered difficulties with only two, DB Explorer and ZDoc, both of which generated Fatal Exceptions requiring a soft reset. At the time of this writing, SwitchHack is the only application that I know of that has been rewritten for Palm OS 3.1. This experience appears to be typical — in the week since release I have seen very few postings detailing applications with known problems.
.H1 Conclusion
If you use your Palm device intensively, have large databases or receive lots of email, or want the security of expanding your Palm’s capabilities, I recommend the Palm IIIx. If you’re new to the Palm world and don’t anticipate the need for lots of memory, you want to impress your Palm device-toting peers, or simply admire the sleek design, choose the Palm V. Either way, you can’t go wrong.
.BEGIN_SIDEBAR
.H1 Product availability and resources
Special thanks to Julie Strietelmeier who operates The Gadgeteer at http://www.the-gadgeteer.com for providing us with wonderful pictures of the Palm V. If you’re into gadgets, you should definitely pay Julie’s site a visit.
Palm Computing is located at http://www.palm.com.
More information about the DragonBall EZ can be obtained from http://www.mot.com/SPS/WIRELESS/uplink/dragonballez.html.
TRG is located at http://www.trgnet.com.
LightHack can be found at http://www.interlog.com/~nbridges/.
HackMaster’s home page is http://www.daggerware.com.
.END_SIDEBAR
.BIO
.DISCUSS http://powerboards.zatz.com/cgi-bin/webx?13@@.ee6cc23
