.KEYWORD pplte0701
.FLYINGHEAD LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
.TITLE Readers voice opinions on the new Palm m500 series
.DEPT
.SUMMARY Chris Phillips received a ton of reader mail about his excellent article, "The new Palm handhelds: faster, sharper, more expandable," in last month’s issue of PalmPower. Read some of the great comments he received in this month’s edition of Letters to the Editor.
.EDNOTE Chris Phillips received a ton of reader mail about his excellent article, "The new Palm handhelds: faster, sharper, more expandable," in last month’s issue of PalmPower at http://www.palmpower.com/issues/issue200106/m500001.html. Here’s a sampling of the great comments he received.
.H1 Picture problem
I totally loved your article on these new Palm handhelds. I own a Palm V upgraded to a Palm Vx myself, and I read the article on my handheld. I could hardly wait to take a peek at the pictures that were included, only to find out that they were useless. It was impossible to make out differences between the different devices. Please take new, better images and post them on the Internet. And don’t worry if they take a while to load. I’m convinced there are more people than me who are interested in a fair comparison.
Best regards,
Bengt Carlsson
.H2 Chris Phillips responds
I’m glad you liked the article. It’s always nice to hear from a satisfied reader.
I wish I could take better pictures. Unfortunately, the glare from the screens makes taking pictures very difficult. It was almost impossible to get any photos of the Palm m505 that didn’t reflect either myself (looking straight down) or the ceiling (like the one in the article). I took a ton of pictures and could not get any of them to come out any clearer than the ones in the article. If you really want to compare the different color units, I encourage you to visit a local retailer. I did this a few days ago and was very impressed by the color on the Visor Prism. I hear the color on the CLIE is excellent, but I still haven’t seen one in person.
Thanks for the feedback.
.H1 Color correction
I’ve just read your review of the Palm m505 in PalmPower. It seems that you may have missed an important point about the new color screen. While it is "capable" of displaying 65,000 (16-bit) colors, it actually only display’s 256 (8-bit) colors in the built-in applications (Address Book, To Do List, etc). This is done to conserve battery life. It will be up to individual application developers to write code that will take advantage of all 65,000 colors.
Once some new applications start to appear, I am sure that the washed out look of the native screen will quickly become a thing of the past.
My Palm m505 should be here in a day or two when they arrive in Australia.
Richard Reeve
Jetech Pty Ltd.
.H2 Chris Phillips responds
I hope you are correct that the screen will not look as washed out when developers start writing applications in 16-bit. However, I’m not too optimistic. It reminds me of the days when color laptops were new. There was a difference between passive matrix displays and active matrix displays. The active matrix displays were much brighter and more vibrant. No matter how many colors you throw at a passive matrix display, it’s still not as vibrant as an active matrix display. As in all things, time will tell the tale.
Enjoy your Palm m505. It’s still the best screen available in the Palm V/Palm m500 series, and I enjoy mine tremendously. I installed GlowHack (at http://www.dovcom.com/glowhack.html), which causes the sidelight to come on whenever I turn the handheld on, and I have been very happy with the results. So far, I have not noticed any significant reduction in battery life by doing this. Thank you for reading the article and offering your input.
.H1 The digital Bible
Just read your article… no pictures… on my AvantGo application on my PalmVx. Thanks for warning me about the peripherals. I was ready to leap but didn’t have all the facts. I think I must have almost a handheld’s worth in peripheral costs.
I appreciated your reference to the Bible application. I am assuming you are a believer. I use my Bible application regularly, especially on the road. I work for 3M Company in Canada. I think my spiritual friends think I am slipping when I don’t use the written word. You write well. All the best.
Lee Talbot P.Eng.
.H2 Chris Phillips responds
Thank you for the positive feedback and kind words. It’s always nice to hear from people who enjoyed reading an article.
I, too, had a significant investment in peripherals, but since I review new products, I felt it was in my best interest to upgrade. Now I begin the slow process of replacing the peripherals I miss most.
I am a believer, and I love having the Bible on my Palm handheld. I never carry my physical Bible anymore. It’s especially nice to jump right to a specific scripture during a sermon while everyone else is still flipping pages.
Thanks again for taking the time to write and for the positive comments.
.H1 Brain transplant
I just read your review of the Palm m505, and I will be upgrading in a few weeks from my Palm Vx. My question is pretty simple:
How do I get my old stuff onto the new system? I use Backup Buddy on a Mac, and I guess I just basically want to do a brain transplant. Can you give me a suggestion?
Best wishes,
Andy Holder
.H2 Chris Phillips responds
Upgrading is really very simple. I, also, had a Palm Vx I was upgrading from. The process is as follows:
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Perform a HotSync operation with your Palm Vx;
.BULLET Unhook the old cradle and plug in the new Palm m505 cradle;
.BULLET Load the new software;
.BULLET Press the HotSync button.
.END_LIST
At this point, the software will sense that you are using a new unit and will load everything that was on your Palm Vx to the Palm m505. You may still have to tweak a few settings, and some of your registered third party applications may need new registration codes, but other than that, it’s very easy. Thanks for reading the article and for the question. Enjoy your new Palm m505.
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.H1 Screen disappointment
Chris, I read your review on the Palm m505. I think it is very accurate and well written. I also am very disappointed with the screen, although I think everything else (except accessory incompatibility) is great. Have you heard any buzz about what Palm is going to do about this problem? I’m sure sales will suffer greatly. A store clerk recently told me that many units were returned, and almost everyone was unhappy. You wonder what Palm was thinking when it released the Palm m505 with this screen.
Regards,
Michael Tanney
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.H2 Chris Phillips responds
Thank you for the kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed the article.
I have to say that even though the screen is not as good as some of the other models, it still stands head and shoulders above any of the grayscale screens. The trade off of keeping the small size of my Palm Vx is well worth a slightly dimmer screen, and there’s no way I could go back to a grayscale screen now.
To get around the washed out appearance, I installed GlowHack, which causes the sidelight to come on every time I turn the Palm m505 on. This has greatly enhanced my enjoyment of this unit, and I haven’t seen any noticeable battery drain. I understand Palm is in the process of building this option into Palm OS 4.0, so users won’t have to use a hack master program.
Even with the shortfalls, I love my Palm m505 more each day. As I upgrade my existing programs to color versions, I wonder how I ever made do without. Thank you for your comments.
.H1 My favorites
Just read your article in PalmPower concerning the new Palm m500 and Palm m505 PDAs. Your article answered many questions for me, and I thank you for an honest appraisal of the newest Palm handheld.
I had viewed one at the local Office Depot, and I too immediately noticed a lack of luster in the Palm m505’s color screen. I really thought it lacked punch. However, beyond salivating and fighting the urge to buy one on the spot, I decided to wait until the reviews came out. I’m glad I did. I currently own a Palm IIIx with an expansion memory module from TRG Products (now HandEra at http://www.handera.com) that gives me 8MB of memory. It more than meets my needs, and I cannot really justify the move to the Palm m505 under the guise of increased functionality. I guess I will have to stick to the more realistic position of, it’s new, it’s sleek, it has color, and it is expandable. Yes that’s it, it’s expandable. Ha, ha, I have found a reason.
On a more serious note, your article mentions that you use a Bible reader. I was wondering which one you use and also how you liked it. I too read the Bible, and I must say I have not chosen to install it on my Palm handheld because of its sheer size. The entire Bible takes up just too much memory. I also tried loading the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. Then just a few books, and I finally scrapped the project. You know when you have just a few books someone always asks something about a book you don’t have. When you have the New Testament loaded, it seems like everyone wants to talk about the Old Testament. I guess my goal of carrying the Bible around on my Palm handheld is going to be the issue for me. At least the new Palm m500 series devices have an expansion card slot. Could the Bible and reader be stored to it, leaving main memory apart?
I am interested to know what your experiences have been in this area and what you use and how? Thanks. By the way, whenever I correspond with a Palm handheld user, I always ask them what their favorite Palm applications are. I have found many new applications this way. Please let me know what yours are. Here are mine:
For productivity purposes, I use the following:
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET Secret! 2.5 from http://www.linkesoft.com/english/secret/: Great for protecting pins, passwords, and other sensitive information.
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET BigClock from Jens Rupp at http://www.gacel.de. This is a great clock that features time settings, alarms, world times, and a timer. I use it a lot.
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET JFile 4.1 from Land-J Technologies, at http://www.land-j.com/jfile.html: Great database software.
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET HanDBase 2.75d, from DDH Software at http://www.ddhsoftware.com.
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET ActionNames Datebook 4.56, from iambic at http://www.iambic.com/pilot/actionnames/: Greatly improves the Date Book and Address Book options on the Palm OS.
.END_LIST
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET OnlyMe 2.23, from Tranzoa at http://www.tranzoa.com: Super security program. It keeps unwanted eyes from viewing your Palm handheld information. This program is really great.
.END_LIST
Well, that’s it for me. Thanks for taking the time to read this long letter.
Jose M. Rivera
E-Business Consultant
.H2 Chris Phillips responds
Thank you for reading the article. I am glad you found it helpful.
In regards to Bible programs, I use Bible Reader Pro by Olive Tree (at http://www.OliveTree.com). The entire Bible (Old and New Testament) takes up less than 1.5MB for the New King James version. I like this program a lot, and the only thing I would add is the ability to store notes and comments while I’m reading. I have had other people comment about the Bible reader portion of the article, and I’m considering writing an article that compares the different Bible reading programs. I will bounce the idea off my publisher to see what he thinks. [I think it’s a blessed idea. -SN]
As for the expansion chips, I’m pretty sure that you cannot save a program to the memory chip and then run it directly from the chip. You would have to copy it to the 8MB on the Palm handheld itself first. The commercial chips let you run programs directly from the chip, so I’m not sure why they are different. I would be willing to bet, however, that someone will make a commercial Bible chip and have it for sale soon. I think someone will also find a way to run programs from the read/write memory chips.
My favorite applications are:
.BEGIN_LIST
.BULLET BigClock (I don’t even use an alarm clock anymore);
.BULLET Pocket Quicken at http://www.landware.com/pocketquicken/;
.BULLET QuickOffice at http://www.cesinc.com/quickoffice/;
.BULLET CryptInfo, a password keeper with encryption, at http://www.normsoft.com/cryptinfo/index.shtml;
.BULLET 33Knots at http://store.yahoo.com/pilotgearsw/33knots.html, because I can never remember how to tie a knot when I need one;
.BULLET Launcher III at http://www.benc.hr/lnchiii.htm. I have tried several application launchers, but for free, this program is hard to beat.
.END_LIST
Thank you for taking the time to write.
.H1 Recycling accessories
I am a long time Palm handheld user. I started with a Palmpilot Pro, upgraded to a Palm III, upgraded to a Palm Vx, and just upgraded to a Palm m505. I too have a laptop with Windows NT 4.0. Your comments in your article were right on. I am happy to say that I am still able to use some of my accessories.
I have a Slipper cover, made by E&B (at http://www.viaweb.com/pilotgear/ebcomslipvwa.html), that I carried my Palm Vx in. The Palm m505 fits, though it’s more snug. I also have a Pilot Pentopia Pen/Stylus (at http://www.pilotpen.co.uk/pentopia/index_fs.html) that’s a little long for the groove on the right side of the Palm m505. But, because of the snug fit of the slipper, I am able to still carry it without fear of it falling out. The intensity of the color is a disappointment, but being able to read the screen in direct sunlight is a big plus. I do like the fact that I can color code events in my Date Book.
I bought the additional serial docking station for my laptop. I would have preferred to have a traveling kit, but they are as rare as hen’s teeth, (i.e., non-existent). I find the synchronization via the serial is significantly slower than the USB synchronization. The processing speed of the Palm m505 is noticeably faster than my Palm Vx. I am looking forward to the expansion slot. I’m bumping up to the 8MB limit and could definitely use the additional storage space. Thanks for the review.
David John Meyers
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.H2 Chris Phillips responds
Thanks for the comments. I’m glad you enjoyed the article. I’m also looking forward to using the expansion slot to upgrade my memory. I’m waiting for the prices on memory to drop a little more and for a rock-solid utility that will allow the Palm m505 to recognize the expansion card as native memory.
Thanks again, and keep reading PalmPower!
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.H1 Product availability and resources
For the article, "The new Palm handhelds: faster, sharper, more expandable," by Chris Phillips in the June 2001 issue of PalmPower, visit http://www.palmpower.com/issues/issue200106/m500001.html.
For more information on GlowHack, visit http://www.dovcom.com/glowhack.html.
For more information on HandEra, visit http://www.handera.com.
For more information on Secret! 2.5, visit http://www.linkesoft.com/english/secret/.
For more information on BigClock from Jens Rupp, visit http://www.gacel.de.
For more information on JFile 4.1 from Land-J Technologies, visit http://www.land-j.com/jfile.html.
For more information on HanDBase 2.75d from DDH Software, visit http://www.ddhsoftware.com.
For more information on ActionNames Datebook 4.56 from iambic, visit http://www.iambic.com/pilot/actionnames/.
For more information on OnlyMe 2.23 from Tranzoa, visit http://www.tranzoa.com.
For more information on Pocket Quicken, visit http://www.landware.com/pocketquicken/.
For more information on QuickOffice, visit http://www.cesinc.com/quickoffice/.
For more information on CryptInfo, visit http://www.normsoft.com/cryptinfo/index.shtml.
For more information on 33Knots, visit http://store.yahoo.com/pilotgearsw/33knots.html.
For more information on Launcher III, visit http://www.benc.hr/lnchiii.htm.
For more information on the E&B Slipper cover, visit http://www.viaweb.com/pilotgear/ebcomslipvwa.html.
For more information on the Pilot Pentopia Pen/Stylus, visit http://www.pilotpen.co.uk/pentopia/index_fs.html.
For more information about Palm computers, visit http://www.palm.com.
.H1 Bulk reprints
Bulk reprints of this article (in quantities of 100 or more) are available for a fee from Reprint Services, a ZATZ business partner. Contact them at reprints@zatz.com or by calling 1-800-217-7874.
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.DISCUSS http://powerboards.zatz.com/cgi-bin/webx?50@@.ee6f668
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