.KEYWORD decide
.FLYINGHEAD BUYER’S GUIDE
.TITLE So many Palm handhelds, so many choices
.OTHER
.SUMMARY So you’ve decided to buy a Palm handheld for yourself or as a gift. That was the easy part. Deciding which model, on the other hand, isn’t so easy. With all the Palm OS devices available, how do you know which one is the right choice for your situation? Denise Watkins breaks it all down for you in this lighthearted article that’s sure to help you find your perfect handheld match.
.AUTHOR Denise Watkins
.BEGIN_SIDEBAR
.H1 About this article
So you’ve decided to buy a Palm handheld for yourself or as a gift. That was the easy part. Deciding which model, on the other hand, isn’t so easy. With all the Palm OS devices available, how do you know which one is the right choice for your situation? Denise Watkins breaks it all down for you in this lighthearted article that’s sure to help you find your perfect handheld match.
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So you’ve decided to buy a Palm handheld. Let me congratulate you on your decision. Deciding to buy a Palm handheld was the easy part. Deciding which model, on the other hand, isn’t so easy. It seems Palm and its various licensees are producing models at the speed of light.
Now, chances are if you’re reading this article, you have a fairly good knowledge of all things Palm. You’re either reading it online, or on a Palm OS handheld you already own. You know the ins and outs of purchasing a PDA. However, though PDAs are becoming more and more commonplace, they haven’t yet reached the popularity of the mobile phone. So when you use yours, you may still find yourself besieged by the curious onlookers, and more often than not, you hear questions like, "Hey, is that one of those Palm handheld things? I’ve been thinking about getting one. Which one do you think I should get?"
Now let’s face it, most people want you to answer very succinctly and tell them, "You should buy A or B or C." They’re horrified when they find out that their question is not so easily answered. There are approximately 25 models, according to the most recent spec chart from Pen Computing at http://www.pencomputing.com/palm/palm_specs.html, and you can’t come up with a cut and dried answer. This article is designed to help you answer this question for yourself, and to help you advise the uninitiated. Or, you can suggest they read it. You may not agree with everything and may have other points you think should be considered in purchasing a Palm handheld. Please share them. I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to write to me at watkinsjenkins@msn.com.
If you’re buying a Palm handheld as a gift for someone, let me give you this critical piece of advice. Don’t, unless the following criteria apply. One, the potential recipient has asked specifically for a Palm OS handheld or strongly hinted, "I sure would be a happy camper if someone bought me a Palm/Visor/Sony CLIE." Or two, you asked, "What do you think of those Palm handhelds?" and received a positive response.
If you’re buying it because you think the person would benefit from one, you might be making a mistake. The recipient may not appreciate it or may be resentful and think you’re casting aspersions on their organizational skills. Your gift will go unused and unappreciated, and you’ll be resentful also.
Now, if you know you’re purchasing a Palm handheld for the right reasons, either for yourself or as a much-desired gift, you have to answer a couple questions. What manufacturer? What model?
.H1 If you were a Palm handheld, which one would you be?
What do you want to do with a Palm handheld? What type of user are you: casual or power? In what environment will you primarily use it: personal or business/enterprise? How much do you want to spend? Are you the type of person who must have the latest and glitziest model? If the model that best suits you isn’t the latest and greatest, will you be happy with it and not feel that you’re missing out? For a better understanding of that philosophy, read Claire Pieterek’s article on the new Handera 330, and you’ll see why she stuck with her trusty Palm IIIx for so long. That’s at http://www.palmpower.com/issues/issue200107/handera0701001.html.
.H2 At the low end
Are you looking to upgrade your inexpensive electronic organizer that you carry phone numbers in but not much else? Maybe you have an old Sharp or an old Casio, and you’re tired of its credit card size, squinting at the screen and trying to input data on its Lilliputian-sized keys. Perhaps you’re looking for an alternative to your paper planner; it’s dog-eared and full of crossed out telephone entries, but it’s compact and easy to tuck into your pocket or purse. You jot a quick note such as a shopping list or to do list to yourself in it, but you usually have trouble finding it later on. Some days you don’t refer to your organizer or planner at all.
If you identify with the above, you’re a casual user and shouldn’t invest a lot of money in a PDA. An entry-level model such as Handspring’s Visor or the Palm m100 with 2MB of memory would most likely suit you. Will 2MB be enough for you? My thought is no. Even if you remain a low volume or casual user, with over 10,000 applications written for the Palm OS, sooner or later you’ll find yourself in a memory crunch.
For a few dollars more, you can get a model with 8MB. The Visor Deluxe or Palm m105 gives you a lot more memory for not a lot more cash. In the lower end models, I like the Palm m100 line. They have snap-on faceplates, similar to the Nokia phone faceplates. You can find the perfect cover to express your personality, or buy a few and and change them to suit your mood. The advantage of the Visor line is the Springboard, the cartridge-like module that lets you expand the uses and programs that the Visor runs. The Visor can also make use of all programs written for the Palm OS.
If the lower end models aren’t what you’re looking for, read on, and we’ll see if we can find something to suit you.
.H2 At the high end
Does this sound like you? You’re a hardcore paper planner user. You anxiously await the new Franklin Covey or Daytimer catalogs. You haunt the office supply superstores for various pages and forms to customize your planner. Your planner weighs a lot. It doesn’t fit in your bag or brief case. Your physician has ordered you to lighten your load, to which you reply, "But my life and business are in this thing!" Do you manage a household, a family, a business, or any combination of those? Does this involve detailed record keeping?
If so, you’re definitely in the market for one of the 8MB or more models. Models such as the new Palm m500 and Palm m505 as well as the Visor line, the Handera 330, and the Sony CLIE allow you to expand the memory beyond 8MB. In the interest of space, I’m not going to discuss the various expansion modules for those units.
The Palm IIIc, Palm VIIx, and Palm Vx may be what you’re looking for. These models now represent the older Palm OS handhelds, but they’re still nice units. These 8MB models aren’t expandable and are getting near the end of their sales life, but they’re still quite nice. The Palm VIIx is wireless, and you can only use Palm’s, Palm.net service plan, which ranges from $10 to $45 a month depending on the plan. If the Palm VIIx doesn’t appeal to you, there are other options, such as purchasing a wireless modem (not available for every model). Again, the monthly service charges can be expensive.
.H1 How can you tell if a model is nearing the end of its life?
There are a couple of obvious signs that a model may be nearing the end of its life, such as rumors and press leaks, some I suspect deliberately started by the manufacturers. Another sign might be a price drop of the model and its accessories. Most recently, the Palm VIIx and the Palm IIIc and its accessories have experienced regular price reductions.
This is very similar to the automotive industry. If you bought the 1999 Toyota Avalon, you have a really nice car. However, in 2000, the Avalon underwent a radical body change. People who did their research before buying the 1999 Avalon knew this and made an informed decision to buy the 1999 model. They got a great car, and probably, taking the upcoming body change into consideration, they got a great deal. Others who didn’t do a great deal of research and bought the 1999 model may have been surprised and unhappy when the 2000 model arrived in the showroom, feeling their 1999 models were dated and somehow not as good.
If you’re the type of person who can be happy with a model that is soon to be phased out, that’s fine. However, if you’re the type who is going to be envious when your neighbor drives by in his newer model, then you should purchase one of the more recently released models. On the other hand, you might as well face the fact that technology changes every year or more, so you’ll probably have to get used to the idea that whatever you’ve bought gets old pretty quickly.
.H1 Other considerations: size and color
There are two other considerations to keep in mind when choosing a handheld. These are size and color.
.H2 Size does matter
Regardless of what your significant other told you, size does matter….at least when it comes to PDAs. If it’s too big, bulky, or heavy, you’re not going to use it. It’s going to be a hassle to carry. Another point to consider is whether a particular model is too small. How does it feel in your hand? How does it feel in your pocket, if that’s where you plan to carry it.
My husband is well over six feet tall. While he likes the sleekness of the Palm V series, they feel too small and flimsy to him, so he’s sticking with his Palm IIIx. The new Sony CLIE, while sleek in design, feels sturdier and more comfortable to him and most likely will be his next model. I love the Visor Edge, especially in red. However, what was Handspring thinking? Why design a sleek model and then it bulk it up considerably with the way the Springboards attach? Of course, if you don’t plan too use Springboards, then it’s not a problem.
Size also matters in terms of screen real estate. Models such as the Palm m100 and Palm m105 have smaller screens due to their size. The HandEra 330 has the largest screen area available. What are you using it for? If you’re going to be looking at documents or spreadsheets on a frequent basis, take that into consideration in deciding which model to purchase.
.H2 Color my world….or at least my handheld
Color is easier to read. Games look cooler in color. I think as the population ages and PDA use becomes more widespread, color will be the norm. Color definitely makes a difference to me.
In the future, I imagine there won’t be too much of a price difference in the cost of color. When the grayscale PalmIIIxe and the color Palm IIIc were first introduced, there was a $200 price difference, even though they were essentially the same machine, with color being the only differentiating factor. That price gap has shrunk considerably. There’s only a $50 price difference between the grayscale Palm m500 and the color Palm m505.
Finally, if you want multimedia capability with your color screen, the Sony CLIE N710c is what you’re looking for.
.H1 Don’t buy more than you need
When buying a car, you take into account your driving style, the distances you usually drive, the number of passengers you typically have, and the load you usually carry. You wouldn’t buy a ten-passenger SUV when all you need is a four or five passenger sedan. So don’t do this when buying your PDA. If all you need is 2MB instead of 8MB, buy that! If grayscale suits you instead of color, buy that. Don’t let me, or a salesperson, or your co-worker, talk you into buying more than you need.
Try every model you’re interested in. Go to the office supper stores and electronic stores. Even if you plan to buy online, try them out in the store. Make the often-reluctant sales people take the handhelds out of the cases and turn off the alarm sensors so you can poke and prod them. Insist on your right to try a handheld out. Don’t be rushed through the process or shamed into buying right away because you made someone get an item out of the case for you.
In short, the best answer to the question, "Which Palm OS handheld is the best one?" is "The one that fits your needs and becomes indispensable to you."
In closing, I’ll tell you that I carry two Palm handhelds, the Palm IIIc and Palm VIIx. I often wonder if that means I have a split personality.
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.H1 Product availability and resources
For Pen Computing’s Palm OS spec chart, visit http://www.pencomputing.com/palm/palm_specs.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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.BIO Denise Watkins can be reached at watkinsjenkins@msn.com. She is the Alpha Palm handheld user in a family of Palm handheld users.
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