Handheld Reviews

This is a good value, but the screen is very difficult to read in less than perfect lighting conditions. Under bright flourescent lights in the office, it is fine. The rest of the time, though, I have a heck of a time with it. The internal memory also isn't really big enough to store MP3s. I decided to go back to paper and pen.

While color is nice, the price of a color iPAQ is not worth it when compared to this unsung model. Often overlooked the 3135 has all of the same features as it color siblings, Excel, Word, IE, Outlook, Calendar, Contacts, MS Money, but albeit with less RAM 16 compared to 32mb or 64mb for the color versions. However with the inclusion of the CF sleeve, which allows you to plug in CF cards from 8 to 256mb, the 3135 is the best PDA bang for the buck. And let's not forget the iPAQ comes with Windows Media Player, making it also an mp3, wma player, and it has the ability to record voice messages. With the CF sleeve and a few flash cards one can literally carry ones music libary with you where ever you go. Compared with the Palm Pilot, and Handspring Visor, this inexpensive jewel is perfect for the enthusiast, student or professional. After spending almost 6 months researching, playing with and talking with friends, neighbors and co-workers about which PDA to get I have yet to regret my decision.

The 3135, monochrome, 16 MB version of the Compaq iPaq (all of the other reviews here seem to be for the 3600 color, 32 MB versions) is still, all in all, a pretty impressive machine.

The 3135 still has the iPaq 206 MHz StrongARM CPU, it comes with the CF flash memory sleeve, for memory/storage/communications upgrades, very fast USB connection for updates (my previous PDA was a Palm III, with serial cable link - daily sync would take 5 min on average; with USB/iPaq, daily sync rarely takes more than 20 seconds), and with Compaq support, can even upgrade its operating system to Linux (Compaq support...). The 16 MB is very limiting, though, so if you get this, plan to also buy CF memory...along with it. The advantages of the 3135 are speed, power, and price. You get a 206 MHz handheld system for [a higher price], compare that to the fastest Palm platform handheld, the Palm OS/Handspring Visor Platinum, [for less] for an 8 MB, 33 MHz unit.

The Microsoft Pocket PC OS (really CE v3) comes with MS Media Player (for MP3s - better get at least 64 MB of flash memory, though, to take advantage of that!), pocket versions of MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook - maps VERY well to existing Outlook calendar functions, MS Internet Explorer (with AvantGo for offline web browsing), MS Money, MS eBook Reader, and MS Access. The conduits to convert from 'pocket' versions of files to desktop are built in and pretty transparent to the user. All you have to do to take information with you is to drag your existing files to a Pocket PC 'My Documents' folder which the install program creates on your PC desktop, and ActiveSync does the rest (by the way, if you install Linux, all you have to do is to FTP files into your handheld - same thing).

The killer app for this (for me, anyway) is the MS Reader utility. eBooks are relatively small, and with my iPaq, I can carry a veritable library with me in a device the size of a pager. The monochrome screen of the 3135 is much more readable than its color (and ...more expensive) counterpart - or is this just cognative dissonance on my part? Many free books are available on the internet, from the public domain works available at...sites...I believe that even Amazon.com has an "eBooks & eDocuments" section.

I have this visor. I quit using it after a year. The problem is that it uses batteries... normal use you will get arround a week.
You have to check the batteries even if it has not been used since it consumes batteries. You need to have information stored and updated in your pc AT ALL TIMES, in this way if the information is lost from visor you will be able to recover it-hotsync. Information is usually lost when batteries are low/die.

I replaced it for the sony clie pega tj25 handheld.

For all of you who have or plan to buy this item... Good luck.

PROS:
- Extremely inexpensive
- Not as large as the Prism model
- Simple buttons
- EXCELENTLY designed stylus (reset pin, stylus, and screwdriver combination!)

The Palm OS on the Visor Deluxe is slightly outdated (3.1 instead of 4+) which can cause headaches if you are trying to install newer software. Also, the casing is a little too large to be a pocket item and the unattaching cover can be annoying at times. Those are some general negatives. Besides that I personally had other problems. I was very careful with my Visor and kept the plastic cover on it unless it was in use. Still, under regular, every-day abuse, the screen cracked while it was in my pocket. Replacement was a simple process and Handspring gets 5 stars on service (though it would have been nice if it wouldn't have had to be replaced in the first place). After receiving my replacement, however, I noted that the stylus was not held in place as it should have been while in the visor, which caused the loss of many styli. Sadly, again after much care, the screen of my Visor mysteriously cracked again. Thus, I am now looking into buying a new PDA and probably won't choose a Visor Deluxe this time, being that they don't withstand my handling well. If you choose to purchase a Visor Deluxe, be careful with it and I would recommend investing in a new protective cover other than the standard one provided.

I gave the Palm III XE a 5 star rating. So how can I give the Handspring Visor Deluxe a 5 star rating, too?

That's easy. I love them both.

They both strike a near perfect balance between usability, practicality and portability. The Palm III series seems to fill a niche occupied by early PDA adopters such as myself and business executives. Heck, it's almost part of the business uniform.

The Visor, however, appeals to a different crowd: Power users who, want greater expandability. Mac users, who find it's easier to use a Visor with their Mac. I even know someone who bought one simply because they "look cool."

The Visor has all the advantages of the PalmOS. There are literally thousands of software titles to run on it.

It's got all the advantages of the familiar Palm-type device. Anyone who has used a Palm before can essentially use the Visor immediately -- with a very minimal learning curve. And it's no problem if you haven't used a Palm before. The interface is highly intuitive and rather easy to learn. In five minutes I was up and running like a champ.

The Visor has the added advantages of native USB communication and the incredible versatility of the "Springboard" module. These modules allow the Visor to adopt an amazing number of roles: MP3 player, GPS, wireless PDA and even wireless phone. Of course all the familiar peripherals are also available. There are modems, keyboards, etc...

In my opinion, Handspring has taken the best handheld computing platform on the market and made it even better. I think it's great. It's well done. It's well made and it's easy to use -- even if you just want a simple electronic organizer.

If you're looking for a first PDA -- or want more expandability options than are available for a Palm III device -- I think you will like the Handspring Visor Deluxe.

I have this visor. I quit using it after a year. The problem is that it uses batteries... normal use you will get arround a week.
You have to check the batteries even if it has not been used since it consumes batteries. You need to have information stored and updated in your pc AT ALL TIMES, in this way if the information is lost from visor you will be able to recover it-hotsync. Information is usually lost when batteries are low/die.

I replaced it for the sony clie pega tj25 handheld.

For all of you who have or plan to buy this item... Good luck.

PROS:
- Extremely inexpensive
- Not as large as the Prism model
- Simple buttons
- EXCELENTLY designed stylus (reset pin, stylus, and screwdriver combination!)

The Palm OS on the Visor Deluxe is slightly outdated (3.1 instead of 4+) which can cause headaches if you are trying to install newer software. Also, the casing is a little too large to be a pocket item and the unattaching cover can be annoying at times. Those are some general negatives. Besides that I personally had other problems. I was very careful with my Visor and kept the plastic cover on it unless it was in use. Still, under regular, every-day abuse, the screen cracked while it was in my pocket. Replacement was a simple process and Handspring gets 5 stars on service (though it would have been nice if it wouldn't have had to be replaced in the first place). After receiving my replacement, however, I noted that the stylus was not held in place as it should have been while in the visor, which caused the loss of many styli. Sadly, again after much care, the screen of my Visor mysteriously cracked again. Thus, I am now looking into buying a new PDA and probably won't choose a Visor Deluxe this time, being that they don't withstand my handling well. If you choose to purchase a Visor Deluxe, be careful with it and I would recommend investing in a new protective cover other than the standard one provided.

I gave the Palm III XE a 5 star rating. So how can I give the Handspring Visor Deluxe a 5 star rating, too?

That's easy. I love them both.

They both strike a near perfect balance between usability, practicality and portability. The Palm III series seems to fill a niche occupied by early PDA adopters such as myself and business executives. Heck, it's almost part of the business uniform.

The Visor, however, appeals to a different crowd: Power users who, want greater expandability. Mac users, who find it's easier to use a Visor with their Mac. I even know someone who bought one simply because they "look cool."

The Visor has all the advantages of the PalmOS. There are literally thousands of software titles to run on it.

It's got all the advantages of the familiar Palm-type device. Anyone who has used a Palm before can essentially use the Visor immediately -- with a very minimal learning curve. And it's no problem if you haven't used a Palm before. The interface is highly intuitive and rather easy to learn. In five minutes I was up and running like a champ.

The Visor has the added advantages of native USB communication and the incredible versatility of the "Springboard" module. These modules allow the Visor to adopt an amazing number of roles: MP3 player, GPS, wireless PDA and even wireless phone. Of course all the familiar peripherals are also available. There are modems, keyboards, etc...

In my opinion, Handspring has taken the best handheld computing platform on the market and made it even better. I think it's great. It's well done. It's well made and it's easy to use -- even if you just want a simple electronic organizer.

If you're looking for a first PDA -- or want more expandability options than are available for a Palm III device -- I think you will like the Handspring Visor Deluxe.

I have this visor. I quit using it after a year. The problem is that it uses batteries... normal use you will get arround a week.
You have to check the batteries even if it has not been used since it consumes batteries. You need to have information stored and updated in your pc AT ALL TIMES, in this way if the information is lost from visor you will be able to recover it-hotsync. Information is usually lost when batteries are low/die.

I replaced it for the sony clie pega tj25 handheld.

For all of you who have or plan to buy this item... Good luck.

PROS:
- Extremely inexpensive
- Not as large as the Prism model
- Simple buttons
- EXCELENTLY designed stylus (reset pin, stylus, and screwdriver combination!)

The Palm OS on the Visor Deluxe is slightly outdated (3.1 instead of 4+) which can cause headaches if you are trying to install newer software. Also, the casing is a little too large to be a pocket item and the unattaching cover can be annoying at times. Those are some general negatives. Besides that I personally had other problems. I was very careful with my Visor and kept the plastic cover on it unless it was in use. Still, under regular, every-day abuse, the screen cracked while it was in my pocket. Replacement was a simple process and Handspring gets 5 stars on service (though it would have been nice if it wouldn't have had to be replaced in the first place). After receiving my replacement, however, I noted that the stylus was not held in place as it should have been while in the visor, which caused the loss of many styli. Sadly, again after much care, the screen of my Visor mysteriously cracked again. Thus, I am now looking into buying a new PDA and probably won't choose a Visor Deluxe this time, being that they don't withstand my handling well. If you choose to purchase a Visor Deluxe, be careful with it and I would recommend investing in a new protective cover other than the standard one provided.

I gave the Palm III XE a 5 star rating. So how can I give the Handspring Visor Deluxe a 5 star rating, too?

That's easy. I love them both.

They both strike a near perfect balance between usability, practicality and portability. The Palm III series seems to fill a niche occupied by early PDA adopters such as myself and business executives. Heck, it's almost part of the business uniform.

The Visor, however, appeals to a different crowd: Power users who, want greater expandability. Mac users, who find it's easier to use a Visor with their Mac. I even know someone who bought one simply because they "look cool."

The Visor has all the advantages of the PalmOS. There are literally thousands of software titles to run on it.

It's got all the advantages of the familiar Palm-type device. Anyone who has used a Palm before can essentially use the Visor immediately -- with a very minimal learning curve. And it's no problem if you haven't used a Palm before. The interface is highly intuitive and rather easy to learn. In five minutes I was up and running like a champ.

The Visor has the added advantages of native USB communication and the incredible versatility of the "Springboard" module. These modules allow the Visor to adopt an amazing number of roles: MP3 player, GPS, wireless PDA and even wireless phone. Of course all the familiar peripherals are also available. There are modems, keyboards, etc...

In my opinion, Handspring has taken the best handheld computing platform on the market and made it even better. I think it's great. It's well done. It's well made and it's easy to use -- even if you just want a simple electronic organizer.

If you're looking for a first PDA -- or want more expandability options than are available for a Palm III device -- I think you will like the Handspring Visor Deluxe.

The shipping and receiving of the Palm was adequate. However the back light didn't function. I e mailed the seller about the problem but never received a reply.

I spent about 2 months trying to decide whether an organizer could be worth this much money. I just bought my Palm V last week, and it's hard to imagine life without it now. The Palm V is simply the best purchase I've made in a long time. It's an incredibly small and sleek little machine. It fits right in your shirt pocket, even with the hard case I bought for it. It has all the standard things you'd expect from an organizer (address book, to do list, agenda, expense report). The Graffiti system (writing instead of typing) only takes a little while to get used to. The Palm Desktop software and cradle allows you to back everything up in a few seconds. No batteries are necessary, because you can recharge the Palm Vin the cradle. Hundreds of extra programs and games can be downloaded. If you're trying to decide which Palm to buy, I definitely recommend the V. The Vx is about the same, but it has more memory (which I don't think I'll need) and costs a lot more, the III series is great but not as sleek, and the VII has the built-in modem, which doesn't interest me much. Go for the Palm V. If you're trying to decide whether it's worth the money, the answer is a resounding YES!

One Look At The Palm V Handheld And You'll Know It's Something Special...Its Sleek Design And Anodized Aluminum Case Appeal To Your Sense Of Style...Weighing Just 4 Ounces, This Handheld Gives You Room For Everything In Your Busy Life...The Advanced LCD Screen Is Razor Sharp And You Can Recharge The Lithium Ion Batteries In The HotSync Cradle In Minutes A Day - A Full Charge Lasts For Up To A Month...Date Book Application Access Up To 5 Years Of Appointments... Address Book Application Holds Thousands Of Addresses That Are At Your Fingertips...To Do List Application Keeps Thousand Of To-Do Items Close At Hand...Memo Pad Application Lets You Jot Down Notes, Compose E-Mail, And More...Download E-Mail From Your Desktop And Save It There...Expense Application Tracks All Your Expenses In One Convenient Place...Find Application Lets You Easily Find Names, Dates, And Places Fast...Palm Desktop Software Allows Use Of Your Palm Applications Right At Your Desktop...HotSync Cradle Synchronizes All Your Information With Your Desktop PC At The Touch Of A Button... Memory - 2 MB...Addresses - 6,000...Appointments - 5 Yrs...Memos - 1,500...E-mails - 200...Battery Type - Rechargable Lithium Ion...Battery Life (Based On Normal Use) - 2+ Weeks Add-Ons Via Derial Port...Integrated Wireless Internet Access...Display Backlit...

The Prism is what many have been waiting for in a Palm-based machine: brilliant color, expandibility, rechargable batteries, and mind-boggling speed.

What are the drawbacks? Well, certainly if you are looking to purchace your first PDA this will definately be one to look in to, but more experienced users will quickly be able to identify two chief problems: battery life and tight memory constrictions when using full-color images.

The battery is meant to last 15 days under normal use. If you have been using replacable batteries or a monocrome rechargable unit, this may feel a bit restricting. Plug in a springboard module and you may watch your battery's charge plumet even faster. Under normal conditions, where a person would be plugging their device into a cradle every night, this won't be a problem, but don't forget your charger if you're planning to stay away from home too long.

What will attract many away from the Palm IIIc will likely be the flashy new high-color display. Unfortunately, it should be kept in mind that more colors per pixel means larger files. 8 megabytes will seem awfuly cramped with only one or two photos loaded in. One solution will be the memory expansion unit, but the base problem still remains: the files will be huge. Effective memory management will be a must for any planning on trying to take advantage of the capabilities of the new display.

One further problem, which should not be of too much concern for the time being, is the fact that the ROM in the Prism is mask Rom, not flash. In other words, when system updates come out you won't be able to rewrite the device's ROM. Palm does not at this point seem to be working towards any massive overhauls to their system, so this should not be a worry for a while, but for those looking to use the Prism for years ahead this may be a point to consider.

All in all, the Prism is the first color Palm unit to deliver so much at a cost that puts in within reach of most of the other high-performance models. Still, the drawbacks to the Prism should keep a person from hastily rushing to sell off their IIIc, Vx, or Sony units. This will be a good first-time or replacement device, however, and will be sure to make you the envy of your friends and enemies.

I've been using Visor Prism + Phone for about 2 months now, I bought it from a local store which suprisingly still had some stocks and guaranteed the item for 1 year.
Overall, I found it very very useful. I'm not a heavy PDA user, so mainly I use it to read e-books, see photos, games. Visor's 8 Megs is more than enough.
More about the phone, I can't tell how much I admire the modularity of Springboard. Handspring engineer have done great job. The phone and sms function work perfect, compared to the more pricey Tungsten W.
It's better than Treo 270 I assume, on color display (Treo has 4096 while Prism has 65K) and of course using Visor I don't have to worry about flip hinge crack that often happen to Treo user.
Some drawbacks that I found is that battery drained quickly, I also notice that there are some dead pixels in the unit I bought, and last but not least it's quite heavy to carry.
Based on the above, I still think that this product is a great collectible item,worth the price, and everywhere you carry it people were just curious to know. It's a bit rare that to some it's more intriguing than even the popular O2 XDA. Well done Handspring!

I replaced my Prism with a Palm M515 and I miss my Visor!! If I knew then how difficult it would be to replace I would have purchased several more, kept a nice inventory and and made a profit on the rest. Handspring made a VERY nice color PDA.....I hope PalmOne stays with it...

This is my first review and I'm a little hot about it. I just received my Palm from Tiger Direct and it is refurbished. Not only that, but not all the items that are supposed to come with it are in the box. I have no idea how it works, but know that you are not buying a NEW product. Plus, I am reading the return directions from Tiger Direct and they are awful. I am waiting to hear from Amazon and will amend this if they take care of the problems. UNLESS YOU WANT A REFURBISHED ITEM, DO NOT BUY THIS.

It's the perfect combination of flexibility and power. With 8MB of storage capacity, the Palm IIIxe handheld keeps track of thousands of names, addresses, appointments, to-do's and memos with plenty of room to spare for add-on applications. Flash ROM means future upgrades will be a snap. Keep all your meeting times, places, people, phone numbers and other information safely tucked away in this elegant device. Customize the Palm IIIxe organizer with any of the thousands of available applications, from personal productivity tools to enterprise-scale solutions. Choose from hundreds of add-on peripherals like a modem or voice recorder. 8MB stores approximately 10,000 addresses, 5 years of appointments, 3,000 to-do items 3,000 memos, 400 e-mail messages and lots of third-party applications. With the HotSync cradle you can quickly backup and exchange information between your PC (or Mac with additional Mac Pac) and your Palm handheld, as well as many popular PIMs like Symantec ACT! and Microsoft Outlook. Use the infrared beam to exchange business cards, phone lists, data, memos and add-on applications with other IR-enabled Palm OS devices. Items Included in the Box are: Palm IIIxe handheld HotSync cradle Palm Desktop software (PC only Mac Is Aditional) Applications for Palm IIIxe connected organizer Two AAA alkaline batteries (two months life) DB-9 to DB-25 Adapter Getting Started Guide Protective flip cover Handbook for the Palm IIIseries.

Putting it simply, the Palm IIIxe is a five-star device. If you want just the highlights as to why, see my Short Notes below. If you want the full review, go to Detailed Notes further down.

Short Notes:

- Excellent quality overall, good ergonomics.

- 8 MB RAM, easily sufficient to store a wide variety of applications plus data.

- Has 2 MB flash memory, enough to handle upgraded (v3.5) OS.

- Sharp, clear screen. Easy to read.

- Graffiti handwriting recognition is forgiving and easy to master quickly.

- Great battery life - should last over 30 days.

- Built-in infrared port - easy data exchange between Palm devices.

- Many available software applications, often freeware.

- Excellent and thorough documentation.

- Easy to learn how to use it - very intuitive if you hate manuals.

- Syncs well with Microsoft Outlook, if you're so inclined.

- Great price - a good investment.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Detailed Notes:

Spent a lot of time deciding which Palm OS model to go with, and finally picked the Palm IIIxe, primarily for the newer OS (v3.5), the 8 MB memory and the new lower price. Looked closely at the Palm m110 and Handspring Visor, units which offered attractive prices, but with 2 MB RAM, felt they didn't have enough memory. Also considered the Handspring Visor Deluxe, but on the two models that I had a chance to try out, the screens weren't the same quality as those of the Palm IIIxe, and nobody could explain it.

You may also wish to consider the new Palm m105. See the notes at the bottom of this review for more details.

To be fair, I also considered some of the newer Windows CE devices, but was put off completely by the hand recognition software. It was too slow and hard to use, so that idea was dropped quickly. Used to use a Windows CE device made by Casio, which I put aside awhile ago. Had initially been encouraged to purchase a Palm device by one of my co-workers, but I felt that the Windows CE 1.0 device with its tiny keyboard was the way to go. Then I found out that it ate batteries at a very high rate. Lived with this for awhile, but the business of hardware ROM replacement to upgrade the unit was disturbing.

The Palm does everything I need it to, and in the month that I've had it, I've been pleasantly surprised by its versatility. The quality has proven to be excellent. The case of the IIIxe, though an older Palm design, fits the hand quite comfortably.

The Palm IIIxe comes with 8MB of memory. In useful terms, this means that you can store approximately 12,000 addresses, 5-10 years of appointments (that's about 3000 appointments), 6000 to do items, 3000 memos, 800 e-mails and many applications. The available memory has been ample to download and store a wide range of applications along with the room to store related data. The IIIxe (along with some other models) has 2 MB flash memory, enough to handle the upgraded (v3.5) OS and the built-in applications. I also went to the Palm Web site and downloaded the latest (v.3.5.2) OS and installed it. There were absolutely no problems like I had heard about with other "Palm-compatible" devices.

The screen is sharp, clear and easy to read, indoors or outside. Though I might have preferred a bit stronger backlight for those times where there isn't much light, have learned to adapt to it quickly.

The Graffiti handwriting recognition is forgiving and easy to master quickly. One of the reasons I went to a Windows CE keyboard unit a few years ago was fear of having to learn yet another way of inputting data. I couldn't have been more wrong - it's easy and quite intuitive. What's even more important is that I'm now taking notes in meeting with the device that used to be done on paper.

The battery life is outstanding. It should last thirty days or more under regular use. Since one of my complaints with the Windows CE units was short battery life, I'm impressed.

The built-in infrared port allows you to transfer documentation directly from any other infrared enabled Palm device. This function works quite well. I've transferred memos to and from a Handspring Visor Deluxe and other Palm devices.

There are many software applications available for the Palm PDAs, including a lot of shareware and freeware. The commercial programs that are available are top rate, and you can even find applications that will let you edit Word and Excel files. You can even connect to Oracle 8I databases with currently available software.

The Palm IIIxe manuals are excellent, and do a thorough job of documentation. You may find, though, that this device is easy to learn with little reading. Its interface is very intuitive, and that's helpful if you dislike going through manuals.

This PDA syncs well with Microsoft Outlook, which is extremely useful for corporate users. This is a straightforward operation in which you place the Palm IIIxe into the supplied HotSynch cradle and push the button on the base. The HotSynch operation creates a log of what was done, so you can confirm that everything was updated correctly.

Picky point - comes with a mediocre lightweight plastic stylus. Order an upgrade (or the Palm 3-pack) immediately. You won't regret it.

You might also want to consider the new Palm m105. Though it has a smaller screen than the Palm IIIxe, it has many of the same features but is packed in the same case as the popular m100.

If you are looking for a reasonably priced PDA that can live up to its reputation, then this is a first-rate choice. The Palm IIIxe is a solid unit at a great price - an excellent investment.

The product was shipped quickly. But now I cannot get the Pocket PC to connect to any PC. I have emailed the seller numerous times about this and they will not respond to me. Amazon is abolutely no help either, they will not do anything to help me. If I ever do get the problem fixed, I will change the bad rating for the seller.

Having had extensive experience with both WinCE and Palm handheld devices, I have to say that in the past I continued to lean heavily toward Palm -- not because it offered anything particularly cooler or better, just that it met my requirements: 1) must be stable hardware & software; 2) battery had to last up to 8 hours at a time; 3) had to have applications that met my needs (now and in the future!); and 4) it had to be "sexy" (yes, I'll admit I'm shallow). To date, WinCE handhelds & palm-helds have had a hard time making inroads in my mind on several of these key requirements.

My new HP Jornada 548 Pocket PC has changed everything for me. The color is sharp and clean (yes, even with the notorious 12-bit vs. the advertised 16-bit technology), the software seems to be extremely stable, and the look of it is way sexier than even the Palm V! But probably the biggest change is the software availability that comes with the Pocket PC and from 3rd party developers. Including Pocket Word, Excel, Money, AvantGo (can't live without it!), Pocket IE, Reader (I'm in the first half of "Timeline"), and support for POP3/IMAP4 email in addition to the included Outlook Inbox -- and still leaving me nearly all 32MB of memory I started with is AWESOME!

Notice my focus on applications? That's no coincidence ... a palm-held PC has become more and more important to me, and it MUST do more than just show my contacts and appointments (something I hear a bit too much from other Palm users). My Pocket PC has become an integral part of my computing day; and will continue to be even more important over the next few years. So having top-notch applications available that are fast, user-friendly (still getting used to the new spot for "Start"), and seamlessly integrated with my desktop PC counterparts is critically important for me.

My heartfelt congratulations & thanks to the teams at HP and Microsoft ... way to go!

I started with a Compaq CE 1.0 device some years ago. Shortly after I upgraded to a Palm III, then moved to the Visor Deluxe in March, 2000. I really enjoyed the flexibility of the Visor add-ons, but felt limited on the software side. The Jornada has been wonderful! Syncing capabilities are right there with the Visor, though the option settings aren't as clearly defined as they could be. Writing recognition is head & shoulders above the Visor, the word completion option is a tremendous time saver. The display doesn't hit the 16 bit category, but it is still impressive. Outside it is difficult to view without fiddling with the settings. The display catches a lot of attention from onlookers. Software is a huge advantage. Pocket Word & Pocket Streets have been a huge help(this critique was written in Pocket Word). Small display size makes the Excel version difficult to use. The inclusion of Outlook 2000 is an added bonus. I look forward to adding Pocket Powerpoint. I was very concerned about the lack of flexibility on the power system (the Visor uses AAA's), however the Lithium Ion battery holds it's own very well. I am getting well over six hours of operation time between charges. I installed a 56k modem and the results have been great. Setup was a snap & operation speeds have been impressive. Power adapter is pretty much required with modem use. There is a noticeable lag in program opening compared to the Palm OS, but nothing that's going to cause me heartburn. Though there are a few disadvantages with the HP and CE 3, they are far outweighed by the long list of advantages. It is a definite buy.

The product was shipped quickly. But now I cannot get the Pocket PC to connect to any PC. I have emailed the seller numerous times about this and they will not respond to me. Amazon is abolutely no help either, they will not do anything to help me. If I ever do get the problem fixed, I will change the bad rating for the seller.

Having had extensive experience with both WinCE and Palm handheld devices, I have to say that in the past I continued to lean heavily toward Palm -- not because it offered anything particularly cooler or better, just that it met my requirements: 1) must be stable hardware & software; 2) battery had to last up to 8 hours at a time; 3) had to have applications that met my needs (now and in the future!); and 4) it had to be "sexy" (yes, I'll admit I'm shallow). To date, WinCE handhelds & palm-helds have had a hard time making inroads in my mind on several of these key requirements.

My new HP Jornada 548 Pocket PC has changed everything for me. The color is sharp and clean (yes, even with the notorious 12-bit vs. the advertised 16-bit technology), the software seems to be extremely stable, and the look of it is way sexier than even the Palm V! But probably the biggest change is the software availability that comes with the Pocket PC and from 3rd party developers. Including Pocket Word, Excel, Money, AvantGo (can't live without it!), Pocket IE, Reader (I'm in the first half of "Timeline"), and support for POP3/IMAP4 email in addition to the included Outlook Inbox -- and still leaving me nearly all 32MB of memory I started with is AWESOME!

Notice my focus on applications? That's no coincidence ... a palm-held PC has become more and more important to me, and it MUST do more than just show my contacts and appointments (something I hear a bit too much from other Palm users). My Pocket PC has become an integral part of my computing day; and will continue to be even more important over the next few years. So having top-notch applications available that are fast, user-friendly (still getting used to the new spot for "Start"), and seamlessly integrated with my desktop PC counterparts is critically important for me.

My heartfelt congratulations & thanks to the teams at HP and Microsoft ... way to go!

I started with a Compaq CE 1.0 device some years ago. Shortly after I upgraded to a Palm III, then moved to the Visor Deluxe in March, 2000. I really enjoyed the flexibility of the Visor add-ons, but felt limited on the software side. The Jornada has been wonderful! Syncing capabilities are right there with the Visor, though the option settings aren't as clearly defined as they could be. Writing recognition is head & shoulders above the Visor, the word completion option is a tremendous time saver. The display doesn't hit the 16 bit category, but it is still impressive. Outside it is difficult to view without fiddling with the settings. The display catches a lot of attention from onlookers. Software is a huge advantage. Pocket Word & Pocket Streets have been a huge help(this critique was written in Pocket Word). Small display size makes the Excel version difficult to use. The inclusion of Outlook 2000 is an added bonus. I look forward to adding Pocket Powerpoint. I was very concerned about the lack of flexibility on the power system (the Visor uses AAA's), however the Lithium Ion battery holds it's own very well. I am getting well over six hours of operation time between charges. I installed a 56k modem and the results have been great. Setup was a snap & operation speeds have been impressive. Power adapter is pretty much required with modem use. There is a noticeable lag in program opening compared to the Palm OS, but nothing that's going to cause me heartburn. Though there are a few disadvantages with the HP and CE 3, they are far outweighed by the long list of advantages. It is a definite buy.

I have this pda. I got it for my birthday but i seem to never use it. When I always go to the store I see the ones there I wish i got a nicer one.
Why I rated it only 3 stars is because it doesn't have any of the cool options that the other ones have not even bluethooth which I have on my computer so I can't use it. It does you basic task for me a ,kid. I wouldn't recomend buying one with a camera , I have a 4.1 megapixle Kodak easy share camera (READ MY REVIEW). I've heard that the ones with the cameras shot horribly bad resloution and will not take nice picture so with my i would take a reguler camera , digital. But I use Micrsoft word so much i need it on the go but when i cant travle a long way with my Sony labtop i need somthing that i can type in. This one does'nt even hav Microsoft word.
But the thing I hate, is when i have to put new batteries i CAN NOT GO Out of the thing where you put your stylest you have to keep on hitting it where it says to go for HOURS----------------------------------------.
It's a thing for just writting down notes and planning a sceheduel.(...)DON"T BUY THIS ONE IF YOUR A GADGET GEEK LIKE ME IT JUST DOES REGUler STUFF>

I purchased this product with much hesitation. I was ambivalent as to whether continue using a old fashioned paper-pen organizers, or go electronic with the Palm m100. However, I finally decided to test the product, and if I was disappointed in its features, I would simply return it. Well, I can tell you that I would not return this product, for I am happily dependent on it. It is much smaller than the traditional organizers and the sleek design entices you to carry it everywhere you travel. The memory capacity is plenty, for I have installed nearly ten programs, have more than sixty address, have my schedules, and still have 1.75 mb of free memory. Basically, if you tend to write down schedules, or forget appointments, the Palm m100 is a wonderful device for you. I highly recommend it!

I Recently bought the M100 after comparing the IIIE, IIIXE and Handspring Visor Models. What made me buy the Palm M100. Three reasons. 1. Palm's reputation of quality, and the look. I'm sorry but it's cool. Sure the screen is a bit smaller, but I'm not writing War and Peace on this thing! 2. The fact that I only wanted to replace my organizer and have room for a couple of games. Actually I have over 15 games on this along with a good chunk of info and still have over 75% of memory. Sure 8 mb is nice to have, but it's also another $100 bucks. I can't see myself spending more money on additional game-boy like cartridges. Sure for developers and heavy power users the visor is probably the way to go, but I didn't like the fact I had to pay $179 for a visor and another 30 bucks to serial link it with my older computer. That's $209 plus tax to start versus $149 for the Palm. Moreover, the Visor 8mb would have been over $279 dollars vs. $149 just to start out. FORGET IT. Like I said remeber what you are buying it for.!! 3. The way the standards are evolving and the way new devices are coming out, the next best thing is always around the corner, so again remind yourself what you are buying this for. The way I figure if something too cool comes out, (say after 6 months or so,when the flash module palms, new visors or the next best pocket pc version comes out, I'll just give the m100 to my daughter.