Handheld Reviews

I bought this case from Best Buy. The case is ok, and seems to protect the PDA decently well (I have a Toshiba e310). I would have liked to see a further reenforced screen cover though. Some may like the belt clip included in it, but I do not. The fastener for the clip protrudes when it is in your pocket, and can get very annoying. Perhaps my biggest complaint of it is the storage pockets for credit cards and SD cards are useless. They are too tight to put anything in. I'll probably look for a new case when I get my SD wifi card.

I am using mine with a Toshiba e805, which is a big PDA. It's not a perfect fit, but the case is nice and sure does the trick. But the slots available for the cards are a waist. (my PDA had nothing to do with the cards not fitting) If I could squeeze a card in there, I'd be afraid of damaging it. It protests my PDA and it's not too bulky. It's a nice looking case and seems pretty well made and I like it.

It is worth the price. I have no regret for buying it at all.
It fits my e355 the way I wanted it.

I bought this item from a seller on amazon and my credit card was charged. I received a notice from the seller saying amazon had informed him not to ship becasue of a credit card issue. At the time I thought nothing of it. I then contacted amazon who told me to solve the problem with the seller. The seller said he would refund a partial payment. I thought this is better than nothing, so I agreed. I waited and waited, but nothing. Amazon then said it was past the a-z guarantee date so they will not assist in the refund. Moral: Amazon allows rip-offs!
This is the guy's email moses0510@hotmail.com He won't answer mine, but please try for yourself. If you can help let me know skinow@skinow.net

I have the same problem as a previous reviewer. The tab on the battery (secures the battery to the case) is flimsy and plastic. And yes the blasted thing broke off without any assistance from me after only 4 or 5 months of carrying it around.

I don't have an issue with the cover, and I like the features that permit adding memory or pcmcia devices. It is a bit bulky, making the IPAQ PDA 2 and a half times as bulky. Which still leaves it smaller than a paperback book.

A thoroughly average product, in some respects. Making a more secure battery and making the cover removeable would be big improvements.

I went through three of the old-style PC Card sleeves before getting the Plus style (one bad battery, one bad PC slot, sold 3rd once I got the Plus). Basically, I got it because it had the plastic cover on it.
Two problems: Detachable battery is not secured well enough and card-eject button should be recessed more to avoid accidentally arming it.
I don't think Compaq does enough durability testing on these things. I keep my iPaq in my pocket with a disposable camera and a cell phone. The plastic cover has begun to come off, and now the battery clip has broken, so the battery falls off. I've only used it for a few months, and now I'm already going to have to get a replacement.
Advantages of having it: I can take my 802.11b wireless card with me where-ever I take my iPaq. I've been amazed at the number of times when I've desperately needed to use the internet to quickly check on something while at some location, pulled out my iPaq w/PC Plus sleeve and 802.11b PC card, turned it on to discover I had a connection to an access point, and saved the day.

The idea of having a dictionary as big as the one advertised in this module is great. How many times have you wanted to look up a word only to stop yourself because you didn't want to open up that huge book? Even for those of us who have internet connections to look up words easily, sometimes we are not around the Internet and would like to be able to look up a word on an airplane, train, or bus, etc. The problem is with this module is the implementation. The navigation is poor, and even if you don't use it at first, you will want navigation in it lately. I would wait until Franklin releases a better user interface.

The best I can say about this product is that it's superior to the dictionaries available for download on the Palm platform--but that's not saying all that much. The interface needs improvement; the definitions do not include tips on the pronunciation of words; and some words are either missing from the database or are only half-heartedly defined. For the price, which is at least double that of the download-able dictionaries, I was hoping for more. Having said that, this product does indeed work--I'm a college student, and the dictionary contains the majority of the words I've needed to look up, including some obscure and technical ones. This product is, for now, the only dictionary out there that's worth spending money on. Despite my three-star rating, I'd recommend it to any owner of a Visor that is looking for a dictionary (this product is MUCH better than the Noah program).

For me This is the most useful of all the springboard modules. I usually have to carry a big heavy college-size dictionary around when I want to read something because there's inevitably going to be some obscure word that I don't know and that'll bug me if I don't look it up; but carrying around that size of a dictionary although it's really useful is rather on the cumbersome side. I was skeptical at first as to whether this dictionary had what it takes (as compared to an Encarta dictionary or an American Heritage college-sized dictionary) but the definitions are pretty close to what I'm used to reading the main difference being instead of carrying around a 10 pound dictionary I'm not carrying much more than my Handspring visor! This module mounts flush and even though beyond simply looking words up the navigation is a little lacking; the act of looking up words is much easier and quicker than opening up and looking for the words in a 10 pound dictionary. I don't use the module for anything beyond looking up words so I don't really use any of the navigation (beyond the little left arrow at the top to move from the specific definition to the index of all of the words). Navigation among the words is so easy I even found myself scrolling through the dictionary and looking up words that I knew nothing about; with this module it's sort of fun! So if you like to look up words and you own a handspring visor you should ask yourself this: Would you rather carry around a ten pound dictionary or a flush-mounting pittance of a module? ...And could you use all of the time you waste flipping through pages and running your finger down a column of ink?

This was the second of three different PNI compass models I have bought through Amazon, and I would not recommend any of them. If they worked right, I would love them. But all three of them will not stay on. It says they will stay on unless no change in the magnetic direction is for ten minutes. This simply is not true as all three of mine that I have bought shut off all the time, even if I just drive around the block all day.

I did not buy this compass and I would not buy it because by just looking at the picture I can see it is badly designed.

An intelligently designed compass should always tell you, in a natural and logical way, which cardinal point is in front of you (and which one at your right, left and back). To achieve this, the compass should have a fixed arrow pointing forward (the car's direction), and on the head of this arrow should appear the true cardinal point to which the car is pointing. For example, if you are moving towards East, you would like to see E on the head of the forward pointing arrow; but instead, on the advertised compass you will see N in front of you, and an arrow pointing to your right. If you are moving South this compass will show you N in front of you (very bad), and the arrow pointing backwards.

The design error of this compass consists in having letters N, E, S, W fixed (painted) on the frame and a rotating arrow which points to this letters, but no to the true physical direction.

A good design should have a fixed arrow pointing forward and rotating letters.

In few words, this compass shows lack of intelligence and aesthetics in its design.

I live in a midwestern city and cardinal directions are important for driving, so I use this compass intermittently when I am getting lost. It works very well and is easy to configure - one drive in a circle and it is set up. It has an auto-off function that keeps you from running down the batteries. I have not had a problem with the AA batteries running out too quickly but I also do not use the compass every day, only occasionally. It has a well designed suction-cup mounted cradle that is easy to position. The high contrast display is easy to read, even in bright light.

The concept is attractive: charge your iPaq using the USB port on your notebook computer.

On my Toshiba Tecra 9000, there's not enough power output from the USB port to charge the iPaq 3650. Worse, Windows 2000 keeps thinking the cable is a Toshiba Wireless LAN adapter and tries to install drivers for it.

The plug for the iPaq isn't well designed: it's too large, tempting the user to use excessive force attaching the cable.

I bought one of these because I have two cradles, one at work & one at home. Sounded like a nice idea. However, it only charges if the PC is on, even if the USB Hub is self-powered.
I use the power adapter that came with the my Compaq at work (where I need the juice) and use this gadget at home. So, it has worked out ok so far.
Buyer beware of this limitation.

regardless of what was said in prior review

I've tested this across 3 computers with Windows 2000. None work, no power for charging, no sync, not anything!

I would steer people towards gomadic.com for a better cable that I will purchase to replace this junker. I believe Targus sells this type of product as well. Probably works too! ;)

Will return this and not buy anything from this company again.

Let me say right off that this product worked from the "get go". It sync'd and charged without a problem; however, when I went to remove it from my 3955, it wouldn't let go! It seems that the metal clips which hold it in place are not the best for this job.
While it does the job it was intended for (sync/charge), I'll look into the same product from Belkin or Fellows.

After tweaking the thing for a bit it finally worked. The first time I plugged it into my 3835 it wouldn't let go, and I had to wrestle with it for a minute or two before prying it out. I found there was plastic from the mold still attached to the connector, so I trimmed it off and tried it again, only to find it was now too loose. Finally, I pinched the connector a bit and it worked. It's tempermental, but if you don't mind messing with it it beats carrying around the OEM cradle.

This is my first hard case. Previously, I had been using E&B leather cases for my Palms.
The pros of this case:
* Relatively easy to open - the palm hard case is comparatively tough to open quickly.
* Tough - can take a knock and doesn't appear worse for wear
* Hard to scuff the metal - the Palm hard case marks up easily
* Easy to slide out Palm from case to sync. Some people have said their palms have fallen out when they open the case - considering this would only occur if you are not careful I dont really have an answer. The fact is that if you want to sync each day as I do, you need to take it out of the case, which means the sliding is what the case spine is meant to allow.
* Doesn't cause the palm buttons to be pressed - as has been claimed with the Palm hard case.
* looks smart on a desk

The negatives of this case:
* The hinge metal work could be more stylish
* You have to take the palm out to sync
* Left on a desk, the case can attract attention and dissapear.

Conclusion: I like this case and I think it does a good job. It has protected my Palm for the last 6 months without incident. Its surface has also held up well and hardly has a scratch on it that shows. If you need a hard case because you are a little brutal with your electronic gadgets, then this is the case for you.

I am deployed to Iraq (LSA Anaconda) and I really enjoy the aluminum hard case...I slip my pda into the pocket of my military uniform and sometimes I would worry about knocking it around. Not anymore...the case is strong...light weight...easy on the eyes...and I thought the price was great off of Amazon.com...I keep a lot of good information on my pda and feel confident that I wont loose it now...If you hot sync frequently I would recommend taking the pda out of the case first and then place it in the cradle...easy enough...I am very pleased with the case and would recommend one to my friends.

thanks for listening
Joe in Desert

Okay, I've got a Palm Vx and I have this habit recently of using it before bed, reading the news or playing games, or whatever. And the thing is, I ALWAYS FALL ASLEEP while I'm using it, so EVERY NIGHT I DROP my poor Palm onto my hardwood floor. And EVERY MORNING I wake up and it's A-OKAY -- no cracks, nothing! It really would be broken by now without the Rhinoskin. So it does the job!! The only glitch with this case is that once your Palm is in there, it's a pain to get out. And for synching in your cradle (w/my Vx), you kind of have to rest it carefully on there with the case butterflyed-out to make it fit. It's no big deal; just a little awkward. Overall, it's a great case.

Cool concept, but the hardware doesn't work. To count steps, the device depends on its internal pendulum (a weighted switch) to bounce for each step you take. However, the pendulum in my unit frequently stuck and thus stopped counting my steps. First used it on a 3.3 mile course, but it calculated that I had walked 1.0 miles. I walked the course again but carried the unit in my hand so I could feel the pendulum clicking; when it stuck (every few hundred feet), I had to shake it - sometimes quite hard - to start it working again. That time, it showed I had walked about 2.5 miles. Since I had to concentrate on the unit rather than my walking, I shelved it. I'm very disappointed with this product.

This is a great idea, but it just doesn't work that well. The pendulum gets stuck in the down position and it just stops counting steps. I work on a university campus and I walk all over during the day, but by the end of the day it had only counted about 10 steps. Also, the clip doesn't work very well. It can fall off very easily and then you could end up losing it. The menus are easy to understand. The different "characters" that you can pick from to encourage you are pretty cheesy, but they're not bad.

Maybe I got a dud, but I've been pretty disappointed in it. I've had mine for 5-6 months and I have yet to get anywhere close to an accurate count on it.

Pretty neat - very easy to setup and get going. Be sure to enter accurate data. I found it simple to use and easy to keep track of my walking. The only complaint I would have is the case for your belt is easy to come loose, I find myself constantly checking to make sure its there. I think it could have been made a little more secure.

This flimsy film bubbles up and makes the screen fuzzy. Stay away and don't waste your money.

First of all, this was very overpackaged. I got a 12 inch x 9 x 4 box for a 4 inch tall product that wasn't even breakable.

My main complaint is that, unlike the misleading picture above, the protectors dont cover the whole screen. I have about a half a centimeter gap at the top of my m130, and a small gap around the other edges. I suppose they could improve your handwriting, but all they do is make your stylus move slower. There are little bubbles all over the screen, and the credit card-like thing they give you to smooth them out doesn't even fit your palm correctly, and doesn't work well. In under a minute of writing, the screen was already very scratched up.

Unless you are loosing sleep over your palm screen or having problems with people putting their fingers on it, I wouldn't recommend buying these (they are also very overpriced).

These screen savers work just fine, and this is by far the best price out there with out sacrificing quality. Highly recommend!!

No instructions tell you to plug the unit into the wall before connecting your Palm. If you connect to the Palm first, the green power light on the unit will turn on even though it's not plugged into the wall. That's a bad sign.

After enough time, the Palm will not turn on because the charger has depleted the Palm. It will still charge the Palm (wall first, then Palm), but after 2 months of daily use my Palm went dead and could not be revived, either by soft or hard reset. Interestingly, placing the Palm in its OEM cradle showed its power light on, so it was (I think) still taking a charge.

Luckily, my Palm was still under warranty and I got a replacement, no questions asked. With my replacement Palm Tungsten T, I have kept this travel charger away from it completely. I am glad to see that this product is no longer available from Amazon. However, I'm still out the [money].

you plug it in , it does nothing. great money making idea for the company. they also charge 3 dollars a minute for customer support. it cost more than the product itself to tell them it does not work. the genius who came up with that should get a raise. it seems that iconcept is more of a scheme than a business, beware.

I own a m505 and the new Tungsten T m550. This charger works perfectly with both forming a tight connection on the universal port. A similar charger from Belkin does not securely work with the Tungsten T despite the universal connector. The Palm brand charger costs twice as much. ...This is a steal and even has a light on the adapter to show it is getting power. Highly recommended.