PDA Reviews

Good case, with necessary pockets for storing credit cards and other important stuff. The exterior is not so smooth that it will get cut by anything but also not too rough. My Palm IIIxe fits in very comfortably. The velcro for sticking the Palm is at the top so it does not affect the battery cover... ... price is cheaper than any other online store that I could find.

The only drawback is that when you have to HotSync Palm then you need to remove the PDA from its velcro. But then I can't think of any other case that allows one to do an HotSync with the PDA in the case.

This cover is the best! I had searched for the longest time for a nice cover for my Palm IIIx only to find really overpriced cheap looking ones. But this one is made really nicely and even has slots for some cards and another pocket for other small items. When I read the reviews for it I was concerned that they might still be making it with the velcro attachment near the battery door, but when I received it, the velcro attachment was on the upper half which is nowhere near the battery door. I don't think it's very bulky at all- it's the same size as my wallet. Overall, I am very happy with this cover.

Pouch made of good quality has a good blue richness color and zipper is made of quality.

The first Psion I bought was like a dream come true - it had all the features I was going to buy a laptop for;

Large phone and address memory. Downloadable to a P.C., for backup is case of a data crash. Limited, but very useful, word processing.(If you don't mind pecking on a small keyboard.) Connects to Internet, sends E-Mail, and Faxes. Lot's of shareware available on the Internet from fellow Psion users. (I downloaded a chess playing program written by a Psion user in Belgium that only uses 30K - and I haven't beaten it yet.) You can also write your own programs on it (in it's own basic type language.) And it has spreadsheet and data programs that are compatable with your P.C.

Another plus - it uses regular 'AA' bateries. Since I use the AC adapter when at my desk, using the batteries only when away, they last over a month!

The reasons I traded up to a Psion 5 are: The screen's backlit. It has a bigger keyboard (but still not as easy to use as a full-size keyboard.) It has enough memory to support E-mail, Fax, and Internet connection programs at the same time. The spelling function has many useful features, including showing a full line in spellcheck so you can see the context of the word. AND MOST OF ALL - The touch screen, which is as good or better than a mouse, makes moving between programs, choosing options, zoooming in and out, and highlighting text much quicker. And you can draw pictures directly on the screen with the stylus.

To put it simply - I have my whole life on this Psion 5. Since it fits in my side pocket, I always have it with me, and can jot notes while I'm shopping or travelling - times when I wouldn't have a full size laptop with me.

Those are the PROS - here are the CONS: (1) Psions have their own language. Everything has to be translated if you want to see it on a P.C. Once you set this up it goes quickly - but you have to be hooked up and the application has to be installed and there's always a chance that some sort of computer clitch will prevent the connection. This does not affect sending E-Mail or Faxes from the Psion 5 itself, which appear as printed text to the addressee.

(2) There's a small half-to-one-second delay for some functions to occur, like opening a program. It's not always instant, like a P.C.

(3) The screen is a little difficult to read without the backlight. It's better with the backlight, but that uses up the batteries much sooner.

(4) (Minor problems) The coating on the case peels, and the stylus tends to slip out of it's slot.

(5) The Psion records memos using buttons on the outside of the case, but this uses so much memory I hardly ever do it. However, it would be practical for short notes you erase after transcribing into text.

(6) There is a limit to the memory. I've added a few pages of text a day for a year, and soon I'm going to have to move some files permanently to my P.C. - or delete the E-Mail, Fax, or Intenet programs. This estimate is very rough, but gives you some idea of the memory capacity.

At this point I should say I am not an employee of Psion, just a fan who uses it every day and is glad to pass on my opinion to my fellow Amazonians.

- Marvin Silbermintz

I bought mine in 1995 in Europe. It worked fine until last year when the screen stopped working. Even though the warranty period had expired Psion USA repaired it free of charge, within about 2 weeks of my shipping the product to them. I have also found the technical service in the US (via e-mail) to be outstanding.
I have now upgraded to the Series 5mx, which has twice the memory and a faster processor. I only did this as the old one was stolen. I would not recommend upgrading unless you need the extra memeory. The only other advantage of the 5mx is that the paint on the casing is much more durable. ...I would certainly recommend the 5mx to anyone buying now.
The diary and address book work fine. I had about 1700 addresses in a 614k file. The spreadsheet is compatible with Excel, but with less functions. Sketch program is similar in performance to MS Paint. It is possible to record voices or sound, I have never found a compelling use for this feature which uses memeory quickly - 60 seconds takes about 500k.
The monochrome (grayscale) screen is OK. 2 std. AA batteries less about 20-24 hours, less if the backlit screen is used.
The main differnce I notice betwwen the EPOC operating system and MS systems is that the EPOC system never crashes - not once in 5 years, and the computer boots up instantly.

I bought my first PSION when I was due to attend an Austrian Economics Conference at Claremont McKenna in the early 1990's. Rather than lug my overfull Filofax on the 10 hour flight from London, I opted for the PSION rather than a laptop. The little computer did an admirable job but the screen was a little samll as well as dark.

When the series 5 was launched I replaced my existing one with this current model. Why not choose the Palm. Good question. I wanted a computer that could handle word processing as well as a spreadsheet and be more than an organiser. I wanted something small and inobtrusive that could fit in a jacket pocket and that was stand alone. As a reuirement was ease of portability I did not want to carry around all of the little gadgets and add ons that make this little computer such a remarkable device. I preferred a keyboard. These were all advantages over the early Palms.

Why am I writing this review now after years of faithful service? Another good question. This machine has been dropped on several surfaces, it has had hot tea spilt on it, it has been passed around many, many students some of whom went on to buy later models but now it is at the end of the road. the company is getting out of hardware and focussing on software and applications. My PSION is still going strong. I prefer it to my Palm and Clie and BlackBerry. The capacity is good and I still have no add ons.

I just wanted to place on record my testimony about the efficacy of such an excellent machine. Alas no matter how good the product, if the market does not cast it's vote of approval, it is doomed as is the case with the PSION family.

R.I.P. old friend.

I spent the last month researching PDAs. The Casio PV-200 is a great value! If you want or need e-mail function, this product is NOT for you. However, for keeping track of your appointments, business/personal contacts, this item is great. I've read some of the negative comments...they must be referring to the PV-100 model. Be sure to purchase the PV-200A (with the silver colored screen protector). The on-screen key pad makes entries very easy. It defaults to capitalize the first word of each sentence and "remembers" frequent words you've entered. So, after you type "Bir" the word "Birthday" will appear--simply tap the word and save time. One touch shows your next scheduled appointment. It has a daily alarm, reminder alarms, etc. This is a great product for the money. I do not use the PC Sync function, so I cannot comment on it. This product is advertised on the internet anywhere from $99.99 to $149.99.

The Casio Cassiopeia PV-200e model is a wonderful machine that will keep an unorganized techie in-sync with their home or office PC while on the road. The PV-200e features all the PV-200 model advantages except the backlit display and desktop cradle. The serial cable sync operation is one-touch and will update information on both the Casio and home or office computer's operating systems. The included software is easy to use and free downloadable software makes the unit compatible with Microsoft Outlook 2000 and before. One exceptional feature that the PV-200e has is the clarity of the on-screen writing in the Quick-Memo function. In short, Casio provides a lot of power in their PV-200e!

The Casio Cassiopeia PV-200e model is a wonderful machine that will keep an unorganized techie in-sync with their home or office PC while on the road. The PV-200e features all the PV-200 model advantages except the backlit display and desktop cradle. The serial cable sync operation is one-touch and will update information on both the Casio and home or office computer's operating systems. The included software is easy to use and free downloadable software makes the unit compatible with Microsoft Outlook 2000 and before. One exceptional feature that the PV-200e has is the clarity of the on-screen writing in the Quick-Memo function. In short, Casio provides a lot of power in their PV-200e!

As others state here, it is very easy to use! It's the cheapest and simplist solution to solve the lacking of memory issue. Howeve, be careful when you move your data files to the flash card. In my case, half of my applications will still function properly after the data files being moved to the flash card. The other half either crash or the application can't find the data files any more. So, you have to test each of your applications after the move. Fortunately, if it doesn't work, you can always move them back to HS memory.

If you own any Visor from the Visor family model-line and need extra RAM, this is for you.

Pros:
--easy and intuitive to use
--should be all the extra memory you'll need in one package
--I got it for only thirty two dollars (big factor for me)
--no major problems encountered so far

cons:
--certain applications or parts of an application won't work correctly or at all if its only on the module and not internal memory (however, It'll still store them)
--the above usually results in fatal errors and will require soft resetting and/or pulling out the module (but NOT permanently, just long enough to restore files back to the handheld) to remedy it
--MAY put a small drain on your battery life
--usually won't work in low battery situations (due to safety reasons to when transferring your data)

This is a good alternative to upgrading and shelling out unnecessary money on a new PDA that may not have enough enhancements/improvements to justify another few hundred bucks. Is memory shortage about your only issue? Then you're set. But before you do buy this memory module, here are some things that you should consider:

If you're buying this and some 8MB PDA as opposed to buying a PDA that has 16+MB of internal memory, u may want to reconsider. Typically the former will be the same price as the latter, if not more.

Certain applications won't be able to run directly off the module. If you have something on both, your Visor will automatically access the one on the PDA's internal memory. Otherwise, it'll try to run it right off the module. Problems arise when the application you're using (or parts of the application, such as database files) requires modifying data, and the module doesn't let you do this directly, as the process of updating stuff on the module is really just deleting the old stuff and replacing it with a newer version of it. This means you'll still need to keep certain stuff on internal memory. You'll also need to figure out which stuff will "blow up" if you don't do this and which won't if you want to store as much as possible on the module (The documentation that it comes with gives you some recommended guidelines, but I've discovered that some of them can be broken without any fatal errors when running the app).

There's also other memory formats available for the Visor, such as flash memory and compact flash. In a nutshell, get the Springboard format if:
--you won't need more than 16MB or memory (or any large amounts of memory)
--don't need the compatibility with other media devices such as MP3 players or digital cameras.
--Just want something that'll work, without any headache from worrying about limitations from the other formats...If your using this to backup info then this is very good at backing up specific items or group of items. If you want to back up your ENTIRE handheld, get an appropriate backup module. It's faster and only requires 1 tap on your screen

Oh, and finally, This Hagiwara Springboard module also has the same type of functionality as the one made by Handspring, so there shouldn't be any reason to shell out more money for the latter when Hagiwara's module is usually offer at a cheaper price

It couldn't be easier to use. I opened my package from Amazon, inserted the 16MB Springboard Module, and voilà, I have more than double the memory. The file mover is simple to understand, and it's easy to move both applications and data to and from the module. I've had no problems with reliability, and the only drain on battery life has resulted from increased usage since I have I have a lot more applications and games.

Owners of 2MB Visors need to be forewarned, however, that individual data files and applications are still limited by that 2MB barrier since they are first installed onto the Visor's internal memory and then moved to the module. Chances are this won't be a problem for you.

This combo pen is a 3-star product in appearance and functionality, but feels cheap. The weight of the pen is fine, but the mechanical function is not crisp. The pencil lead loading function is very difficult and slow. I am not planning on returning the pen, but would recommend against ordering it.

I have looked at other 3-in-1 pens but this is the one that caught my eye. First of all, it looks and feels great. The pen has some substance and it actually helps when writing on your PDA (personal digital assistant) versus the provided stylus. It is also cheap enough that you don't feel that you're making a huge investment in a fancy stylus that you might lose. The pen is also great when using it as a pen or mechanical pencil. Just turn the upper portion and the tip changes from stylus to pen. The pencil is located on the opposite side of the pen. The ink flows very well on any type of paper. The pen even comes with an eraser (located when you unscrew the top of the pen). It is a great gift for any PDA user as well as your favorite gadget fiend, I mean friend.

Before purchasing this pen, I looked at a number of multi function pens, including others available through Amazon as well as those from other makers, i.e. the Cross DigitalWriter Duo. In my opinion, this pen does everything well.

With a simple twist, it goes from a black ballpoint to a PDA stylus to a mechanical pencil. I differ with the previous reviewer in that the mechanism feels solid and of good quality. The pen can be customized of sorts by replacing the pen or stylus with a red ballpoint or a fine point highlighter. The PDA stylus that comes with the pen is red in color, thus preventing mistaking for the ballpoint and scratching the surface of your PDA. Also, all three options are stored unexposed, thus preventing any damage.

The top of the pen has a cap that screws off with an eraser underneath. The black ballpoint that comes with the pen is of very good quality and is a fine point. The stylus is much better than the ones that come with the PDAs.

The pen has a very good "presentation" quality about it. It looks very professional. I use both a pen and stylus equally in my job and this one has a very nice balance of form and function at a great price.

There really isn't too much to say about the cradle. Drop in the Palm, hit the button and it syncs. However, save yourself a few dollars and buy the serial cable instead. It is cheaper, more portable, and most importantly for me, easier to plug into my Palm because I keep it secured in a carrying case.

I ordered a cradle for my Palm IIIxe and it came in just a few days. I plugged it in and it works like it's supposed to. I would order from Glenn again, no problem. Top notch seller!

Excellent service. Product arrived promptly and in original box. I am happy I found it at a very good price. I'll buy from the seller again when I need to.

Palm comes with a stylus. If you lose it then buy this, otherwise it's a waste. And by the way, if you have long fingernails you can use that to input into your Palm when you're too lazy to take the stylus out

The styli are of sufficient quality for me to be satisfied with them (= they work), but I have two complaints about this product :

- The product is said to be "same as stylus provided with product" and a "genuine Palm quality product". It is neither. These styli do not fit the silo perfectly and the screws at the top and bottom are badly made, in contrast to the perfect screws and silo fitting of those that were provided with the product.

- The price is excessive. Why should a simple piece of mass produced plastic cost over three U.S.$s, especially considering the mediocre quality of the product ?

High-quality stylus, 3 of them even! They even seem better than the one that was actually included with my Palm Pilot. A stylus is an easy thing to misplace, lose, just like a pen, so its great to have a few in your briefcase or purse!

I had a Handspring Visor Edge and the battery died on me, so, I thought it was about time to upgrade my PDA. I purchased the Sony PEG TJ27. I was shocked on how easy it was to convert all of my calendar and addresses information from my old PDA to my new one. The jog dial is very nice and the camera is a nice perk. The camera does not compare to a real digital camera, but it is fun to have. I do think that I should have paid the extra $100 to get the PEG TJ37 with the sound and wireless capabilities, but overall I enjoy my new PDA and I am very happy with my decision. As far as battery life, I have not yet tested, but it does require a lot more charging than the Handspring Visor Edge.

The TJ27 isn't a terribly exciting PDA-it has no sound capabilities so it can't play MP3s or video (with audio)-even though the rest of the hardware is more than up to the task. What it does have is Sony's typically high build quality and reliability. The screen is excellent (and unlike most PalmOne models, it doesn't hum loudly, and the backlight can be toggled on and off).
The button layout is questionable. A jog dial sits between two left/right buttons in the location that most PDAs have either up/down buttons or a 5-way navigator. Depending on the program, the left/right buttons sometimes function the same as up/down buttons on older PalmOS models, and sometimes the jog dial and left/right buttons function the same as a 5-way navigator. The 4 application buttons are a bit too small, too close to the left/right buttons, and are connected together. (The calendar and address book buttons are connected, and the to-do and memo buttons are connected). So the layout isn't the greatest, but it does work okay.
The camera, as with all integrated cameras, is almost completely worthless, but since it doesn't really raise the price any, it's not a big deal.
System speed is excellent. The TJ27's 200Mhz i.MXL CPU (Motorola's ARM chip) benchmarks only 27% slower than Intel's 400Mhz xScale. Of course that power is basically complete overkill, especially since the TJ27 can't really play video, but programs like Documents to Go, and the basic PIM apps respond very quickly.

All in all, this is possibly the best "basic" PDA on the market right now. No audio, a somewhat strange button layout, but far better reliability than you'll get from other companies.

I researched PDAs fairly extensively before I settled on my Sony Clie TJ27. Well it has been about a month, and I am delighted with it so far. Originally I was interested in a Palm but was frightened away by all the negative reviews everywhere. My Clie came with free Dataviz software (upon registration of the product on the Sony website), including word, excel and "Slides to Go" (similar to Powerpoint) and I have had no trouble transferring data from files on my PC to my Clie and performing hot sync operations.

I've taken pictures (okay, you need to get fairly close to your subject with the 2x zoom limitation, but if you want topnotch photography, buy a digital camera). The only area needing improvement is the battery power. When you use the camera, it eats batteries faster than if you were just working with data. All in all, I love it and would highly recommend, especially to first time users who don't expect it to be their morning alarm clock (honestly, who would rely on a handheld for this); a top-notch digital camera or their desktop. It is what it is - a great value for the price.

I originally bought the Palm Glove case but didn't like it. I bought the Sumdex, which suits me better.

The Palm Glove case was a teensy bit too small for my M125, so I was constantly stretching it and, finally, the stitching blew out. Also, because it didn't fit quite right, the cool little button to show the time was often misaligned.

The second main issue was my fault -- I thought it had a belt loop but it doesn't. (I know, having a Palm organizer on one's belt is the hight of geekiness but that's the best place for it!)

Also, I wish it had a little pocket to hold 2 AAA batteries (the Sumdex doesn't either. It would be a very useful feature.)

If I kept my Palm in a briefcase or jacket pocket, the Palm Glove might be a better choice but if I kept it only those places, I probably wouldn't even use a case.

This is a great case for the Palm M100. I bought it with my Palm and am very happy with it. The Palm is held by the case with no problems. It has a plastic window, which covers only the Palm buttons (applications and scrolling buttons).

A total of 3 pockets gives you the ability to put in credit cards or anything else which can fit, but I really don't use them since it looks better only as a protective case for your Palm. One pocket is behind the Palm Glove, another inside and the last one is in the flip cover of the glove. The last pocket, gives you the ability to put in the flip cover of the Palm M100. I didn't have to remove the flip cover from my palm, since it gives you more flexibility to open or close the cover if you use it with the Palm Glove.

The Palm Glove has a snap closure which does not only protect the HotSync port, but does also secure your Palm M100 from any damage.

The case also does not make the Palm M100 more bulky, you can still carry it in you back pocket. But be careful not to forget that you have it there, since you can sit on it and....well....you know the story.

Anyway, I really recommend this case for your Palm. I have read the features and reviews from other cases and I really think this is the best one. I as an owner of it, I guarantee you that you won't regret you bought it.

The Palm Glove is as elegant and clean a design as anyone could wish for. The machine is held in place with a clear plastic window covering the area below the screen. Although sturdy, the plastic in no way interferes with the use of the four application buttons or scrolling buttons.

There's a pocket on the back of the case, another small one on the inside of the top below the window for the time/date, and a final one behind the PDA. The Glove opens up from the bottom and has a snap closure that shuts by folding around the bottom of the case, nicely protecting the Hotsync port from most potential damage.

The case has the standard feel of neoprene and the accents are true black, clear royal, and bright yellow.

The only curiosity to this case is what to do with the flip cover that comes standard with the M100. I've tried sliding it into the top pocket, folding it behind the machine into the inside back pocket and removing it. Have yet to decide whether it should stay or go. Right now, it's still on my Palm and not inserted in any pocket, serving as additional protection. As the other case styles do suggest removal of the flip lid, I can only assume that it should stay (somewhere).

This is a terrific protective case. Highly recommended!

I was first skeptical about buying this stylus, esspecially after reading that it sticks out of the Visor slightly. But this stylus is great. The weight of the pen makes it much easier to use than the stylus that comes with the Visor and the reset tool is a great idea. I recomend it to anyone who has a Visor

I love the feel of it, the weight and heft. It can be a little slippery, but I don't squeeze it as much as I seemed to do the first couple of plastic styli I tried, so it hasn't been a problem.
It fits perfectly in the slot of my Prism, and the top is enough larger than the shaft to be able to easily push it out of the slot when I want to use it.
I love the look of the bright shiny chrome, and the orange tip does help with visibilty on the screen. This is especially good for a person of limited depth perception (me). The tip is smooth besides, and doesn't dig into the screen. I do use screen protectors against everyday wear.
The only thing I would change, if I ran the zoo, would be to add a screwdriver point like the Handspring stylus has.
I love this stylus.

Want to make your Visor handheld even more attractive? Add this great looking stylus onto your wish list. It's not too expensive, it feels great to use, and basically it just looks awesome. I bought one with my visor and I have loved it since the day I got it.