PDA Reviews

I ordered a SanDisk SDSDB-64R 64 MB Secure Digital Card for $[money]. I used it in my Magellan Meridian Platinum GPS. I use a Zio SD Card Reader to load up to 64 MB of maps and points of interest data from Magellan's newest street mapping software (as of 5-21-02) USA Streets & Destinations. The SD card works like a charm. On a recent trip I loaded maps (with street level detail) covering an area from Richmond, VA to Boston, MA. That filled the 64MB SD card. If you have a Magellan Meridian Model GPS you DO NOT need to pay Magellan's high price for SD memory. Buy SanDisk, save some money and HAVE FUN GPSing!

I love San Disk Products! Their smart media cards are the best. They are very reliable and I have never received a faulty card. You can use them over and over... I like the 64MB size, it's perfect to take on trips and holds a nice amount of pictures. The price has really dropped in the last six months. I just purchased my fourth card. If your looking for smart media, stick with the brands you know and trust.

I dropped my PDA and the MMC card popped out. Realized it was gone hours later, went back, found it. It had been run over by a truck or forklift, judging from the scratches. Popped it back in, it worked fine. I'd call that durable, wouldn't you?

Frankly, I love this keyboard, and enjoy using it.
I think the complaints about the 4-row limitations
are of no real importance in general use
(accountants and programmers may disagree!)
and find it generally to be a sweet little contraption.

My only complaint / concern is its fragility.
I'm generally extremely careful about such things,
but it slipped from my hand (folded and latched)
and fell to the carpeted floor once; it has been
reluctant to close ever since.

It still works just fine - it just no longer wants to close,
and every time I do so, I wonder if *this* is going to be
the time I break it.

I find that very annoying, and my joy in it is dimmed:
tools one must fuss over are counter-productive.

It's a rough-&-tumble world, and products must be
rugged enough to survive actual use in the real world;
this accident was as mild and moderate as they come,
& a productivity tool aimed at busy people on the move
should provide greater dependability than this.

Size, weight, and Palm connection are great. The lack of dedicated number keys, and awkward character key fingering have become a real problem for this computer science student.

Despite all warnings I did buy the keyboard, because I needed it. It works super om my Tungsten T. Really great.
Before this I owned a Palm V with the stowaway keyboard which I already rated high. But the ultraslim types just a little bit better. And I make my money typing .. so I'm a real hardcore user (also on graffiti).

pro's
First: it is stable. You can use it on your knees and in bed. Quite an improvement over the older keyboard I used... although the Mrs might think different about that :)
Second: key-quality is better. You have better control over your typing. I now know when I miss a letter (like I know it on my notebook) and that was a feeling I lacked using my older keyboard.
Third: it is fixed and firm. You can actually move the whole shebang while shifting locations without having to fold it. That alone saves me a lot of time.
Fourth: it is so much smaller im comparission with my older keyboard, while having the same functionality.

On the other side, the slim size comes with one 'problem': It has only 4 rows of keys. Although everything is present with green or blue FN keys, it forces me to look at my keyboard more than I would like to and it makes me hit air, while I'm looking for backspace ... something I still have to got used to.

In all a great piece of work, small and firm. Definately a must have.

Eventhough it's good and fast due to SD card bandwidth interface, compared to MMC and Sony memory stick. Palm 16 MB SD card is too expensive. The price of [money], you can buy at least 32 MB or even 64 MB of Sandisk SD card from some stores. Moreover, 16 MB is not enough anymore when most of the professional palm programs are among 4-5 MB.

This is a good product for store your aplications, the only bad thing is that you can't store databases on it.

Having lived through a Palm IIIx glitch that erased all my address listings, when I bought my Palm M505 I vowed to make the Memory Backup Card one of my next purchases.

It is tiny enough to store virtually anywhere (although not in a wallet or place where it will be manhandled). It backs up my Palm, including 3rd party software, in just over 3 minutes. Operation could not be simpler. Pop the card into the SD slot, press backup and off you go.

The card has a small lock switch, which keeps you from accidently erasing the data. One thing that Palm should include is a small case for the card. I use the case for my Sandisk 32 mb card to protect the Memory Backup Card, but this should really be included, especially since the card has exposed contacts that should be kept clean.

All in all, an elegant solution to system backup and worth the price for peace of mind.

Eventhough it's good and fast due to SD card bandwidth interface, compared to MMC and Sony memory stick. Palm 16 MB SD card is too expensive. The price of [money], you can buy at least 32 MB or even 64 MB of Sandisk SD card from some stores. Moreover, 16 MB is not enough anymore when most of the professional palm programs are among 4-5 MB.

This is a good product for store your aplications, the only bad thing is that you can't store databases on it.

Having lived through a Palm IIIx glitch that erased all my address listings, when I bought my Palm M505 I vowed to make the Memory Backup Card one of my next purchases.

It is tiny enough to store virtually anywhere (although not in a wallet or place where it will be manhandled). It backs up my Palm, including 3rd party software, in just over 3 minutes. Operation could not be simpler. Pop the card into the SD slot, press backup and off you go.

The card has a small lock switch, which keeps you from accidently erasing the data. One thing that Palm should include is a small case for the card. I use the case for my Sandisk 32 mb card to protect the Memory Backup Card, but this should really be included, especially since the card has exposed contacts that should be kept clean.

All in all, an elegant solution to system backup and worth the price for peace of mind.

I bought one of these things 4 months ago. It broke. Palm won't fix it. Palm want's 100 bucks to replace it. Palm wants me to use a on line form to pay up front and start a repair order. Palms on line repair order cgi script doesn't work (makes you wonder who does the programing on the palms. Palm says write back to us and we will start a SRO (service repair order). Did that about 4 weeks ago, haven't heard a word.

In short

The worst warrenty and the worst support of any company I have ever delt with.

This is my fifth Palm device, starting with the original Pilot. My employer contracts with AT&T Wireless for our mobile service, so the prospect of reducing the silicone baggage was appealing (formerly carried Palm Vx, Blackberry, and Sony Ericsson T68i).

Unfortunately, the device has been a disappointment. The ergonomics are dreadful in comparison with the Blackberry, or a Nokia phone. The lack of notification when a text message (other than SMS) is a deficiency. The phone is unsafe to use in a motor vehicle, so I've had to activate a second, in-car phone & number. The original, largely Grafitti-based input functions common to previous Palms are much easier to use than the Tungsten's choice of the tiny mechanical keyboard or the tap-to-select on-screen version.

The device is very choosy about where it charges. I have three cradles, plus the travelling adapter with 110V and 12V (cigarette lighter) connections. One of the three cradles won't charge it, and it refuses to accept juice from an auto cigarette lighter, either. I have not found the battery life to be a problem, as described in one of the other reviews, though.

Web surfing is OK, some sites won't allow it access, but for what I use it for, it's acceptable. Being GSM, though, there are parts of the country where there is no coverage - I know this from my prior phone.

Finally, after five weeks' ownership, the annoying wired earpiece necessary to use the phone feature hooked on an obstruction once too often, and evidently damaged the jack. Now, the whole shooting match has to go back to Palm for repair.

All in all, I'm afraid I've pushed the technolgical envelope too far this time.

I'd wanted a telephone/pda combo for a while. When the Tungsten W was first released, I immediately wanted it. It had so many features I wanted: thumb keyboard, hi-res color screen, internet access, and compact size (compared to my Palm IIIc). However, the drawbacks kept me from purchasing: no internal speaker for calls, only works with AT&T in the US, and high cost. Also, the bad reviews, coupled with the release of the Treo 600, kept me from buying.

However, when my job forced me to switch to AT&T and the Treo 600 was perpetually unavailable, I chose the Tungsten W. All I can say is that I am so happy that I did! The screen is amazing, the internet works really well, and I can get my emails with attachments while out of the office without a hitch (try that with a cell phone). The phone has great reception and the headset keeps me out of trouble while driving. Yes, it is a pain to have to look for the headset, but I usually leave it attached to my purse and plugged into the the pda.

I've found software tweaks while surfing Tungsten W forums to customize it to my needs. The older processor does not bother me--it is plenty fast enough compared to the IIIc. This device is the best one for people who need data and pda functions to have just as much importance as cellular functions.

I have a Palm IIIxe and the keyboard didn't fit at first. But I hoped the leather would give a little stretch and with Targus lifetime guarantee that they purported, I gave it a shot and squeezed as much as I could without damaging my precious Palm foldable keyboard. Fortunately, it goes in JUST nicely, just keep your keyboard in there for the leather to mould to its shape.

However, I really HATED the segment for my Palm because of the irritating side holder bar for Palm Vx which is of no use for anyone without a Palm VX and is really a pain in the neck that nudges my Palm III to the outer edge. Plus, why would a Palm Vx owner need the velcro??

Also, the length of the case is TOO LONG for my Palm III, so I thought that was a waste of space (looks like it is to accomodate the longer HP Jornadas). This product tries to accomodate ALL types of PDAs, like Palms, pocket PCs etc but I really think they could do better by making a custom product for each range. Just doesn't make sense. I put my Palm slim leather case beside it and admired its micro dimensions, very much tempted to use the slim case plus the nylon case for my keyboard instead.....darn...

I purchased this case looking for a compact way to carry my Targus keyboard *very cool accessory* and Visor Pro together. It works fine, and is very close fitting. My only discount on rating would be the velcro--It fits fine, but between the soft reset port located on the back, the expansion slot cover and the necessity to dock snuggly when synching, there isn't much room for the velcro pieces. My only other complaint would be the thickness of it...With those two tightly encapsulated in the case, it is quite a tower and pretty bulky. I'd say it's as close as it's going to get, however, as this case is a snug fit. For anyone who isn't really concerned with space, and not looking for a wallet, I'd go for it. I'll probably get a slim case for when I don't need my keyboard. I read a review where someone put the velcro on their hard cover--great idea, especially since you wouldn't need it for a slim case (it has holders which utilize the handspring's ports and snap in your visor). Good luck!

I only have 1 problem with this case, and it's the lack of belt clip or another sort of hanger. the lack of this make it unpractical to use it outside the briefcase.

I have a Palm IIIxe and the keyboard didn't fit at first. But I hoped the leather would give a little stretch and with Targus lifetime guarantee that they purported, I gave it a shot and squeezed as much as I could without damaging my precious Palm foldable keyboard. Fortunately, it goes in JUST nicely, just keep your keyboard in there for the leather to mould to its shape.

However, I really HATED the segment for my Palm because of the irritating side holder bar for Palm Vx which is of no use for anyone without a Palm VX and is really a pain in the neck that nudges my Palm III to the outer edge. Plus, why would a Palm Vx owner need the velcro??

Also, the length of the case is TOO LONG for my Palm III, so I thought that was a waste of space (looks like it is to accomodate the longer HP Jornadas). This product tries to accomodate ALL types of PDAs, like Palms, pocket PCs etc but I really think they could do better by making a custom product for each range. Just doesn't make sense. I put my Palm slim leather case beside it and admired its micro dimensions, very much tempted to use the slim case plus the nylon case for my keyboard instead.....darn...

I purchased this case looking for a compact way to carry my Targus keyboard *very cool accessory* and Visor Pro together. It works fine, and is very close fitting. My only discount on rating would be the velcro--It fits fine, but between the soft reset port located on the back, the expansion slot cover and the necessity to dock snuggly when synching, there isn't much room for the velcro pieces. My only other complaint would be the thickness of it...With those two tightly encapsulated in the case, it is quite a tower and pretty bulky. I'd say it's as close as it's going to get, however, as this case is a snug fit. For anyone who isn't really concerned with space, and not looking for a wallet, I'd go for it. I'll probably get a slim case for when I don't need my keyboard. I read a review where someone put the velcro on their hard cover--great idea, especially since you wouldn't need it for a slim case (it has holders which utilize the handspring's ports and snap in your visor). Good luck!

I only have 1 problem with this case, and it's the lack of belt clip or another sort of hanger. the lack of this make it unpractical to use it outside the briefcase.

The docs for the 3450 are confusing. The box says iPaq 36xx and PocketPC 2000 (aka Windows CE 3.0). The internal paperwork says iPaq 37xx and above, PocketPC 2002 minimum.

Application itself is odd. Click on "Exit Application" does not shut the app down, I have to kill it via Task Switcher. It attempts to be smart about taking the street/area you're typing in and auto-completing...which usually results in the cursor moving and you have to retype or delete letters.

The 3450 does not support WAAS, so accuracy suffers. I find that on freeways which have frontage roads or long parallel interchange ramps the location jumps back and forth; I'm on the freeway, I'm not on the freeway...

For some unknown reason when I put the iPaq 3630 into the GPS sled it drops the volume way down. This was not the way it operated when I first setup and tried the unit, it just started today. I do a soft reset on the iPaq, sound is maxed and *loud*. iPaq into sled, sound goes way down. Sound *stays* down if I remove the sled, and until I soft reset.

Finally, injury to insult: the box claims that the kit comes with a 12v lighter adaptor for power. Not. Navman customer service is apparently split across two different divisions. The one that handles the 3450 has a phone number that's always busy.

Just got back from my vacation using the GPS. The software required reboot frequently. The map in some area are not accurate. The routing didn't give the fastest route sometimes. You need a real map as a backup in case the software fails on you - it happened to me on my return trip.

I bought this thing after it finally dropped down in price to two hundred fifty dollars. Plus i got another fifty rebate and a free 128 CF card to boot! This thing works wonderfully and quickly locks on to several satellites. i live in San Francisco and the only time it ever loses satellite contact is when I go thru the nearby tunnels but when I get out of it within 5 seconds it quickly locks back on! It tells you your speed, distance to go and will reroute you if you go off course from your desired destination! My only beef is that it doesn't tell you elevation which it could if the software allowed and if it locks on to at least 4 satellites (which it always does). I plan on calling navman and ask them if they plan on updating the software for elevation.

This this is so fun and is very accurate and its unbelieve about that i can put every public road in California, Nevada, Michigan and Minnesota onto a 128 Meg CF card! To fit the entire US on a CF card you will need a 1 Gigabyte CF which currently is about two hundred bucks at Costco.

Highly recommended for your Ipac. You will have lots of fun!

The cradle is very finicky. The fit is not very tight and I have to press down on the top of the palm pilot to ensure the contacts are touching. Plus, it has it's own power plug AND the USB connection. I'd recommend the USB cable instead. It connects snugly, easily and is only one thing to plug in, plus very reliable long term. Charges fast too. This cradle just fell short all the way around.

It's a shame Palm did not make a special cradle for the Palm m125 and m130, since the Palm is not very stable in this cradle. Perhaps they will release a special cradle in the near future. In the mean time, you might want to invest in a cable.

I bought this cradle because I have to leave the USB cradle that came with my Palm M515 at the office. I chose a serial cradle for two reasons: all of my USB ports are filled at home and this cradle was significantly cheaper than a USB model.

I find that the cradle is quite a bit slower. This would be a problem if I did as many Hotsync operations at home as I do at the office. Since I only sync at home to updat my AvantGo data and to re-charge my Palm,this cradle works fine.

If you need a cradle for a situation similar to mine, don't waste your money on the more expensive USB model unless you're really impatient.

Received the card in a reasonable amount of time. Put the card in the slot and it did not fit exactly like the HP 32MB digital card fit. In other words, the HP card has a "spring-like" feel to its insertion and extraction. The Viking card fit snugly in the camera and did not "spring". At first the camera did not recognize the card, then after taking it back out and re-inserting it, the camera did recognize the card. I was looking only for more memory space, so faster action on the camera is not of importance to me. This gives me 440 pictures at 1MB per picture with 2-stars compression. I am happy with the card at the price I paid (~$61.00 w/$15.00 rebate = $46.00).

Unlike other reviews on this product I found it to be a very good memory card. I use it in my Kodak LS443 digital camera and have yet to have a problem out of it. It saves my pictures quickly and has yet to lose anything. I think it's a good card with a good price.

Fantastic results in my Minolta Dimage G500! Speed, reliability, and the right price. Nary a problem from day one.