PalmOne Tungsten C Handheld

PalmOne Tungsten C Handheld

PalmOne has produced an impressive Personal Digital Assistant in the Tungsten C handheld, arguably the best on the market from a business perspective. While it pushes the PDA technology envelope strongly in some places, the Tungsten C overlooks some existing technology that would substantially enhance it.

The Good
The Tungsten C comes with 64MB RAM, an Intel PXA255 processor running at 400MHz and a new and improved 320-by-320 transflective color screen, producing a clear and vibrant color display. This is the best and brightest display I have seen from palmOne to date. The Tungsten C comes with a built-in thumb board (you can connect a full-sized, fold-up keyboard as well). It accepts Graffiti 2 entries, which you write on the screen itself. The Tungsten C retains the five-way navigator button palmOne introduced in its Tungsten T PDA.

The Tungsten C runs Palm OS 5.2.1. It also uses Palm’s 4.1 desktop software and offers compatibility with Windows 98 and later, and with Palm OS X 10.1.2 and later.

Recognizing the need for connectivity, Palm built the Tungsten C with Wi-Fi compatibility. It recognizes 802.11b networks and joins them with relatively little difficulty. Once connected, you can synch up to a networked computer, use e-mail or surf the Web.

PalmOne’s rechargeable 1500 mAh Lithium Ion/Polymer battery lasted for six full days without requiring a recharge during what I consider normal usage. You should anticipate about five hours of power with constant use of Wi-Fi. You can recharge the battery through the supplied AC adapter/cradle or through optional accessories such as a DC charger.

The Tungsten C accepts Secure Digital and Multimedia expansion cards for additional memory and other features, and also has the palmOne Universal connector for attachment to other devices and for synchronization.

The Tungsten C comes with a good collection of software suitable for many business uses, including the traditional desktop and PDA versions of address, calendar, to-do, memo and synchronization functions, DataViz’s Documents to Go Professional Edition 5.1., and Chapura Pocket Mirror for synching with Microsoft Outlook.

The Bad
PalmOne doesn’t provide Bluetooth capability. At the present time, the palmOne Bluetooth SD card that works for the M505 and M515 units, doesn’t work with the Tungsten C.

The display, while improved in comparison to older palmOne units, falls short in comparison to the display of the top-of-the-line Sony Clié units. Also, the Tungsten C is only “digital recording ready.” To record a memorandum, letter or a note, you have to purchase the separate, optional headset unit, as the Tungsten C has no built-in microphone.

While there is software to allow playback of MP3 music files, you need to use an external card to store such files. Worse yet, the Tungsten C comes with an on-board speaker that is mono only and has a standard earphone jack accepting only mono earphones. I can understand palmOne deciding to make MP3 playback optional on a machine designed primarily to satisfy business needs, but I can’t comprehend the decision to build its best and most powerful unit with only a mono jack and not a stereo jack for MP3 playback.

The Ugly
The Tungsten C lacks the clever design and sleekness of the Sony PEG NX70V or even palmOne’s own Tungsten T/T2. It has a sort of clunky appearance that reminds me of the older Palm devices modified by the introduction of rounded edges, the thumb board, the navigator button and the rounded bottom for the universal connector. The Tungsten C has a slide-in flip-over front cover reminiscent of the Palm V and the M505/515 units, except the cover for the Tungsten C tends to easily slide out of the track that holds it.

Final Thoughts
The palmOne Tungsten C has computing power to compare to the top Pocket PC units, but runs Palm’s OS 5, taking advantage of newer and more powerful programming for the Palm platform, and allowing it to run most of the existing software in the palmOne universe. Add to that its built-in Wi-Fi and you have a powerful business tool that handles traditional PDA functions as well as more demanding programs. Its new transflective color screen displays graphics and pictures well. The requirement of a separate headset for recording purposes isn’t convenient.

As a business tool, the Tungsten C gives you just about all you need or could ask for (Bluetooth would be a nice addition though).

palmOne Inc.
(800) 881-7256

www.palmone.com/us

Price: $499

Reviewed by Jeffrey Allen, a general practice attorney with an emphasis in real estate, business transactions and litigation based in Oakland, Calif.

Dec/Jan '04 Issue

PROS
It runs palmOne’s OS 5, allowing it to take advantage of newer and more powerful programming for the Palm platform.

CONS
The requirement of a separate headset for recording purposes isn’t convenient.

VERDICT
If you want more computing power, faster operations and Wi-Fi connectivity, you will want to invest in the Tungsten C. For business use, it’s the PDA to beat.