|
|
|
|
| Palm V and Palm IIIx | Hardware |
 First impression: The overall look
and feel of the Palm V is fantastic. Its project code name, "Razor," was most
appropriate. Let's face it, the Palm V oozes sex appeal. I definitely prefer its metal
case over prior plastic versions. Its anodized aluminum case is very sturdy and has a
great feel. Its leather cover mounts on either side and conveniently flips around to the
backside, so it's out of the way. This a noticeable improvement over the clunkier Palm
III's and IIIx's Star Trek-like vertical flip cover, which only flipped open halfway. The Palm V is a great example of how to dramatically improve the device's form, while maintaining the functionality that has made it so successful. The higher-contrast display is similar to the IIIx, except that the V's is slightly more green in tone. The new higher contrast screens are a big improvement, too, and the reverse-backlight is very readable. If you're going to be in mid- to low-light conditions, such as an older courtrooms the new display on the Palm IIIx and V really makes a noticeable difference. As for features, the Palm units haven't changed that dramatically from their earlier siblings. They still offer the same basic applications: date book, address book, to-do list, memo pad, expense tracking, calculator, and e-mail. For people on the go who aren't "loading up" the unit beyond its built-in applications, the Palm V's 2 MB RAM is actually quite spacious. The Palm III and upgraded PalmPilot Professional users have had only 2 MB for quite some time, which has thus far adequately met many of their needs. But the Palm IIIx's 4 MB of memory becomes much more important if you are loading databases or larger collections such as books, Web pages/clippings or statutes, for example. On a minor note, the Palm V has an onscreen contrast control that eliminates a problem associated with earlier models, in which the user accidentally nudged the physical control device. The sealed V unit isn't really user upgradable, however. If you do choose to upgrade via the external serial connector, your options are limited. Although it should be noted that at least one company, efig.com Inc., is now offering to upgrade your Palm V to 8 MB, it entails opening the Palm's sealed case, thus voiding the company warranty. Efig.com, however, offers a more limited warranty of its own. Another way to eek out an additional 824K is to install TRG's FlashPro. This program can copy some of your information to the unused portion of the Palm's 2 MB flash memory. But that raises the question of whether the unit will be affected when a flash OS upgrade is performed. Otherwise, with the Palm V, what you see is pretty much what you get. The Palm V only comes with a sealed lithium ion rechargeable battery and has no AAA battery option. This is both an advantage and a drawback. On one hand, I don't have to worry about changing those AAA batteries, but I'm sure glad I purchased the Palm V Travel Kit to go with it. This is a necessity for many Palm V users, as it contains an AC adapter and charger that is supposed to automatically adjust to all the various voltages and frequencies worldwide, plus three international plug adapters, and a hotsync cable (not a cradle) so you can sync with your laptop on the road. At about $50, I highly recommend it, lest you be caught with a dead Palm V. One weekend, I decided to give the rechargeable battery the acid test: I downloaded several Palm games and went to it (with plenty of enthusiastic volunteering from my family). I figured the sustained processing and key presses in the games would put the most drain on the unit. Guess what? It did. On Friday night, I started with a full charge. By Sunday night, however, the battery was nearly drained. Although we used it non-stop for long periods and even called upon the reverse indigo-like backlight during the evenings, I certainly expected a longer charge life than the device allowed. If you're only using the Palm V in short bursts, it shouldn't pose a problem. But in my experience, sustained long-term use will drain the V's battery relatively quickly. As long as you charge it every day in its cradle, you shouldn't have a problem. Overall, I like the Palm V. If I had the choice (our firm purchased a Palm V for support testing), I'd purchase the Palm IIIx for several reasons, some of which are simply personal preference. Either way, the IIIx and the V are both fantastic units. |
Palm Computing Inc. (800) 881-7256 www.palm.com 486 or higher PC; Windows 95/ 98 / NT; Palm V, $449.00; Palm IIIx, $369.00 Reviewed by Jeff Beard, legal technologist, Quarles & Brady, LLP, Milwaukee, Wisc. Palm V CONS VERDICT Palm IIIx CON VERDICT |
| Home | | Issue Archive | Resources | About Us | Contact Us | Subscribe | | Subscribers | Advertisers | Updated 09/19/01 |
