by Palm
2882 days in the top 100 Platform: Mac OS 9 and below
(228)8 used & new from $24.00
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Review & Description
Welcome to the world of possibilities. The expandable, Internet-capable Palm m505 handheld can be easily customized to grow along with your needs. An innovative expansion slot makes it simple to increase memory, back up data, and add new applications without sacrificing memory space. Use the Palm Universal Connector to add a portable keyboard, camera, or wireless modem. And 65,000-color support displays your information in vibrant color on a high-contrast screen.With an elegant design based on the award-winning Palm V handheld, the Palm m505 handheld packs a lot of power into its compact package. It includes new mobile connectivity software that lets you access the Internet and send e-mail through a modem or data-enabled cell phone. And bundled productivity and business software helps you keep important information at your fingertips when you're on the go. Palm's simple yet elegant operating system has long been a shining light in the world of PDAs. The good news on the Palm m505 is that the Palm OS still offers a wide array of tools to gather your personal and business data in a great computing environment. Unfortunately, the most touted aspect of the Palm m505--its color screen--is a disappointment.
Turning it on for the first time, we wondered if we had received the monochrome version Palm m500 handheld--the screen was dark and barely visible in our moderately lit office. We fumbled around for the contrast preference, but couldn't find it. In fact, the Palm m505 has no way to adjust contrast other than to turn on the backlight. Only with the backlight activated could we actually discern the icon and screen colors, and even then the LCD screen seemed muted.
On side-by-side tests with the Handspring Visor Prism, its main color competition, the Palm m505 was lacking in brightness and crispness--despite both handhelds' having 16-bit display support that can show up to 65,000 colors.
The reason for this seems to be that Palm has sacrificed brilliance for energy efficiency. The Palm m505's rechargeable battery does, indeed, keep its charge with "normal" usage (estimated by Palm at 40 minutes per day) for about three weeks. However, with the mandatory use of the m505's backlight, we found the battery needed more frequent charging. Luckily, charge time in the included HotSync cradle/recharger is quite short.
The basic Palm applications in OS version 4.0--Address, Date Book, Memo Pad, and To Do List--remain largely unchanged, with a few tweaks here and there. For instance, the Date Book application now includes a screen view with a list of the appointments and to-do items for a particular date. And like the m100 series, the Note Pad has been added for doodling and scribbling handwritten notes (instead of writing longer tomes in the Memo Pad using the Palm's Graffiti alphabet).
Palm has collected a number of bonus software titles that you can easily add to the m505 without denting much of the 8 MB of memory, including AvantGo, which downloads Web news and content from a variety of sources (enabling us to keep up with Aussie Rules Football scores). The biggest test for the color screen came with PhotoSuite, an image viewing app that displays a range of image-file formats downloaded from your PC. We found the color depth to be quite good, but the screen's lack of brightness made the images look rather muddy.
Additionally, several connectivity applications from Palm's Mobile Internet Kit are provided, including the Web Clipping app for viewing Web content built specifically for Palm viewing and MultiMail SE for accessing e-mail. And, of course, there's the highly touted expansion slot for SecureDigital cards and MultiMediaCards, allowing you to add memory, content, and functionality. Unfortunately, at the time of this review, we were unable to test any of the cards offered by Palm.
With its curved angles, thin design, and light weight, the Palm m505 closely resembles its predecessor, the Palm V series handheld. And like that model, the m505 feels very comfortable both in the palm of your hand and resting in your pocket. Also, with the Palm m505's new 33 MHz Dragonball VZ processor, switching applications seemed much more immediate.
The siren song of the new m500 series is indeed seductive, and Palm has done well to streamline its basic repertoire and add some tasty new notes to the mix. However, the Palm m505 is ultimately a disappointment due to its underwhelming color display. If you're having trouble getting this song out of your head, the Palm m500 handheld (with all the functions of the Palm m505 but with a monochrome screen) should keep your toes tapping just fine. --Agen G.N. Schmitz
Pros:
- Faster processor
- Classic Palm styling--contoured design is comfortable to hold
- Good range of additional software, from Internet connectivity to e-book reader
- New expansion slot takes industry standard SecureDigital cards and MultiMediaCards
Cons:
- Color screen is rather dim and ultimately disappointing
- Backlighting must be turned on to see the color screen, wearing down the rechargeable battery
- Expandability via SecureDigital and MMC cards limited by current offerings
The expansion card slot is a dual-purpose slot that can hold two types of cards: Secure Digital and MultiMediaCard (MMC). Both types of cards are small, inexpensive, and easy to plug in. Much like computer diskettes, they hold information for upload or download onto a handheld. With them, you can instantly add software programs, e-books, large databases, graphics, or even video files to your handheld without sacrificing memory space.
The advanced LCD display delivers more than 65,000 colors for your viewing pleasure--perfect for games, photos, spreadsheets, and even video clips. Sleek and lightweight, the Palm m505 handheld has a shiny aluminum casing and is curved to fit in your hand.
The new native USB HotSync cradle allows you to quickly back up and exchange information between your handheld and your PC or Mac. The Palm m505 handheld also features new vibrating and blinking LED alarms (in addition to the standard audible alarm) to help you stay on top of your busy schedule. The Palm m505 handheld comes equipped with a rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery, which is charged using the HotSync cradle.
The Palm m505 handheld comes with Palm OS 4.0, which provides enhanced security and improved Internet connectivity. Other application features include Note Pad for writing sticky notes, Palm Mobile Connectivity for connecting to the Internet and obtaining e-mail via compatible cellular phones, and AOL for the Palm OS.
The Palm m505 handheld is PC and Macintosh compatible and requires a USB port. It comes with Palm desktop software for both PC and Macintosh. It has a one-year warranty.
What's in the box
- Palm m505
- Stylus
- USB HotSync cradle
- Rechargeable lithium ion battery
- Palm Desktop software for Windows and Mac
- Palm Mobile Connectivity software
- Getting Started guide
- Handbook
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