PalmOne IIIx Handheld

[Archived in $100 - $200, PalmOne, Products]

Manufacturer: PalmOne
Price at amazon.com: $159.99
This item is not stocked or has been discontinued.

Product Features:

• Enhanced LCD screen for improved viewing at angles and in both dim and bright light
• 4 MB storage capacity
• Infrared transceiver
• Open expansion slot for possible add-on hardware and memory upgrade cards
• What's in the box: Palm IIIx, Stylus, 2 AAA batteries, HotSync cradle with serial cable, DB-25 adapter, Protective cover, Organizer and Desktop applications, Handbook

Product Description:

Description from Manufacturer:The Palm IIIx carries on the tradition of the attractive and popular Palm line of PDAs. With its 4MB memory, this connected organizer is rated to hold 12,000 addresses, 5 years of appointments, 3,000 to-do items, 3,000 memos, and 400 e-mail messages. The "x" in IIIx stands for expandable, and the Palm IIIx offers memory expansion with an internal slot for upgrade cards.

Setting up the Palm IIIx was easy--we just inserted two batteries, connected the cradle to a desktop PC serial port, dropped in the software CD-ROM, and followed the installation wizard.

You can navigate through the Palm IIIx's main applications--memo pad, to-do list, address book, and calendar--with six push buttons or by tapping the stylus on the backlit display. Palm OS 3.1 facilitates drag-and-drop linking to Microsoft Word or Excel and provides network synchronization and automatic configuration with Microsoft Outlook. The CD-ROM that comes with the Palm IIIx provides all the necessary software to manage tasks on your desktop, too.

The Palm IIIx is PC- and Mac-compatible (an inexpensive MacPac connection kit is required for Mac users), and, as with the PalmPilot Professional, the Palm IIIx uses the industry-acclaimed HotSync technology to exchange data with your desktop PC. The documentation is extensive and well written; it includes a Getting Started card, a handbook, a software-and-resource guide, and an accessory catalog.

In our test of the Graffiti Power Writing feature, which allows you to write on the Palm IIIx using Graffiti's shorthand alphabet, the Palm IIIx interpreted a full paragraph with no errors. We easily and successfully transmitted the text to another device through the infrared transceiver. We found Palm IIIx's expansion slot beneath its cover. While memory upgrade cards are not yet available from 3Com, other manufacturers do make compatible cards.

With its increased memory and OS 3.1, the Palm IIIx is a great evolutionary step in the Palm line. --Mike Brown

Pros:

• Expandable for possible add-on hardware and memory upgrade cards
• Easy to set up, learn, and use
• Widely supported by third-party software, shareware, and freeware

Cons:

• None

Average Customer Rating:

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Comment: What wouldl I do without it? Rating:
Having used a paper Daytimer for years, I was a little skeptical about going electronic with my datebook and phone listing. Boy, have I been converted! The Palm IIIx (my second Palm - the first being a III) is, for me, a great value.

It has enough memory for anyone but the most compulsive note-taking, yellow page totin' workaholic among us. (I download an average of 300 Palm formatted web pages a day and have had no problem with space in memory at all. I also keep about 700 phone listings and several hundred appointments in the unit at all times) It has the improved screen and processor versus the III. And it has the benefit of the Palm community of software developers that is what sets Palm devices apart from Windows CE (and other) devices.

I like the fold-over cover both for protection and for the Star Trek communicator look :) and feel. The backlight takes a little getting used to. It is not useful at all for dim daylight use, but works just fine in dark situations.

I really want the Palm Vx for the sexy size and industrial feel, but I have no real reason to move away from a device that does everything I need and more (and costs a lot less).

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Comment: A great choice but not perfect Rating:
The big questions these days is what organizer to get. I'll assume you are reading these reviews because you already know that the Palm OS beats CE any day. So the choice is a Palm Vx, a Palm V, a IIIx or a Visor. I can't recommend the Visor right now due to the horrible problems people are having with Handspring...maybe in another year, but not now.

The new Vx is a good choice, lots of memory and the other advantages of the Palm V like a better screen, and rechargeable battery. But the darn thing is still overpriced. If money is no problem though, I'd probably go with the Vx.

The V is good too, but only 2 meg of memory...yuck! Now, 2 meg of memory is going to be enough for a lot of people. If all you want to do is the basic appointment/phone book/to-do stuff, 2 meg is more than you'll ever need. But that's it...you're stuck with 2 meg and can't upgrade (easily). If you are interested in using your Palm to do internet stuff, grab webpages with AvantGo, play games, read books, etc. you're going to find yourself a bit squeezed by 2 meg. You can still do quite a bit, but it's a bit more work to manage your space.

Now, for less money you can get the IIIx. You'll have twice as much memory, and the ability to upgrade. I personally put on the TRG xtra xtra pro board which gave me 4 meg more of RAM and 2 meg more Flash...it's like having an 11 meg Palm! Really great. Of course, I bought this before the Palm Vx came out, today it's not quite as good a deal to do.

One other reason I like the Palm IIIx is that I have a lot of add-ons that only work with it...the Palm Navigator (compass), the Weatherguide, Landware's GoVox voice recorder, etc. I don't believe these will fit a Palm V. Of course, it goes both ways....Palm's new 33.6 modem and the new wireless Omnisky modem only fit the Palm V.

I do believe the Palm V has a better screen, it doesn't seem to have the streaks that a lot of the Palm IIIx's have. And there's no doubt it has a certain "coolness" factor. Most of my friends at work went with the Palm V. But they are fairly impressed with the space and the accessories I have for my Palm IIIx.

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Comment: Excellent with but one exception! Rating:
I purchased a Palm IIIx about 31/2 years ago and as a result of its many uses and somewhat rough handling (my wife and I both shared the IIIx) we figured it was time to get a second unit. The IIIx's only drawback was that it had difficulty keeping the date which had to be reset periodically. Palm sent me two additional models as the failure occurred within the 1st year. The date snag continues to be a problem. We have learned to ignore this glitch and have chalked it up to "design flaw." Other than that, the Palm functioned perfectly. It may be a "slightly flawed warhorse," but is that not true of all of us? The price has dropped about $150.00 since my original purchase. 4 megs is a lot of space and I keep a few "encyclopedic" sources on the Palm for easy reference. Computer transer of data (Windows 2000) is simple, seamless and accurate.The unit has been upgraded by innumerable models with many more bells and whistles. If you personal needs require all the additional "crunchy whoopees," another model may be best for you (no antennas on this one)."A Final Aside": 31/2 years of hard daily 'two-person use' has made its present function a little slower and rougher than when it was new. I shall send it out for a "possible" repair. If the repair costs are not worth the investment and with the price for a new IIIx being excellent, I shall likely obtain a new model and retire the old with highest honors.

Posted at November 11, 2003 07:29 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)