PalmOne m130 Handheld

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Manufacturer: PalmOne
Price at amazon.com: Used & new from $69.99

List price $199.99



Product Features:

• Bright and easy-to-read color screen with support for 58,621 colors
• Built-in 8 MB memory stores thousands of contacts, appointments, to-do items, and notes
• Expandable via Secure Digital and MultiMedia cards--add memory, applications, and content
• Windows and Macintosh compatible--includes desktop software for both platforms
• What's in the box: Palm OS 4.1, USB cradle, rechargeable battery, and add-on applications including Documents to Go, powerone Personal Calculator, MultiMail, and Palm Reader

Product Description:

The curvy Palm m130 handheld has all the classic information management features you expect from Palm, as well as a bright color display with support for 58,621 colors. Plus, it's loaded with valuable productivity and connectivity software and has a built-in expansion card slot for additional memory storage, applications, and content. It comes with 8 MB of built-in memory, enough to store thousands of addresses, years of appointments, hundreds of to-do items, and more than 50 software... read more


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Description from Manufacturer:Palm's m130 enters the handheld market as one of the least expensive color units available. Basically a colorized version of the earlier m125, the m130's bright backlit screen displays 58,621 colors on its 160 x 160 pixel screen.

It also boasts an 8 MB memory with an expansion slot that accepts both MultiMediaCard (MMC) and Secure Digital (SD) cards for adding both memory and special applications. The SD card slot will also connect to SDIO (Secure Digital Input/Output) devices, including Bluetooth cards for wireless connectivity, and upcoming peripherals like digital cameras and bar code scanners.

You can also attach peripherals to the base of the unit via the Palm Universal Connector, which enables you to use the m130 with keyboards, modems, and GPS receivers that are also compatible with the i700 and m500 series handhelds.

The universal connector is where the handheld meets up with its USB cradle, which not only serves to sync up the m130, but to recharge its lithium-ion battery as well. On the highest setting (you can drop it down a notch in well-lit environments), the display backlight sucks juice at a moderate rate. But since the battery recharges at each sync-up, it's not much of an issue. Even if you run out of battery life and your m130 shuts down, you have about a week to recharge it before you lose the data on your Palm.

Nicely contoured, with an attachable faceplate that flips up (letting you play Captain Kirk and Dr. Spock, if you're so inclined), the 5.4-ounce m130 rests solidly in your left hand with the right manipulating its standard buttons and screen with the stylus. One complaint we did have with the m130: at the edges, the screen doesn't appear to be as sensitive as in the middle and it can sometimes require a repeat tap with the stylus before it registers.

In addition to the standard Palm Desktop software, the m130's impressive handheld software bundle includes Palm Reader (for taking e-books along with your Palm), DataViz's Documents To Go (for viewing and editing Word and Excel files; Windows users can also view and edit PowerPoint documents), and MGI PhotoSuite Mobile Edition (for viewing images and videos on the full-color screen).

An IR port on the top of the m130 lets you beam contact information, such as your business card, or even an application, to another similarly equipped handheld.

An inexpensive color handheld with a decent amount of memory and lots of room for growth, the m130 makes a great PDA for users looking to add color to their portable world. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• Inexpensive, full-featured color PDA
• 58,621-color display looks great
• Loaded with software extras
• Rechargeable battery

Cons:

• Stylus doesn't register, at times, around the edges

Average Customer Rating:

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Comment: Does the Job! Rating:
I Bought my wife an M130 as her first PDA. She loves the shape and the little color screen. She uses it mainly for PIM functions. I wanted to buy a HandSpring product, having been an early adopter of their technology with my Visor Prism. Unfortunately, many problems with the Prism and/or software, HotSync, Tech. Support issues forced me to look elsewhere. Based on my son's satisfaction with his Palm M105, I decided to go with the Palm M130.

After setting up my wife's M130, I found it to be a solid performer with very little to complain about. The screen is small and the battery life is limited. But, as I see it, if I wanted a larger screen and longer battery life, I'd opt for either a PocketPC device or a small "notebook" computer. Both of which I have used; neither of which are conveniently sized to take along wherever I go. For me, something as simple as the cute, plastic "flip-top" cover with a window for checking the time, makes a big difference. My wife can throw her M130 in her purse and take it wherever needed.

This little device is great for us. I recommend it highly. Until higher resolution color PDA's become affordable, the M130 will do the job!

I guess my wife was listening to my rave reviews (or my complaining about my Visor Prism). She surprised me with one of my own for a Christmas present. I couldn't be happier and I'm glad to be done with the HandSpring Visor Prism.

After loading Vindigo and HandStory, the 8MB of memory quickly fills up. I picked up two 16MB SD memory cards and we are now as happy as clams! My Word, Excel and PowerPoint files are on the expansion card (SD Memory) along with .PDB audio files I use with NetMite's audio player AND about 20 .JPGs I downloaded for use with PhotoSuite. I also have a few eBooks (Vonnegut's "Player Piano" and a historical non-fiction book called "Samurai William"). PalmReader Pro 2.2 and eBook fontpack make all the difference when reading on the M130. I highly suggest them.

I figure I'll use the M130 for a few years before going to a Palm OS 5.0 (or later) device or, possibly, a PocketPC PDA. Until then, I am very satisfied and happy with the M130.

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Comment: Great and inexpensive color PDA Rating:
The first Palm I purchased was the m105 model during my freshman year of college (2000). I used it mainly for taking notes during class, thanks to the Palm portable folding keyboard, but I also regularly used the scheduling and telephone/address book functions. I loved my m105, but I bought the m130 in spring of 2002 for three major reasons: its backlit color screen, rechargability, and expansion capability.

The most obvious difference between the m130 and its predecessors is its backlit color screen. Taking notes in class with my m105 became complicated when teachers would turn out the classroom lights for powerpoint presentations; I would have to lean in and strain to see the m105's display in the dark. The m130 glows brightly and sharply, very easy to read even in a dark classroom. The color display is enjoyable too; black text on a white background is easier to read than the black text on the olive-green background of the m105.

The most convenient function of the m130 is definitely its rechargability. Plug the AC adapter of the HotSync cradle into an outlet, place the Palm in its cradle, and its batteries recharge. To HotSync, or synchronize the data on your handheld with the data on your computer, connect the cradle to the computer via a USB port. The cradle for the m130 not only synchronizes data, it serves as a charging station, like the base station of a cordless phone. Recharging the batteries using the HotSync cradle is much more convenient than taking the batteries out of the Palm and replacing them since doing so sometimes results in a loss of data.

Finally, I love the slot on the m130's side that allows expansion cards to be inserted. This slot accepts cards containing pictures, programs, extra memory, and anything else you may need. Right now, I have the Palm Dictionary/Thesaurus card inserted; anytime I'm studying at school and need to look something up, my Palm expansion card does the trick.

This unit has 8 MB of standard memory, which is more than enough memory most people need. I have the entire NIV Bible on my Palm, and there is still plenty more space for my other programs and data. Those needing more space for programs or data need only to buy optional memory expansion cards. The m130 is inexpensive, yet offers a great amount of features for the average user. If you're looking for a unit that's internet-capable, has speakers, or performs complicated business functions, spend more money and buy a more professional model. However, if you're looking for an affordable color PDA with standard PDA functions, expansion capability, and the convenient ability to recharge on command, the m130 is right for you.

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Comment: Be Sure A Palm is Right For You Rating:
A Palm Pilot can either be one's best friend or one's biggest burdon. This review is designed for a first time Palm buyer to give you the strengths and weaknesses of this model(the M130) and Palm Pilots in general, so that YOU can decide whether you need another useless peice of plastic in your life or not.

The Draw and the Drawbacks of Palms in General---
Palm Tops are a very nice way to write notes to yourself (if you like learning to write in grafiti), keep a neat calender and hold on to important names and numbers. It is clean-- self contained and much more proffessional looking that a paper and pen. But is it More efficient? If you are out of room in your day planner and find yourself so busy and overbooked that you are constantly forgetting dates, this is a nice alternative-- if you think it would be fun and useful, try somethiung else. Overall I found that a Palm Pilot takes so much time to set up and operate that it seemed more efficent to go back to pen and paper. I found, for example, that it took me much much longer to write detailed notes, as I was so frustraed that I abbraviated and shortened until my note was useless and illegable jargon. Soon I ran into a guilt complex, "should I just give up? OH NO, but I payed so much money..." So I kept using it. Finally I gave up, and as part of the healing process I wrote this review.

"Special" Features---This Model
-Color Screen: If you want a few extra bucks to look like you payed a few hundred this is for you. Very Mid range color screen, but it gets the job done.

-Internet: There are much better ways to connect to the internet, a computer for example (or even a cell phone). This feature seemed pretty useless to me.

-Picture Viewing: Great, you can upload pictures and look at them... maybe even send them to other people. My only question is- how often wil this be more convienient that a computer?

-Games: Oh Goody!

-Read uploaded Text Documents: If you like reading things on a screen go for it-- I got lots of headaches.

-"Scribble" Pad: This is the best thing ever-- I wrote lots of illegable notes and drew funny pictures, woo hoo!

Last Words--
Palm Pilots are a great way to organize a busy schedule, nothing more, nothing less. If you feel that paper and pen aren't cutting it-- make the switch, but know that it will most likely be a bit of a headache at the start, and the headache may continue until you go back to your day planner. Best of Luck

Posted at November 11, 2003 07:46 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)