PalmOne Zire 31 Handheld Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased the Palm Zire 31 a couple of weeks ago and so far I love it.I installed the software and had my palm up and running in less then 30 minutes. The CD that is included with the palm allows you to install optional software. When my old Palm M130 died a few months ago I started looking at all of the different handhelds that are on the Market.I ended up purchasing an expensive HP IPAQ due to the fact that it came with a Windows based operating system.I had nothing but problems.I finally decided to go back to Palm.After using the IPAQ for several months I realized that I did not need all of the fancy features that came with it (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc).I need a basic handheld that would allow me to calendar important dates and store information such as addresses, phone numbers, etc.I also wanted one that could store pictures and games and other miscellaneous programs.I originally wanted the Palm Tungsten E but after reading tons of negative reviews on several different websites I quickly changed my mind.So far my palm is working like a charm.I have installed tons of games and programs and I have not had any problems.One thing that I would highly recommend is purchasing aback up program online (I like www.palmgear.com).My palm automatically backs up all of the info on my palm to my SD card every time I sync it.To eliminate the stress of having a faulty palm I would also recommend purchasing the extended 2 year warranty if it is available.I purchased it for an extra $19 and if anything goes wrong with my palm they will replace it with a new one.

The screen is only 160x160 but I am not going to be watching movies or playing high resolution games on my palm.The pictures look descent but I only attach pictures to the phone numbers in my address book.I only play basic games like card games and board games and as far as I can tell, they look fine.The only thing that I don't like about this palm (and the reason I gave it 4 stars) is that the plugs for the sync cable and charging cable are on the side of the palm and not the bottom like on all other palms. Also, the flap that they give you to protect the screen is very flimsy.I use it to protect the screen while it is in my purse but I plan on buying a protective case.Other then that, the Palm Zire 31 definitely suites it purpose.

If you are looking for a basic handheld that is inexpensive and will help you stay organized, the Zire 31 is perfect.On the other hand if you are looking for a handheld with Wi-Fi capability or Blue tooth or if you plan to play high resolution games or watch movies then you might want to look at the higher models (or maybe even consider a high end Dell or IPAQ).

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Product Description:
The Zire 31, the successor to Palm's Zire 21, is designed for value-conscious students, parents, and anyone who wants to keep their most important day-to-day schedule and contact information close at hand. The bright color screen lets you show off your favorite snapshots (stored on optional expansion cards) to friends, family, and coworkers. The Zire 31 also offers a built-in MP3 player and Secure Digital card expansion for storing digital audio files and photos. The 16 MB memory (14 MB user available) can store thousands of phone numbers, addresses, lunch dates, meetings, birthdays, doctors' appoinents and shopping lists.







UpgradeFeatures
The Zire 31 offers the following improvements to the Zire 21:

Color display (versus the Zire 21's monochrome screen)
16 MB of Memory (versus the Zire 21's 8 MB)
MP3 digital audio capability
Palm OS 5.2.8 (versus 5.2.1 for the Zire 21).

Display
The Palm Zire 31 features a 160 x 160 color STN screen that displays thousandsof colors and features contrast and brightness controls.


Audio
The included RealPlayer for Palm OS enables you to listen to MP3 musicfiles stored on optional expansion cards via the built-in speaker or optionalheadphones/ear buds. RealPlayer for Palm OS makes it easy to transferyour personal MP3 music collection to expansion cards and organize yoursongs by creating and editing playlists right on your handheld. It alsooffers an auto-dimming capability to help conserve battery power.

The Zire31 features a 160 x 160 color STN display with contrast and brightness controls.
Connectivity and Expansion
The Zire 31 uses Multimedia Card and Secure Digital expansion cards, which instantly add software applications, additional memory, large databases, and more without taking up built-in memory space. You can synchronize to your desktop PC via the mini-USB connection on the side of the handheld.


Operating System and Software
The Zire 31 is powered by Palm OS 5.2.8, which provides higher performance, enhanced multimedia features, and enterprise-class security. It useses the intuitive and easy-to-learn Graffiti 2 writing software to input data into the handheld (as well as an on-screen keyboard). Windows users can synchronize calendar, contacts, tasks and notes with Microsoft Outlook.



Track expenses on the go with Splash Money



The Palm OS features the following organizer applications:

Contacts: Lets you store several addresses for each contact, and it adds new contact fields for more phone numbers, multiple email addresses, instant messenger IDs, and a website for your contacts.
Calendar: Use the new Agenda view to see upcoming calendar events, tasks due and important email, and color-code your events to provide an easy way to reference your Calendar in the Agenda, Day, Week, and Month views. Take more notes, or synchronize more details from your desktop, into the larger Memos and Notes fields on the handheld.
Tasks: Use tasks with alarms and repeating tasks to set reminders for important comments.

Along with the standard Palm software, you'll receive a Software Essentials CD-ROM containing RealOne Mobile Player (Windows only desktop application), PalmOne Photos, Solitaire, powerOne Personal Calculator, Handmark Splash Money, Handmark Mobile DB (keep track of birthdays, auto maintenance, and more), and Audible Player for palmOne handhelds (Windows only).
Compatibility
The Palm Zire 31 is compatible with PCs running Windows 98, NT 4.0, 2000, Me, and XP, and with Macs running Mac OS 9, version 9.1 or higher, or Mac OS X, version 10.2 or 10.3.


What's in the Box
This package contains the Zire 31 handheld, built-in rechargeable battery, protective flip lid, mini-USB HotSync cable, power cable, stylus, CD-ROM with Palm Desktop 4.1 software for Windows and Macs (as well as bonus software), and printed Getting Started guide. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery with a battery life of up to a week under normal usage or around 6 hours with continuous digital audio playback.

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HP iPAQ rx5915 Travel Companion Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It's a GPS with all the pocket PC features, not a PPC with GPS features. This is a GPS first! It's basically the same as a TomTom One navigation system, but with the added PPC functions. I've had other GPS/PDA/PPC combos in the past and they don't stack up to this one at all!

Lets look at the GPS first:

The map issue that others are having is going to depend on where you live or where you will be using this unit. Try different GPS's software, as they aren't all the same.

Personally, I like the Magellan software for it's "Dings" when approaching a turn, as well as it's "Approaching destination on the left" notifications. TomTom doesn't tell you what side of the street your destination is on, except for the location on the screen (no verbal prompt.)TomTom however has a much better itinerary planning capability than the Magellan, one feature I liked more.

You can load your own custom POI's if you want, but the TomTom POI's are a little lacking. It's not like I found everything in my Magellan either though. It depends on how much you want to rely on the POI's. As an advantage, since this is wifi enabled and has pocket internet explorer, you can always use the internet to find the POI you are looking for.

The biggest negative I have is with the GPS fix time. It's slow. I mean really slow. Sometimes it can take a few minutes, and if you are already moving it seems to take even longer. Up to several minutes.

I wish one of the buttons was a mute/un-mute button, but it's something I can live without.

The car cradle is the best one I've ever used. It's very easy to mount, and it's even easier to insert the GPS and remove it. Takes no time at all. Since it's powered by mini-usb, this is an added bonus for me, as my cell phone charges on the same connection.

Battery life is excellent, it lasts about 5 hours for my use so far. Enabling wifi or bluetooth will of course lower the battery performance.


Onto the PocketPC functions:

As a PPC, this thing rocks! With wifi and bluetooth you have every connection you could need. I use the internet on this more than I thought I would. I check my web based email, browse the news headlines, watch streaming video and listen to online music. It's got a few hundred megs of extra space for MP3's if you want, but I use my ipod for my mp3 listening. I also use this to store my photos. I have a phone that runs pocket windows as well, and with it's camera I can take a photo and send it via bluetooth to the PPC and add a contact in no time!

Pocket Internet Explorer doesn't always work for me. I like the Opera browser more (free 30 day trial) but I've found a few sites that wouldn't work in Opera, or looked better in Pocket IE.

It came down to this or a Magellan 3050T GPS system. I chose this because it's smaller, lighter, and has a ton of options over a stand-alone GPS. You can't compare this to a stand alone GPS because it's not. It has many more options that you may or may not use. If you are considering buying a TomTom One GPS, then get this instead. It's about the same price, runs the exact same software (TomTom 6.0) and has all the PDA features in a smaller package.

I hope this was helpful, but in the end it depends on what your looking for. I travel a lot, and needed something that had all the maps built in, was small enough to take on my carry on, could travel with me and was easy to use. I think I've found it in this unit. Just try and take one of the stand alone GPS's and casually put it in your pocket, good luck getting it out!
Additional Information:
TomTom and HP are currently working on an updated map release for this product and will (hopefully) have it available on the HP support website by the end of January. TomTom is hailing this update as "The most detailed and accurate maps of the US and Canada ever produced.."This update will also be free to owners of the RX5900 series Travel Companions.

Update 02/08/07:
HP Hasn't released an updated map pack yet, however they did release a firmware update for the unit. This update improves the GPS functionality and accuracy. I now get GPS locks in seconds, where it used to take minutes. While driving, I get a lock in 10 seconds. I get a lock faster if I'm stopped. It is definitely a significant improvement and I recommend everyone that owns one of these updates the firmware.

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Product Description:
Whether for business, for pleasure, or a little of both, the HP iPAQ rx5915 Travel Companion helps you make the most of your travels whether they take you around town or around the world. The premier GPS navigation system guides you to virtually anywhere with ease. Everything is pre-installed and ready to use. Just turn it on and go. The thin, stylish design fits simply in the car and is easy to take with you wherever you travel. Plus, your HP iPAQ Travel Companion is full-function Windows Mobile 5.0 handheld.


The HP iPAQ Travel Companion is a full-function Windows Mobile 5.0 handheld with built-in GPS. View larger.

Check out some of the iPAQ's key features. View larger.

Check out some of the iPAQ's key interface features. View larger. Take your office with you and stay connected with integrated 802.11b/g wireless LAN and Bluetooth wireless technologies to the people and information that is important to you. When you want to relax you can listen to your favorite music, view your photos and videos, surf the web, or play games. Navigate, stay connected, and be entertained wherever you travel with the HP iPAQ Travel Companion.
The HP iPAQ rx5915 Travel Companion helps you make the most of travels ranging from walks around the block to jaunts around the world. This thin, stylish GPS navigation system guides you virtually anywhere with ease.
Navigate

Be guided virtually anywhere with the rx5915's premier GPS navigation system and maps1 (no SD cards or activation required), follow voice-guided navigation and on-screen prompts
Plug and play: the installed GPS navigation software and maps allow you to get going fast; no SD cards or activation required!
Navigate fast with the HP Quick Launch feature, and convenient buttons
Simplify your trips by accessing weather, current times, currencies, measurement conversions, and a packing organizer
Includes the TomTom Navigator 6 navigation software and complete maps of United States and Canada pre-installed (Feature available in North America).

Stay connected

Ensure a strong connection without flip-up or external antennas with the integrated SiRFstarIII GPS receiver
Take your office with you: stay connected via the latest Windows Mobile 5.0,802.11b/g wireless2 LAN, and Bluetooth
Connect to a variety of Bluetooth-enabled devices, including Internet-enabled Bluetooth phones
Keep it with you in your pocket, purse, or car; it's super compact

Be entertained

Relax: listen to your favorite music, view photos and videos, surf the Web, play games
See everything clearly on the large, antiglare, touchscreen
View and share photos and create slide shows with HP Photosmart Mobile
Play games including Solitaire and Bubble Breaker

What's in the box?
HP iPAQ rx5915 Travel Companion, Lithium-ion 1700 mAh removable battery, AC adapter, Mini-USB, Synchronization/charge cable, Car charger, Car holder, Windshield mount,Slip case, Documentation kit

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Palm Tungsten T5 PalmOne PDA (1035NA) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Compared to the T3, this "upgrade" lacks:

* metal casing
* voice recorder
* silent alarm
* slider
* cradle (extra $39.95)

In addition, the new T5 does not come with Wi-Fi (an overdue spec for the T series).

The updated OS 5.4 hardly justifies the upgrade (T3 comes with OS 5.2), as is the case with the flash memory spec (a keyring flash unit has twice the capacity and doesn't require you to haul around the USB cable).

Most everyone agrees that this unit is really a TE2, and not an upgrade for the T3.

At $399, this is the most overrated and overpriced Palm PDS in the market.

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Product Description:
PalmOne stretches the possibilities with the Tungsten T5, the first handheld from PalmOne to utilize flash memory. In addition to a groundbreaking 256 MB of memory, the sleek, slim Tungsten T5 features a high-resolution 320 x 480-pixel screen, a fast 416 MHz Intel Xscale processor, Bluetooth wireless connectivity, and a Secure Digital memory card expansion slot. And, of course, the Tungsten T5 features PalmOne's suite of information management applications, the ability to edit Word- and Excel-compatible files, and synchronization with Microsoft Outlook (Windows only).




See a detailed diagram of the PalmOne Tungsten T5's features

Internal Flash Memory
Built for today's mobile professional, the Tungsten T5's 256 MB of memory actually provides 215 MB of user-available memory (55 MB for built-in applications and 160 MB of internal flash drive memory). Connect it to your PC or Mac and use it as you would a USB flash memory drive to transfer data and multimedia files from work to home. To access files stored on the handheld, simply select Drive Mode on the handheld and plug the included HotSync cable into a USB port.
To add files, just drag and drop them from your PC desktop to the new File Transfer application (installed with Palm Desktop; Windows only). A live desktop window gives you instant access to data and information stored on the handheld's internal drive--without the need for synchronizing the handheld to move files.
Multimedia
The included RealPlayer for Palm OS enables you to listen to MP3s stored on optional expansion cards via the built-in speaker on the Tungsten T5 or, for stereo sound, on optional stereo headphones or ear buds. The updated Media application lets you view (and show off) transferred photos and videos.
Display
Unlike the Tungsten T3, which required you to slide the handheld's bottom open to activate the screen's landscape mode, the Tungsten T5's screen offers widescreen viewing at all times. The bright 320 x 480 transreflective TFT color display supports more than 65,000 colors. You can easily switch between portrait and landscape view, as well as open an active input area at the bottom of the screen.
Connectivity and Expansion
With built-in wireless Bluetooth connectivity, you can synchronize the Tungsten T5 with a Bluetooth-enabled computer from across the room (within a range of 10 meters, or approximately 30 feet). But that's just the start. Using a compatible Bluetooth-enabled phone, you can send and receive e-mail and connect to the Web, send multimedia (MMS) or text (SMS) messages, and even automatically dial any number in your handheld's Contact's application. You can also synchronize data the "old-fashioned" way via the USB connection at the base of the handheld.
The Tungsten T5 uses MultiMedia Card and Secure Digital expansion cards, which instantly add software applications, additional memory, large databases, and more without taking up built-in memory space.
Operating System and Software
Veteran Palm OS handheld users will immediately notice the new Favorites view, which provides easy access to applications, files, and folders. The installed Palm OS 5.4 also introduces the Files application, which enables easy navigation among folders and files. It uses the intuitive and easy-to-learn Graffiti 2 writing software to input data into the handheld (as well as an on-screen keyboard). Windows users can synchronize their calendar, contacts, tasks, and notes with Microsoft Outlook. The Palm OS features the following organizer applications:

Contacts: Lets you store several addresses for each contact, and with new fields for more phone numbers, multiple e-mail addresses, instant messenger IDs, and Web sites.
Calendar: Use the new Agenda view to see upcoming calendar events, tasks due, and important e-mail, and color-code your events to provide an easy way to reference your calendar in the Agenda, Day, Week, and Month views. Take more notes, or synchronize more details from your desktop, in the larger Memos and Notes fields.
Tasks: Use tasks with alarms and repeating tasks to set reminders for important commients.

Additional Software
The Tungsten T5 includes Documents to Go 7.0, which provides the ability to create and edit Word- and Excel-compatible files and view and carry PowerPoint files (in native format) with no desktop conversion required. The included Software Essentials CD-ROM also contains eReader, Acrobat Reader, Solitaire, and Audible Player for palmOne handhelds (Windows only).
What's in the Box
This package contains the Tungsten T5 handheld, a built-in rechargeable battery, a carrying case, a USB HotSync cable, a power cable, a stylus, a CD-ROM with Palm Desktop 4.1 software for Windows and Mac (as well as bonus software), and a printed Getting Started guide.
Tech Talk: Flash Memory
Flash memory, a form of electronic memory, is used for easy and safe information storage. Its low power consumption and light weight make flash memory ideal for mobile devices. In addition, flash memory holds information without a charge or power, just like a memory card saves pictures when not connected to a digital camera. The flash memory in the Tungsten T5 handheld will maintain its data even when power is exhausted. Simply charge the handheld again and the data is there.
Tech Talk: Macintosh Users
While the Tungsten T5's new File Transfer application is a Windows-only feature, Mac users can simply mount the handheld as an external drive, and then proceed to drag and drop files from the Finder to the handheld. Note, however, that the Tungsten T5's Palm OS environment is unavailable when connected in this mode.

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