PALM I705 - Get a complete communication, organization, and productivity package with the Palm i705 handheld. Send and automatically receive your business and personal e-mail with end-to-end security via the wireless connection (Palm.Net service required). Easily view, edit, and create Word- and Excel-compatible files, and view and share PowerPoint files. And keep your busy life in check with Palm's classic, intuitive organization applications.

The Palm i705 handheld features a built-in antenna--that doesn't need to be raised--with always-on network support within coverage area. Choose how you will be instantly notified of incoming e-mail messages--even if the handheld is turned off--with Palm's customized instant notification. View Web sites using the MyPalm portal and send and receive instant messages with AOL's Instant Messenger.

Get more options than ever with Palm's built-in dual expansion. Back up your data and add additional memory and applications with the Palm expansion card slot, which supports the postage stamp-size MultiMediaCard (MMC) and Secure Digital (SD) expansion cards. Add hardware peripheral, such as a keyboard, GPS device, or cradle, with the Palm universal connector located at the base of the handheld.

Synchronize your Palm i705 data with your PC via a fast USB connection. The Palm i705 is compatible with Windows PCs running Windows 98, 2000, Me, and XP and Apple Macintoshes running OS 8.6 to 9.x. It is also compatible with Windows PCs running Windows 95 and NT 4.0, but you will need the optional serial HotSync cradle to connect to the PC. Use the included Palm Desktop software or Microsoft Outlook with the included Chapura connection software.

The Palm i705 features 8 MB RAM and 4 MB ROM, a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery (charged via the included USB HotSync cradle), a fast Motorola Dragonball VZ 33 processor, and Palm OS v4.1. It has a 160 x 160 transreflective monochrome LCD with backlight and an infrared (IR) port for beaming data to other Palm OS handheld users. Preloaded applications include Address Book, Date Book, To Do List, Memo Pad, Note Pad, MultiMail Deluxe, AvantGo, Palm Reader, MGI PhotoSuite, and DataViz Documents to Go. - Go Now!

PALM IIIC - For the technophile who refuses to see the world in black and white, Palm has created the Palm IIIc handheld--a color version of the company's immensely popular Palm III handheld. Measuring 5.06 by 3.17 by 0.67 inches and weighing less than 7 ounces, the Palm IIIc handheld is one of the smallest and lightest full-color handhelds available. Its active-matrix screen produces vivid, crisp colors and is viewable from many angles in both dim and bright light.

While the color screen may be enough to dazzle many prospective users, the Palm IIIc handheld still performs all the functions of earlier models of the Palm III. It offers date book, address book, mail, to-do list, memo pad, expense, calculator, and security applications. Its built-in 8 MB of memory is as high a storage capacity as is available in any Palm handheld. To quantify what 8 MB capacity means, the Palm IIIc handheld can hold 10,000 addresses, five years of appointments, 3,000 to-do items, 3,000 memos, and 400 e-mail messages. There is even leftover storage space for databases, books, image viewers, and games, making the Palm IIIc handheld an ally to any serious PDA user.

Equipped with a HotSync cradle and software, the Palm IIIc handheld is ready for local and remote synchronization out of the box. You can back up or transfer data to and from the handheld and your desktop PC or Macintosh (special connectors required) in minutes. It's also ready for a modem (available separately) and the Internet with its TCP/IP software. The Palm IIIc handheld includes an infrared port, allowing you to beam data and applications to any other infrared-enabled Palm OS handheld or to connect to other infrared-enabled devices such as cellular phones, pagers, and laptops.

The Palm IIIc handheld runs for about two weeks on a fully charged lithium battery, which is included. The box also includes a synchronizing HotSync cradle and battery charger, a metal stylus, organizer software, a handbook, Palm's Getting Started guide, and a DB-25 adapter. - Go Now!

PALM IIIX - 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. - Go Now!

PALM IIIXE - The Palm IIIxe handheld builds on earlier Palm III models by offering more memory and more options. Its 8 MB of RAM (four times the memory of the popular Palm IIIe) and 2 MB of flash ROM keep track of all your appointments, memos, to-do items, expense items, and e-mail, plus you can add thousands of third-party applications. Although the Palm IIIe and IIIx models have ample memory for many users, the Palm IIIxe better supports users who rely upon their organizer for data-heavy operations.

The Palm IIIxe is more powerful than its predecessors, but it retains all of the Palm IIIx's and IIIe's convenience features. It measures a mere 4.7 by 3.2 by 0.7 inches and weighs 6 ounces. Backing up and exchanging information with desktop PCs and popular PIMs requires just a touch of a button on the included HotSync cradle. The infrared port allows you to instantly beam business card information, phone lists, data, and applications to other infrared-equipped devices. It also features a sharp backlit LCD screen, legible in both dim and bright light.

The contents of the Palm IIIxe box include the Palm IIIxe handheld, a CD-ROM with an extensive assortment of Palm Desktop software applications, two AAA batteries, a DB-25 adapter, a HotSync cradle, a manual, and a Getting Started quick guide. You may further customize your Palm IIIxe organizer with third-party add-on peripherals such as modems or voice recorders. This device runs for approximately two months on just two AAA batteries and comes with a one-year manufacturer's warranty. - Go Now!

PALM M105 - I have only owned one for two months, but I don't know how I ever got along without one. No need to carry a notebook, address book, appointment book, or even a calculator. This has it all and much, much more.

So small, yet so powerful and easy to use. It comes with everything you need, no extra equipment to buy. It interfaces with your computer and is easily backed up, so you never can lose your data. It fits right into your pocket or purse, or attached to your belt.

Software is as numerous as for your pc, with many of them being free or for a small cost. There are tons of websites that have sofware available for it. It is so easy to import too. Just put the files in your add-on folder, click on the files you want to install, and Palm will automatically copy them when you do an update, which is done by pushing a button when the device is in its docking cradle.

The unit also has a backlight so it can be viewed in just about any kind of light. Although the screen is small, it is still very clear.

If you like your life organized, I recommend this product, or similar type products. - Go Now!

PALM M125 - The Palm m125 is similar to the Palm m100 and m105 in its shape and classic, powerful Palm organizer functions. But it also offers several features that elevate it above the other two models--a memory card expansion slot, bonus software, and compatibility with peripherals for i705 and m500 series models.

The curved base of the Palm m125 fits snugly and comfortably in the palm of your hand. It features a protective cover that flips up and is flexible at the end--a nice touch to prevent damage if you scrape it against anything while opening. It also has a window on the cover that lets you check the time by pressing the button that pokes through.

Like other Palm handhelds the Palm m125 doesn't have a keyboard. Instead, you write shorthand-like strokes on the special writing area at the bottom of the backlit grayscale screen, which the m125 recognizes as letters. You can also tap with the stylus to type letters using an onscreen keyboard, as well as open menus and select icons. (For more keying power, you might consider the optional Palm portable keyboard.)

The Palm operating system (OS) is very efficient, so the 8 MB memory is enough to store a lot of data and quite a few applications, too. If you want to add more applications or content, you have two choices. First, you can find applications and e-books on the Web, download them to your desktop or laptop hard drive, and synchronize the data using the USB HotSync cradle, which attaches to the Palm universal connector at the base of the handheld. It's the same connector as on the m500 and m505 and Palm has promised to support it for three years, so there should be plenty of peripherals available.

Your other option is to use the expansion slot on the side of the handheld, which accepts Secure Digital (SD) and MultiMediaCard (MMC) memory cards. Palm offers a number of expansion cards with content (such as e-books and Lonely Planet travel guides), applications (the PalmPak language translator, for example), and games. You can also store applications and content on memory cards (such as those from Viking or SanDisk) without sacrificing any of the Palm m125's 8 MB memory.

The Palm m125 comes with Palm OS 4.0, which has new e-mail and Web browsing software, and enables you to send SMS (Short Message Service). You can use infrared to connect to your cell phone for a wireless connection, or add an optional modem to connect to a standard phone line.

In addition to the standard built-in utilities and the Palm Desktop application (for both Windows and Mac), you get extra software including an e-book reader, Documents To Go (for viewing and editing Word and Excel documents), and AvantGo (which downloads Web content, such as news from BBC or the latest soccer scores).

For a budget PDA, the small, light Palm m125 has some nice design touches, is loaded with software extras, and can be customized with thousands of available Palm OS applications. It may not be the most powerful PDA on the market, but its expansion capabilities certainly kick it up a notch. -- Mary Branscombe and Agen G.N. Schmitz - Go Now!

PALM M130 - 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 - Go Now!

PALM TUNGSTEN TThe Tungsten T is Palm's most compact device yet. But don't be fooled by its diminutive size. Inside, the new Texas Instruments OMAP1510 processor (an enhanced ARM-based processor) gives you the performance you need to organize your work and your life. Stay productive when you're on the go with access to your essential Word, Excel, and PowerPoint-compatible files. Built-in Bluetooth technology allows you to access e-mail and connect to the Internet with the use of a Bluetooth-compatible mobile phone. On top of all this, the Tungsten T handheld has a new color screen, a built-in voice recorder, a five-way navigator button for one-hand operation, plus dual expansion for adding functionality so your Tungsten T handheld grows with you. - Go Now!

PALM TUNGSTEN W - Designed for mobile business use, the Palm Tungsten W combines the features of a cell phone, a personal information manager (PIM), and a laptop in one device. The wireless Web browser provides access to the Internet from any location and uses class 10 GPRS radio for fast downloading. The useful Web clipping service lets users cut out important data--such as stock quotes or flight times--quickly and save it to the desktop. The Tungsten W also lets users keep in touch with corporate e-mail, allowing access to up to eight different POP and IMAP accounts. For faster correspondence, this handheld is equipped with SMS for sending instant messages to those with compatible wireless devices.

Familiar Palm applications--Excel, Word, and PowerPoint--make it easy to create or open documents on this handheld. This Palm device also features the standard PIM features: an address book, date book, calculator, memo pad, notepad, and to-do list. The Tungsten W has a built-in keyboard, making it faster and easier to type documents, e-mails, or instant messages. An additional five-way navigational button allows for one-handed or stylus-free navigation. A high-resolution color screen offers a crisp display for documents or Web pages.

For phone use, the Tungsten W offers more advanced call-management features, such as five-way conference calling and the ability to make notes for each caller and set redials and reminders. The phone's hands-free headset lets you send e-mail or view or edit a document while taking a call.

This device has a Palm Universal Connector for attaching peripherals, and a Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard-compatible expansion slot for adding more memory. The rechargeable battery offers 10 hours of talk time plus additional standby time on one charge. A HotSync cradle is included for recharging the battery or for synchronizing the Palm's data with a desktop PC. - Go Now!

PALM VX - At only 4.7 by 3.2 inches square and 0.4 inches thick, the Palm Vx handheld is truly pocket sized; however, this model sports a hefty 8 MB of RAM. The Palm Vx handheld also sports a sleek exterior that looks supercool--an intangible value to be sure, but one that's hard to argue with.

The Palm Vx handheld offers the same improvements to its screen that were made to the Palm IIIx. These updates since the Palm III handheld include a far sharper screen and contrast-variable backlighting, which makes the Palm Vx handheld much easier to use in low-light conditions. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which charge while the unit sits in its HotSync cradle, make battery life a nonissue.

You can synchronize Palm handhelds with your computer so that you can carry all your appointments, notes, contacts, and e-mail with you. The simple one-touch interface makes sense to new and seasoned computer users alike. For owners that prefer Microsoft Outlook to keep tabs on folks for business and pleasure, rest easy. With the simple installation procedure, and Outlook support out of the box, you can transfer the data you have in Outlook, or start fresh with the Palm Desktop software. In addition, there are thousands of applications for the Palm operating system available on the Internet that make your Palm handheld work as everything from a universal remote to a digital book and restaurant guide.

We had no trouble setting up the device, synching with our PC-based Netscape e-mail, using the Graffiti character-recognition software, or working with the address book, date book, memo writer, to-do list, and all the other applications that put the Palm OS on the map. All in all, this is a great upgrade to an already strong product. If this is your first Palm, it's a great way to start. - Go Now!

PALM ZIRE - Small, light, and compact, the Palm Zire handheld is a great PDA for anyone looking for a basic electronic personal information manager to help organize their tasks, meetings, and contacts.

Getting started with the Zire is simple, making it ideal for people who are new to the world of handheld devices. We were up and running within 20 minutes of opening the package. As part of our setup, we synced the Zire with Microsoft Outlook. Initially, we had to try twice before we could successfully sync our data, but have been able to sync data flawlessly ever since. All of our contacts and scheduled meetings transferred effortlessly, and we quickly came to depend on the Zire to tell us where and when we had to be at a given time. However, with only a 2 MB storage capability, this handheld won't hold a huge about of data.

The Zire is attractively colored with a white front and a silvery gray back, but Palm really cut corners with the screen cover. The cover is made of a flexible plastic that flaps around when it is supposed to be centered on the screen, and is awkward to keep out of the way when you want to access the screen. It's so annoying we recommend not using it at all. Fortunately, the screen cover comes separate from the Zire itself so this is easy to do.

While not a powerful handheld, the Zire is worth considering if you're looking for a way to keep your tasks, contacts, and meetings organized. It performs those tasks wonderfully, and is priced affordably. - Patricia Atherly - Go Now!