I went and saw one at Comp-USA and the Datebook button was busted in.
Apparently it hinges at the bottom and the top part of the button was stuck
inside the case so that you could see the guts of the palmV.  Obviously a
bad impression, but very concerning if I were to buy one on my own.  How do
we tell 3Com before the PalmV gets to bad of an impression if this happens
elsewhere.

Also, I am interested in the link to Outlook Express.  Do you have the
software that does this that you could send me?  (in PDB format or ZIP)
Thanks,  Kenny

The software to sync with Outlook is included on the CD that comes with the Palm V....jas

I like you comment, if you don't want to upgrade, don't go look at it. Well, I made that mistake. I think I will be happy with the decision. One thing does concern me and that is the ability to upgrade the unit. And they are planning a new unit later this year.

Stephen

Yours is the BEST review yet of the Palm V!
Thanks for all the detail and especially the photos and graphics.
- Tom
San Carlos

I've used the P-V, P-III, and Casio E-11.  The screen of the P-V is by far
the best.  It's size, light weight, speed, ease of use is unparalleled.

Like you I wished they'd done something with the operating system,
particularly the Address Book.  Namely, more customizable fields; options
for home, work, and other data; and, most important - more than 15
categories (unlimited or even 30 would have been much better) and the
ability to assign more than one category per contact.  This latter point is
of great importance to me.  My contacts have several functions, sit on
several committees, etc., thus to slot them in more than one category would
have been helpful.

WinCE devices have these features BUT they're too big, heavy, crash often,
are slow, have minimal battery times, etc.

I'm just hoping for the ideal PDA - the P-V is the best of the lot.
Hopefully, the Pilot programers are listening - these improvements don't
appear difficult.

John A Fleming

Great review!  Very informative and thorough.

I too share your concern about the placement of the on/off button,
especially when it comes to removing the stylus.  However, I have a fix that
works for me.  If you attach the cover on the right hand side, so that it
flips over towards the left (opposite of the way a book opens), you could
put the stylus on  the left-hand side and not have to worry about
accidentally pressing the on/off switch when you remove the stylus.  If
anything, you'll be pressing the switch that controls the contrast which I
don't think is as problematic.

In addition, if you're a righty, with the cover opening up from left to
right, it is easier to flip open the top (by tipping pilot down to the right
it practically opens itself) to access the screen.

Hope this helps.  It works for me.
Jay R. Semmel

Hi Julie,
I just got and installed the Palm IIIx.
I am very impressed with the difference in screen visibility ( I am 58
and appreciate all the help I can get!).
I also have a Palm III with a TRG 8 meg. board.  For whatever reason,
perhaps 4 meg. instead of 8, the "x" is very much faster in Hot Sync as
well as launching apps.
In talking with (sigh) Tech support at 3-com, they told me in no
uncertain terms, not to get a new memory board from TRG!!! They further
told me that there were some compatibility problems!? They were careful
to say this was the board used for the "x", not the other 8 meg board
used for the Palm III.
Additionally, they mentioned that they were going to release a memory
board of their own, which would not void the warranty as would the TRG
board for the "x". Very interesting.  Although I take this as "company
talk", I am going to wait and see what is in the future before buying
the TRG board.
I find this interesting, as TRG does have a license from 3-Com.  Hmmmm.
I enjoy your site and check it at least once a day; more if I am
anticipating a new purchase of software or other add-ons.
Alan V. Bornstein

Hey,
No comments on the Palm V, but I think your review is top shelf. I can really appreciate the enthusiasm you have for the Palm line. I have Palm Pro and have been waiting for the promised color display, etc. My real question is this: is there any info on an upgrade discount for previous palm owners? I scoured their site and found no info. Again, nice job. And. . .given the promise of the Palm V I may even wait somewhat longer. . .painful as it may be.

Steve

I haven't heard of any discounts yet for previous owners...jas

I wanted to say "What a great review", but 65 others have apparently beaten me to it!!

I have mailed 3com and told them that this is a profiteering farce, and the the Palm 5 should never have been released as a 2MB model. I recanted the similarites between themselves and Intel releasing "teaser" upgrades and a quick rate to continually hit the hip pocket.

Don't get me wrong, I want one and I want it bad (even though I'm in Australia), but for my money (add approx 65% currency conversion, plus freight = Approx $800 AUST), I'll wait for the Palm 5x, which they are bound to do.....with the 4MB of memory

Love your work....

Murray Ball
South Australia

No comments on the Palm V but I would make a few comments on the Palm IIIx.

From examining mine closely (Palm IIIx) its case is the same as the Palm III but the similarities end there. The Plam IIIx appears to share the following with the Palm V: DragonballEZ processor (much faster than the Plam III), Screen (including reverse backlighting), and OS 3.1.

The advantages to the Palm IIIx are of course the 4mb ram with expansion for more and the price. Personally I prefer the replaceable battery advantage. When traveling alot it can be a bit tough to find a place to charge the Palm V internal battery. The other concern is the battery life. Just how long is the Palm V battery supposed to last?

Ill give the Palm V its due, it is beautifull! Very nicely designed and a fairly major step forward. However, if you want a unit to last on the road and always be available (power), Id go for the Palm IIIx.

Just my thoughts. Dave

Hi Julie !

This is your second review I have read. Very good and thorough !

But with regard to the Palm V, I have one caveat :

I live in Singapore and like to travel (if I have time). At times th the
islands in Indonesia. And there :

NO WALL SOCKETS !

Plane trips to Europe with stop-over are about 14-16 hours. Leave home with
your batteries half empty and

NO WALL SOCKETS on planes either !

The Palm V sounds like a very tempting buy, but if I always have to worry
being next to a wall socket ?
(And forget 30 hours; on continuous backlight you might be lucky to get 18
hours).

As the Palm IIIx has the same good screen, 4 MB and is expandable, it is
the much better choice, except for the 'bulk'.

Best Regards

Joern

>>>One word of caution.... if you don't want to upgrade to the Palm V, don't
go to a store and look at, fondle or otherwise go near one. If you do,
you'll want walk out of the store with it!<<<

This is EXACTLY what happened to me.  I purchased a PIIIx over the phone
(Circuit City) in the afternoon and went to pick it up that evening, only to
return it and buy the PV instead.  You statement above is 100% correct.

I think that TRG is making FlashBuilder PRO which should squeeze out some
ROM memory for us to use.  This will help the 2mb limit out some.  Do you
have any info on this?

Thanks for the great review.

Greg Heidt
PS:  I love the PV in every way.

To behonest I really think they dropped the ball on the PalmV. Let me explain. The Palm devices are really revolutionary. There small size, sleek OS, and wide range of developer support has made them the world leader in PalmTop Computing. Unfortunately, they are not Microsoft. They do not have the luxury of resting on their laurels (Even MS can't do this anymore to some extent). They have to keep innovating or someone, probably MS will pull the rug out from underneath them (ala Netscape). The PalmV while the ultimate in geek coolness (I actually had to be physically restrained by my wife to stop from purchasing it) utterly lacks any improvements under the hood so to speak. It looks cool, but it doesn't do enough to warrant its price. More memory, upgradability, something would have been better. Many people will purchase them (not me, I am going to opt for the 3x) but I think that if they produce more machines like this and continue to rest on their laurels some inferior MS variant is going to take a hold and never let go.

Fred Bolden

I just had a chance to hold (fondle) a friend's Palm V and I totally agree
with your comments.

However, the one thing I didn't like was the fact that with the open sided
stylist slots when you remove the stylus on your writing hand side your
fingertips of your holding hand end up touching the sharp edges of the (now
vacated) slot. It almost makes me want to leave the two styli in and get a
third so the smooth rounded edges are still there.

Did you experience this?

The edges of the vacant stylus slot don't really feel sharp to me....jas

Thanks and once again great review.

Jonathan

Now this WAS a review. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

Everyone else just posted a picture, this was the most informative PALMIII / PALM V comaprison I've seen on the web.

Scott Cate

There have been a few reviews already on the PalmV but as expected your review is the most comprehensive.

One thing I would love for you to do is to persuade you friend Don Damiani to produce an adapter to allow the old Pilots to dock onto the PalmV docking station. I'm sure there would be a huge market for it.

Regards
Vijian

Julie,

Great review! I just got mine a couple of days ago and would like to echo your sentiments about this being a very sexy PDA. Although the Palm IIIx has more storage and upgrade options, the Palm V is going to carry just a little more 'prestige' due to its high-class appearance.

By the way, I weighed my upgraded Pilot 1000 and the Palm V on my postage scale, and here are the results: Pilot 1000 (with 2meg/IR upgrade) 5.7 ozs. Palm V (with both styli) 4.4 ozs.

I have enclosed a picture of the Palm V that I took with my Canon PowerShot A5 (a great little camera) that you may want to post.

Thanks again for your enjoyable website!

Dean M. Rachwitz

Hello,

Thanks for the good review of the new PalmV.

I think I am going to purchase one - I saw a display model at OfficeDepot.

First few question if you have time...

- are the Lithium Ion batteries interchangable?  No...jas
- replaceable? No...jas
- Have you cracked the case yet?  No...jas
- if so, any interesting discoveries?  could you post a photo?  No...jas
- did you purchase the modem?  if so any impressions?  Didn't buy one...jas
- did you purchase the travel kit?  impresions?  Didn't buy one...jas
- does the styluslike insert on the cover secure well?  Yes...jas
- did it ship w/ the Palm IR enhancement software?  No...jas

Catch ya later!

Thanks in advance for any response!

Corey..

Great review Julie!  Thanks for the link!

Couple comments...

You can make the stylus easier to slide out by taking a nail file and
*gently* filing down the little "nubbins" on the top of the stylus.  My
stylus is MUCH easier to remove now, after having done this. (you'll
notice these aren't as pronounced on the plastic stylus.. explains why
its easier to remove)

I noticed that your cover doesn't sit flat on the front of your V... if
you'll spin it a little forward when inserting it (so that the part of
the connecting stylus where the rubber meets isn't centered, but rather
"leaning" towards the front of the unit) it will sit flat.  Of course,
it won't sit flat on the back when folded over this way, but that's not
a biggie... most of the time you'll be holding the unit or sitting it on
the cover when its folded around like this.

You forgot to mention the new logo screen, and the new prefs option to
leave on while in cradle.  Also, all of the about screens in the
built-in applications now are different (have trademarks and logo).

You might also want to mention that folks delete that update_3_0_2 file
if they're upgrading from an older unit...  Nasty things happen if you
don't do that.

Great job, just like you always do... keep up the good work!

Calvin