To the eager delight of consumers everywhere, the Palm IX Connected Organizer arrived at retailers across the globe today. According to Carl Yankowski, CEO of Palm, Inc., the product will be "a revolution to the handheld industry."

Boasting 128M of RAM and a full-color display, the Palm IX is by far the most powerful handheld on the market today. The Palm IX features sound and streaming video, a wireless modem, and printing capability, along with the traditional Palm offerings such as an address book, memo pad, expense reports, and the ability to "beam" information from one device to another. In addition, the new Palm handheld, pictured in Figure A, offers improved e-commerce capabilities and a Java engine for multimedia applications.

FIGURE A

The Palm Ix has the largest screen of any handheld device. Click picture for a larger image.

The Palm IX debuted at the Bluetooth Congress 2000 in Monte Carlo this week to mostly favorable reactions. Consumers were impressed by the incredible versatility of the device, especially the "Palm AutoPilot" feature, which organizes and conducts meetings without requiring any human presence.

Yankowski touted the merits of the new Palm IX in a recent interview with CNET. "The debut marks a new era in wireless technology. People will soon compare the Palm IX to innovations like the printing press, the compass, and the cheese sandwich," said Yankowski.

Despite the technical innovations of the Palm IX, reactions to the new handheld have not all been positive. Many consumers have called the Palm IX "bulky" and inconvenient to operate. Others have complained about the weight. "The Palm IX is indeed a bit bulkier than the Palm VII. But what you get in return more than makes up for the difference, we think," added Roger Mudnick, Vice President of Product Development.

Mudnick is quick to point out the wide variety of tasks and functions that the Palm IX can perform. The device has a built-in scanner, a satellite TV feed, a language translator, an altimeter, and a rain gauge. "The two biggest criticisms of the Palm VII was that the wireless connectivity was shaky and that it didn't have a rain gauge," said Mudnick. "Not anymore."

Added Mudnick, "People have also asked for additional storage. That's why we've built a small door on the back on the Palm IX where you can keep your wallet, keys, and coat."