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PRODUCT REVIEW
The new Palm handhelds: faster, sharper, more expandable
By Chris Phillips
As anyone living on this planet has probably heard by now, Palm recently began shipping the new Palm m500 and Palm m505 models. These new units are similar in appearance to the original Palm V series of handhelds, but they boast several new features. Among these new features are a faster processor, version 4.0 of the Palm OS, a new universal connector that supports USB (Universal Serial Bus), an expansion slot, vibrating alerts, a higher contrast screen on the Palm m500, and a color screen on the Palm m505 that uses the new sidelight technology and supports up to 65,000 colors.
First impressions
Having already read several reports about the new Palm m500 and Palm m505, I was very excited when I finally got my hands on one of each. It was with great anticipation that I tore into the box and pulled out all the hardware and documentation. I lay the Palm m500 and Palm m505 next to my Palm Vx and was surprised by the contrast between them. You can see the differences for yourself in Figure A.
FIGURE A
Compare the Palm m505, Palm Vx, and Palm m500. Click picture for a larger image.
The Palm m505 has white silkscreen in the graffiti area, a dark gray screen, and silver metal buttons. The sides curve in slightly at the center, and the up/down buttons are separated and recessed. This gives the Palm m505 a sleek, stylish look all its own. The Palm m500 has the same shape as the Palm m505, but the screen is light gray and the buttons are black plastic. It's attractive in its own right, but not nearly as distinctive as the Palm m505. They both come with a flip-over cover that's adequate for protecting the screen but will probably be replaced by most users. They're also slightly thicker than the original Palm V series handhelds, but not so much that I'd have noticed.
"Overall, I like these new models. Palm has taken several steps in the right direction with them."
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As a current Palm Vx user, I was disappointed to find out the left side rail on the Palm m500 and Palm m505 is smaller than the one on my Palm Vx. This means I can't use the wrap-around case I already own. The right stylus channel is shorter, which means I can't use my Pilot Pentopia stylus (at http://www.pilotpen.co.uk/pentopia/index_fs.html) because it won't go in all the way. Finally, the universal adapter at the bottom is different than the serial adapter on the Palm Vx, so I can't use my GoType! Pro keyboard (at http://www.landware.com/gotype/pro.html) anymore. This is all very frustrating because it means I have to replace all my accessories. I can understand about the universal adapter because it's supposed to enhance and improve communication with other devices. However, I would have liked it better if Palm had kept the side channels the same so owners of the Palm V and Palm Vx could reuse their cases and styli.
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