PalmOne VIIx Wireless Handheld

by Palm

Product Details

Product Manual [3.34mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 4.7 x 3.2 x 0.7 inches ; 6.7 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004WHIL
• Item model number: 3C80501U
• Batteries: 2 AAA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,773 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #100 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > PDAs, Handhelds & Accessories > PDAs & Handhelds
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1999

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

When the Palm VII was first released, it garnered a lot of geek chic, thanks to it being the first handheld to include an integrated wireless modem. With more and more wireless handheld devices and peripherals entering the market (such as the RIM Blackberry and the OmniSky Minstrel modem for the Palm V), is Palm's wireless entry still a viable alternative? Definitely (but with a caveat or two).

The Palm VIIx handheld has had its memory bumped up to 8 MB (from only 2 MB in the original Palm VII), and it includes all the practical features we've come to expect from Palm--the easy-to-learn (and use) Palm OS, a sharp screen with contrast-variable backlighting, and infrared beaming of information.

But it's the wireless connectivity--and the ease and quickness of installation and connection--that really makes the Palm VIIx shine. You'll first need to add the Palm VIIx's two AAA batteries, which are also used to charge the modem's internal, rechargeable ni-cad battery. It takes about 70 minutes to fully charge the device. But that'll give you time to play around with the other Palm apps or practice your Graffiti writing skills.

Once charged, we simply flipped up the radio transceiver antenna (which also turns on the screen) and connected to the Palm.net network in seconds. Then we set up our account and chose a monthly service plan--which reminded us that wireless ease doesn't come cheap. These plans range from $9.99 for 50 KB of information downloaded (and $0.20 per additional KB) to $44.99 for unlimited usage. The Palm.net site estimates that 50 KB equals about 150 downloaded Palm screens of information--which isn't that much if you're doing a bit of online shopping or checking of sports scores.

The other important factor to remember is that you won't be able to view the entire Internet. The Palm VII connects only to certain sites that offer Palm Query Applications (or PQAs), which send Web Clippings instead of HTML. These Web Clippings are specially configured minipages that minimize both display requirements (to fit on the Palm VII's screen) and bandwidth usage. Thus, while we weren't able to view the day's English Premier League scores on Soccernet, we could read headlines at ABC News, get driving directions with MapQuest, and check airline flight status using Travelocity. (The Palm VII comes with 22 Web Clippings, but you can download more from www.palm.net/apps--from Merriam-Webster's online dictionary to a Starbucks locator.)

E-mail was a snap using the included iMessenger app and the Palm.net e-mail address that we set up. This account won't hook up with an existing POP account, but there are several good third-party apps on the market that you can install to grab e-mail from your regular accounts.

Ultimately, the Palm VIIx--and persistent wireless connectivity--isn't for everyone because of its online limitations to proprietary Web Clippings. But with a lot still in its favor--the robust Palm OS organizer environment, hassle-free activation, quick connection to the wireless network, easy e-mailing, and good nationwide coverage (featuring about 260 major metropolitan areas)--the Palm VIIx handheld is still king of the wireless jungle. --Agen Schmitz

Amazon.com Product Description

With 8 MB of memory, the new Palm VIIx handheld has four times the memory of the Palm VII, which means you have the capacity to store four times the number of addresses, appointments, to-do items, memos, and iMessenger messages. You can customize the Palm VIIx with your choice of hundreds of Web clipping applications and thousands of third-party add-on applications. You have instant access to a variety of Web-based information such as weather and traffic reports, news items, flight information, showtimes, and restaurant reviews. The Palm VIIx also lets you communicate via e-mail and stay on top of your information wirelessly and easily.

It comes with integrated hardware, software, and wireless communication service so you can activate it right out of the box. The included HotSync cradle allows you to quickly back up and exchange information between your handheld and your PC. The display's enhanced technology makes it easier to see at all angles, in dim light, and in bright sunlight. The Palm VIIx also includes a carrying case to protect your handheld from scuffs and scratches.

What's in the box

• Palm VIIx
• Stylus pen
• AC adapter
• PC serial port
• Hotsync docking cradle
• Protective leather cover
• Palm Desktop software

*Note: The Palm VIIx WIRELESS FEATURE CAN NO LONGER BE USED if you don't already have a palm.net account.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

178 of 182 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars nice unit, but wireless is expensive and slow, August 22, 2000

By 

P. Tufts (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: PalmOne VIIx Wireless Handheld (Office Product)

If you can afford the...wireless, and realize that this is not going to replace your desktop for web surfing, the Palm VIIx is a good way to stay connected. And it fits in your pocket!

Like the other Palms, the VIIx does what it claims, and never complains.

There are two catches, though.

1) wireless applications are a very limited version of the net. There's no built-in web browser that lets you go to any old web page. So unless you install 3rd party programs, you're limited to the 40 bundled destinations (Amazon, AskJeeves, CBS Marketwatch, Fidelity, ...). Surprisingly, there was no built-in wireless phone book.

2) the wireless connection is slow and expensive. The bandwidth is under 9600 baud, and there's a 2-4 second delay between clicking and getting a response.

If you're an information junkie (stock quotes, news, email, eBay--is this you?) you will easily blow through the limited wireless plans...

On the plus side:

1) I was always able to connect to the wireless net (in buildings, in a car, in a park where cell coverage is spotty)

2) The device always did what I expected.

3 stars. I'd give it 5 if the wireless service was cheaper and faster.

--Pat

136 of 140 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to best use a VII: One Year's Experience, December 15, 2000

By 

J. G. Heiser (Sunninghill, Berks) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: PalmOne VIIx Wireless Handheld (Office Product)

Palm VII

I don't mean to be critical of my fellow reviewers, but some of the negative reviews of the Palm VII totally miss the point of the thing. I carried one for over a year and found it incredibly useful. Now that I've moved outside of the service area, I miss it a lot. In spite of having the original VII with only 2 Megs of RAM, I never ran out of memory. I also never exceeded the lowest monthly service level, finding it adequate for my needs. Here's what I did and how I used it, which should be enough information for you to make a decision for yourself:

This is truly the traveler's friend: I have no office and I get in a lot of planes. You'll make that dreaded trip to the airline service desk with a lot more confidence if you are armed with the schedule of every single airline and current flight status. The VII knows what flights are schedule between any two points at any time, and provides current flight status. When 'suggesting' to the desk staff that they strongly consider booking you on another airline, your case will be stronger with flight number and departure info.

You can usually find the departure gate information (not to mention delay status) sitting in the shuttle from the parking area (at DFW, you need to know the gate number to tell the taxi which building to stop at). And of course, if you want, you can even make plane reservations online.

If driving over 10 miles, I query for traffic conditions. Embarrassed to ask directions? With the VII, you can enter location and destination and get detailed directions. Handy when stuck in the boonies without a phone. And when was the last time you saw a phone book at a pay phone? The VII can access Yellow and White pages. Weather forecasts, any time, any place.

Ordering a book from Amazon is sort of a parlor trick, but it's also a useful way to research books in print. Can't remember which movies featured Minnie Driver ? There are a 2 movie databases. Faced with a life without wireless, I've had to buy a new PDA with a lot more RAM to carry a German/English dictionary. I actually bought two, but they aren't anywhere near as useful as the online translators, which not only support full sentences, but they translate between multiple languages. English dictionary, thesaurus, and encyclopedia are available also, which again is a big help to somebody without an office.

The Palm VII does all this with the use of 'web clipping' applets that work with special applications on the information provider's web site. There are now hundreds of these things that can be downloaded.

On the downside, this thing is a AAA pig. Get yourself a couple sets of Nimh batteries, and a small charger. More than once, I found myself paying a premium price for new batteries at a hotel gift shop. I also recommend the serial cable if you can't get infrared to work with your laptop--carrying a cradle is a drag.

This is not a platform for heavy-duty web surfing, nor is it a convenient place to send and receive mail, but I really miss not being able to use it any more for all these questions that need to be answered RIGHT NOW. But if you do get stuck without a book, you can download an e-book too.

94 of 95 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last the complete package has arrived, August 9, 2000

By 

Mark (The Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: PalmOne VIIx Wireless Handheld (Office Product)

The Palm VIIx is the worthy successor to the innovative Palm VII which has been available for some time. The VII was the first incarnation of Palm's wireless handheld. It is a great device but I never bought it because of the 2Mb memory constraints on the old VII. However, that has been mitigated with the new VIIx. This puppy includes a whopping 8Mb of memory. Ample for almost any application or usage.

The VIIx comes pre-loaded with 40 or so wireless content apps. There are currently about 400 apps for the VII. You can get them for free at [Palm]. They range from bookstores like Amazon to acccessing your email on the go, to messaging, to online dictionairies. I would recommend to visit [Palm] to see the variety available and also if your area is covered by the mobile network.

I have a Fidelity trading account so I can use the VIIx to trade or view my portfolio. One of the most popular apps is the Starbucks locator. I wonder if there is a correlation between owning a VII and cafeine consumption. Another great app is MapQuest, and ThinAirMail lets you access any POP3 email account. Both are included standard.

The wireless response time is great. This is because of the way that Palm designed there applications as PQA's. PQA stands for Palm Query Application. They make wireless transmission efficient by ensuring that only pertinent data is sent. The way we view web pages, the whole page is loaded every time we view it, this includes a lot of layout and other data that we're not really interested in. PQA's predefine the layout and transmit only actual data. Eg. the price of a book you request from Amazon. The result is fast and efficient response. There are also several apps which let you browse the web in the traditional way, though I don't know why you'd want to. I don't think that the size of PDA screens makes web-browsing very useful or convenient. But, for those who insist...the Palm can definitely do it.

So far I have had no problems with signal quality. Whether on the street on in buildings. I'm in NY, but as mentioned before, don't buy this puppy until you have checked coverage in your area.

The VII series is a bit larger than the III. To me size is very important, I also own a Vx. But I will make an exception for the the VII, because wireless is just so ... cool and convenient. I could also have picked the Omnisky wireless service. Then I'd have to attach a modem to my Vx and the package together would be more bulky than the VII series so I prefer the convenience of having an all-in-one VIIx.

The device is turned on by flipping the antenna. Easy enough. Installation is a breeze. Takes all of 5 minutes and you are going. I recommend the 'all-you-can-eat' subscription. It costs $45/mth but well worth it, but you can also go for one of the more moderate subscriptions. They start a $10/mth.

Wireless is great. Definitely the way of the future. I love being able to pop up my email on the go, check for a movie with moviefone or just read a book, play a game, or read magazines with AvantGo. After all, let's not forget that other than wireless, Palm makes a great PDA with many other applications.