Customer Reviews

PalmOne VIIx Wireless Handheld

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

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

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.

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.

The 8 Mb of memory the VIIx has is what it needed in the first place. Now you can load all of those games and non-wireless apps you had to pass on with the VII. The integration is a little tighter in Palm OS 3.5, but a lot of people won't be happy with this until (1) the screen improves from four shades of gray (yes, I am envious of the IIIc) and (2) the modem speed improves.

The Qualcomm PD100 tried to overcome the speed (and coverage issue) but left you holding a Palm to your ear with a screen just too small to read).

And in the meantime, the Palm VII provides an integrated wireless email and fax platform (both with lookup from your address book) which a novice can get out of the box and running in ten minutes or less (try that with a PC).

TIPS: go to palmgear.com and download DPWeb browser (or other browser) and go with the unlimited plan if you can afford it. Then you will be able to access nearly any web site, not just those with web clipping applications.

I received the Palm VIIx a few days ago and I love it. I had a Palm Vx but wanted wireless access to the Internet. The Palm VII's 2 MB just wasn't enough, and Omnisky (for the Palm V) doesn't provide coverage in my area. When I heard about the Palm VIIx, I knew it was time to go wireless. The Palm VIIx has an improved screen and faster processor than the Palm VII. It comes with a leather, slip-on case and the latest Palm OS. The black exterior looks much better than the Palm VII. However, as compared to the PalmVx, the Palm VIIx feels a bit bulky (as would any handheld). I'm also getting used to the scroll button, which is not as sensitive. One of the applications is called "activate" and it takes you through the process of signing up for wireless access. You have to provide name, address and credit card information. After choosing a wireless plan (I choose unlimited for $45/month), you send the information and are ready to go. The web clipping apps or PQAs take just a few seconds to download. There are several good ones for news (ABC, Washington Post), sports (ESPN) and finance (E-trade). But PQAs are still limited and don't allow full Internet browsing. I highly recommend DPWeb, a third party application that allows Internet browsing and ThinAir, which allows you to access up to three POP, IMAP or web-based e-mail accounts. With those applications, and the extra memory,the Palm VIIx is a winner.

I was one of the first Palm VI owners and was very up beat about my new toy. But now that I have had it for a while, I discontinued my palm.net service as a waste of money. I recommend palm buyers get a non-Internet model and use the great organizer features. The Internet function is VERY slow and subject to poor reception or incomplete downloads. The cost of these downloads is very expensive if you use it enough to make it worth while. The range of material available for Internet download is very limited. And did I say SLOW? A web enabled cell phone would give you both the net and a phone -with cheaper monthly charges and you can both talk and surf with the same device. When you buy the Palm VII you must use palm.net and they are not well priced or customer oriented. A web enabled phone allows you to pick your provider and is always on for a stock alert or other quick message (unlike the palm).

I am a first-time Palm owner and have found this product indispensable!

In the past, I tried several different paper-based organizers. While useful for a short while, they eventually ended up in what my husband calls the "Personal Organizer Boneyard". Either they were too bulky, or didn't have enough space to write longer notes, or were limited in terms of their ability to be upgraded. Upon entering graduate school, I knew I would need something that would last. Furthermore, with my travel schedule, I needed a device that would allow me to maintain contact via email.

I initially was reticent about spending such a high amount for an organizer, especially given my history of rapid disposal. What I have learned, however, is that the Palm is so much more. I use it daily, which is more than I can ever say for any of the paper-based organizers I owned. I believe this has been a function of the ease in upgrading the unit, which I have been able to do using various free and shareware downloads and the HotSync/Desktop software.

Aside from how well it has worked for me to personally organize, the wireless internet feature of the VIIx has been a godsend. I have never had a problem connecting, even when visiting family in northern New England. While some may be concerned that the availability of "web-clipping" apps rather than a full-browser is limiting, I find that the ability to locate small pieces of information, such as my email, traffic information and the nearest Starbucks, is more than sufficient. The only downside to the wireless feature is the PalmNet service. Unfortunately, PalmNet is the only game in town. As such, the lack of competition will continue to drive their service and pricing behavior until additional firms providing the same service enter the market.

Although newer Palm models (the m500 and m505, I believe) offer the ability to go wireless, neither has a built-in modem like the VIIx. From my estimation, one would need to additionally purchase a modem card, which does not make these newer, lower-up-front priced models such a bargain.

If you are trying to decide between going for the Palm V or Vx, or one of the newer models, and the VIIx, go for it and spend the extra money. It will be worth it!

I think many of you have missed the point of a product such as the Palm VII. Yes, some handhelds have beautiful color screens. Some have slightly faster wireless connections. Some have a faster processor. Yes, it doesn't have a slot for additional memory or lots of cute little add-ons. Yea, it uses disposable batteries, and if you let it sit for days in a dangerously low battery state you will lose the data and have to hotsync to get it back.

This is NOT a PC, it is not a personal radio or a gameboy. It's a device the organizes information and does so by adhering to the KISS principle better than any handheld on the market. It, nor any of its competitors, is not a substitute as a web browser - current wireless communications are just too slow. Do you really think a Visor phone at 6" x 4" x 3/4" will replace my tiny, durable Nokia 8260 whose battery lasts for several days on stand-by and permits several hours of talk time? Did you buy a color handheld so you can store all of your family pictures? Don't you own and already carry a wallet? What's easier, carrying a charger for rechargeable batteries or a couple of tiny AAA's (they're SO cheap in bulk packs)? If your data is so valuable to you, then don't leave your unit in a dangerously low battery state for extended periods of time. The batteries are VERY easy to change - takes maybe 10 seconds and doesn't require any special training!

Web clipping offers hundreds of opportunities to retreive useful information from the internet - from turn by turn driving directions to the latest sports lines directly from Vegas! Who's winning the game?.... where's the closest liquor store?..... what's playing at the local movie theatre?... what's the hottest business or world news headlines?... need a stock quote?..... all this and much more available with a simple flip of the antenna at a ridiculously low price of [$] a month!!!

Yes, it's not perfect. Yes, sometimes it, just as do all such devices, has some bugs now & then. Maybe I'd like one feature or another available on one or another of its competitors. But, overall, the Palm VII does one thing better than any. It quite easily enters, stores, organizes and communicates information with unrivaled simplicity.

Don't get me wrong - you'll find me as sophisticated a handheld user as anyone you know. I've owned and used several Palms since their introduction. I've bought and utilized every gadget available and installed many 3rd party Palm OS programs to enhance and administer my business as a contractor. I capture pictures in the field, email, fax quotes, track packages, manage my company project database..... the list goes on and on.

Yet, I am forever vigilant for something better. However, after a thorough evaluation of all the handhelds on the market here I am, right back with the Palm VII. And, I suspect, I'll stay right here taking the simple aproach to organizing my life and business.

I have tried various Handsprings and Palms before, but the VIIx has just about the right combo of features, and the Amazon.com price is much less than what I paid.

The wireless service is pricey, but if all you're going to do is check email, don't go for the unlimited service right away. The installation of the Palm CD is great for Windows 2000 and 98; I had the link to MS Outlook 2000 in no time. Also I was easily able to download 2 novels from some e-book sites and a drug interaction/infectious disease guide from ePocrates.com. In fact, because of clipping, 8MB is really all you need for normal use.

On the wish list for improvements on this model, I would put a color screen at the top of the list. Also the wireless antenna can easily be broken; the design could be better. Add cell phone capability and this would be the perfect PDA.

The Palm VII has met all my expectations. I travel from PA to SC and there are very few areas that I don't get a good signal. Even in rural PA, I got full signal. The speed of the data transfer is suprisingly fast. On average the download time for text is 2-3 seconds and for a graphic such as a map only 7-8 seconds. When ever you choose you can look on the Palm web site and look at your average use of the Palm.net service and they will suggest the plan that best fits your usage. The only complaint I have is that the docking cradle that was supplied with my Palm would lock my desktop up during start-up. Just by chance I found the problem on the Palm web site and had to call six different numbers, each one telling me to call another. When I finally got in touch with a representative on a long distance call to California for 1/2 an hour they sent my the adapter that was needed express mail for nothing. I just thought when you pay that much for an item that they would have worked the bugs out of it before they released it. Other than that the Palm VII is a great product.