PalmOne Zire 72 Handheld

by Palm

Product Details

Product Manual [7.52mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0001KWGP6
• Item model number: P80722US
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (99 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,656 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #86 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > PDAs, Handhelds & Accessories > PDAs & Handhelds
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Building on the success of PalmOne's Zire 71, the Zire 72 is the first Palm-based handheld that can capture digital video with sound and shoot digital still photos. This multimedia PDA also features bright 320 x 320-pixel color screen for optimal playback of video and photos as well as voice recording capability and an MP3 player for listening to your own soundtrack. Other features include Bluetooth wireless connectivity, a 32 MB memory, Secure Digital card expansion, and a fast 312 Mhz Intel PXA270 processor. And, of course, the Zire 72 features Palm's suite of information management applications and the ability to edit Word- and Excel-compatible files and synchronize with Microsoft Outlook (Windows only).

Upgrade Features
The Zire 72 offers the following improvements to the Zire 71:

• 1-megapixel image resolution (1280 x 960 pixels); the Zire 71 had a maximum 640 x 480 resolution.
• 32 MB of memory (24.7 MB user available); the Zire 71 had only a 16 MB memory
• Video capture with sound; the Zire 71 only shot still images.
• Digital zoom for closer image capture and in-handheld editing.
• Voice recording capability.
• Wireless Bluetooth connectivity (the Zire 71 connected to your PC only via the HotSync cable)
• At 4.8 ounces, it's 10-percent less weighty than the 5.3-ounce Zire 71.
• Palm OS 5.2.8 (versus 5.2.1 for the Zire 71).

The Zire 72 can easily capture and manage your most important digital files.

Built-in Camera The back of the Zire 72 holds the built-in still and video camera, which does not require you to slide the back of the PDA to activate it (like the Zire 71 did). You can shoot video with sound turned on or off at 320 x 240 pixel resolution and 15 frames per second. Just use the handheld screen to frame the video, tap the "record" button on the display, then save your video to an optional expansion card after tapping the "stop" button. For still photography, it features a 1.2-megapixel CMOS sensor with a fixed focus range of about five feet and a 2x digital zoom. It captures up to 1280 x 960 pixel images, as well as 640 x 480, 320 x 240, and 160 x 120 resolution modes. The camera also offers such customized image setting controls as white balance, brightness, saturation, contrast, and sharpness. You can also add date stamp or effects like sepia, black and white, and blue.

Audio The included RealPlayer for Palm OS enables you to listen to MP3 music files stored on optional expansion cards via the built-in speaker on the Zire 72 or, for stereo sound, using optional stereo headphones or ear buds. With the built-in digital voice recorder, you can create voice memos, then synchronize them to your desktop PC and email them to friends and colleagues. Display The Palm Zire 72 features a 16-bit, 320 x 320 bright transflective TFT color display, which supports more than 65,000 colors.

Listen to MP3 music files stored on expansion cards via the built-in speaker on the Zire 72

Connectivity and Expansion
With the built-in wireless Bluetooth connectivity, you can synchronize the Zire 72 with Bluetooth-enabled computer from across the room (within a range of 10 meters, or approximately 30 feet). But that's just the start. Using a compatible Bluetooth-enabled phone, you can send and receive email and connect to the web, send multimedia (MMS) or text (SMS) messages, and even automatically dial any number in your handheld's Contact's application. You can also synchronize data the "old-fashioned" way via the mini-USB connection at the base of the handheld.

The Zire 72 uses Multimedia Card and Secure Digital expansion cards, which instantly add software applications, additional memory, large databases, and more without taking up built-in memory space.

VersaMail software enables you to access and manage your personal and corporate emai1 while on the go.

Operating System and Software The Zire 72 is powered by Palm OS 5.2.8, which provides higher performance, enhanced multimedia features, support for Bluetooth connectivity and networking, and enterprise-class security. It useses the intuitive and easy-to-learn Graffiti 2 writing software to input data into the handheld (as well as an on-screen keyboard). Windows users can synchronize calendar, contacts, tasks and notes with Microsoft Outlook. The Palm OS features the following organizer applications: Contacts: Lets you store several addresses for each contact, and it adds new contact fields for more phone numbers, multiple email addresses, instant messenger IDs, and a website for your contacts. Calendar: Use the new Agenda view to see upcoming calendar events, tasks due and important email, and color-code your events to provide an easy way to reference your Calendar in the Agenda, Day, Week, and Month views. Take more notes, or synchronize more details from your desktop, into the larger Memos and Notes fields on the handheld. Tasks: Use tasks with alarms and repeating tasks to set reminders for important commients.

Graffiti 2 allows you to enter data quickly into your Palm handheld but it's even more intuitive and easier to learn Along with the standard Palm software, you'll receive a Software Essentials CD-ROM containing PalmOne's VersaMail, Web Pro, Messages (SMS/MMS), Palm Reader, Documents To Go Standard Edition, Acrobat Reader, Solitaire, powerOne Personal Calculator, and Audible Player for palmOne handhelds (Windows only). Compatibility The Palm Zire 72 is compatible with PCs running Windows 98, NT 4.0, 2000, Me, and XP, and with Macs running Mac OS 9, version 9.1 or higher, or Mac OS X, version 10.2 or 10.3.

Messages software allows you to send and receive text and multimedia messages and include photos taken with the built-in camera.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Zire 72 handheld, built-in rechargeable battery, carrying case, mini-USB HotSync cable, power cable, stylus, CD-ROM with Palm Desktop 4.1 software for Windows and Macs (as well as bonus software), and printed Getting Started guide. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery that has a battery life of between 3 and 4.5 hours depending on screen brightness settings and usage.

Product Description

When it comes to productivity, the Zire 72 handheld means business. Now you can shoot photos and capture and watch video clips anywhere you go. Listen to MP3s, create and edit Word- and Excel-compatible files, or get wireless e-mail and Internet access with its built-in Bluetooth.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

159 of 164 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but not quite good enough, June 8, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: PalmOne Zire 72 Handheld (Office Product)

On the surface, this is a really good device, but after a while you'll start to notice some real flaws.

What I like about the Zire72:

- The screen is brilliant, photos looks absolutely stunning. (There's not enough variance in brightness, though. I've set it to the lowest settting and it's still a bit too bright for reading under low-light conditions.)
- Voice recording, very handy.
- Buttons and D-Pad feel well and have good response.
- Built-in camera, while limited in functionality, is nice to have.
- Bluetooth works well.
- Battery life is very reasonable - as long as you don't play MP3s continually and keep Bluetooth off when you don't need it.

However, after a few weeks of actual use I've noticed several significant flaws:

- My biggest gripe is that the blue rubber "skin" will start to peel off. On my device this is especially bad near the stylus silo. My Z72 now looks quite worn, as if it's a few years old rather than a few weeks. The rubber skin provides a good grip, that is true, but I'd rather not have it at all when it peels off so easily.
- The Z72 has no attachable flip cover. To protect the screen you have to put it in a separate case. This means you can't just whip out it out to look something up, you have to take it out the case first, which is cumbersome. (Carrying it around without any screen cover is not really an option.)
- The output signal from the headphone jack is *far* too loud. I have to set system sounds to "low" to get a volume that is bearable to my ears. I'd prefer a softer volume, though.
- The headphone jack output produces a clearly audible background "hiss". (I know from reading several forums and reviews that this is a common problem. In fact, every Z72 may have this issue.) The hiss may be caused by the output being too loud in the first place. The workaround is to buy headphones with a separate volume control. This way you can turn up the volume on the Zire to drown out the background hiss and reduce the volume on the headphones to get the volume level you really want.
- The SD slot is recessed too deeply. You have to push memory cards in with your nails for them to be properly seated. If you switch between cards often, this *will* start to annoy you.

On the whole, I cannot really recommend the Zire72. It has many things going for it, but I expect better for a device in this price class. I still like it for the most part and I will certainly continue to use it, but had I known about these flaws beforehand, I would probably not have bought it.

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great buy, July 13, 2004

By 

Bert Wiefels (Banning, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: PalmOne Zire 72 Handheld (Office Product)

If you are debating between a pocket PC and a Palm, you might try downloading Palm's desktop software from the web. I was debating between a Dell and the Palm Zire 72, mostly because there seemed to be some rather negative reviews about the Palm on Amazon. What swayed me is that I love the Palm system, especially the desktop software.

Well, I got my Zire 72 and I love it. I now have a complete photo album, a voice recorder, a camera plus the usually Palm goodies. Instead of hauling around a bunch of very heavy dictionaries, I am now loading them onto the Palm. No, the camera isn't as good as my stand-a-long Kodak, but it is fine and handy to have. The quality of the voice recordings is excellent-far better than my two stand-a-lone digital recorders. The included documents-to-go program works well and I actually do find myself working of documents in places I would never haul my lap-top.

If you have an older Palm-my last one was an m105, I think you would be really surprised at how much more useful the newer high-res Palms are. For the price that Amazon is selling the Zire 72, it is rather an incredible package. I'm really happy I stuck with Palm.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Had for almost two months now...., October 30, 2004

By 

A Davis - See all my reviews

This review is from: PalmOne Zire 72 Handheld (Office Product)

After reading many reviews here at Amazon and at other opinion sites, I went ahead and gambled with the 72, considering most of the reviews were negative.

My reasoning for going ahead with the purchase was simply because for the money, no other Palm device came close to offering everything that the 72 did. Plus, most of the negative reviews were for cosmetic issues. And I have had two Palms in the past (an original Palm Pilot Pro and a Palm IIIx) and had great service from both.

For my job, the 72 has been better than I expected it could be. I can open, edit,even create Excel spreadsheets in native .xls format. I have purchased an app called Note Studio that is incredible at organizing notes and text files. I can take pictures and listen to mp3's along with using the traditional Palm apps (the agenda view for the calendar is great).

I have since added a WiFi card and when in the presence of a wireless network or a T-Mobile hotspot, I can browse the web, check my corporate email, etc. Like I said, it has exceeded my expectations.

A couple of notes... I notice that one reviewer said his never held a charge, even after the 3+ hours initial charging.

The recomended initial charging is at least 12 hours, not 3. And the intructions are emphatic on this point, saying that any less than a 12 hour initial charge willeffect the future performance and life of the battery. Mine could use better battery life, but I use it extensivley daily (3 - 4 hours) and I charge mine nightly and have never "run out" of charge. I think the average user using the 72 for contacts, reminders, planning, etc., will have no problem going three or four days on a charge.

I have had the device for almost two months now and I have had it freeze twice. Both times required a reset. Once I was editing a spreadsheets using the Documents to Go application while playing an MP3 in the background, and once I was setting up my WiFi card.

The reason for four stars and not five? The blue finish. This is supposedly some sort of new DuPont coating. It appears to be either too soft or simply doesn't adhere as needed to the smooth plastic underneath. I don't have a serious issue with it as I have been very careful, but i can see with even average use with no case, you would have an ugly Palm rather quickly. I have a piece of the blue coating around where the stylus goes in where mine has peeled.

The reason I didn't count off more for this is because you can virtualy solve it... buy the hard case from Palm. 29 bucks and the 72 fits perfectly and snuggly in foam supports and protects the looks. It still fits in a shirt pocket and even has a sliding cover on the rear that protects the camera lens. All ports and card slots are exposed so that you really never have to take it out of the case (I don't).

Don't be scared of the Palm Zire 72. Two suggestions...

Follow the instructions following battery charging EXACTLY and,

BUY THE HARD CASE. You won't regret your purchase.

Just opinions from an owner.