PalmOne Tungsten T Handheld

by Palm

Product Details

Product Manual [3.71mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• 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: B000071A7U
• Item model number: P80850US
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (91 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,327 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #75 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > PDAs, Handhelds & Accessories > PDAs & Handhelds
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 28, 2002

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

97 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I true Palm Revolution, November 7, 2002

By 

George P. Hatzigiannis DMD, MD - See all my reviews

This review is from: PalmOne Tungsten T Handheld (Office Product)

There are a number of reviews on the 'Net already about this much-anticipated device, and I won't claim to make yet another. Just some interesting observations from a week of ownership:

1) I have found only a single program (Skyscape 5-minute clinical consultant) that does not like OS 5. All others so far work like a charm, including LOTS of medical software.

2) While the OS itself really is not much different, the processor has really revolutionized the Palm handhelds. Example: using Tabers medical dictionary on my m505 was a chore, and looking up a word often took >30 seconds. Now I write in real time and get word lookups in 1-2 seconds.

3) My handwriting recognition (Graffiti) is MARKEDLY improved over the m505.

4) The screen is UNBELIEVABLE! Fantastic, useable under all lighting conditions.

5) The battery life is just fine. I do recharge nightly, but I use it a good 2 hours each day, with the backlight at 50% all the time, and rarely get to below a 70% charge.

6) The sliding design is very sturdy. Also, it just FEELS much better in my hands.

7) The D-pad is a huge improvement, and I think more than makes up for Sony's Jog Dial.

8) Voice recording feature is very nice.

9) Does not come with mp3 software built-in, though word is that Real will be releasing an mp3 player for Palm in the coming weeks that will be available free.

10) Only gripe is that Versamail STILL does not synch e-mail with my Mac...

11) Palm has all but said that this device will be OS6 upgradable, which you can't bank on from the Sony products.

Buy one, you will definitely not be disappointed.

80 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tungsten T . . . medical use, January 11, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: PalmOne Tungsten T Handheld (Office Product)

I'm a physician and upgraded from a IIIc to the Tungsten T for more speed for electronic prescribing. Also purchased the SanDisk 64MB card. What I've found so far:
-- 14 MB of user accessible memory on the Palm itself
-- 59.4 MB on the SanDisk card

Peeves --

-- The sliding close is nice for smaller size for travel. When in frequent use, I'd really like to be able to keep the TT "locked" in full extension since I need to use the Graffiti area extensively. A little flip lock like on the barrel of zoom lenses would have been a nice addition.

-- Palm shouldn't have cheaped out on memory -- should have 32ish MB of user accessible memory.

-- Can't "subdivide" the SanDisk card into directories or categories -- it's one massive lump.

-- The "snap" into the cradle isn't real secure -- a little nudge and it isn't charging.

-- Comes with an inconvenient plastic cover. Touching the navigator selector in the front turns the gadget on, which frequently happens accidentally if put in a pocket. I like the flip-down clam shell arrangement on the IIIc better at this point. (I made my own cover out of other materials -- a little challenging -- pressure in the wrong place will turn the gadget on unintentionally unless designed right.)

Pluses --

-- FAST, bright screen, good resolution.

-- Sync's are fast

-- With almost daily charges, battery life hasn't seemed to be a problem so far, but am not using BlueTooth yet and haven't been using continuously.

-- Comes with Documents to Go

-- Can scribble some brief notes (although I've done nothing but play with that) and dictate some voice notes (ditto).

-- Can transfer address book and calendar from old Palm very easily if minimally computer literate (can navigate directories and copy files following instructions)

-- Things that work with OS 5 ON THE EXPANSION CARD: Acrobat reader, LDL cholesterol (StatCoder), OK Cardiac Clearance (StatCoder), Growth2 (StatCoder), HanDBase main program (the applets I wrote for Palm v. 3.5 work but can't go on the card), MedCalc, MentStat, PowerOne Personal calculator (included from Palm), Shots2003 (2002 also worked), MOST of the Documents to Go programs (SheetsToGo, Slideshow, WordToGo, but not the Fonts), and Tarascon beta. All appear to work just fine EXCEPT the Tarascon beta, which is only partially functional. Writing to them, they say they will not be supporting OS 5 until the "fee" release.

-- Things that need to be or should be on the "front" side: All the native palm apps -- calendar, address; DietCalc, EPOCRATES and its AvantGo companion, iScribe*, all HanDBase apps (but not the main program), WordToGo Fonts. *The iscribe folks say it will work on the card but advise against it because of loss of speed.

With all the little pieces that that go along with these things, adds up to over 7M of the 14M on the front side.

--Things that don't work that I'd miss without carrying my IIIC also: ATPIII and Hopkins Antibiotic Guide. ATPIII is in the process of being upgraded for OS 5; Hopkins I haven't gotten an answer and am not sure whether it is OS 5, that I've got the Guide on two Palms which is causing problems (or what) and have received no response to my inquiry.

Would recommend for those who need/want the speed. My usage is probably quite different from the average bear, and I've found no use so far for the navigator thingies, and rarely use the buttons on the front. Often leave in the extended position and use the on/off button. I really needed it to continue electronic prescribing (IIIc and iScribe = getting to slow to use in real time). Think I'll be using Doc To Go and personal "notes" extensively as time goes on also. Am hoping the couple incompatible programs I'll (really) miss -- ATPIII and Hopkins -- are available for OS 5 soon.

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good things come to those who wait., December 7, 2002

By 

J. Lara (Pasig City Philippines) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: PalmOne Tungsten T Handheld (Office Product)

The m550 or more commonly known as the Tungsten T is refreshing addition to the Palm product line. It's been a while since Palm took a step in innovation but the Tungsten T is certainly a move in the right direction. If this is a preview of things to come for Palm or OS5 then things really do look bright for the PDA industry. However as great as the Tungsten may be, I think it would be premature to pick up a OS5 unit at this point in time and in the OS's life cycle.

Being the holiday season many PDA manufacturers, particularly Palm OS units, historically don't release any major units. New units generally come out in the 1st and 3rd quarters of the year. This will hold true for Palm and Sony.

If you are a first time buyer the Tungsten would be ok but at that price range you might be better off with a T665C or even an SJ30. If you are looking to upgrade, just hold out for a few more weeks. There is nothing worse then picking up a new PDA and to have a new one introduced only days after.

Despite all negative feedback on its price, it still is an amazing unit. Although i am not a big fan of the flip or even the slider design, the compactness of the Tungsten T is difficult to ignore. As Palm research have shown, the grafitti area is used only about 20% of the time so tucking it away shouldn't pose too much of a problem. However I personally would have prefered a virtual grafitti for more real estate as opposed to a "sliding away" grafitti area.

With many objections on a slider design on many fan sites and user groups Palm went ahead and developed on for their flagship OS5 unit. They felt that if they construct it well enough that they can convince people that the huge decrease in overall volume will be greatly appreciated. (After all it was the ultra slim design of the V that took the industry by storm.) And construct it well they did. The sliding action is smooth and firm with a noticable "clicking" noise to indicate that it is fully open or closed. The material which was used to construct the unit is of good quality and the multidirectional pad is a great addition. But i think the best feature of the Tungsten T (which is not present in ANY OS5 unit to date) is the integrated bluetooth.

Lastly as for OS5, there are many comments about its compatibility with pre-OS5 applications. Many major apps have already been updated. You just need to find the right ones to install. All OS4 optimized apps will work on OS5. Only the apps made for the older OS3 might encounter some problems.

As i always say before you go out and pick up any PDA, i strongly suggest you take it for a test drive and read LOTS of reviews. As for this unit, i think you should just wait a few more weeks. At the very least let the christmas crunch pass. However if you have money to waste, this is not a bad buy at all.