Customer Reviews

PalmOne Tungsten T2 Handheld

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I am a former owner of the original T|T. After a little over a year of T|T use, the power button became much less responsive. After several calls to PalmOne's customer service and speaking to several nice Indian folks (Note: PalmOne customer service is obviously outsourced overseas), I was told that it would be $125 to have the unit repaired. This was too much to invest in old hardware. I enjoyed the small form factor of that device so much, I decided to buy a T2 (depite PalmOne's abysmal customer service).

The appeal of the screen has been mentioned several times. I would agree tremendously! I thought the original screen was pretty good. However, the 320x320 display on this unit makes the original T|T look like someone put window tint on it. I also enjoyed the extra internal memory. The subtle changes with the Palm OS were nice too: like hitting the 5 way button to the right when in your address book to look a name up and the color themes.

One aspect that I just could not bring myselft to do was to adopt Graffiti 2. I have used the original Graffiti for so long that using anything else is heresy. For those that are like me, simply grab your old handheld with Graffiti 1 and get a file manager program. Search the ROM for the following two files: Graffiti Library.prc, and Graffiti Library_enUS.prc. Now beam them to your new handheld. Do a Soft Reset on your new handheld and PRESTO, you now have Graffiti 1 again.

If I had any advice, it would be to buy PalmOne products with a credit card that doubles the manufacture's warranty because their customer service is terrible and they will deny warranty service if your handheld is 1yr and 1day old.

Having owned the original Tungsten T for just over a month, I have to say that the original is a great Palm device. Compact, quick and very useful. The Tungsten T2 primarily refines the great features already present on the original T.

So why buy? Why upgrade? If you are a casual user of a Palm that primarily uses the device for occassional reference, stick with the original T. There is some great pricing available right now. But if you use your Palm frequently, the screen and additional memory are worth the upgrade.

The original screen is fine, and until I compared the two devices side by side, I was completely content with it, but a transflective screen is a lot easier to look at for quick glances or extended work sessions. It requires less time to focus on the information you need and while it is completely subjective, I find that has value for me.

If you like to read, ebooks on this device are absolutely incredible, and totally accessible while the device is in closed position.

The additional memory means you won't have to spend any valuable time trying to shoehorn even more programs into the 16mb memory space. 16 megs is plenty, but 32 megs is better.

There are more refinements, all the Tungsten patches are now incorporated into the OS upgrade, the graffiti input has been upgraded to Graffiti 2, which should be easier for new users. But there are text input utilities to customize character recognition anyway you want.

Hunt for a good bargain and jump in. An additional Tungsten model (the T3) will be available before Christmas with some nice specs reported, but when a Palm is this good, there is no compelling reason to wait. This device will still have a good resale value if you can't resist the new model. Something that can't be said for the original T with it's reflective screen.

My 1 month old orignal Tungsten T? My co-worker was still using a M100, I don't think he'll be disappointed with the replacement.

Somebody's got to test these new units.

I own the Tungsten T2 and it's a nifty piece of hardware with a beautiful display and innovative features. However, mine arrived without the software CD. After two long distance calls to support including total hold times of nearly 50 minutes, I was told I could not obtain the missing software that there were no CDs to ship and nothing they could email me. This means basic Palm apps like the calculator and photo viewer are not present on my device. The representative suggested I return the device (at the expense of the retailer?) and either purchase another one or keep my Dell Axim. Free support for Palm devices only lasts 90 days (after that $25 a call) and they were not willing to help me, unlike Dell which has provided support and replacement without question or cost. The Palm hardware is nice, but the software is nonexistant and the support is laughable. Weigh these factors in making your PDA decision.

My palm T2 experienced erratic behaviour after 6 months of operation. This kind of "bug" is also described by other persons in the T2 amazon reviews. The displacement bar moved without control and in the main window, the focus jumped from one application to another. Well, I did the soft reset and finally the hard reset, nothing happened. The incredible thing was that the problem was solved taking out the window plastic protector! I do not know why, but now my palm works fine. So, do not throw away you palm ! just change the protector and see what happen.

I have used Palm OS devices for about four years. I recently purchased the TT2. I was excited about the product because it had everything that I wanted from a handheld. However, after using it for a day or so, the Voice Memo application started to malfunction. Sometimes it would not record anything no matter what I did. Other times it would record, but when I left Voice Memo then returned to it, the recordings would disappear. Palm Support told me to return the unit, which I did, and exchange it for a new one. Within one hour of using my second TT2 it started to do exactly the same thing! I'm returning it to Palm and I'll be purchasing a handheld by a different company on Monday. I'd be interested to hear whether or not others have experienced problems with the Voice Memo application.

Also, I'd like to echo the sentiments of another reviewer: The telephone support for Palm is absolutely HORRIBLE. They route their tech support calls to India, as you may know. As a native American, it was almost impossible for me to communicate with any of the tech representatives. They didn't understand me and I didn't understand them. Also, they don't seem to actually know anything about the technical aspects of the Palm products. As far as I could tell they were just surfing the PalmOne website and reading Knowledge Library entries to me. Dealing with them was one of the worst experiences I've had in months. Literally.

The T2 is an updated version of the original Tungsten, and as such sports a minor upgrade in the OS software as well as a better color screen and more memory -- 32MB total in RAM, but only 29MB user-accessible. Still that's plenty for a Palm-based PDA. The performance is truly snappy; playing MP3's, which still require a Secure Digital memory card, gives no hiccups. Every thing responds instantanenously. One star taken off for requiring using an SD card for MP3 and video playing. Another star for not including wi-fi (802.11b or g); instead, the less common Bluetooth wireless technology is built-in. You can use BT to talk to BT-enabled cell phones, but it's a hassle. Sure you can buy an Secure Digital wi-fi card soon, but 1) that draws more battery power than built-in wi-fi circuitry, and 2) you can't use wi-fi and expansion memory (or play MP3s) at the same time. What a dumb design! Battery is still not user-replaceable, unlike the new trend with Pocket PCs.

Overall, the T2 is pleasant to use and truly compact. But the lack of wi-fi and the need to use expansion for an enhanced experience make it a poor choice for the power user (such as yours truly).

I have been a longtime fan of the Palm Operating System and have owned several different models, from the m125, the m130 and I have used several different models including a Sony Clie as well as the m515 and even the Handspring Treo -- nothing and I do mean NOTHING compares.

First off, let's talk screen: going from the color of the m130 to the T2 was very much like jumping from a 13" color TV up to a wide-screen plasma HDTV. Simply incredible. You can operate the screen with the backlight or without, saving batteries and making the screen MUCH easier to read outside in sunlight. My m130 was just shy of impossible to read with practically ANY sunlight on it.

Next, storage space. Definitely a nice upgrade from the standard 8mb in the m130. A whopping 32mb's of memory allows me the freedom to add plenty without worrying about transferring it all to my SD card -- which by the way took an ETERNITY to access using my old processor. Now I can concentrate using my card for mp3's.

Next, ergonomics. Again, compared to my trusty m130, this is a GIANT leap forward. The compact design is absolutely amazing. I simply cannot tell you how convenient it is that the T2 slides up to reveal the Graffiti writing area, making it still a small device when fully extended, but easily one of the smallest models available especially for during the times when you do not need to write anything down. Just brilliant.

Next, the recorder. I am still in awe of how useful this one item has become to me. I have often wished I could jot something down on the spur-of-the-moment while driving only to put it off for fear of wrecking my vehicle, and ultimately I end up forgetting what it was in the first place. The T2 has totally eliminated this problem for me. Now I record my ideas and reminders on the go and my biggest problem now is remembering to place it within reach while I'm on the road.

The increased accuracy while jotting down a note in memo-pad is a REAL improvement over my m130. I can't tell you how many times I went to write down something quickly only to have the screen screw it up and the handwriting never quite looked natural at ALL. Now the T2 has made all of that look much more like real handwriting and a vast improvement over what they had before.

The vibrate alert is also a VERY handy addition for use during important meetings where being quiet is an absolute MUST.

All in all, I can't remember how many times I have thought to myself: Wow, this thing is incredible! And lately I've been thinking more of why it took me so long to make the switch to something better. I suppose in the long run I kept my m130 mostly because I am a die-hard fan of the Palm OS and since it worked virtually flawless for several years, why upgrade? I guess I dropped it one too many times, and after needing to be re-set almost daily and the battery never fully charges and therefore after losing my current information one more time than I wanted, I made the move -- and I am certainly glad I did.

There have been several reviews critical of the T2 for one reason or another, and I am sure they are valid -- however in MY personal experience the T2 has worked absolutely PERFECT since day 1 and has given me no problems at all. I am 100% satisfied and cannot even consider a time when I will use a PDA manufactured by ANY other company. Very impressed.

For a while, especially with the 500 series, PALM seemed to be laying on their laurels. They introduced a color screen but it was only applicable to certain programs.

Well, the Tungsten T2 not only has a color screen but it has the brightest, sharpest, clearest picture around. And you can add background colors so that even the most "menial" program comes alive.

Combine this with the added features such as a voice recorder and PALM has reclaimed its title to the throan.

The T2 also folds down to one of the smallest sizes yet. It is lightweight and compact yet puts up with a lot. It has everything you need (date book, calculator, calendar) and such. Upgrading? PALM's web site walks you through that so with just one Hot Synch and all of your old records are on your brand new T2.

One thing that I noticed but no one else seems to have mentioned is a bit of a drawback. As much of a useless feature as the added slot on the left hand side of the original Palm Pilots were, several designers made cases which used this to hold the unit in place (I never trusted the velcro adhesive - I depend too much on my Palm). This has been taken away (true, it was taken away so that it slides shut to a very small size) but the cases for the unit seem scarse.

That is a minor annoyance because once you begin using the T2, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

Palm has made another great product! I love my T2. I keep tons of information from work and personal stuff on mine. I have no problem syncing my information from my work computer and home computer. Some of the problems discussed above can be avoided by clicking on the hotsync, custom option. This will allow you to decide if you want the data on your handheld to overwrite the data on your computer or vice versa. Using this great product will do nothing, but make your life easier and more organized if you put the time into it. There are an infinite number of programs available for it. I still favor the Palm OS because of its simple structure, that is exactly what I need. I hope you all have the same experience I have had with thie product!

My last PDA finally bit the dust (Sharp Wizard OZ-770) and I was really looking for a good PDA with all of the features of my previous one. Some things I like are:

The Tungsten T2 was more than I bargained for! Griffiti2 is much more intuitive than Graffiti.

Address Book easy to access.

Notepad as well as Memo Pad for natural writing.

Rugged build

Speaker and headphone jack.

Lots of other stuff.

I cannot say enough good things about the TungstenT2 and would recommend it for anybody!