Customer Reviews

PalmOne IIIxe Personal Handheld Organizer

5 star:		(131)
4 star:		(54)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(22)

 

 

Putting it simply, the Palm IIIxe is a five-star device. If you want just the highlights as to why, see my Short Notes below. If you want the full review, go to Detailed Notes further down.

Short Notes:

- Excellent quality overall, good ergonomics.

- 8 MB RAM, easily sufficient to store a wide variety of applications plus data.

- Has 2 MB flash memory, enough to handle upgraded (v3.5) OS.

- Sharp, clear screen. Easy to read.

- Graffiti handwriting recognition is forgiving and easy to master quickly.

- Great battery life - should last over 30 days.

- Built-in infrared port - easy data exchange between Palm devices.

- Many available software applications, often freeware.

- Excellent and thorough documentation.

- Easy to learn how to use it - very intuitive if you hate manuals.

- Syncs well with Microsoft Outlook, if you're so inclined.

- Great price - a good investment.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Detailed Notes:

Spent a lot of time deciding which Palm OS model to go with, and finally picked the Palm IIIxe, primarily for the newer OS (v3.5), the 8 MB memory and the new lower price. Looked closely at the Palm m110 and Handspring Visor, units which offered attractive prices, but with 2 MB RAM, felt they didn't have enough memory. Also considered the Handspring Visor Deluxe, but on the two models that I had a chance to try out, the screens weren't the same quality as those of the Palm IIIxe, and nobody could explain it.

You may also wish to consider the new Palm m105. See the notes at the bottom of this review for more details.

To be fair, I also considered some of the newer Windows CE devices, but was put off completely by the hand recognition software. It was too slow and hard to use, so that idea was dropped quickly. Used to use a Windows CE device made by Casio, which I put aside awhile ago. Had initially been encouraged to purchase a Palm device by one of my co-workers, but I felt that the Windows CE 1.0 device with its tiny keyboard was the way to go. Then I found out that it ate batteries at a very high rate. Lived with this for awhile, but the business of hardware ROM replacement to upgrade the unit was disturbing.

The Palm does everything I need it to, and in the month that I've had it, I've been pleasantly surprised by its versatility. The quality has proven to be excellent. The case of the IIIxe, though an older Palm design, fits the hand quite comfortably.

The Palm IIIxe comes with 8MB of memory. In useful terms, this means that you can store approximately 12,000 addresses, 5-10 years of appointments (that's about 3000 appointments), 6000 to do items, 3000 memos, 800 e-mails and many applications. The available memory has been ample to download and store a wide range of applications along with the room to store related data. The IIIxe (along with some other models) has 2 MB flash memory, enough to handle the upgraded (v3.5) OS and the built-in applications. I also went to the Palm Web site and downloaded the latest (v.3.5.2) OS and installed it. There were absolutely no problems like I had heard about with other "Palm-compatible" devices.

The screen is sharp, clear and easy to read, indoors or outside. Though I might have preferred a bit stronger backlight for those times where there isn't much light, have learned to adapt to it quickly.

The Graffiti handwriting recognition is forgiving and easy to master quickly. One of the reasons I went to a Windows CE keyboard unit a few years ago was fear of having to learn yet another way of inputting data. I couldn't have been more wrong - it's easy and quite intuitive. What's even more important is that I'm now taking notes in meeting with the device that used to be done on paper.

The battery life is outstanding. It should last thirty days or more under regular use. Since one of my complaints with the Windows CE units was short battery life, I'm impressed.

The built-in infrared port allows you to transfer documentation directly from any other infrared enabled Palm device. This function works quite well. I've transferred memos to and from a Handspring Visor Deluxe and other Palm devices.

There are many software applications available for the Palm PDAs, including a lot of shareware and freeware. The commercial programs that are available are top rate, and you can even find applications that will let you edit Word and Excel files. You can even connect to Oracle 8I databases with currently available software.

The Palm IIIxe manuals are excellent, and do a thorough job of documentation. You may find, though, that this device is easy to learn with little reading. Its interface is very intuitive, and that's helpful if you dislike going through manuals.

This PDA syncs well with Microsoft Outlook, which is extremely useful for corporate users. This is a straightforward operation in which you place the Palm IIIxe into the supplied HotSynch cradle and push the button on the base. The HotSynch operation creates a log of what was done, so you can confirm that everything was updated correctly.

Picky point - comes with a mediocre lightweight plastic stylus. Order an upgrade (or the Palm 3-pack) immediately. You won't regret it.

You might also want to consider the new Palm m105. Though it has a smaller screen than the Palm IIIxe, it has many of the same features but is packed in the same case as the popular m100.

If you are looking for a reasonably priced PDA that can live up to its reputation, then this is a first-rate choice. The Palm IIIxe is a solid unit at a great price - an excellent investment.

If you want something better than the IIIe or something cheaper than the IIIc/V/Vx, then look no further to the IIIxe. It's the perfect blending of the IIIe and the IIIx at a price point that can't be beat. I couldn't justify spending the extra money for the IIIc (who needs color anyways! ) or for the V (2MB is kinda puny), so I opted out for the IIIxe instead of the Vx. And it's great! I've owned a handheld device before, but it was large and cumbersome and the only advantage was that it was based on something familiar, Windows. The IIIxe is simple, easy to use and learn, and very useful for that time when you need to write something down and you don't have pen and paper. I would highly recommend considering the IIIxe if you are in the market for a Palm organizer. It's priced right in the middle, has the same features that the IIIe/IIIx has but more installed RAM (about 8MB total), plus it's upgradable (although the Vx has the extra "coolness" factor because of the slim aluminum casing). I've had mine for only two days now, and already it has gotten me out of forgetting information that was useful to me. So if you are looking for an organizer and are debating between WinCE or a Palm, go for a Palm. Much simpler and easier. Besides, why would you need a WinCE device that has a color screen, limtied battery life, music playback capabilities (on a small tiny speaker? ), and that dreaded Windows operating system (we don't need another spawn of Windows...there are already too many right now with 95, 98, NT and 2000). Palm IIIxe...the way to go.

This is my first handheld, and I am so glad that I did not get a Windows CE handheld. The Palm IIIxe has over a month of battery life (compared to several hours with Windows CE), never crashes, and is so easy to use. It syncs really well with Outlook 2000 and Outlook 98. No problems whatsoever. I especially like the wide range of programs you can get online for free or at a small cost. Windows CE could not do that. Now to the Palm IIIxe itself. I think this is the "best value for the buck" Palm there is right now. Sure, there is the Palm IIIc and the Palm Vx, but they cost [more than this unit]. All three have 8MB of RAM and the updated operating system. The IIIc has the color screen, but why do you need a color screen in a handheld? If it is for playing games in color, then you are wasting your money. The Palm Vx is exactly the same as the IIIxe, except it has the new style, but let me ask you this. Why do you need style in an organizer? You may say that these two models have rechargeable batteries, a feature that the Palm IIIxe does not have, but I have been using Nickel Metal Hydrate batteries (NiMH) on my Palm IIIxe and the work very well. Get some more information from Palm users about their experience with NiMH batteries.... After you answer those two questions, you will agree with me that the Palm IIIxe is the best value Palm out now. I chose the IIIxe over the Handspring Visor Deluxe for several reasons. First of all, in the Visor Deluxe, you cannot upgrade the operating system when new updates are introduced. Handspring, however, says that you can add in a Springboard module to upgrade the OS. But how will the device operate later if you switch the Springboard with another one? No more OS upgrade, that's what. The IIIxe has flash memory so you actually upgrade its operating system. Second, I have read several user comments on the Visor Deluxe. Several people are saying that the Visor screen breaks much more easily than the Palm IIIxe's screen because of its flimsy case design. Palm put the normal sturdy case found in the III line on it's IIIxe. Second, tons of customers have complained about Handspring's customer support. I remember one person said, "There is none!" I am very satisfied, however, with Palm's customer service, especially their online customer service. Take a look for yourself at the Service and Support section at the Palm website. So what do I use my Palm IIIxe for? I use it at school to keep me organized. I am a very busy person, but the datebook helps keep me on track with my appointments. Also, I store my assignments on my Palm using a program called Four.Zero. I play games occasionaly, but that was not the primary reason for buying my Palm organizer. The primary reason was ORGANIZATION.

This review is for PDA newbies, written by another newbie. You might have done some research and know a little about what you're getting into, (which I highly recommend) but it still seems like a $300 replacement for a Rolexdex plus desktop calendar (which is exactly what it is). I was turned off by some other reviews because of the sheer detail that some experienced users go to. People literally come to depend on this things so much that when new features come along they go insane =) If you are like I was, you simply want to know if this little thing is worth the money.

The basic function of any PDA is to organize your life, period. You will get more use out of the basic calendar, address book, To Do List, and Expense List than anything else. PDAs syncronize themselves with your computer at work and at home. Most people don't realize how nice this is until they use it. Now that I understand it, I do it with everything. I download my bank statements from the Internet into Quicken, and then into my Palm. If I mark a purchase on my Palm, it automatically updates in Quicken when I get home. At work I track everything with Excel spreadsheets, and now I can carry my entire job at my fingertips, in my Palm. At home, I used to keep email addresses only on my computer, and phone numbers on a Roldex in the other room. Now the information is everywhere at once, and the clutter of these extra things is gone. Should my palm ever get lost or stolen, I've got a hassle-free backup on my PC at work and at home. It has freed my life by making organization easy and intelligent.

I got the Palm IIIxe because it has everything essential, yet is cheap enough that if I found I never used it I wouldn't feel bad about the money I wasted. It is exactly the same as a Palm Vx, except for a slightly bigger case and slightly slower, but not noticeably on either account. The Palm VII's wireless internet feature is very an expensive extra I didn't need. The color screen on the IIIc is surprising functional for the cost (these little screens can be hard to read at times). My next PDA will definitely be color. Oh, and don't settle for anything less than 8 MB of memory unless you're only using the very basic functions (in which case get an M100) Most importantly, PalmPilots offer the best experience for "virgin" PDA users, hands down. The basic features on a Palm will never throw you for a loop. And if you feel comfortable tinkering with your computer, than you can visit www.palmgear.com and get 1000's of applications to make your Palm do absolutely anything you want it to.

A PocketPC offers some of the advanced features I talked about before (importing spreadsheets and such) which come ready right out of the box, while you have to pay extra for this on a Palm, and then have the hassle of figuring out how it works. Using a PocketPC is very similiar to using Windows, but like Windows, it tends to crash. They do have more memory than Palms, and can be expanded if you somehow run out. They also play MP3 music, but with the money I saved I bought a dedicated MP3 player which is much, much better than a PocketPC could hope to be. They also play movies, but who on earth would want to watch movies on a PDA? For the basic features, they offer little over a Palm.

I had long wanted to buy a Palm product of my own, and for this purchase, I was deciding between the Palm IIIxe and the Palm Vx. Both essentially have the same specs, but the Vx has the obvious "cool" factor. I decided on the IIIxe for a number of reasons. Firstly, the IIIxe was value for money. The Vx cost... more but does exactly the same things. Secondly, there are more (and better) after-market cases for the IIIxe. Vx owners invariably complain of the lack of good cases for their Palm. Thirdly, there have also been a good number of complaints regarding the location of the Vx's on/off switch. Personally, I find this rather critical since I put the Palm in my pocket most of the time. There are other reasons, including the flip cover which the Vx does not have. The Vx is also not expandable. This is, of course, assuming that Palm will develop an expansion kit for the Palm in the near future. One also has to send in the Vx back to Palm when its internal rechargeable battery is no longer working. However, I did encounter a couple of problems with the IIIxe. Less than a week after receiving my unit, two buttons used to launch the main applications were broken. The alarm on the IIIxe is also rather feeble, making it hard to hear when you are outdoors.

In spite of its shortcomings, the Palm IIIxe is a very good product. HotSync is very easy--literally a "one-touch" operation! It works seamlessly with Outlook Express, although it works well with Eudora and other mail management software, too. There are also hundreds of free, shareware and demo programs you can download for the Palm. Even as a college student, I find the software AvantGo very useful to check on the latest financial and world news.

It has been a very good first experience with amazon.com and Palm. I was a bit skeptical to order from an online merchant, but amazon.com's customer service has been the best i've encountered.

Overally, I recommend this product for its price and functionality. Amazon.com also deserves special mention for their wonderful customer service.

Definitely a good buy for me. No regrets!

When I first got my Palm III two years ago I loved it right away - it was so easy to use, and the handwriting recognition took just a day getting used to. Since, it's been a source of much joy and almost as much grief. I'll explain why:

When I got the Palm as a gift, I was considering byuing a PDA and was looking at Psion products. I used the Palm with great joy, but found it had its limits. The biggest limit is the size of the screen, it's simply too small to do any proper writing on (and besides, it's hard on your eyes because it's not as clear as the V for instance). Another limit is the poor physical engineering of it.

The software that's on the Palm when you get it is brilliant, and to make things even better, there are literally thousands of 3rd party apps of a really good general quality. It didn't take me long to fill the built-in apps with names, contacts, etc. Then I improved Graffiti with an app called TealScript - I highly recommend it! Also, I installed some better battery monitor tools, which you'll learn to appreciate when your batts run dry, and a tool to handle locking/unlocking via hardbuttons instead of pen strokes (handy in a bus!).

But then the problems started. The machine froze or reset at the oddest of times, like in the middle of a Find or while I was adding an appointment. Some of the times, it refused to come back up and eventually I lost all data, at least until I could Hotsync again. But in the course of the past two years I have lost more than 3/4 of my data 4 (!) times, and I am fed up - I just bought a Psion Revo. (My brother has had a Psion S5 for over 4 years and it hasn't lost data even once.)

Also I advise you to take *great* care with your Palm, as the screen is very unprotected and may crack at a 1-foot drop. I recommend the FlipCase from SynSolutions if you want good protecion, but don't put too much trust in the clip either. I have taken my own and other's Palms apart a number of times for servicing (in the office), and have found that the internal, physical design is about as good as your basic calculator, no more. Not even proper padding around the LCD to shield it from minor bumps or dirt (hence above warning). Many people came to me with bad screen connections, bent battery connectors (you'll be changin batteries A LOT), and cracked screens and frames.

Rating defense: I give it a solid five stars for funcionality, but I will have to deduct some points too: -1 star for the tiny screen, -½ star for the instability of the software, and finally -½ star for the instability of the physical device itself. Sorry, but this takes us to a mediocre 3 stars.

Jan Gundtofte

I decided about a year ago that I wanted a PDA. I did the comparisons and shopped around, and this is what I discovered: 1. I didn't need a complete computer in a shirt pocket. 2. Most if not all of the Windows CE machines (and they are good machines, make no mistake) try to be a complete computer in a shirt pocket. 3. The Palm series tries to be a Day-Timer, with some extra bells and whistles. 4. I needed the electronic equivalent of a Day-Timer.

The Graffiti handwriting software is quite powerful and very good; the only caveat here is that if you are by nature a scrawler (as I am), the Graffiti system will not be happy. It prefers people who use large letters, filling up the handwriting area so as to provide the best chance of character recognition.

The other factor is that the Palm is easy to expand as regards software. There is a ton and a half of stuff out there; commercial, shareware, freeware, and most of it quite good. Windows CE, by comparison, seems over-engineered and somewhat finicky.

I purchased a Palm IIIxe, and have found only three flaws and one quibble. These are the only reason I feel I can't give it the full 5 stars; otherwise, it would merit the extra star. The flaws seem to stem from the design, the quibble is a quality-control issue.

Flaw #1: The built-in software is remarkably complete, with one glaring ommission: Why isn't there some sort of HotSync-able sketch/paint utility! I downloaded TealPaint, which does very nicely, but such a program should be part of the basic software.

Flaw #2: The mail handling system on the Palm Desktop software doesn't know that Netscape exists. Not everyone uses Outlook, cc:Mail or Eudora. Some of us use Netscape's integrated email software. I asked Palm about this and I was told that they can't comment on possible future software releases. So, I may be able to award an extra 1/3rd star if this is fixed.

Flaw #3: The Palm IIIc comes with a lithium battery pack that can be recharged via the cradle. Why is there no such capability for the Palm IIIxe, which shares the same physical case? On the other hand, a Palm IIIc which is away from its cradle is going to have problems, too. The solution (to me) would be to make a lithium pack with the same form factor as the 2 x AAA batteries, together with a connector that allows the pack (in place) to charge through the cradle. Then, if the pack is completely discharged, you can remove it and use regular AAA batteries until you get home (or wherever your cradle is).

Quibble: Every so often, my Palm IIIxe locks up for no apparent reason. I thought it might be a software conflict, so I cleared the device, and ran it for a week with nothing but the built-in stuff. It locked up once during that week. The solution is simply to pop the back and remove one battery and quickly re-insert it. No data is lost, but it forces the machine to realize the world is still there, so to speak.

Even given these three flaws and the quibble, I would still, without hesitation, recommend the Palm series of organizers to someone who needs this sort of thing. The chief attraction of the Palms is that they are simple and easy to use. Get a Palm if you want to replace notebooks, datebooks and addressbooks. Get a Windows CE machine if you want to put your desktop in your pocket.

This little great device is really useful, convenient, affordable, dependable, practical, you name it. I was always thinking of a Windows CE handheld computer and never paid much attention to Palm computers. Then, one day, just a month ago, I bought the Palm IIIe (because it was affordable: $149) thinking that I was just getting a "monochromatic electronic organizer" in the meantime (unlike a full-color Windows CE, etc.), but to my surprise I had a little powerful computer! I was hooked in less than one day and I even bought the PalmPilot book by David Pogue. Two weeks later, browsing the Net, I saw the newest model, the Palm IIIxe, and comparing the features I ordered it immediately. What I like about the Palm IIIxe, just to mention a few things, is its 8MB of memory (which in the Palm OS world is really A LOT), the upgradable operating system (unlike the Palm IIIe), the 2 AAA batteries that last on average 3 weeks if you use your Palm a lot, thousands of programs to download and of course the one-button sync with my PC. Other than the basic functions, I use it as a database browser, dictionary, quick reference for book titles and URLs I keep jotting down, my repository of ideas (including small sketches), financial calculator and to download customized channels from the Web to read later on. In my wish list, dear Palm Engineers, there is only one thing: This wonderful handheld computer with the screen resolution and sharpness of the E-Book.

This item has made my life easier. I was so used to using a calender, another electronic organizer and good ole paper to keep track of my everyday work. Since purchasing the palm IIIxe, my life has been simplified. It is so easy to use and its compact size makes it easy to take around wherever you go. What is really impressive is the ease of the Palm's menu. You literally just tap the screen on an application you want to use. The graffiti feature takes some practice but once you've gotten used to it, it's a breeze. I especially enjoy using the hot sync to download my e-mail for later viewing. Entering information in the address and date book is fast using the accompanying software on your home or office PC. You just type in the information and hot sync it to your Palm with little effort. I think that anyone considering to purchase a Palm PDA should consider the IIIxe. It has a generous 8MB or RAM, twice as much as the IIIx as well as some added new features. I contemplated purchasing the IIIc because of its color feature but later changed my mind. I could not justify paying an additional $200 for the color feature. The IIIxe gives you the most bang for the buck. I highly recommend this item for those seriously considering purchasing a PDA and to to purchase it from Amazon.com. They were the only ones who have it in stock and it arrived at my door after only two days of placing the order.

Here's the kind of great things you can expect from a palm device.

I have owned a PalmPilot since May 1997 and have used it daily since then. It has 1 meg of memory, but oddly enough has never seemed to fill up. Currently it holds 270+ addresses, 600+ appointments, 200 e-mails, over 200 to-do items, and many shareware/freeware applications. The only reservatiton I've ever had about it was it's low screen contrast--sometimes I have difficulty reading the display in high-glare conditions such as indoors with bright reflected sunlight.

When I learned that the IIIxe had a new high-contrast screen, I went to a local store and test drove it. One of the employees let me take into a room with very bad light conditions. Wow, was I impressed! I could see the display **much** better. I did a side-by-side comparison and decided right then that I needed a new one. So I bought the IIIxe a week later.

Now for the technically cool part--I went home and synched my old PalmPilot with the desktop one last time to make sure my data was all secure. Then I put batteries in my new Palm IIIxe, put it in the docking cradle (the old one), and hit the synch button.

The PC software recognized my new Palm with no data and asked if I wanted to restore the old data from my hard drive. I answered "yes", and instantly all my data was pulled into the new Palm. It was flawless. Even the programs that were installed on my old device were carried over. How cool is that? Total time to get up-and-running with my new Palm: 60 seconds. Try *that* with any other organizer.

I eventually installed the new desktop software and am investigating AvantGo (free software kind of like PointCast for the Palm).

I'll let other reviewers tell you about the device itself...I just wanted to discuss my "upgrade" since you aren't as likely to hear that.