PalmOne m505 Color Handheld

Other products by Palm

Product Details

Product Manual [2.67mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 3.1 x 0.5 inches ; 5 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005AWCL
• Item model number: 3C80801U
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (228 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #23,769 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 15, 2001

Product Description

Amazon.com Review
Palm's simple yet elegant operating system has long been a shining light in the world of PDAs. The good news on the Palm m505 is that the Palm OS still offers a wide array of tools to gather your personal and business data in a great computing environment. Unfortunately, the most touted aspect of the Palm m505--its color screen--is a disappointment.

Turning it on for the first time, we wondered if we had received the monochrome version Palm m500 handheld--the screen was dark and barely visible in our moderately lit office. We fumbled around for the contrast preference, but couldn't find it. In fact, the Palm m505 has no way to adjust contrast other than to turn on the backlight. Only with the backlight activated could we actually discern the icon and screen colors, and even then the LCD screen seemed muted.

On side-by-side tests with the Handspring Visor Prism, its main color competition, the Palm m505 was lacking in brightness and crispness--despite both handhelds' having 16-bit display support that can show up to 65,000 colors.

The reason for this seems to be that Palm has sacrificed brilliance for energy efficiency. The Palm m505's rechargeable battery does, indeed, keep its charge with "normal" usage (estimated by Palm at 40 minutes per day) for about three weeks. However, with the mandatory use of the m505's backlight, we found the battery needed more frequent charging. Luckily, charge time in the included HotSync cradle/recharger is quite short.

The basic Palm applications in OS version 4.0--Address, Date Book, Memo Pad, and To Do List--remain largely unchanged, with a few tweaks here and there. For instance, the Date Book application now includes a screen view with a list of the appointments and to-do items for a particular date. And like the m100 series, the Note Pad has been added for doodling and scribbling handwritten notes (instead of writing longer tomes in the Memo Pad using the Palm's Graffiti alphabet).

Palm has collected a number of bonus software titles that you can easily add to the m505 without denting much of the 8 MB of memory, including AvantGo, which downloads Web news and content from a variety of sources (enabling us to keep up with Aussie Rules Football scores). The biggest test for the color screen came with PhotoSuite, an image viewing app that displays a range of image-file formats downloaded from your PC. We found the color depth to be quite good, but the screen's lack of brightness made the images look rather muddy.

Additionally, several connectivity applications from Palm's Mobile Internet Kit are provided, including the Web Clipping app for viewing Web content built specifically for Palm viewing and MultiMail SE for accessing e-mail. And, of course, there's the highly touted expansion slot for SecureDigital cards and MultiMediaCards, allowing you to add memory, content, and functionality. Unfortunately, at the time of this review, we were unable to test any of the cards offered by Palm.

With its curved angles, thin design, and light weight, the Palm m505 closely resembles its predecessor, the Palm V series handheld. And like that model, the m505 feels very comfortable both in the palm of your hand and resting in your pocket. Also, with the Palm m505's new 33 MHz Dragonball VZ processor, switching applications seemed much more immediate.

The siren song of the new m500 series is indeed seductive, and Palm has done well to streamline its basic repertoire and add some tasty new notes to the mix. However, the Palm m505 is ultimately a disappointment due to its underwhelming color display. If you're having trouble getting this song out of your head, the Palm m500 handheld (with all the functions of the Palm m505 but with a monochrome screen) should keep your toes tapping just fine. --Agen G.N. Schmitz

Pros:

• Faster processor
• Classic Palm styling--contoured design is comfortable to hold
• Good range of additional software, from Internet connectivity to e-book reader
• New expansion slot takes industry standard SecureDigital cards and MultiMediaCards

Cons:

• Color screen is rather dim and ultimately disappointing
• Backlighting must be turned on to see the color screen, wearing down the rechargeable battery
• Expandability via SecureDigital and MMC cards limited by current offerings

Product Description
Welcome to the world of possibilities. The expandable, Internet-capable Palm m505 handheld can be easily customized to grow along with your needs. An innovative expansion slot makes it simple to increase memory, back up data, and add new applications without sacrificing memory space. Use the Palm Universal Connector to add a portable keyboard, camera, or wireless modem. And 65,000-color support displays your information in vibrant color on a high-contrast screen.With an elegant design based on the award-winning Palm V handheld, the Palm m505 handheld packs a lot of power into its compact package. It includes new mobile connectivity software that lets you access the Internet and send e-mail through a modem or data-enabled cell phone. And bundled productivity and business software helps you keep important information at your fingertips when you're on the go.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Read this if you have questions about the display!, August 8, 2001

By	Alan S. Golub (Totowa, New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Much has been written about the poor display on the m505. As the owner of a Cassiopeia E-125, and a former owner of both a Palm IIIc and the Handspring Visor Prism, I think I can help make sense of it all. For ease of reference, here they are in the order of brightness of the display:

1. Visor Prism -- Absolutely the brightest Palm display out there, including the new Clie n710 and 610 models from Sony. It's active-matrix back-lit display is bright and text is very readable. The expandable modules are a great idea, but I never took advantage of any of them. My only complaint about the Prism is that is was just too darn big and heavy. It's a bit boxy, and just felt like a weight when carried in a shirt pocket. In sum, awesome screen, but mediocre form factor still makes this a winner.

2. E-125 -- If you're in the market for a PocketPC, I think this is the way to go. The screen is gorgeous, and Microsoft's clear type font technology is really something. The display has more colors, and is larger than Palm displays, allowing you to really spend some quality time reading books or playing games. The new Windows Media Player 7.1 is also a vast improvement over former versions, and transferring audio files to the unit is a snap. Sound quality is very good, too. I personally prefer the Palm OS -- from running apps to hot-syncing, it's so much simpler and faster. Plus, the PocketPC platform is not nearly as stable in my experience. Programs tend to crash far too frequently, usually taking the entire OS down with it. It's also very easy to have too many apps running at once (not all of them have File/Exit menus), leading to a crash when you run out of memory. Finally, although the units do a whole lot more than the Palms, they are also much bigger -- no fun at all to carry in a pocket.

In short, if you are really intrigued by the PocketPC -- hey, different strokes. But if you're a Palm user and happy with the platform, there really isn't a reason to switch, unless multimedia is essential ....

3. Palm IIIc -- not as many out there as there used to be, but still worth a look if you can find one. Zippy and attractive, this unit is relatively bright and clear, but not nearly as bright as the Prism. One thing the IIIc and the Prism have that the m505 does not is a brightness control (hold down the power button and the brightness meter appears, giving you control over whether to save power or let it shine). But it comes standard with a serial cradle (ugh!) meaning you'll have to pay extra for a USB cradle, and it's a bit boxy and has a plastic feel to it for my taste. The model has also been discontinued, raising questions about investing in old Palm technology.

4. Palm m505 -- First, I must address the rumors that units manufactured outside the U.S. (i.e., in Hungary) are not as bright as the U.S. models. I've seen both U.S. and Hungary models, and there is no difference in the brightness of the display. Check out the m505 FAQs at Palm's web site, where they address this by stating that the rumors are false, and that identical components are used regardless of where manufactured.

Next, it's true, this display is the worst of the four units discussed here. But if you consider this model as an m500 (the monochrome version) with color, you won't be disappointed. Side by side, the m505 is much easier to read from all different angles than is the m500. And the color really does enhance the user experience, especially when the unit comes with a terrific app like MGI's mobile photo suite. Who wants to see digital pix on a grey-scale Palm? For the extra $... that Palm charges for a color display, it's just a no-brainer. Color is worth it! I also found that after a few days using this model, my eyes adjusted to the screen, and it was a pleasure to use. Still, Palm might have found a better balance between power conservation and the birghtness on this display -- they erred on the side of conservation, which, based on the reviews right here on Amazon, wasn't the way to go to satisfy most users.

Notwithstanding the slightly disappointing screen, the m505 is my choice for daily use. For one, it ships with v.4 of the Palm OS and Desktop for Windows, as well as numerous other bonus apps (Palm Reader, AOL for Palm, and Documents to Go v. 3, to name a few). It also comes standard with a USB cradle, and is both PC and Mac compatible (as are Visors, but not PocketPCs or the Sony Clie, which are PC only).

The m505 also offers the SDD/MMC slot for memory and software cards, and neat innovation that works like a charm (my m505 came with the GamesPack card).

Finally, the m505 carries on the legendary form factor of the V/Vx models, which ultimately makes this the best PDA for me. Even with the optional Palm slim leather m505 case, the entire thing fits in my shirt pocket with room to spare. It's tiny and attractive, and every button has wonderful, snappy tactile response. The thing just feels great in your hand, and the craftsmanship really shows.

The bottom line -- you've really got to go out to a retailer and compare these babies side by side. This model won't be for everyone, especially folks who want to read novels or write lengthy documents directly on their Palm device. For everyday contact and schedule info, and occasional reading and writing, the m505 is a definite winner in my book. A slightly brighter screen would make it perfect and worthy of 5 stars!

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Full system backup in your wallet!, August 23, 2001

By	Paul G. Campbell (Detroit, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews

It took me a few days to get used to the different screen technology, as I upgraded from the IIIc (you know, the one so bright you can signal aircraft with it). You just have to get accustomed to the silver background instead of white, which is why it looks milky white with the frontlight turned on.

However, I'm facinated in that the screen is clear and readable no matter what the lighting situation may be. When walking down a corridor or past windows, you never 'lose' the image like I did on my former greyscale and color devices. There was also no hint of streaking or banding.

Enough about the screen. The reason I bought it was because of the expansion. I can now travel with EVERY application I need, including my spreadsheets, relational databases, ebooks, and mapping software. I could only fill it up by loading multimedia clips and movie trailers. When it comes to making sure your data is safe, I can now carry a full system backup in my wallet. You insert the backup card in your Palm and two buttons pop up on the screen; Backup and Restore. Forget the manual! I should probably mention that you can put more than just Palm files on the card. Just drop any file into the Palm installer, send it to the card, and you have it with you. An extra trick when you get to that out of town meeting? Click on that special file and email your materials as attachments using McFile.

I don't really have to mention size, you can slip it in your pocket without looking like you are stealing bricks for your diveway. Even though it is more solid than other handhelds I've owned (this is my 5th), I find myself being more careful due to it's size.

One thing I was not expecting was the extra speed. If you don't know anyone with a Pocket PC (I have friends and coworkers with them), then go down to a local store and try out a Pocket PC with the 505 by it's side. You will be surprised by how sluggish most of them seem. I had to use a utility to slow the Palm down to get the responsiveness of the PPC's (HP Jordana was used in actual testing). Taking that same utility, you can crank the speed up to 50Mhz, which is the equivalent of above 300Mhz on a Pocket PC, and really watch it fly. Watch the battery though... you don't get as good mileage with your foot on the floor like that.

Hotsyncing was also drastically different. A normal hotsync take 12 seconds. Sometimes I do it twice because I did not see the first one, even though it says it did. A full reload from the desktop computer used to take me about 55 minutes. A reload to the M505 takes 9 minutes, including backup and verification.

On the downside, the battery life is not as good as the IIIc, which had a huge battery. Size does have it's tradeoffs, and Palm would have had to give up the expansion slot or vibrating alert to get more battery in there. Most users can expect about 2 weeks of use from a single charge, if they they don't watch too much video. But I should also mention that this is a concern only if you hotsync once every two weeks. The M505 soaks up a charge faster than any device I've known. In testing, it went from a 10% battery level to 53% in two minutes. Given time to stabilize, the voltage level evened out at 48%, so I imagine you would have to purposely avoid the cradle in order for the thing to even get low in the first place. If you do kill the battery by ignoring the many warnings which begin at 10%, it will not turn on. This is to protect your data, which will be safe for another week... but THAT'S something I'm not going to test!

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good product, but don't get too enthused over the color....., January 23, 2002

By	M. Broderick "mikebinok" (Oklahoma City, OK USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is my third Palm, so I am obviously sold on the usefulness of the little machines! If you are a busy person--not necessarily a BUSINESS person, but a person who has a busy life, and has to remember lots of information, keep lots of appointments, etc., I believe you will fall in love with these devices if you try them. I use mine for the traditional purposes of keeping track of appointments and recording phone numbers, but also to put reminders to myself in the future, such as "rebalanace mutual funds in IRA" twice a year. I also use this as a memory bank for odd little bits of information I may find useful, by recording the information in a note, along with several key words I will think of when I want to remember the specifics months later. I search for the keywords, and there is the note, displayed so I can see it.
As to the specifics of this particular Palm, the two main advantages it has over the Palm V series are color, and the ability to use memory cards that can be inserted into the device. Bluntly, I am unimpressed with the color. You can use Palm m505 to display color photographs, but the display is not bright enough or large enough for this to be a good way to show off your pictures. I have hopes that the color will be useful when I acquire mapping software later, but I haven't done that yet.
So far I haven't used the memory cards as anything but an expanded memory, but Palm and other providers are already offering memory cards with all sorts of programming included--Huge databases of tourist information on cities, maps, game programs, and all sorts of things. It looks like this will be good, if your needs extend to that.
I highly recommend this product if you are buying your first PDA, or if you have a very old one (Palm III or something) you want to upgrade. If you have a Palm V or Palm Vx, I'd suggest waiting to upgrade unless you have a burning need for the memory cards.