 The Palm IIIx carries
on the tradition of the attractive and popular Palm line of PDAs.
With its 4MB memory, this connected organizer is rated to hold
12,000 addresses, 5 years of appointments, 3,000 to-do items,
3,000 memos, and 400 e-mail messages. The "x" in IIIx
stands for expandable, and the Palm IIIx offers memory expansion
with an internal slot for upgrade cards.
Setting up the Palm IIIx was easy--we just inserted two
batteries, connected the cradle to a desktop PC serial port,
dropped in the software CD-ROM, and followed the installation
wizard.
You can navigate through the Palm IIIx's main applications--memo
pad, to-do list, address book, and calendar--with six push
buttons or by tapping the stylus on the backlit display. Palm OS
3.1 facilitates drag-and-drop linking to Microsoft Word or Excel
and provides network synchronization and automatic configuration
with Microsoft Outlook. The CD-ROM that comes with the Palm IIIx
provides all the necessary software to manage tasks on your
desktop, too.
The Palm IIIx is PC- and Mac-compatible (an inexpensive MacPac
connection kit is required for Mac users), and, as with the
PalmPilot Professional, the Palm IIIx uses the
industry-acclaimed HotSync technology to exchange data with your
desktop PC. The documentation is extensive and well written; it
includes a Getting Started card, a handbook, a
software-and-resource guide, and an accessory catalog.
In our test of the Graffiti Power Writing feature, which allows
you to write on the Palm IIIx using Graffiti's shorthand
alphabet, the Palm IIIx interpreted a full paragraph with no
errors. We easily and successfully transmitted the text to
another device through the infrared transceiver. We found Palm
IIIx's expansion slot beneath its cover. While memory upgrade
cards are not yet available from 3Com, other manufacturers do
make compatible cards.
With its increased memory and OS 3.1, the Palm IIIx is a great
evolutionary step in the Palm line.
Pros:
-
Expandable
for possible add-on hardware and memory upgrade cards
-
Easy
to set up, learn, and use
-
Widely
supported by third-party software, shareware, and freeware
Cons:
Features:
-
Enhanced
LCD screen for improved viewing at angles and in both dim
and bright light
-
4
MB storage capacity
-
Infrared
transceiver
-
Graffiti
handwriting recognition
-
Open
expansion slot for possible add-on hardware and memory
upgrade cards
Technical
data:
-
Size:
4.7 by 3.2 by 0.7
-
Weight:
6 ounces
-
CPU:
Motorola DragonBall EZ, 16 MHz
-
Power:
2 AAA batteries (included)
-
Battery
life: 8 to 12 weeks
-
Display:
Enhanced LCD for improved viewing
at angles and in various light conditions
-
Connectivity:
Serial port for HotSync cradle;
infrared transceiver for other compatible devices; and
TCP/IP software for connecting to the Internet
-
Flash
memory: Supported
-
Warranty:
1 year
-
Hardware:
HotSync cradle with serial cable;
9-to-25 pin serial (DB-25) adapter; and protective cover
-
Software:
Palm IIIx Organizer applications
(date book, address book, mail, to-do list, memo pad,
expense calculator, games, and more); PC Desktop
applications plus Microsoft Outlook conduit, Excel 5.0
expense report templates, and support for drag-and-drop
links to Microsoft Word and Excel; Palm OS 3.1; and
bonus-pack software
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