Palm Vx Review (CNET):
Article Summary: Recommended and an 8 out of 10.Palm Vx
CNET Review
By E. W. Johnson
(01/11/00)
URL: computers.cnet.com
Rating: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 best
The good: Most RAM in a Palm organizer; svelte design.
The bad: Expensive.
The bottom line: This is the sleekest, most powerful Palm organizer yet.
3Com's new Palm Vx looks and feels identical to its predecessor, the Palm V. But the Palm Vx comes packed with an unprecedented 8MB of RAM for storage--that's a whopping 6MB more than the Palm V. As if that's not enough, the Palm Vx also comes with the latest version of the Palm OS, which offers significant performance and functionality improvements. If you can afford it, we think this organizer is well worth the extra money.
Increased RAM Equals More Information
Like the Palm V, the 5.1-ounce Palm Vx is smaller and sleeker than the Palm III series models. The Palm Vx has all of the same features and functionality of the Palm V, including four programmable application buttons, a backlit display, an infrared port, and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The included docking cradle serves as both a battery charger and a conduit for synchronizing with a PC.
The major improvement over the Palm V is the jump in RAM from 2MB to 8MB. The $449 Palm Vx currently has the most RAM of any Palm organizer, surpassing the Palm IIIx by 4MB but tying with the popular Handspring Visor Deluxe. Although the 2MB of the original Palm V is sufficient for casual users, the Palm Vx's extra storage offers users the freedom to download third-party applications with reckless abandon, while leaving plenty of room for important contact information. According to 3Com, the Palm Vx can store approximately 10,000 addresses; 3,000 appointments; 3,000 to-do items; 3,000 memos; and 400 emails.
Faster Data Transfer
3Com added something else to make downloading easier: the latest update of the Palm OS, version 3.3. The major improvements in this iteration are faster data transfer via the docking station and expanded infrared functionality. The new OS enables the docking station to connect with a PC at 115,200 bps, making synchronization that much faster than the previous version's max of 57,600 bps. 3Com also chose to embrace fully infrared communication with new support for the IrDA's IrCOMM standard. This means that the Palm Vx can communicate wirelessly with any other IrCOMM-compatible devices, including notebook computers and cell phones.
The Palm Vx provides the usability and style that we liked in the Palm V, in addition to the storage capacity that we thought the older model lacked. The Palm IIIx may still be the best bargain in Palm organizers, but for power users who want the sleekest device, this is the Palm organizer to get.
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Quick Facts
Form factor: pad
Installed operating system: Palm OS 3.3
Built-in OS compatibility: Windows 95/98/NT, Mac OS8
Amt. of RAM: 8MB
Input method: pen
Software included: HotSync |
