The first time I saw a Palm device in action was last year when a good friend of mine was using his to record an address. Three thoughts went through my mind in quick succession:

"Oh horrors! Another piece of over-complicated technology!"

"I'll never be able to figure out something like this"

"He must have money to burn"

After spending just 5 minutes with my new Palm m100 (birthday gift from my hubby - Thanks, Sweetie), I quickly changed my mind about each of my previous assumptions (well, at least the first two).


So What Convinced Me to Ask for a Palm m100?

Well, truthfully, my trusted Epinions colleague SteveR1960 wrote a review about it that piqued my interest. However, the clincher for me was a short article by Philip Michaels in the October 2000 issue of MacWorld ("Mom Knows Best: Palm Pilot m100") where he describes his non-technical Mom's reaction to the Palm m100. It's a cute and persuasive article - check it out:

http://macworld.zdnet.com/2000/10/buzz/mom.html

The gist of the article is that the Palm m100 was the Palm for the average person. That's me.


The Debut….(drum roll, please)

When the package came in the mail (free overnight shipping from Outpost.com) I didn't even open it for 12 hours because I was so nervous about proving, once again, that I'm an idiot when it comes to technology. Finally I opened it up, inserted the two AAA batteries (included) and….WOW, the screen lit up with a friendly welcoming message and an offer to walk me through the setup of the Palm.

I went through the setup tutorial (set the date and time) and then the tutorials on basic operations and skills.

Hey, this isn't hard at all! In fact, it's EASY!

I found the directions very simple to follow. Once the tutorials were over and I was on my own, I poked around (literally) and tried different things. The whole process seemed quite intuitive to me. Never once did the Palm blow up in my face (common unconscious fear of most techno-idiots). I consulted the manual a couple of times for minor clarifications but most of what I learned I figured out on my own through a little exploration. On my own….imagine that!


How Do I Get Information From My Brain to The Palm m100?

This is such an advanced piece of technology that it reads my mind and I don't have to do anything.

OK, so that's just a fantasy of mine. Actually, I do have several options for entering data into the Palm m100.

~ On-screen keyboards: Once you are in an application, you'll see a tiny "abc" in the bottom left corner of the screen and a "123" in the corresponding right corner. Tap one of these with your plastic stylus and a keyboard appears that you can use to type the information, again using the stylus. This process works fine but tends to be a bit slow, in my experience.

~ Graffiti writing: You can actually write in the designated writing area using characters that resemble uppercase letters that can be formed with a single stroke. I found the numbers quite easy to learn but the letters were tricky at first. One fun way to brush up on your graffiti skills is to play the game "Giraffe" which is included in the software. In this game, characters move from the top of the screen to the bottom and you are supposed to write that character before it "crashes" at the bottom. After playing this for 1/2 hour one evening, I was pretty good at graffiti writing.

~ Use your own handwriting: You can write short, quick notes in your own handwriting using Note Pad (described below).

~ Palm Desktop software: The Palm m100 comes with a CD for your Mac or PC that includes a host of software. You can use this software to enter data on you computer (definitely the most comfortable way to go) and then transfer the data to your Palm using a HotSync operation (described below). I entered most of my data this way. You also have the option of buying a portable external keyboard for $99 if you need to enter a lot of data and aren't going to be near a computer.


So What Does This Thingamajig Do Anyway?

For being the simplest of all the Palms, the Palm m100 does plenty:

~ Address book: Allows you to keep the addresses, phone numbers, email address, and other pertinent information for your friends, family, coworkers, etc. You can code the address by category and call up just the addresses for one group, like your family. No need for the Rolodex now….

~ Date book: This is a calendar that lets you quickly and easily schedule appointments, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. I can create repeating appointments (like my classes and office hours) so that I only need to type them in once for the whole quarter. You can choose whether or not to have an alarm alert you to an appointment. I personally detest alarms so I haven't used this yet but it looks like it's easy to figure out if I ever change my mind. It also gives you the option of getting a reminder of an upcoming event. The next time I used my Palm after entering my calendar data, my sister's anniversary reminder popped up first thing. Cool! Happy anniversary, Kris and Rick! No need for my bulky weekly planner….

~ To Do List: This allows you to jot down reminders of things you need to do and allows you to prioritize them. You even get to check them off when done (my favorite part)! Typically, I would keep 4 or 5 "To Do" lists which would be scattered between work and home and quickly buried under piles of papers and mail, not to reemerge until days or weeks later. Now all of the lists are in one place and it never gets buried. No need for all those note pads….

~ Memo Pad: This feature allows you to record information that doesn’t fit under the previous categories. You can use it for anything you want, though I generally use it for taking notes during a meeting. Each memo can hold up to 4,000 characters and you can save as many memos as your available memory allows. Bound to be more than MY memory holds….

~ Note Pad: This feature allows you to take notes directly on the screen using your own handwriting or, in my case, chicken scratch. It's not pretty (at least in my case) but it is extremely fast and convenient. I go through my note pad later and transfer the information in tidier form to the correct category (usually the "To Do" list).

Other handy features that come with the Palm m100 include a clock with time and date (which you can conveniently view through the window on the flip cover), a calculator, and a variety of mindless games. The nice thing about these games is that you can sit in a boring meeting and look like you are taking notes when in fact you are doing a puzzle or playing "SubHunt." You just have to make sure that you don't make too many sudden movements or cheer when you win. Not that I would know anything about this….


Hey Doofus….You Have Been Blabbing Forever and Haven't Even Told Us About the Device Itself!

Oh yeah. Well, I've never had another Palm, so I don't know exactly how it compares sizewise, though it's my understanding that this is considerably smaller and lighter than the others. However, it also has the smallest screen of any of the Palms which could be a difficult adjustment for someone used to the larger screen. Since this is my first Palm, I don't really have a problem with the screen size. The shape is curvier, too, which I suppose makes it more attractive than its straight-angled and straight-laced Palm siblings. This Palm fits nicely in my coat pocket (and my palm!) but is a little bulky for the back pocket of my jeans. Mostly I just carry it in my hand.

The Palm m100 has four quick application buttons on the bottom and two directional buttons for scrolling (and other tasks I've yet to explore). Only six buttons in all - not too intimidating. The screen is divided into a viewing area at the top and a writing area at the bottom. At the top is an "Power/Backlight" button (OK, that makes seven) and in the back right corner is a slot that holds the plastic stylus. The Palm m100 comes in a hard plastic case with a flip top. It comes with 2 MB of memory - plenty for my needs. Buyers should be aware, though, that the operating system (OS) cannot be updated on this Palm.


Hey Baby….Wanna HotSync Me?

It makes me blush just saying this word! OK, this is one of the coolest features of the Palm m100. After inputting data on either your desktop computer or Palm or both, you can connect them together with the HotSync cable, push a button on the cable and in a mere few seconds, the data is synchronized between the two devices. Remember, I am a techno-idiot, so I've never seen this happen before. In my experience with computers, when you transfer data from one to another, you generally write over and replace the similar file in the other unit. Not so with the HotSync. It just updates each device with data entered into the other one.

I did have a little problem getting going with the HotSync because the cable does not fit a USB port (home computer) or a Macintosh serial port (work computer). Therefore, I had to purchase a PalmConnect USB Kit for $39.99. I also bought a Macintosh Serial Adapter ($12.99) for my computer at work. Hmm….now my $149 Palm costs $202 (just added this up on my Palm - cool!). If that wasn't enough, I had to unplug my scanner to plug in my HotSync cable so then I went out and bought an ADS USB Ultra Hub 4 ($39.99). Now I'm out $242. This is more than I expected to pay but it hasn't diminished my enthusiasm for this Palm one iota.

Beam Me Up, Scotty

As with most of the Palms on the market, if you put your Palm m100 in close proximity (4 to 39 inches) to another Palm, you can beam information from one to another, like your business card. Is this space age or what? The idea first made me a little uncomfortable, like maybe I should find a condom for my Palm before I start "intermingling" with other Palms in this intimate fashion. However, I soon lost my inhibitions.

One of my colleagues spotted my new Palm and commented on it. She brought out her Palm to compare it. Then one by one, four more of my coworkers stopped by, each producing THEIR Palms. Hey! I didn't even know any of these people owned Palms, let alone ALL of them! It turns out all but one of us were "virgins" when it comes to "beaming." The experienced coworker in the crowd then initiated us by sending us each a message. It was amazingly easy! Soon were all beaming each other and laughing while the students were walking by, shaking their heads at all these goofy professors. Probably thought we were senile or on drugs. The whole experience was rather bizarre, but very fun and informative. Now I "beam" with the best!


Anything That I DON'T Like About the Palm m100?

Not much. My complaints are minor compared to my praises. However, since you asked….

~ Glare/backlight: The screen is remarkably easy to see, considering how small it is. However, I do need to be careful about glare off the screen. I find myself shifting around and holding it at different angles to decrease this problem. The "backlight" option for use in low light situations takes some getting used to, also. The screen becomes a bright green that appears rather strange and "alien" to me. I'm sure I'll adapt with time.

~ Accessing the stylus: I've found that I can't just "whip it out" when I'm searching for the stylus on the back of the Palm. It takes a little fumbling around.

~ Hard plastic cover: One of my kids knocked my Palm off the table and the flip cover on the case popped off. Try as I may, I could not get it back on again. I have fairly bad arthritis in my left hand which probably interfered with my success. However, I've heard that this has been a problem for others, as well. I took the recommendation of my friend, SteveR1960, and replaced the flip cover with the Palm m100 Slim Leather Case ($24.99). Now I'm up to $267.

Would I Recommend the Palm m100?

Absolutely! Despite that fact that it has cost me more over $100 more than I anticipated, I am completely and totally infatuated with this Palm. I take it everywhere I go and I actually use it! I've even found myself fondling it while lecturing to my classes. I have to honestly say that I haven't been so enamored with a purchase of any sort in a long, long time as I have with my Palm m100. It's so incredibly fun I wonder if it should be illegal. Seriously, though, this is a terrific device that has helped me bring order to my chaotic existence. And it's not hard to learn….take it from a technological dunce.

I guess the only real downfall of my Palm m100 gift is that now my poor husband is feeling neglected and jealous. Last night in bed I was playing "Giraffe" on my beloved Palm and he finally tapped my shoulder and said "If you like that "Palm Pilot" I have an even better "Palm Pilot" right here that you can put in your hand." I wised up fast and shut the case.




Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 149