Old Clunker, but still worth a look.
Written: Mar 25 '01 (Updated Mar 25 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Expandability, good software support.
Cons: not as fast or sleek as newer comparatively priced models.
The Bottom Line: Yes, very old and slow, but for most needs, still more than adequate. A veteran of expansion and still in the forefront.
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| coffeeaddict's Full Review: HandEra TRG Pro |
In light of the recent announcements by Palm and Handspring about their new handhelds, the Edge and M50X series respectively, the TRGPro still has a lot going for it. The TRGPro is geared towards individuals who want to use their handhelds for business purposes and don’t care much for the frills of games and such. Given that there is a lot of information to be found about this handheld, I will concentrate mainly on comparing them with the new handhelds on the market and point out why this handheld is still worth a look.
Specs and Comparisons
First, let’s take a look at the specifications of the TRGPro.
Size and Weight
In terms of size, the TRGPro measures 4.7 X 3.2 X 0.8 inches which is about the same size as the Palm III series, but with a little more depth due to the addition of the compact flash expansion slot. It weighs about 6.0 ounces including batteries, which is about 40% heavier than the lightest handhelds out now, but still fairly light.
Display
The screen resolution is 160X160 with 16 levels of gray. Current screens now are all this resolution except for the new Sony Clie 700 series, which is only available in Japan so will not be considered further. It is important to note that all the software available now is not optimized for any greater resolution, so it does not matter all that much. Given that this system is also monochrome, this product will certainly not be used for pictures and therefore does not need the added resolution.
Onboard Memory & Operating System
The handheld comes with 8MB EDO DRAM which has become standard in today’s handhelds. It comes with 2MB of flash memory which houses the palm operating system (3.5.1). One interesting feature of this handheld is that it also comes with an application known as flashpro which allows you to use the 2MB flash memory for applications. It is important to note here that the new palm m50X series has 4MB flash ram and comes with the new 4.0 operating system. The difference between the two is not of any importance as the newer operating system adds color functionality and compatibility to the new SD memory system on the new handhelds.
CPU
The processor is a Motorola DragonBall-EZ running at 16MHz. Given, that this is much slower than even some of the second line handhelds out now, the speed is adequate for most needs. Furthermore, it’s possible to overclock the processor using programs such as afterburner so that processor intensive programs such as Avantgo and games will run faster. Personally, I’ve overclocked my handheld to 26MHz with no problems thus far.
Sound
TRG has improved the sound system of the palm and added a speaker which makes the system more audible.
Compact Flash Expansion
This is probably the one reason why TRG is such a good system given all its drawbacks in terms of size. The handheld comes with a port in the back for addition of what are called compact flash memory modules. This allows for addition of memory to the system. Like all the handhelds now, applications can’t be run directly from the memory (though there is speculation that the new Palm OS 4.0 has that capability with the SD expansion). TRG takes that into account by adding a program called autoCF which seamlessly transfers the program you want to run to RAM. The advantage of this type of memory is that it is more abundant and cheaper than any of the other competing types at this time. Sony has their memory stick, Palm with their new SD memory (Panasonic/Toshiba) and Handspring with their springboard modules. Another thing to note is that the TRGPro has been out for over a year now and a lot of software developers have written their software to be used directly from the compact flash module. Also noteworthy is that the IBM 1GB microdrive can also be used with this system (though one wonders how anyone can use 1GB).
Final Thoughts
Though all the newer handhelds out on the market now are certainly sexier and sleeker looking, the TRGPro still has a lot going for it. The company has a long history for working on third party applications to make accessory memory access easier as well as a good support staff. As an aside, the company will be changing its name to handera and have already registered the domain name handera.com.. maybe we can expect a new system out soon?
I must admit, seeing all the newer handhelds out now with the color screens and jog dials are surely tempting. The reason to stick with TRG is still its infinite expansion capabilities with a good software background. If you are in the market for a new handheld within the year, the TRGPro, though old, should still be on your list.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 300
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Epinions.com ID:
coffeeaddict
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Location: New York, NY
Reviews written: 18
Trusted by: 31 members
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