Why Is This Nut Reviewing Her SECOND Palm Device in Less Than a Year?
Written: May 08 '02
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: clearer display, small size, flip cover
Cons: display still not as bright as my iPAQ, rechargeable battery
The Bottom Line: The Palm m130 is a good choice for a mid-range Palm device; however, you might want to look at the Hanspring Prism as well.
|
|
|
| amykhar's Full Review: Palm m130 Personal Organizer |
Fate, and maybe a bit of impulsive stupidity, put my Palm m130 in my wallet. However it got there, I am glad it did. It is the perfect PDA for me. The m130 gives me the features that I need with a price that I can afford. No, it is not the best PDA that Palm makes. However, it is a solid PDA for the price.
A few months ago, I bought a Palm m125 and reviewed it for Epinions. I LOVED my m125. It was small, light, and easy to use. It had a protective flip cover, and it was finally getting me organized. Unfortunately, it didn’t get me organized enough and I lost it. When I discovered it missing and thought it was gone for good, I immediately ran out to buy myself another one. However, just a few days earlier, Palm had released the new m130 and m515. Therefore, Staples and Best Buy didn’t have any m125’s in stock. When I saw the new m130 I immediately fell in love. The m125 still had most of the best features of the m125, and one new feature – a well-lit color screen.
What Changed
The most noticeable change is the color screen. It is nowhere near as bright or as clear as my Compaq iPaq. However, it is a major improvement over the Palm m125. In typical indoor light, the screen is much easier to read. I also like having a color display. The grayscale Palms tend to look outdated when compared to the various Pocket PCs on the market. Color significantly updates the look of my Palm and increases it’s ability to compete with the flashier (and more expensive) Windows CE devices. I must note that the screen is still not readable in outdoor light. The backlight simply cannot stand up to sunlight. My iPaq does not have this problem. I can read its screen in the bright sun or in a totally dark room with no difficulty.
The other major change is that the m130 no longer uses AAA batteries. Instead, it has a rechargeable battery. I actually prefer using standard Alkaline batteries. My iPaq is incapacitated because I did not charge it, and the battery died. Replacing that battery will cost me at least $95. I suspect that the color screen draws more power than standard batteries could handle, thus the switch to a Lithium battery. I am not crazy about this change, but the better display makes me willing to accept it.
Finally, the Palm operating system on the m125 is version 4.0, but the m130 comes with version 4.1. I haven’t noticed any tangible differences between the two operating systems.
What Stayed the Same
The size and appearance of the m130 is the same as my beloved m125. It is small and fits comfortably in my hand and my pocket. Some Palm users prefer the larger screen size of the m500 series; however I am willing to sacrifice a bit of screen real estate in exchange for the significant savings. Perhaps if I had owned another Palm model first, I would miss the larger screen.
In addition, the m130 still sports a protective flip-cover. I love this little cover because it means I can feel comfortable sliding my Palm into my pocket without worrying about a case. The cover has a tiny window that allows me to view the date and time by pressing a single button.
Unlike the higher end m500 series, the m130 (and m125) do not have flash loadable ROM. This means that users are unable to upgrade the operating system on the unit, and unable to load some programs into ROM. True Palm fans would probably find this unacceptable. I look at the bright side, and see it as an excuse to buy a new PDA a couple of years from now when I am bored with this version of the Palm operating system.
The m130 DOES share two features of the higher end Palms. It has both the universal connector and the memory expansion slot. These two features are the reason that I bought the m125 (and later the m130) instead of the less expensive m101. The universal connector enables me to use some of the keyboards and other expansion devices that are designed for the m500 line. Unfortunately, the shape of the m500 series is different; therefore not all expansion devices fit correctly. The memory expansion slot accepts secure digital and multimedia memory cards. Memory expansion means that I can store as many ebooks, documents, and programs as I want (within the limits of my budget for expansion cards, of course).
Upgrade?
If I hadn’t lost my m125, I probably could not have justified upgrading to the m130. The improvement in the display is significant, but until it overcomes its issues with sunlight, it’s probably not worth upgrading for. Now, if I were using a m100 or any earlier model, I would definitely consider upgrading. The expansion slots, universal connector and color display are well worth the cost of upgrading.
The m130 costs slightly less than Handspring’s Prism, but the Prism screen size is comparable to the m500 series. If a larger screen appeals to you, you won’t mind the extra $20. Sony’s color PDA offering is about $100 more expensive than the m130, but it is also designed to compete with the m500 line. Personally, the look and feel of the m130 appealed to me more than the Handspring. However, that is something you will probably need to judge for yourself. I strongly advise looking at a PDA at a local retailer before making the purchase plunge. A PDA needs to feel right in your hand or you won’t use it, no matter how many features it has.
Recommendations
I think the Palm m130 is an ideal first Palm for somebody who is venturing into the handheld world. The price and features are a good compromise. Normally, I like to have the best gadget that money can buy, but in this case I think the m130 gives me more value for my money than the higher priced m515. If pressed, I might look a bit closer at Handspring next time I purchase a PDA though. Their mid-price range PDA offers features comparable to Palm’s higher end model.
Small Confession
Shortly after I purchased my m130, I found my m125. I was well within the time period to return the m130 to the store, but I didn’t do it. The better display of the m130 was just too hard to give up. I am sending my m125 to an Epinions friend in Canada (if I can ever remember to mail the box), and hopefully she will write her own Palm review in time.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 279
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
amykhar
|
 - Top 500 |
|
Member: Amy
Location: USA
Reviews written: 320
Trusted by: 480 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.