Palm Zire: Palm Inc.'s innovation (or the lack thereof)
Written: Oct 11 '02 (Updated Jan 15 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: cheap, long battery life, lithium rechargable battery
Cons: pretty much everything else
The Bottom Line: The only argument saving it from 1 star is the price. Otherwise it's a lame excuse for old technology and the lack of innovation.
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| theuerkorn's Full Review: Palm Zire Handheld |
Palm Inc. pioneered the whole handheld genre and thanks to Palm it pretty much is what it is today. (I am taking exception at Apple's Newton which was ahead of it's time anyway. And nevermind that back then it was 3Com.) However, talk about a good thing going wrong, and here is why ...
In times when the PocketPC is knocking on PalmOS' door claiming market share, it is mostly thanks to Handspring and Sony that it has not been that successful to take over. (and the sticker price on most PocketPCs) Otherwise PDAs like the Zire would be another nail in the coffin for Palm.
Palm Zire: Entry level PDA
This latest PDA from the mother company of them all, is geared towards the low-end (very low) - apparently to get more new customers, who are shy to spend more than 100 bucks on such 'essential' gadget as a PDA. The features are in line with this approach. However, one could argue if the true motivation behind the Zire might have been a full warehouse with old components that needed to be disposed of somehow.
The screen is old fare with 160x160 b/w LCD and surprises due to the lack of back lighting. How useful is that in real life? I wonder since I am using mine most of the time (Sony Clie). In short, the screen is a major step-back and not worth more words.
The memory is another short-coming of the unit. With an industry standard of about 8 MBytes (top end usually ships with 16MByte these days), Palm seriously dared to roll out another 2MByte unit. From today's perspective that should be enough for the bare minimum, but one can expect to wish for more very (!!!) soon.
The processor is just as 'lacking' with 16MHz, while most units today are 32 or more. It will do okay though with the included standard applications (datebook, address book, ToDo, notes), and still in line with some low-end units on the market.
The PalmOS v4.1 is in line with the available hardware, but totally surprising at the brink of the PalmOS v5.0 rollout. In fact, even most advantages of 4.1 over older versions are idle in this unit anyway due to lack of resources (networking, expansions, internet etc.).
The size of this minimalistic PDA is, on the other hand, average and compared to the functionality somewhat big. Especially the unsightly big frame makes for a chunky look of the Zire. Despite it's average 4.4 x 2.9 x 0.6 inches, the weight of 3.8 oz. is not suitable for such a stripped down model either, and pretty much just suggests old components. Having said that it still is more compact than most Handspring units or Sony's upscale models.
For more details (if still interested) ...
http://www.palm.com/products/handhelds/zire/details.html
What's wrong with it?
Well, some may like the design and others the price which fits the budget. These are the only arguments I could come up with that may hint a recommendation.
Everything else is simply a waste.
Look out there. For instance a Sony Clie SL10 gives you a hires-screen (320x320), backlight, (slightly) smaller housing, more RAM (8MByte), faster processor 32MHz, in a slicker package. And prices went down to a close $130.- which makes it a much better bargain. Not to mention the aftermarket, where much better models can be had for the same or less money. Even Palm's own m100 and m105 offer more for the money.
Frankly, while lacking any high-end model (measured by screen, processor, RAM) the roll-out appears to be a mere sign of weakness of 'inventor' the world's most popular PDA.
Pro:
- low cost
- rechargeable battery, built-in
- long battery life (several weeks)
- slim compared to most models
Con:
- low performance processor (16MHz)
- too little memory for 2002 (2MByte)
- low resolution screen (160x160)
- no back light (useless at dim light)
- large compared to the top performers
- heavy for it's performance (3.8 oz.)
- no expandability (memory or otherwise)
- not OSv5.0 ready
- only 4 (instead of 6) function buttons
- no software other than OS and (basic PIM) included
- no Hot-sync cradle
...
(Based on your preferences, the latter list may grow significantly.)
One last argument I just realized ... Expect issues with software (mostly games) that maps the hard buttons, since the Zire only sports 4 versus the standard 6 buttons. (Is that cost saving?) In other words, any game or application that maps more than 4 buttons will be affected. (i.e. Zap2016 where 2 vital functions would not be available, at least you get o choose which. LOL)
Deja Vue
Palm almost reminds me of the death of one of my (late) childhood favorites, the Commodore Amiga. Excellent at it's time, the lack of true innovation made it's advantages disappear and finally closed the doors for this computer system. (Zenith of the product line was the A3000 with every following model just loosing more and more ground to the soaring PCs.)
Now look at Palm Inc. practically looking back to the PalmV and PalmVII as the last true innovations, they struggled ever since to come up with something really new. If you thought the m515 was ridiculous - due to the minute advancement over the previous model m505, and the m705 (with similar shortcomings compared to an VIIx); the Zire is an actual step back.
So far, no commitment to OSv5 and any other screen than the standard 160x160 pixel lores, make me wonder what to expect. I certainly did not bet on the Zire.
The PalmOS is fortunately independent now and since it has to serve many hardware vendors, OS5 is the right step towards future. Sony already announced the marvellous (and expensive) NX series, and Handspring's Treo at least covered new (wireless) ground for the PalmOS as well. Palm Inc. failed so far to catch up on many areas. Good for the Palm in general that others took over initiative ...
PS: The just unveiled Tungsten T shows that even Palm Inc. has some innovation left. (Mostly catching up but the navigator button, integrated (!) BlueTooth, and the size are steps in the right direction.)
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 99
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