Ring in the New Zire; this is pretty appropriate. I mean, isn't one of you resolutions almost always to "get more organized," "stop procrastinating," or "Beam my business card to other palm users?" Ok, maybe not the latter, but this unit is the cheap way to get your ducks in a row, be you a CEO or homemaker.

I owe my success to the Palm Corporation.
This item is worth it's value using only the "To-Do List." But that's just really a cherry on this technological slice of supreme cheesecake.

Here's what it'll do:
"Beam" info. to any infrared capable device, including other palm pilots.
Sound an alarm, one time or repeating, to remind you of something.
Store full names, addresses, phone, fax, email, notes, customized fields (I use "Birthday 1," "Birthday 2," [for couples], "Anniversary," and "Children.")

Use four ways to input data:

The included "Graffiti," software--this isn't hard to learn at all. It's almost exactly like the regular alphabet until you get into special characters.

Enter data into "Palm Desktop," by using your computer, then sync.

Bring up the virtual keyboard on the Zire and tap each key like a standard keyboard (too small for fingers of course, you use the stylus).

Use Notepad; you literally just scribble a note down. This isn't really data; it's treated as a drawing. But you can sync it and look at it; just like a sticky-note (so you could also use this feature to quickly sketch something).

Can you imagine if the reaction if you'd asked somebody 20 years ago, "Does it take long to sync your Palm?"

With the Zire, you just plug in the provided USB cable and tap the sync key. Done. If you'd entered data into Palm Desktop, the Zire now has it. If you'd entered a drawing on the Zire while out on the road, Palm Desktop now has it. Jazzy.

Add subscriptions, and it'll take a little longer, especially with dialup. For example, you can go to www.avantgo.com and subscribe to various websites/publications streamlined for handheld devices. On my unit, I have over 10 subscriptions from the Weather Channel to PC Magazine, about 450 web pages worth, so my sync operation takes about 90 seconds. If it were just the Zire and Palm Desktop with no subscriptions, it would take about 12 seconds.

Other features:

It comes with a protective cover, albeit sort of floppy and flimsy, it does the job.

It takes 3 hours to charge the Zire, but that'll do you for about 2 weeks of normal use.

You can add games and apps just like most handhelds allow.

I just toss my Zire into a coat pocket after sync. There are plenty of cases and contraptions on the market, many available right at the Palm site, specifically www.palm.com/support/zire, but you'll find these extras much cheaper elsewhere, from RadioShack to Ebay.

This is a low-resolution, monochrome, non-backlit display; that's relatively bad. But it is only $99.00. The whole purpose for getting this one versus a high end one (Palm M515 for example) is that I needed to know if I had the discipline to even use the thing regularly.
I've found that I do, so far. The address book and to-do list are invaluable. If you are a busy person, or just scatter-brained, and you don't want to drop 5 Franklins on a handheld, this is the unit for you.

Do NOT get this one if you need a backlight, or if you need something in color or to view images/listen to MP3s. This is a bread-and-butter, form-follows-function unit. I don't know the total capacity for storage because I can't find that info. anywhere (it has 2MB RAM) but I've added several apps, 3 more games, and the avantgo subscriptions, and I've seen no problems.

I should also mention that there is just something deeply satisfying about pulling out your palm, taking the stylus out of its socket, and putting a "check" in the box next to an item on the to-do list. I can't explain it, other than to say it's alot like clearing a level on Tetris. ;)


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 99.00