Palm m100: A Classic Gets Better
Written: Feb 15 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Sharp LCD, more sensitive touch screen, compact size, uses alkaline batteries
Cons: Screen small, fragile cover, 2MB of memory, not expandable
The Bottom Line: The Palm m100 is a full-featured entry-level palmtop for price-conscious people like me.
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| arbaro's Full Review: Palm m100 Personal Organizer |
I don't need no stinkin' DayRunner. All the info I need I write on my Palm.
I have a PalmPilot Professional that has served me well over the years, and the folks over at Palm were good enough to send me a replacement model when my original one broke a few years back. So when it was time to move up, I wanted to get another Palm.
Unfortunately, none of the ones on the market either caught my fancy or fit my needs, nor could they fit my pocketbook. Until I happened into our local Sharper Image, and found the Palm m100. All the features of the Palm, for $149. I was sold at first sight. And after putting it through the motions, I love it even more.
You Can't Tie This Thing Down With Cords
One of the things I noticed about the PalmPilot was its efficient use of battery power. A pair of AAA's could last me a couple of months. Even my friend who has a Palm III and uses it heavily changes his about every two weeks or so.
However, one of the things I've noticed about Palm is a trend away from alkaline batteries and toward rechargeable batteries. While they may provide more power and last just as long, you're still tied down by the cord. If your rechargeable Palm should go out and you don't have your charger handy, you're up the creek. Whereas with my PalmPilot Pro all I need to do is pick up a couple of AAA's, pop 'em in and I'm good to go. For that reason, I was hesitant to upgrade.
The fact that the Palm m100 still uses alkalines, therefore, was a big selling point for me. Knowing me, I'll leave my wireless phone in my waist pack, dormant, 'cause I'm too lazy to take the darn thing to my charger. This won't happen with this Palm.
Screen Test
Compared with the PalmPilot, the Palm m100 has a much sharper screen, but the screen is also about 20% smaller in size, which may pose a problem for middle-aged eyes. (Fortunately, the Palm has two different font sizes, one big, one small.) The new Palm is about the same dimensions as the original PalmPilot, but has a curved design that makes it smaller in size.
The touch screen is of a much higher quality than the PalmPilot Pro, very smooth but with a bit of "give" or tackiness that gives it a feel closer to pen-on-paper. Writing Graffiti is much more accurate in the Palm m100 than in the PalmPilot Pro. I was able to write about 25 WPM with about 94% accuracy...not too shabby. (Graffiti is the special writing that the Palm uses.)
The Down Side
One thing that concerns me about the Palm m100 is the screen cover...it looks fragile. I'm not planning on treating this thing rough, but I'm not taking too many chances. If you get it, make sure to get a carrying case for it, even with the protective screen cover.
Another possible drawback is the amount of memory that it has. Consider that this is meant to be Palm's entry-level palmtop model. It has 2MB of memory, which for my purposes (keeping my schedule, address book, and to-do list, and having a few applications) is sufficient. But for those who are power Palm users, you might want to look for a higher model, since there is no easy way to add an expansion card (no access panel in the back).
All in all, this new Palm model is squarely directed toward people like me, who want a full-featured palmtop that doesn't break your wallet. It's also good for those Palm users who are not looking for a major upgrade. For bang for the buck, this palmtop can't be beat.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 149
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Epinions.com ID:
arbaro
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Member: Keith Higa
Location: Kailua, HI
Reviews written: 94
Trusted by: 20 members
About Me:
Computer instructor, choir director, marathon runner, and all-around crazy person, living in Paradise.
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