Slashdot Mirror


Palm IIIe Announced

Palm Computing introduced the Palm IIIe today. The new handheld ships with 2MB of storage, as well as a built-in TCP/IP stack. According to the press release, it's aimed at new users, like students. You know, it's funny - my little sister has been asking me for a Palm. Maybe this is what we've been waiting for. The SRP is US$229.

13 of 132 comments (clear)

  1. Re:What do I want by HoserHead · · Score: 2
    I own a Palm III. It's been invaluable for me, and I'm only a highschool student, so I can imagine how a really busy person would enjoy it.

    1) making appointments/scheduling
    This is one thing that the Palm series excels at. After all, it's meant to replace a dayplanner. Quick tap, perhaps adjust the time, write in a description and you're done.
    2) writing quick e-mail (can i?)
    If you're not brilliant at Graffiti, e-mail is tortuous. For all but the very shortest notes, it's better to wait till you get to a real keyboard.
    3) notes
    Again, unless they're very short graffiti makes it difficult - especially when you make graffitios. When you get into a groove, though, you find that graffiti is actually rather efficient and easy to use, and with a bit of experience you make fewer errors.
    4) simple games
    You mean there are other purposes to a Palm? :) There are a lot of simple but very fun games out there in Palmland. Don't let anyone else know that you've got games on it or you'll never be able to use your PDA for its DA work.

    Is the 2MB really worth it?
    In my experience 2 MB is more than enough for everything you need. Unless you're going to be loading on many books from the Gutenberg project, the 2 MB is a huge expanse that you're not likely to fill.

    I recommend the Palm III to you. It's cheap, expandable, and very useful. I know I use mine all the time.

  2. Re:What do I want by scrytch · · Score: 2

    Grafitti is okay as shorthand, for a few letters, a word or two. Writign entire sentences with it is doable. When it gets down to a paragraph or so, it gets to be torture, and in some users, grafitti ended up replacing their ordinary handwriting -- including the fact that they couldn't get used to writing left-to-right again, they'd just layer letters over another.

    If you plan on doing anything more than a shopping list and appointments, I'd suggest getting the FITALY keyboard extension.

    --
    I've finally had it: until slashdot gets article moderation, I am not coming back.
  3. Re:What do I want by scrytch · · Score: 2

    Let's not forget the DATA used to populate these programs. There's documents, databases, and phone lists. Having 4 megs is great when keeping the entire company directory in your pilot.

    --
    I've finally had it: until slashdot gets article moderation, I am not coming back.
  4. Re:You are destroying the industry by scrytch · · Score: 2

    It's consumers who BUY features that you personally don't find useful that fuel the entire market for these devices.

    I'm at a party, someone asks me about my kids (hypothetical, I don't have any), and I whip out my color PDA and click through 'em. Gets to pictures of my pets, and a friend collects animal pictures for a montage or something and hey there's one that's really cute, no prob, beam it over to her.

    Maybe I don't want to carry dozen extra electronic gadgets, one for my pictures, one for my MP3's, one for my appointments. Those not competing for alpha geek status usually don't like being encrusted with electronic barnacles everywhere they go.

    --
    I've finally had it: until slashdot gets article moderation, I am not coming back.
  5. III/IIIx/IIIe/V/Vx? by BlueWire · · Score: 2

    I havn't seen all this n one message so...

    the III is the original style, has the Dragonball on the main board memory on an add in card with old lcd.

    the IIIx is the new mainboard with Dragonball and memory. has open card socket. new lcd.

    IIIe new mainboard, less memory no upgrade/memory socket

    heheheh wait till Palm spits out the next V with 8Meg & a 20Mhz Dragonball

    --
    Yes, but whats that got to do with the price of tea in D'ni?
  6. Not if you're a true nerd ;) by Morendil · · Score: 2

    The true nerd's PDA of choice is, of course, the Palm IIIx. Shall we count the ways... It has 4MB of RAM, so you can load it up with countless useless things (like IRPing to fool around with IR printers), flashable OS means you can run Linux on it if you are so inclined...

    Let's not be fooled, dudes - a nerd doesn't use a PDA because it's useful, as in managing your shopping list (you order on-line from your local mart anyway) or keeping track of your appointments. We have them because they're way cool - in other words, we have an intuition that they represent a new paradigm, one where bloatware is refreshingly unwelcome.

    The IIIe is obviously a ploy to scrounge a bit more market share - but I say, more power to 3Com if it succeeds. Meanwhile, if you're a self-respecting nerd, get a IIIx. ;)

  7. Palm IIIe, huh? by jwriney · · Score: 2

    Hmm. If the next model is called the Palm IIIc, or III+, or IIIgs, I'm going to scream.

    --John Riney
    jwriney@awod.com

  8. What do I want by IceFox · · Score: 2

    Ok I have been looking at these Palm's for a long time now. I have my computers at home. They do quite a bit. I tried using a daytimer a few years ago, but it just didn't work. I don't want a laptop, I want somthing that is an extension of my computer. Keep my appointments, let me take notes etc. Now that there is another Palm out there I am very confused. Here is what I am going to be doing with it.

    1) making appointments/scheduling
    2) writing quick e-mail (can i?)
    3) notes
    4) simple games

    I am a student in college and so it isn't mission critical or anything. Can someone tell me what you think I should get. What made me really ask this question is the fact that they call this the palm for students. When they label a product for certain people I double check it every time. I am a power user. I run linux, have a web server, three hubs (for 5 machines :-) you get the idea. Any info from people who are in simalar situations and have true stories etc would be very helpfull. Is the 2MB really worth it?

    Benjamin Meyer

    P.S. sorry for my english

    --
    Do you changes clothes while making the "chee-chee-cha-cha-choh" transformation sound?
  9. javaone - kvm by mistabobdobalina · · Score: 2

    my palm V that i bought at javaone for $200 (heh heh) has a VM with it called KJava with java.lang, java.net and java.io libraries plus some libraries for gui on palm ...i think java.sun.com has some stuff on it about kjava...

    --
    -- your knees hurt, don't they?
  10. Too many models to choose from... by mrped · · Score: 2
    I used to love the simplicity of the Palm platform (ie, either you get the professional or not). These days 3Com seems to be churning out new models with nothing new or exciting in them. Seems kinda like the Apple situation a couple years back. That's why I am sticking with my Pro. Let's do a little rundown on the evolution of the Palm.
    • Std 512K, barebones.
    • Pro TCP/IP, 1 MB
    • III Ohh new case(sarcastic), 2 Mb memory, new OS (new memory model)
    • Some other III models here, too forgettable to list...
    • IV Odd no four model...
    • V cool case, rechargable battery...that's about it.
    • VII interesting concept. wireless pda. But it looks ugly, and you pay by the KB for transmission.
  11. Re:Palm pain by Local+Loop · · Score: 2

    You did the right thing.

    2MB is a LOT of extra mem, probably more than
    you will use.

    But the IIIx takes normal batteries, so when
    they die you can replace them. The V has
    built in rechargeables, and if they die when
    you need them, you're out of luck.

    Also, the IIIx has an upgrade slot, and you can
    bet that all sorts of neat plugins will
    eventually be available.

    The IIIx is cheaper too, so unless you're really
    into looks, you got the better unit AND saved
    money!

  12. Consider the portable video game market. by Cebert · · Score: 5

    We've had the Atari Lynx, with 4096 colors and hardware
    scaling, backlight, etc. Game Gear. TurboXpress.

    What's outlived them all? 4-color Gameboy.

    Only NOW, in 1999 have they updated it to near NES
    color and a little more CPU muscle.

    Perhaps the PDA market will mirror this...how long
    do those batteries last on your CE device? :)

    --
    -- www.bteg.com | bleh.n3.net | hac47.dhs.org
  13. Re:Is anybody else confused? by BobCA · · Score: 2

    This seems like they are following the arcane strategy that Apple used about 2-3 years ago, with about 20 models that overlap each other - and then no one can figure out which one has what
    IIIe, IIIx, V, VII ????

    They need to figure out what to sell (or just figure out how to name them so people can tell a difference...