reviews/hw/palm_m500.xml
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<page title="Palm m50" keywords="keywords">
<item>
<p>Reviewed by: David Cantrell</p>
</item><item>
<p>
Because of a fault with my Palm Vx, I recently upgraded to a m500.
The fault was probably corrupted serial software which no doubt would
have been fixed by a hard reset, but that would lose all my data, and
due to the nature of the problem, I couldn't rely on my backups. Yes,
my data is worth more than my hardware. A lot more.
</p><p>
I bought the m500 because it has approximately the same dimensions as
my old Vx, and almost all the same features. It isn't exactly the same
size, weight and shape, but when holding it in my hand I can't really
tell the difference. This is a Good Thing. I would have preferred the
m505 because the colour screen has higher contrast, but couldn't
negotiate a good enough price.
</p><p>
The hardware has, obviously, changed somewhat. I don't know whether the
CPU has changed, but several operations feel slower. I suppose this
could be an OS 'feature'. The screen is apparently new as well. In good
light it is somewhat higher contrast, and in very bad light the backlight
is improved. But in only mediocre light things are slightly worse than
the Vx, and the backlight makes everything invisible! The polarisation
of the screen has changed by about 40 degrees. I used to get excellent
contrast in just about any conditions whilst wearing my shades, but no
more. Syncing is much faster, thanks to USB, although for me this benefit
is only marginal, as the vast majority of my syncing is Avantgo, and thus
limited by the speed of the Inertnet. Moving on to the case design, it is
pretty similar to the Vx. Having seperate buttons for up and down is
better than the old rocker button, but the power button/LED feels cheaper
and more plasticky. The Vx had a groove down each side for storing a stylus
and for attaching a cover. They were the same size, allowing for easy
left- or right-handed use. The m500 has them different sizes, thus penalising
sinister customers. And on the subject of covers, the Vx had a hard protective
case available. The m500 does not. I bought a protective leather case, but it
is substantially inferior - it is much bulkier and can not be opened as quickly.
</p><p>
New features are a result of having an updated OS - v 4.0 - which adds a
flashing LED and vibrating alert for alarms, more networking facilities,
improved informational screens in the launcher, and support for memory cards.
Of these, the improved alarm features are wasted on me, as I rarely use the
alarm; the networking is also pointless, as I already have Avantgo (the new
"web clippinqs" seeming like a second-rate alternative), and I have no desire
to run up an enormous mobile bill; the launcher improvements are great; and I
don't have any memory cards - nor do I see myself buying any soon - so can't
test that. There may be other additions I haven't found yet. So far, all my
software seems to still work, including hacks and apps like Memo Plus which
replace built-in apps but use the same database. So overall, the OS meets my
requirements with minor improvements.
</p><p>
'Graffiti', Palm's sort-of hand-writing recognition, seems to be significantly
degraded. In particular it has difficulty distinguishing between i and l and
between c and f. The single-tap shift is frequently interpreted as a space. Not
impressive, but I'll persevere in case this is due to bad habits I got in to with
my Vx, which had a rather worn Graffiti area from heavy use.
</p><p>
Moving on to the apps, there are few major changes. Built-in apps seem to still
do all they did before (note that I never use the mail app so can't comment on
that). There is an extra app, the Notepad, which allows the user to scribble
directly on the screen. This is an exceptionally pointless idea. Normal hand-writing
is damned near impossible on the screen; and it does not seem possible to attach
scribbles to Memopad textual notes - something which the payware app Memoplus does
very well. So Palm get no points for this new app. The Expense app has disappeared,
which is a Very Bad Thing indeed. I gather from various online sources (this is not
mentioned in the manual, not even in the 'upgrading from an older Palm' section)
that I am meant to use the DocumentsToGo application from the CD. But this is
useless to me, as it requires me to have MS Excel installed on my Mac. And, being an
add-on app, it takes precious RAM. Rather a lot of RAM too. So I use the shareware
app Expenseplus, which, while still taking a honking great wad of RAM has a free
trial which fits my current needs, and if I need the full version, it's cheaper
than Excel.
</p><p>
I was hoping that some shortcomings of the built-in software would be fixed.
But no, there's still no way of linking to address book entries from the Diary
or To-do list. And diary entries still can't span multiple days without setting
up a repeating event.
</p><p>
So overall - I'd say that you're marginally better off sticking with a Vx.
If you can find a new, unused Vx, buy it. But failing that, the m500 is adequate.
</p>
</item>
</page>
reviews/hw/palm_m500.xml
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<page title="Palm m50" keywords="keywords">
<item>
<p>Reviewed by: David Cantrell</p>
</item><item>
<p>
Because of a fault with my Palm Vx, I recently upgraded to a m500.
The fault was probably corrupted serial software which no doubt would
have been fixed by a hard reset, but that would lose all my data, and
due to the nature of the problem, I couldn't rely on my backups. Yes,
my data is worth more than my hardware. A lot more.
</p><p>
I bought the m500 because it has approximately the same dimensions as
my old Vx, and almost all the same features. It isn't exactly the same
size, weight and shape, but when holding it in my hand I can't really
tell the difference. This is a Good Thing. I would have preferred the
m505 because the colour screen has higher contrast, but couldn't
negotiate a good enough price.
</p><p>
The hardware has, obviously, changed somewhat. I don't know whether the
CPU has changed, but several operations feel slower. I suppose this
could be an OS 'feature'. The screen is apparently new as well. In good
light it is somewhat higher contrast, and in very bad light the backlight
is improved. But in only mediocre light things are slightly worse than
the Vx, and the backlight makes everything invisible! The polarisation
of the screen has changed by about 40 degrees. I used to get excellent
contrast in just about any conditions whilst wearing my shades, but no
more. Syncing is much faster, thanks to USB, although for me this benefit
is only marginal, as the vast majority of my syncing is Avantgo, and thus
limited by the speed of the Inertnet. Moving on to the case design, it is
pretty similar to the Vx. Having seperate buttons for up and down is
better than the old rocker button, but the power button/LED feels cheaper
and more plasticky. The Vx had a groove down each side for storing a stylus
and for attaching a cover. They were the same size, allowing for easy
left- or right-handed use. The m500 has them different sizes, thus penalising
sinister customers. And on the subject of covers, the Vx had a hard protective
case available. The m500 does not. I bought a protective leather case, but it
is substantially inferior - it is much bulkier and can not be opened as quickly.
</p><p>
New features are a result of having an updated OS - v 4.0 - which adds a
flashing LED and vibrating alert for alarms, more networking facilities,
improved informational screens in the launcher, and support for memory cards.
Of these, the improved alarm features are wasted on me, as I rarely use the
alarm; the networking is also pointless, as I already have Avantgo (the new
"web clippinqs" seeming like a second-rate alternative), and I have no desire
to run up an enormous mobile bill; the launcher improvements are great; and I
don't have any memory cards - nor do I see myself buying any soon - so can't
test that. There may be other additions I haven't found yet. So far, all my
software seems to still work, including hacks and apps like Memo Plus which
replace built-in apps but use the same database. So overall, the OS meets my
requirements with minor improvements.
</p><p>
'Graffiti', Palm's sort-of hand-writing recognition, seems to be significantly
degraded. In particular it has difficulty distinguishing between i and l and
between c and f. The single-tap shift is frequently interpreted as a space. Not
impressive, but I'll persevere in case this is due to bad habits I got in to with
my Vx, which had a rather worn Graffiti area from heavy use.
</p><p>
Moving on to the apps, there are few major changes. Built-in apps seem to still
do all they did before (note that I never use the mail app so can't comment on
that). There is an extra app, the Notepad, which allows the user to scribble
directly on the screen. This is an exceptionally pointless idea. Normal hand-writing
is damned near impossible on the screen; and it does not seem possible to attach
scribbles to Memopad textual notes - something which the payware app Memoplus does
very well. So Palm get no points for this new app. The Expense app has disappeared,
which is a Very Bad Thing indeed. I gather from various online sources (this is not
mentioned in the manual, not even in the 'upgrading from an older Palm' section)
that I am meant to use the DocumentsToGo application from the CD. But this is
useless to me, as it requires me to have MS Excel installed on my Mac. And, being an
add-on app, it takes precious RAM. Rather a lot of RAM too. So I use the shareware
app Expenseplus, which, while still taking a honking great wad of RAM has a free
trial which fits my current needs, and if I need the full version, it's cheaper
than Excel.
</p><p>
I was hoping that some shortcomings of the built-in software would be fixed.
But no, there's still no way of linking to address book entries from the Diary
or To-do list. And diary entries still can't span multiple days without setting
up a repeating event.
</p><p>
So overall - I'd say that you're marginally better off sticking with a Vx.
If you can find a new, unused Vx, buy it. But failing that, the m500 is adequate.
</p>
</item>
</page>