Palm LifeDrive Mobile Manager
by Palm
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Our Price: $275.00
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Category: CE
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: PalmAudio: English (Original Language)
Platform: No Operating System
Model: 1044NA
Product features:
- Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth wireless support so you can easily carry all the essentials of your busy life
- 320 x 480 high-resolution, color display with choice of portrait and landscape viewing
- Support for POP, IMAP, and Exchange e-mail accounts helps you stay on top of your e-mail at WiFi hotspots around the world
- Plenty of room for storage with a 4GB hard drive
- Also includes a voice recorder, MP3 player, and photo viewer
- PalmOne 3218WW Aluminum Hard Case for LifeDrive Mobile Manager
- PalmOne 3219WW Leather Case for LifeDrive Mobile Manager
- PalmOne 3220WW Stylus Pen 3 Pack for LifeDrive Mobile Manager
- PalmOne 3223WW 1 GB Memory Expansion Card
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Palm LifeDrive Mobile Manager
Customer Review: I'm convinced
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been intrigued by handheld computers for years, but was never convinced that they could be truly useful. Last year, I was thinking of buying an MP3 player, especially for use on long trips. Then I saw some dual-function players that also served as photo viewers, and thought maybe I'd get more use out of something like that. Still, I didn't buy anything, as it seemed as though none of these devices really lived up to its potential.
Then I saw the Life Drive last spring and decided to get one. I have to say that I've got more pleasure out of this device than from any other electronic purchase I've ever made. I can use it to listen to music or to show off photos, but I also have found many other uses for it that I hadn't even imagined. I carry it with me everywhere and use it multiple times a day.
I now use the Life Drive as my only reminder system, keeping it synchronized with Outlook on my desktop. If I'm walking down the street and remember something I have to do, I pull out my Life Drive and enter it in my Task list. The next time I synchronize (recharging the device at the same time), the task gets added to my Outlook tasks. If someone gives me their email address, no more writing it on a paper napkin! I enter it in my Life Drive contacts, and the next time I send an email, it's already in my Outlook address book.
The Life Drive has a 4 gig hard drive, which is a lot of storage. I never used an older handheld, so I can't compare it to what older models had. However, it holds a lot of stuff! I have the Oxford Compact English dictionary on it, a very complete Italian-English dictionary, the Britannica concise encyclopedia, the CIA World fact book, the entire Bible, and my entire recipe collection. (Have you ever been in a supermarket and can't remember what you need to buy to make tiramisu?) There's still plenty of space left! If 4 gigs isn't enough, you can put more stuff on an SD storage card. These come in sizes up to 2 gigs.
The Life Drive comes with a version of Office software, so you can put Microsoft Word files on it, as well as Excel and Access files, and modify them on the road. There is also a version of Acrobat Reader,which has a desktop companion that will convert normal Acrobat files to a format more suited to the small screen.
I didn't think I would like using a stylus for input and was planning to buy a keyboard. However, the Graffiti 2 hand-writing recognition system is very intuitive and quick. I just started writing without reading the instructions for forming the letters, and the only one I had trouble with was the letter "x". I found out on my own that Graffiti 2 will recognize many more ways of writing a letter than they officially claim.
I bought a text-completion program (by Teal) so that it suggests words before I finish writing them. The one problem with this is that I use both English and Italian; the program recognizes both, but I have to manually switch vocabularies before beginning to write, which is a drag. I wish it could figure out which language I'm using and switch automatically, as Microsoft Word does with its spell checker. Teal also makes a useful program (Teal Glance) that displays a daily to-do list with a clock when you turn on the Life Drive. However, some programs override the Teal Glance screen if they were the last program you used before turning it off. (Usually the Life Drive picks up right where you left off when you turn it on.)
For Music, the Life Drive has two programs: Pocket Tunes and Rhapsody. Rhapsody is great for organizing music on your desktop and digitalizing your CD collection, but it has some kinks in it. It also transfers music to your Life Drive, but I find it quicker to just drag and drop the music directly onto an SD card (using a USB card reader). Pocket Tunes organizes and plays the music once it's on the Life Drive. I've noticed that if I'm listening to music and want to use the Life Drive for something else simultaneously, there is a pause or click in the music whenever I touch the menu with my stylus. I had read that this could be avoided by keeping the music on SD cards, but I still hear the click. I also read that installing and updated operating system from the Palm web site would address this problem, but it hasn't. However, that's a minor complaint, because usually when I'm listening to music, I don't multitask.
The Life Drive has both Blue Tooth and Wifi incorporated. I haven't really used either. There is an email package, Versamail, that looks pretty straightforward, and also a web browser called Blazer.
I've also installed a few games to amuse me in the dentist's office and while waiting for trains. There is an enormous amount of stuff available on the web.
I've heard rumours that Palm will be abandoning the Life Drive, or replacing it with something else. I really hope not. One of the things I've heard is that the Treo cell phone will replace the Life Drive. I have no desire for a big cell phone that does everything, and the Treo doesn't have the hard drive. Plus it costs a lot more. The functions that the Life Drive already has are plenty for me. I had been planning to buy a new laptop, mainly for travelling, but I don't think I will need one. If I can find a wifi hot spot, I can check my email with the Life Drive, and also look up train schedules and the like on the web.
There are other features that I haven't used much yet, such as the voice memo. This allows you to dictate a reminder into the Life Drive if you don't have time to jot it down with the stylus. You can later attach an alarm to the memo. I don't know if these can be synchronized with Outlook. You can also use this to record a lecture.
I find that the battery lasts for several days without recharging, more than my cell phone for sure. There is a dual cord that will charge and synchronize at the same time. The only complaint I have is that this cord seems to have a weak attachment. When I press the synch button, sometimes the connection with my computer gets broken and I have to straighten the cord out, press the button carefully and lay the device down carefully. Probably I should get the cradle with built-in cord to avoid this, but it would be nice if the cord that came with the device worked better. Some people complain about the case (or sleeve might be a better word) that comes with the device, but I think it's sufficient and haven't thought of getting a real case.
I can only say that if you're thinking of getting the Life Drive, go for it!
Description of Palm LifeDrive Mobile Manager
The LifeDrive mobile manager from palmOne is the perfect companion for your digital lifestyle. With a 4 GB hard drive, extra-sharp high-resolution color display and built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support, you can easily manage, access and share your documents and media files. Includes email support, plus MP3 player and photo viewer. Drag and drop thousands of files from your PC. LifeDrive Manager does the synchronizing for you, preserving your PC's directory structure and ensuring you always have the most recent versions of your documents safely with you. You can store and access years of email, thousands of documents, presentations and photos, hundreds of songs and hours of video... The non-volatile memory keeps your information safe. Stay connected via your mobile phone or at public Wi-Fi hotspots. Access your POP, IMAP and Exchange email accounts and browse the web. Or, use Bluetooth to connect to compatible devices nearby. View photos and videos with the palmOne Media application. And enjoy all the songs in your personal music collection with on-board support for MP3 files. Rehearse your PowerPoint presentation, on your way to a meeting. Keep all of your important Word and Excel documents at your fingertips. Synchronize and view an Acrobat fileDigital Cameras and Photo Categories
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