Palm TX Handheld
by Palm
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Palm TX Handheld
Customer Review: Great product, fast delivery
Summary: 5 Stars
This is actually my second TX-- the first a victim to water. Here are the advantages I've noticed relative to other products of this sort I've seen:
1) Palm OS Operating system-- so no real threats for viruses, which is an issue when using wireless internet with other operating systems
2) Smaller size and lower weight than competing products
3) Offers both wireless AND bluetooth connectivity, plus IR
4) Large screen reduces need for scrolling online (though not entirely eliminated) especially when viewing in landscape mode
5) Includes a fully functional MP3 player limited in capacity only by the size of the memory card you want to install
Disadvantages:
1) Blazer isn't the most compatible browser out there, but appears to be the only one that works on Palm... which means that online video won't play, and most Java apps don't work-- so no online gaming with this device
(not that you'd want to do much of that given size issues, anyway), and no YouTube
2) Wireless use does affect battery life rather quickly... fine if you're basically using wireless to sync online subscriptions via AvantGo or other such services, or viewing a few select pages. Less so if you need to do more intense internet-based work.
3) Windows file management is easier to work with than Palm-- some downloaded files seem to wander into total oblivion, though they're actually there.
All in all, though, for the money, you won't find a more capable internet device/PDA/mp3 player anywhere on the market.
Customer Review: Hey, this thing is old! That's 'cause it WORKS.
Summary: 5 Stars
Yes, the Palm TX is two and a half years old, and is still top of the line for non-smartphone Palm devices. (At least, the top since the Lifedrive flopped.)
There's a reason for this. While Windows-CE (or Pocket PC, or Mobile, or whatever they're calling it this year,) has to keep on improving itself to "get there" -- wherever "there" is -- the TX has been there. The TX remains top of the heap and is virtually the *perfect* standalone PDA, just as it is.
Small enough for a shirt pocket, large enough for hard everyday use, enough memory and expansion to keep *however* many contacts, dates, tasks, and notes you need.
A proven, rock-hard OS. Now, I'm not saying you can't crash a TX - use enough 3rd party apps and you're bound to get something not quite working right. I think I've had maybe a half dozen resets in over a year of ownership, and three of those were caused by messing with stuff I shouldn'ta. But using the built-in apps, never a problem.
So why a TX and not a Treo or Centro? Aside from seeing a few more problems with Treos, I don't want a failure of my PDA to mean I have no cell phone. And I don't want a failure of my cell phone to mean I have no PDA. (As happened to my boss with his Treo last week, and forced him to upgrade from a 650 to a 755. And he's gone through three Treos in the time I've had my TX.)
Anyway, here's the nutshell of how I feel about it (after promising myself to *never* buy a Palm product after the Newton folded at the beginning of Palm dominance): It works.
Customer Review: Great handheld with an aging operating system
Summary: 5 Stars
I have owned this PDA for almost a year now. This is a very solid product (which you would expect, given its premium price), but Palm OS is quickly falling behind Microsoft Windows for Pocket PC. I have been a long-term user of Palm, so I am willing to tolerate its arcane settings and lack of configurability. Multiple other users have already reviewed just about any aspect of Palm TX, so the only thing I wanted to add is that I have not run into any major issues with reliability. The "power on" button does eventually get harder and harder to press (a well known problem that Palm has been either unwilling or unable to address), but there are a couple of workarounds to help out. First, use one of the bottom buttons (the calendar or contacts or Web) to start the PDA. Second, download and install the OffStroke freeware program, which will permit you to turn off the PDA by tapping an assigned screen area.
Eventually, many Tungstens TX develop a digitizer drift, or a discongruity between the screen area you tap with the stylus and what actually registers on the screen. The reason for this is the different screen size from the rest of palm PDA's. Digitizer drift is annoying and hard to deal with and there are no good workarounds for it. Mykbd and Powerdigi programs help some, but do not fix this problem completely. Another minor issue is that while TX has no problems beaming to Tungsten E, the traffic does not go well from Tungsten E to TX (out of 20 beaming attempts only one may succeed). I suspect this is because of different Palm OS version.
Customer Review: Great Device. Glad I got it.
Summary: 5 Stars
So far, so good and no regrets! This is my 3rd Palm. I started with a Zire, then moved up to a Tungsten E, then this TX. I'm very happy with it. My first Hot Sync went very smooth and transferred everything from my Tungsten E flawlessly.
The big screen is very nice and sharp. The "hiding" or "pop-up" writing area is a bonus too. It's just slightly larger than the Tungsten E despite the huge screen.
The Wi-Fi worked as hoped from the start. I have a linksys wireless router and the TX picks it up from anywhere in my 2 story house. I've checked my stocks and e-mail in bed before turning out the light at night. The Versamail works very nice as well. It was simpler even than setting up accounts in Outlook. Very intuitive.
A couple of pleasant surprises I discovered that I missed in the specs and advertisements was that you can Hot Sync over your wireless, and you can browse your Network Neighborhood. You can even copy files (jpegs, mp3s, docs, etc) from your PC to your TX via Wi-Fi (if they are in shared folders on your PC). No need to go through Quickinstall & Hot sync. I've experienced no Wi-Fi trouble whatsoever like I've read in a couple other reviews.
The Battery life is very acceptable. Wi-Fi use DOES use up juice faster, maybe twice as fast.
My TX has hung up 3 or 4 times during the first month requiring a warm restart. Not sure why but it's no big deal and doesn't worry me. I was playing games beamed from my old "E" that may not really be compatible.
Very Happy with my TX !
Customer Review: Palm TX best yet
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been using Palm since the 90's. After I retired and had a disability, my memory was not reliable and the Palm became my crutch. I upgraded to Zire, to Tungsten, and now to TX. I had my Tungsten T5 set up with all of my memory needs from addresses and phone numbers, to birthday reminders, memos of ideas off the top of the head, journals, to my To-Do lists, audio books, family photo album, favorite music - - - everything I needed and more.
My Tungsten T5 died (maybe from new computer to synch to that used Vista?) When I looked at replacements, I checked methodically; not just Palm, but "pocket PC's" and everything in the PDA category I could find. Palm no longer made Tungsten, and I tried the new TX. WOW, it was better than my Tungsten, more like a pocket PC. Internet connection was simple and no WiFi card needed. I'm keeping my own data entries simpler; no list of To-Do's by month or season, etc.
But for anyone thinking about this device, it is a full featured Palm PDA with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity built in, better Internet browser and email connection, great audio, and I'm still exploring everything else. There is a ton of software for Palm you can choose from. The battery life seems fine to me, and charges easily and quickly. I don't need all of the options for importing your windows Word or spreadsheets, etc. I don't use it for business.
Overall, I love my TX and would buy it again. Think about what you are looking for, how you plan to use it, and see if this model fits your needs. Enjoy.