PalmOne m130 Handheld
by Palm
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List Price: Our Price: $12.00 You Save: $187.99 (94%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of PalmOne m130 Handheld
Customer Review: Excellent PDA
Summary: 5 Stars
-Like others, I did a ton of research before buying it. I was mainly deciding b/w the Palm m130 and the Treo 90. I wasn't into all the MP3 player/ digital camera accessories that Sony offered. Treo 90 comes with 8MB more of internal memory, is smaller and has a larger screen, but I chose the m130 because I liked the way it felt in my hand, the long-lasting durability of Palm products in general (the quality of treo's and Handsprings is not very good from some people I heard from), and the construction of it, which seemed very sturdy (made of plastic, not metal or glass) and able to withstand an accidental drop, unlike most of the other PDA's out there.-The screen is very good, being able to show over 50,000 colors. Handspring Treo 90 can only show several thousand, so the m130 is good if you want to hold pictures.
-One concern I had was that the m130 only had 8MB of internal memory. I'm in the medical field and being able to run drug databases and references is a must for me. I invested in a 128MB SD card (which is WAY more than you need) and most of my programs can be run off the card. Some programs, like Avant Go can't. From what I hear, most drug programs can run off the card, but some can't, like ePocrates. Others require a portion to be stored on the internal memory. But thus far, I still have plenty of space left on my internal memory, despite filling it with lots of programs.
-All in all, it's really quite a fun toy to use. It's been really helpful with my work. With Avant Go, you can get all the latest movie listings, news, sports, etc with a quick HotSync. I also find that it fits nicely inside my coat or pant pocket.
-If you don't want to spend an exhorbitant amount and still want a good, decent and durable color palm, go for the m130. If you hate Graffiti, get the Treo 90....
Pros and Cons of the m130
Pros:
- good bang for the buck
- fits nicely in hand
- good color screen
- durable design, Palm brand
- internal battery that charges to full in less than 15 minutes
- takes bluetooth, SD and Multimedia cards
- nice hearty software bundle included
- good battery life (I don't use the backlight)
- nice, loud alarm to wake me up during my naps
Cons:
- only 8MB internal memory (thus I recommend getting card)
- slightly smaller screen than other palms
- slightly difficult to put into Sync holder, takes some practice
Other issues:
- Some reviewers write that the m130 is thicker than other palms. True, but my opinion is that it's designed so that you don't need to buy an extra case or holder to protect it. I know somebody with a Sony Clie who dropped his and now there's a permanent dent in it. Being thicker means it generally fits better into the hand, but not necessarily in your pocket. However, if you're a guy, I don't think this is much of an issue. For the ladies, I can see why having something small like the Treo would be more convenient.
- Lack of Flash Rom. Not an issue, since Palm OS 5 won't work on anything other than the newest models (e.g. Tungsten) anyway.
- Readability in outdoors. Some people gripe that with a lot of PDA's you can't read them in direct sunlight. Well, if you could, your PDA would need to suck up more juice to make the backlight stronger than the sunlight. For me, it's not an issue since I know I'd use it mainly in the hospital or at home.
Hope this helps!!
Customer Review: Great and inexpensive color PDA
Summary: 5 Stars
The first Palm I purchased was the m105 model during my freshman year of college (2000). I used it mainly for taking notes during class, thanks to the Palm portable folding keyboard, but I also regularly used the scheduling and telephone/address book functions. I loved my m105, but I bought the m130 in spring of 2002 for three major reasons: its backlit color screen, rechargability, and expansion capability.The most obvious difference between the m130 and its predecessors is its backlit color screen. Taking notes in class with my m105 became complicated when teachers would turn out the classroom lights for powerpoint presentations; I would have to lean in and strain to see the m105's display in the dark. The m130 glows brightly and sharply, very easy to read even in a dark classroom. The color display is enjoyable too; black text on a white background is easier to read than the black text on the olive-green background of the m105.
The most convenient function of the m130 is definitely its rechargability. Plug the AC adapter of the HotSync cradle into an outlet, place the Palm in its cradle, and its batteries recharge. To HotSync, or synchronize the data on your handheld with the data on your computer, connect the cradle to the computer via a USB port. The cradle for the m130 not only synchronizes data, it serves as a charging station, like the base station of a cordless phone. Recharging the batteries using the HotSync cradle is much more convenient than taking the batteries out of the Palm and replacing them since doing so sometimes results in a loss of data.
Finally, I love the slot on the m130's side that allows expansion cards to be inserted. This slot accepts cards containing pictures, programs, extra memory, and anything else you may need. Right now, I have the Palm Dictionary/Thesaurus card inserted; anytime I'm studying at school and need to look something up, my Palm expansion card does the trick.
This unit has 8 MB of standard memory, which is more than enough memory most people need. I have the entire NIV Bible on my Palm, and there is still plenty more space for my other programs and data. Those needing more space for programs or data need only to buy optional memory expansion cards. The m130 is inexpensive, yet offers a great amount of features for the average user. If you're looking for a unit that's internet-capable, has speakers, or performs complicated business functions, spend more money and buy a more professional model. However, if you're looking for an affordable color PDA with standard PDA functions, expansion capability, and the convenient ability to recharge on command, the m130 is right for you.
Customer Review: Does the Job!
Summary: 5 Stars
I Bought my wife an M130 as her first PDA. She loves the shape and the little color screen. She uses it mainly for PIM functions. I wanted to buy a HandSpring product, having been an early adopter of their technology with my Visor Prism. Unfortunately, many problems with the Prism and/or software, HotSync, Tech. Support issues forced me to look elsewhere. Based on my son's satisfaction with his Palm M105, I decided to go with the Palm M130.After setting up my wife's M130, I found it to be a solid performer with very little to complain about. The screen is small and the battery life is limited. But, as I see it, if I wanted a larger screen and longer battery life, I'd opt for either a PocketPC device or a small "notebook" computer. Both of which I have used; neither of which are conveniently sized to take along wherever I go. For me, something as simple as the cute, plastic "flip-top" cover with a window for checking the time, makes a big difference. My wife can throw her M130 in her purse and take it wherever needed.
This little device is great for us. I recommend it highly. Until higher resolution color PDA's become affordable, the M130 will do the job!
I guess my wife was listening to my rave reviews (or my complaining about my Visor Prism). She surprised me with one of my own for a Christmas present. I couldn't be happier and I'm glad to be done with the HandSpring Visor Prism.
After loading Vindigo and HandStory, the 8MB of memory quickly fills up. I picked up two 16MB SD memory cards and we are now as happy as clams! My Word, Excel and PowerPoint files are on the expansion card (SD Memory) along with .PDB audio files I use with NetMite's audio player AND about 20 .JPGs I downloaded for use with PhotoSuite. I also have a few eBooks (Vonnegut's "Player Piano" and a historical non-fiction book called "Samurai William"). PalmReader Pro 2.2 and eBook fontpack make all the difference when reading on the M130. I highly suggest them.
I figure I'll use the M130 for a few years before going to a Palm OS 5.0 (or later) device or, possibly, a PocketPC PDA. Until then, I am very satisfied and happy with the M130.
Customer Review: Best value for a moderate PDA user
Summary: 5 Stars
I was a Handspring devotee for years until my Edge unceremoniously died on me a few weeks ago. Rather than spend the [$$$] to have Handspring refurbish the piece, I decided it was time to bail off the sinking Handspring ship. (Sure, Treo may keep it afloat, but it was much more than I was looking for in a PDA).My m130 has made me a convert. This thing is great! The color display is so easy to read--a zillion times better than grayscale. Once you get a color screen you will not be able to imagine how you lived without it.
I did a lot of research before I bought this PDA, and I think it is by far the best value for the money for a moderate PDA user. I use mine not only for the calendar/address book features but also to download news via Avantgo and, yes, play a few games. So far this has been perfect for my needs. I love that you can read MSWord and Excel documents on it, although I don't think I will be using this feature a whole lot. I just made an investment in a memory card so that I can add photos, but I haven't received it yet so I can't comment on it.
The only negative thing I have to say is that the battery seems to run out much more quickly than on the Visor. Since I Hotsync almost every day, and have separate charging cables at work and home this has not posed a problem. But if I am away from my computer for an extended period of time, I can see the need to purchase a travel charger.
Nonetheless, I still give this 5 stars. Plus, it is a snap to transfer your old information from a previous PDA. I loaded the software that came with the m130 and then when I hotsynced all of the data (plus all of the programs!) went right to my new Palm. I am in heaven!
Customer Review: Best value for the money
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are thinking of buying this handheld, make sure you understand what you are getting. It is not top of the line anymore. It does not have a high-resolution (320x240) screen, a super-fast ARM processor, built-in wireless connectivity, and it cannot play MP3's or videos. If you want these features, take a look at the Tungsten models or the Zire 71.That being said, however, this handheld is simply the best in its price range. Indoors, the color screen is phenomenal and outdoors it is readable except in the most direct sunlight. The battery life is quite reasonable and the battery charges quickly. The m130 comes bundled with DataViz Documents To Go, for easy editing of Word and Excel documents on the go. DocsToGo also lets you view PowerPoint shows. There are hundreds of free games available for download, as well as both shareware (Liberty) and freeware (Phoinix) Game Boy emulators, which further expand the library of available games.
If you ever *do* decide you want some more advanced features, many are available with add-on accessories. The m130 may have only 8MB of memory built in, but the SecureDigital / MultiMediaCard expansion slot provides virtually limitless storage. It may not have built-in Bluetooth, but the Palm Bluetooth SDIO card, which snaps into the SecureDigital slot, provides this capability. The Palm Universal Connector on the bottom snaps into a lot more than just the charger / sync cradle, including wired and wireless modems, digital cameras, keyboards, printers, and GPS units!
If you want an afforable handheld with a high "cool" factor and lots of room to grow, the m130 is the best pick.