Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 22

Intresting evolution...

I'm pretty intrested in how this will turn out when everything is on the table and we get the actual opened shrink wrap results rather than all the speculation and hype from tradeshows. I just read an article saying that the screen was comparable to a game boy, that throws a serious wrench in the works. There also aren't any mmc devices shipping for it yet. The fact that it's an industry standard media/IO option and not propritary is a plus, with palm's presence in this market it's almost certain that we will see their expandability preference flourish faster than the springboard spec. Possibly even open their users to a more global consumer options market. I'm sure their promise about the Universal Connector's lifespan will put lots of companies at ease too. I'd hate to get rid of my compact flash network I have going on here, but that's the pain of being a tech geek in this fast paced technology ;)

I really love the feel and texture of a metallic pda though. The Prism has a nice screen but the plastic case is pretty embarassing after a week of use it looks like you've had it for 2 years with the paint wear and button label disappearence. The jamming stylus slot isn't fun to deal with either.

The USB, and Expansion edge that many advocated for the HS route is pretty much becoming nonexistant. It's now a matter of preference between details.

The m505's battery lasts longer, more software comes with it, better quality software IMHO, the memory is cheaper and standard, it's better integrated and it's beautiful aluminum. If they decide to make changes to the OS to incorperate more device functionality and the like the memory is Flash-upgradable with a simple download. I'll be watching as I'm ready to move to color. If real world tests can back up that orgasmic time quote on battery life then I'll be pretty amazed. I sure hope I see some better debating over here than "buy a prism just because it's on the shelves right now". Either way, we're going to be playing the speculation game for awhile. Ahh, I love technology.

-lucid

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Mineola, NY USA
Posts: 161

Even if the m505 lives up to the expectations (hopes?)some here are expressing (and that rarely happens), by the time it actually comes out, and by the time there are an array of SD modules to match the ones already widely available for my Prism, it is more than likely that Handspring will have a new WOW Visor which will beat the 505, and may even allow me to still use my springboards and keyboard.

Given that, I have no interest in an m505. I'll stick with my *presently* very useful, multi-module equipped (8mg; modem; Magellan GPS; MemPlug as well as the Stowaway and travel charger) Swiss Army Prism.

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-Michael-

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 24

From the Wall Street journal today....

"But the two new monochrome models by Palm and Handspring are welcome redesigns. Just stay away from Palm's new color offering."


They reviewed the m500, m505 and visor edge. They said the palm's screen doesn't even come close to the prism's and is not worth the $$.

Guess that ends this thread. I think you'd be a fool to pick the m505 over a prism.

Now...if we could just get a color edge sometime soon.....

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 22

Eh?

I think only a fool takes the opinions of others instead of seeing for himself. With that said, I had the opportunity to view a m505 at a show over in Honolulu. The screen is slightly dimmer indoors than a prism, but the "grid" effect is definitely more visible on the prism. I'd have to compare it to people that have a "Theater" picture quality setting on their TV's/DVD, the m505 looks richer and cleaner than the prism. Outdoors the m505 wins, no contest. I've put in a pre-order for one the other day. You really don't get the full effect until you hold it and start using it. That metal casing seems to massage your hand. I'm still a bit skeptical about the current status of SD devices. It would be nice for them to have a chart of current companies projects like HS did, but that goes both ways too, because I know I was waiting for the sixpack module and the infomitt pager.

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 61

I had the opportunity to see one myself and I am telling you you'll regret it unless you stand outside in bright sunlight whenever you use your m505. The screen is not suitable for image viewing in any other lighting condition.

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Once in a while you get shown
the light....

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 380

I agree the M505 is a complete, total waste of time. Everybody that has them on backorder should contact Palm and cancel their orders. This will move me further up the queue.

Thank you for your help.

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 69

HOW CAN YOU COMPARE A PALM PRODUCT THAT THEY KEEP MOVING THE INTRODUCTION DATE ON???

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 380

When did they move the shipment date? Before the introduction, rumors said that the M500/M505 were going to be available in late April/early May. In the announcement, Palm said late April/early May. In the earnings warning last week they said volume shipments would happen a month before the end of fy Q4. Q4 for Palm ends the beginning June. A month before that is late April/early May.

As much as I hate preannounced products, I don't see how they have changed dates at all.

BTW - Palm has released the M505 ROM to developers. I believe that this means that they are moving into production as we speak. That would also support availability in about a month (late April/early May).

Last edited by bradhaak on 04-02-2001 at 11:53 PM

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 380

I just got back from a meeting at Palm Headquarters. While there I got to see an M505 next to a Prism. The room lighting was florescent - not particularly bright. I also got to see it with the light dimmed and under a brighter light that was probably similar to sunlight.

In the normal, slightly dim lighting, the display quality was not comparable to the Prism. With the sidelight on, it was still fairly dark. It was probably equivalent to a Prism at slightly less than 1/4 brightness on the backlight. In this light, it was still very readable. The color palette was definitely visible. Even in this light the display still looked better and had much higher contrast than my Edge.

In the darkened room (not totally dark), the display looked great. The light was more than enough to brightly light up the display. I only got to see this momentarily, but it looked very good. This makes sense since anytime that I use my Prism or IIIC in a darkened room, I turn the backlight down past the brightness of the M505.

Under bright illumination, the reflective color display looked great. At this point it was not next to the Prism, but from experience I know how badly the Prism washes out in these conditions. The M505 under bright light looks almost as good as the Prism does indoors.

Physically, the M505 and M500 are much more rounded and cleaner looking than the Vx. Really nice looking. The backlit graffiti area was very cool. Just this feature almost makes the M505 worth buying. I didn't get a chance to see any SD or MMC cards in use, but did get to see the new modem sled. It looks smaller than the pictures, but it is still bigger than any of the Springboard modems.

All in all I was very impressed. Palm could have put in a more powerful sidelight, but that would have sucked down the batteries. It really looks like Palm has put together a unit that balances all of the feature and is more usable in all conditions than any other PDA that I have seen (including monochrome ones). It works satisfactorily to excellently in all lighting conditions. It is small. It is fast. It is color. It has reasonable battery life. It has expansion capabilities.

Let's just say that I am not canceling my order with Palm. As a matter of fact, I am now more anxious.

All of my observations are very subjective. I wanted to like the M505 going in and I had certain preconceptions about how it would perform based on using other devices such as my IPAQ. In spite of these preconceptions, I think that my observations are a pretty accurate representation of one preproduction or early production device. If the actual production units are at least comparable, I will be very satisfied.

Last thought - If you are someone who uses a Prism mostly indoors with the backlight set to full brightness and complain the it should be brighter, the M505 is not the PDA for you to buy.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: at work...
Posts: 736

quote:

---

Originally posted by bradhaak
In the darkened room (not totally dark), the display looked great. The light was more than enough to brightly light up the display. I only got to see this momentarily, but it looked very good. This makes sense since anytime that I use my Prism or IIIC in a darkened room, I turn the backlight down past the brightness of the M505.

---

That's exactly what I do, too. When I'm reading at night, the backlight is usually too bright, so I turn it down all the way. In moderately dim office lighting, however, I like to turn it all the way up (which of course drains the batteries like crazy). I'm expecting that when I get my m505, I'll like it's screen much better than my Prism's outdoors and in other bright light situations, the same in very dark situations, and probably not as much in moderately dim conditions. It's a trade-off I think is worth it if it means I don't have to keep seeing those low battery warnings. Maybe I'll just try to turn on more lights at work.

Thanks for the detailed 'review', brad.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Champaign, IL
Posts: 200

Just wanted to give a big thanks to bradhaak for making me consider selling my firstborn to pay for an m505. Your post was a heck of a lot more useful than the WSJ and Fortune "reviews." (I guess those guys stayed indoors in "testing" their units and condemning the screen, unless there's some variation between the preproduction devices.)

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Mineola, NY USA
Posts: 161

While I' not considering running out to sell my Prism, I must say that I am impressed with Palm's decision mentioned by Brad, to include a backlit graffitti area. My Prism is delightful for playing games at night in the dark, but all but useless for taking notes or entering information due to the darkness of the graffitti area.

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-Michael-