Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 24

Yesterday Sony introduced the new clie in Japan. The big shock was a 320x320 color screen.

Now, there are some rumors flying that the Palm m505 to be introduced monday may have this very same screen.

If it does, what will you do?
Keep the Prism, get the m505 ASAP?

What if the m505 doesn't have the 320x320 screen?
Would go still want it or the Prism?

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

I'd probably go for a 320 x 320 m505, if the price is anything less than outrageous ($550). The apps probably won't look any different until the next OS rewrite, but photographs will look better immediately.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 638

I think that if the M505 had a 320x320 screen, then I might consider getting it. I'm starting to think that the only things that I use are the backup module, and my wireless modem. I'm going to assume that Minstrel will come out with a modem ASAP for the 505, and with jackback, I could have the equalivalent of the backup module. The only thing keeping me back now is the price of it.

BEN

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 61

I am predicting that the m505 screen will be a big disappointment. No more to say, but just wait and see..

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Straubing, Germany
Posts: 71

Why buy a 550$-Palm m505 with a 320x320 screen when you can have this for only 420$? I'd take the new Sony Clie.
Maybe support for 320x320 is a new PalmOS 4 feature we didn't know yet. So perhaps the Sony could be updated to PalmOS 4 easily to use all the new features of this cool screen.

And if the m505 doesn't have that screen? 550$ for 160x160 and 420$ for 320x320? Well, Palm was really not very innvative for the last weeks. So they will have to pay for that.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: The Matrix
Posts: 718

I simply want a Handspring very similar in features like the Sony Clie N700C. That is the real next step in the Palm world, and anything less is a big disappointment.

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-Mikedemo
It's all about how you spend the money.

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 201

quote:

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Originally posted by weberflo
Why buy a 550$-Palm m505 with a 320x320 screen when you can have this for only 420$? I'd take the new Sony Clie.
Maybe support for 320x320 is a new PalmOS 4 feature we didn't know yet. So perhaps the Sony could be updated to PalmOS 4 easily to use all the new features of this cool screen.

And if the m505 doesn't have that screen? 550$ for 160x160 and 420$ for 320x320? Well, Palm was really not very innvative for the last weeks. So they will have to pay for that.

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 2531

I seriously doubt Palm's m505 has 320 x 320 resolution. By their own admition they are letting other companies lead the pack with features and they are incorporating only the ones that work (e.g. an expansion slot made popular by Handspring � and to a limited degree TRG). Even OS 4.0 is just 3.5 with inclusions that Handspring has already made (to a greater or lesser degree). I'd bet money that the m505 has 160 x 160 resolution. I remember rumors that the Edge was going to be color and have more than 8MB RAM. I think these "rumors" are started by wishful thinkers who have no actual knowledge of any real features that may be included. hamiltondj, do you want to post a link to where these rumors are "flying," or are you just going to let it hang there. I'd be interested in hunting down where the original came from.

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Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 24

Rumors...

Actually, I can't remember where I saw it but, I believe it was on one of the palm news sites (palminfocenter.com, palmstation.com, PDAbuzz.com). Essentially as I remember reading it, there was some discussion among the people who run those sites and Jeff Kirvin who runs writingonyourpalm.net. I believe there was a statement that it was pure speculation.

Even given that, I thought I had made it clear that 320 x320 was a rumor. If I did not, then I am now. I have absolutely no information that higher screen resolution is coming from palm on the m505

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 2531

Re: Rumors...

quote:

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Originally posted by hamiltondj
Even given that, I thought I had made it clear that 320 x320 was a rumor. If I did not, then I am now. I have absolutely no information that higher screen resolution is coming from palm on the m505

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-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Inglewood, CA, USA
Posts: 390

Prism v. m505 ?? For me it's not the screen that will determine if I stick with my Prism or get the M505. It's whether or not I can run applications directly from the SD card. I rather have 160x160 and have the expansion work like a HS Flash module, than 320x320 where I have to move programs/files to internal memory first. (Although, 320x320 *would* be sweet.)

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I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted paychecks.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 638

quote:

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Originally posted by narnia_77
(Although, 320x320 *would* be sweet.)

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I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted paychecks.

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Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 714

Ben has a good point, I think I can count how many programs support 16-bit with one hand. There are a couple of image programs & Zap2016!. Of course 320x320 would also get rid of the "grid" & make text in most programs easier to read, isn't that why most of us got color? For text to be easier to read.

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Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Inglewood, CA, USA
Posts: 390

quote:

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Originally posted by Matthew Nichols
Of course 320x320 would also get rid of the "grid" & make text in most programs easier to read, isn't that why most of us got color? For text to be easier to read.

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That's exactly why I think 320x320 would be nice. Many 3-party applications might not take advantage of the increased resolution, but most DOC readers should benefit. Since I do a lot of reading, I'm very jealous of MS's ClearType for text. Still, it's not enough for me to give up my Prism yet.

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I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted paychecks.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 16

Well, may or may not be news, but I just read on CNET that the M505 will support only 160x160, so I guess we can put an end to the debate of the M505 being better than the Prism in the screen department. From the description in the article, the M505 sounds just like the Prism(same price even) except that Palm has a Secure Digital expansion slot and of course the Prism has a Springboard slot. The big surprise for me was the additional software they are bundling with it. Among other things, Documents to Go which I think is a pretty nice program to get for free. What I found hilarious is the last part of the article that talks about the first available SD modules. I guess I keep forgetting how truly deprived that the Palm world is not having a backup module or 8/16MB flash. If you're interested, here's the article URL.

http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-20....html?tag=mn_hd

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 24

m505 specs...

Well its 1am on the east coast and after finishing watching the sopranos, I checked the palm site...

the m500 & m505 specs are up...

First things first, as pointed out by previous posters, it looks like the screen res on the m505 is 160 x 160. But it also seems that it will work outside.

2 big surpries for me -

First, the additional bundled software (also pointed out by another poster) : Docs to Go, AOL for palm, powerone calc, mobile internet kit, a photo viewer, a doc viewer (peanut reader, renamed Palm eReader).

Second, it has a vibrating alarm. And it looks like a flashing alarm like the Visor Edge. big plus for palm there, finally doing the obvious and including vibrating alarms - of course we'll find out how well it works.

Other than that, everything that has come out about these units the last 2 weeks seems true - Palm V form factor, m500 for $399, m505 for $449, new hotsync serial/usb connector (why the hell can't palm OS PDA makers agree on a standard here??? Upgrading - either to a m505 or Visor edge renders my portable keyboard - which costs $100 totally useless, among other periphials). And of course SD slot.

There are a few SD offerings...

Backup SD for $40, a dictionary, some city guides and a 16 MB SD module. No explaination how the palm units address the extra memory. Basically the same amount and type of offerings Handspring had when the visor was first introduced. Anyone want to venture a guess when the SD modules will start to approach critical mass like springboard is now??

All in All, I would have to say that unless some further info comes out tomorrow, I'm gonna hold off on an upgrade to my Prism until we get a color Edge. That way all my springboards work and I get the thin form factor when I don't use them. The only addition I think handspring should consider when they introduce the new color Edge is adding the vibrating alarms....

Anyone have any thoughts...???

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Silicon Valley, California
Posts: 173

Yeah...but did you notice how much CHEAPER their expansion modules are compared to springboards? SIXTEEN MEGS OF RAM--THAT YOU CAN READ AND WRITE for only 50 BUCKS!!!

We're paying 80 bucks for 8 megs of read only RAM.

WHAT'S UP WITH THAT???

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 36

I think at this point, the SD card is still considered a storage, where apps have to be copied from the SD card to the main Palm memory in order for it to be usable. So in a sense, the "lower" price of SD card is not as revelant when comparing it to a 16 meg Springboard.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 12

Prism is now, m505 is on pre-order, ship date TBA.

Now, if it were available today, I'd probably go with the m505. Smaller form factor, removable read/write storage, new Palm OS. The Visor's winning features for me were Springboard modules and USB. Alas, the Springboard equivalent of a Palm attachment always takes a little longer to appear, and now Palm has real USB support.
Plus, having a memory slot like that makes a LOT more sense when using an add-on like the eyemodule.

It's going to be an interesting summer for Handspring...

Does anyone know if Palm OS 4.0's 16-bit color apps are going to run in 16-bit on the Prism?

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Inglewood, CA, USA
Posts: 390

quote:

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Originally posted by Gretz99
I think at this point, the SD card is still considered a storage, where apps have to be copied from the SD card to the main Palm memory in order for it to be usable. So in a sense, the "lower" price of SD card is not as revelant when comparing it to a 16 meg Springboard.

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