John Cholewa
Member
Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 43 |
They are more expensive, but if you have no Springboard modules, now might not be too bad a time to seriously consider getting a Handera PDA. They're doing right now for innovation what Handspring did last year for innovation.
Their two models, the TRG Pro ($255 with 8MB DRAM, 16MB CF) and the Handera 330 ($300 if you order it from Dell during their current promotion) are pretty interesting. The TRG Pro is slower, and on its way out, but the Handera 330 is really great looking. It supports Palm III accessories and CompactFlash accessories, and it can take both CompactFlash and MMC memory. It has a 240x320 screen with a virtual graffiti area and a collapsible silkscreen (you can "turn off" the graffiti area for extra screen real estate). It can either use regular AA batteries or a lithium-ion rechargable battery, and you can power and/or recharge the device through a DC port on the side. It has the really useful "jog wheel" and aux button found on the Blackberry and Clies, and the Microphone can actually be used without having to add expensive modules (the Visor has a microphone, but you apparently need to buy springboard modules to actually use it). Additionally, it seems to have a superior speaker in there. Graffiti hotspots for contrast and audio control are there as well (the interesting thing is that these probably could be changed visually via hacks!). You can schedule automatic backups to the Flash memory. The 330 also comes with a free copy of QuickOffice, which is a great spreadsheet/PalmDOC editor combo that I use on my Visor, only this particular version is custom designed for the Handera's extra features.
Aargh. I wish that Handspring could make stuff like this. 
-JC
http://www.jc-news.com/
|