PalmOne IIIc Personal Handheld Organizer
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $299.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

For the technophile who refuses to see the world in black and white,Palm has created the Palm IIIc handheld--a color version of the company'simmensely popular Palm III handheld. Measuring 5.06 by 3.17 by 0.67 inches andweighing less than 7 ounces, the Palm IIIc handheld is one of the smallest andlightest full-color handhelds available. Its active-matrix screen producesvivid, crisp colors and is viewable from many angles in both dim and brightlight.

While the color screen may be enough to dazzle many prospective users, the PalmIIIc handheld still performs all the functions of earlier models of the PalmIII. It offers date book, address book, mail, to-do list, memo pad, expense,calculator, and security applications. Its built-in 8 MB of memory is as high astorage capacity as is available in any Palm handheld. To quantify what 8 MBcapacity means, the Palm IIIc handheld can hold 10,000 addresses, five years ofappointments, 3,000 to-do items, 3,000 memos, and 400 e-mail messages. There iseven leftover storage space for databases, books, image viewers, and games,making the Palm IIIc handheld an ally to any serious PDA user.

Equipped with a HotSync cradle and software, the Palm IIIc handheld is ready forlocal and remote synchronization out of the box. You can back up or transferdata to and from the handheld and your desktop PC or Macintosh (specialconnectors required) in minutes. It's also ready for a modem (availableseparately) and the Internet with its TCP/IP software. The Palm IIIc handheldincludes an infrared port, allowing you to beam data and applications to anyother infrared-enabled Palm OS handheld or to connect to other infrared-enableddevices such as cellular phones, pagers, and laptops.

The Palm IIIc handheld runs for about two weeks on a fully charged lithiumbattery, which is included. The box also includes a synchronizing HotSync cradleand battery charger, a metal stylus, organizer software, a handbook, Palm'sGetting Started guide, and a DB-25 adapter. ... Read more

Features

• 8 MB RAM stores thousands of addresses, to-do items, memos, and more
• Beautiful high-contrast TFT color display; includes extensive suite of color-enhanced applications
• Long-life rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• Easily transfer data from your handheld to your PC or Macintosh
• What's in the box: Palm IIIc, lithium battery, synchronizing HotSync cradle, protective flip lid, battery charger, metal stylus, organizer software, handbook, Palm's Getting Started guide, and a DB-25 adapter

Reviews (95)

3 1/2 Years of Day in and Day Out Use
The Palm IIIc is by all accounts a dinosaur by today's PDA Standards.But there was a time when this was leading-edge PDA technology.Back in 2000, this was Palm's first entry into the Color PDA market (using a Palm OS). In fairness, the market and technology have truly now headed to pace where most consumers can't even keep up. However, if you aren't interested in having the latest/greatest technology, the Palm IIIc may be a true bargain if you are looking for solid PDA technology.

When Palm released the IIIc, it was based on the highly successful flagship PDA - the Palm III.It would contain 8MB of memory - back in 2000 this was very good. It also would make use of a lithium ion battery. No more battery changes - you could easily just place the Palm IIIc cradle and a AC Adapter would plug into the cradle and you could get a charge (and powering on a PC was not necessary). While the standard Palm III had a gray casing, the IIIc was more black. There was a rumor that the color display was a battery hog. I can honestly say in the 3 1/2 years I had my Palm IIIc, I never had an issue regarding the battery.It comes with a sturdy stylus. The OS that comes with the Palm IIIc out of the box is OS 3.5.I never bothered or had a need to upgrade it - it did the job just fine for me.I never had an issue with loading applications. I make major use of HanDBase and AvantGo and all the applications run smoothly with no crashing.

There are two issues I have had with the device.If you are buying this used - you should be aware of them. The first is the cover - the cover is plastic and is essential for keeping your screen clean and scratch free. Twice I have had the problem of a crack in the plastic on the hinge area. I had a heck of a time trying to get a replacement (see my next paragraph on accessories) - I eventually got one used and payed way too much for it on an online auction.That one then cracked as well and this time I resorted to superglue.The second issue is that after 3 1/2 years of use, the writing area has seemed to have worn out and my Graffiti isn't getting recognized consistently anymore I used the Palm IIIc everyday - several times a day.It got a workout, but I still expect that to last longer than it did. It was this problem that led me to upgrade my PDA.

Accessories are in general a consumer ripoff with any product and Palm IIIc is no exception. What I have noticed about PDA accessories - especially Palm ones is that they are way overpriced when they are being sold, but if you wait to long you can't get replacement parts.I thought it was ridicolous how difficult I had to look around for a replacement cover.If you buy this used, you won't have an easy time getting accessories and parts. On the positive side, I did wait and get a keyboard and Travel adapter that was being cleared out in a clearance rack at a rock bottom price ($30 for keyboard and $20 for travel adapter). Just another gripe here -why can't Palm (or anyone else) figure a way to let you upgrade your PDAs and keep all of your same accessories. I think people would be more apt to upgrade their PDAs.

One other note on the color display - it won't give you nearly the same pixel resolution that you can get on today's newer models, but it isn't all that bad.

Look out and you may actually get a great deal and get a lot of use.Ask a lot of questions on the condition of it if its used.I got 3 1/2 years of some of the toughest daily use around. I feel I got my money's worth.

Still a solid value
Great, with one caveat: *very* hard to find replacement batteries nowadays -- you will eventually need one.There is only one place I know where you can order it (cheap, only $35 for a lithium ion rechargable):
http://store.craytonelectronics.com/craytonelectronics/paiireba.html

This was the first-ever color PDA, I bought one of the first ones and used it to death.Finally after banging the heck out of it, I upgraded to a Tungsten, but the IIIc is great for anybody who just needs basic Palm functionality with a color screen.

Bought this as a gift for my "has it all" boyfriend...
Not knowing what to get my boyfriend for Christmas this year, I figured he could benefit from a PDA.I did hours of research on various makes and models of PDAs on amazon.com (because I take customer reviews pretty seriously).I was 100% sold on this model.Not only did I get to check out all the specs, but there was an option to "see it in action" (I didn't get to play with it before he did because we're currently across the country from each other.And that's another plus -- I took a chance and it turned out great!).Even though it's not the latest and most high-tech model out there, my extremely finicky (when it comes to electronics) boyfriend has done nothing but rave about it.He is very impressed by the crispness of the color screen and how no-nonsense it is, and especially the size of the memory which is 8 MB.It comes with simple organizational stuff like to-do lists, calendars, address/phone number book and more, which can all be backed up on your home computer.It also has a rechargeable battery which is good for the forgetful types (hence why I bought him a PDA in the first place), and can last without a charge for close to two weeks.For the great price and overall package of aesthetics, size, and an easy use, I highly recommend this Palm for the no-frills, first-time PDA owner. ... Read more

Asin: B00004RC2E
Subjects:  1. Personal Digital Assistant (PDA, Electronic Organizer)    2. Palm Connected    3. Handheld (Hand Held)   

Kensington Deluxe NoteBook Traveler (64072)
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $64.95
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

• Comfortable, reinforced EasyGrip handle
• Padded computer compartment
• Numerous inside pockets hold both business and computing accessories
• Protection comes from foam padding and sturdy wire frame
• Self-repairing zippers and industrial rivets to maximize durability and strength

Reviews (20)

Good Sturdy Case
I bought this one few months back for my Toshiba laptop.......the case is quite strong thou a lill small for my 15" Toshiba Satellite.....but on the other side this bag is quite strong and sturdy...and is compact too....if u r thinking that u can also put ur files n other documents in the case itself along with ur laptop then this is not the bag for u.....

Pros: Very Strong, Good Quality fabric n zippers, Water Proof, Very Light and just the right size, Smart looking too
Cons: Wont recommend for 15" Laptops, wont carry ur books or big files....

overall i think this a very good bag for its price.

Perfect fit for HP Pavilion ze5300
I have an HP Pavilion ze5385us (ze5300 series) and this thing fits my laptop perfectly.The front pocket can fit the power supply, an infrared mouse, an infrared transmitter, and a headphone just fine. There is another large pocket inside that I use to store my CDROMs (it can hold up to 8 CDROM covers).Another inside raised pocket is large enough to hold my box of business cards and a 100-tablet migraine-heache bottle. The back-side pocket is slimmer but is big enough to hold my composition notebook & a newspaper. It's perfect for my needs and it looks quite decent. I would highly recommend it.

Small, light, elegant
I'm very happy with the bag, it exceeded my expectations. My 15" Toshiba satellite fits perfectly, I'm using one of the adjustable paddings to better secure the notebook. It will accomodate thicker laptops, so if yours is really thin, you might want to look for another bag. More than enough compartments for my needs, two big exterior ones for folders or cd's and a few interior ones for your mouse or power supply.

Great value, I sincerely recommend it. ... Read more

Asin: B00001OPGT
Sales Rank: 25783
Subjects:  1. Carrying Cases and Bags    2. Notebook (Laptop) Computers    3. Accessories (Accessory)    4. Bags (Bag)    5. Cases (Case)    6. Notebook (Note Book)    7. Laptop   

Koss CDP-1740ACP Personal CD Player with Car Pack and 6-Digit Display (Translucent Blue)
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $79.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

The attractive CDP1740ACP portable CD player from Koss comes with a caradapter kit that enables you to plug the player into your vehicle's cassettedeck and lighter. With its 40-second memory buffer, you won't have to worryabout CDs skipping while you're driving.

The CDP1740ACP has a blue transparent lid with control functions positioned inthe center, where they're easily accessible. The player has a 6-digit LCD, whichdisplays track, minutes, and seconds.

The dynamic bass boost system (DBBS) adds punch to lower frequencies, and youcan program the CDP1740ACP to play songs in a specific sequence. You can alsorepeat tracks and play songs in random order.

The CD player comes with a car adapter kit, stereo headphones, and an AC/DCadapter. ... Read more

Features

• Six-digit LCD display offers track and time info
• Included headphones match color of CD player
• Personal CD player supports audio CDs, plus CD-R/RW discs
• Car kit contains cassette and cigarette lighter DC adaptors
• 40 seconds of anti-skip protection; 24-track programmable play mode

Reviews (43)

Okay...but...
I bought this cdplayer with carkit about a year ago and some months, summer of 2000. It worked great the first few months/weeks, but then the buttons just started going wierd on me, and not functioning correctly. Maybe there was a cross of information, because the back track button actually plays forward, and yeah...

And then about a week or so ago the thing just started skipping after 17secs worth of playing on any song/track.

Given, the cd player has lasted for so long, its a nice buy. But if youre looking for a long lasting investment, i suggest that you take your money else where. spend that extra buck and buy sony, or something.

Think of it as a one-year rental
The player worked great for about a year. A few weeks ago the buttons started having a mind of their own: pressing 'forward' sometimes turns on 'repeat' or 'shuffle', pressing 'stop' usually makes it go back one track so I have to press stop four or five times before it actually stops. I had to replace the cassette adapter after a couple of months, but overall it has been worth the $30 for a year's use.

Buyer Beware....
Beware if you purchase this product....you'll need to purchase another one pretty soon! Koss products do not last. I have to say...this one has superior sound quality and does not drain the battery too quickly....that is if the anti-skip is off. I bought this discman about a year ago...and 3 or 4 months ago it started acting up.....will not fast forward or rewind correctly within a track....will not go to the track you want it to go to....will sometimes shut off for no apparent reason. Sure, it's a good price...but I recommend investing your money in something better....Sony, Panasonic, etc. ... Read more

Asin: B00004U8SJ
Subjects:  1. Portable Compact Disc Player (Personal CD)    2. cd player (cdplayer)   

Rio 600 32 MB Digital Audio Player (MP3/WMA)
Average Customer Review:
Electronics (26 June, 2000)

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

With the Rio 600, Diamond adds customizable features and high-end audio you can't get from other players. Capture and play back up to a hour of digital-quality music from the Internet or your CDs. Seize your audio, master your mix, retool your memory, even select your faceplate color--it's complete freedom of choice.

The Rio 600 supports the most popular audio formats like MP3 and WMA, and it is upgradable to support emerging digital standards so your Rio is always up to date. SDMI compliance means you can download secure tracks from all the major recording labels. The 32 MB of memory will hold up to an hour of digital-quality music and 16 hours of spoken word. You can also upgrade your Rio 600 with separate snap-on memory backpacks up to 340 MB to give you up to 9 hours of music playback. The USB interface allows you to download songs from your PC or Mac to your Rio faster than with any other interface type. ... Read more

Features

• MP3 Audio
• Can accept additional memory backpacks to expand memory up to 340 MB
• PC and Mac compatible
• 32 MB of built-in flash memory
• Large, easy-to-read LCD screen
• Fast USB connectivity

Reviews (248)

Great little player at the time.
I've had my little Rio for 5 years now and am passing this little jewel on to my youngest son for part of his 15th birthday.For what it is, it's an excellent little player.I use it when I'm studying and when it runs out, I know it's time for a break :-)

My only complaint about this is that I can't seem to find the memory pack anywhere now.

All in all, a great little player.

I use it since 2000, for nearly five years already!!
Yes I bought in early 2000 it is nearly five years. At that times this player was incredible and as I can see it is still around, and still so.. The memory was high that times now it is a little small but I put my best songs and it is enough for that. Since they are my best songs I repeat and repeat. It is robust great functioning but it consumes batteries terrible. Even it is off it consumes so take the batteries away. I bought NiMh batteries to charge and carry more than one in journeys. USB is very good and to put songs is a childs play. The software makes WMA's automatically from your CD's. Even cddb support is there. The colour the shape is still buzzy and awesome. The buttons are quality. A negative point: there is no radio. It would be better with radio. There is even playlist and other funcitons related that I found ridiculous because with just 32MB it is one playlist and it's enough.. maybe they thought about the legendery "backpacks" to boost the memory which is impossible to reach especially here in Turkey..
Sound quality is brilliant and crystal clear. A must for travellers and gadget lovers (that's me!:)

Cheap but Good
I have had one going non stop for 3 months and it hasn't given up. I use one to pipe in about 30 minutes of background music in a room that people visit. The software was OK and it got me up and running.It plays WMA files which are smaller then MP3 files and heck I can't tell the difference. ... Read more

Asin: B00004SPUN
Subjects:  1. Diamond rio    2. Portable Audio    3. MP3 MP 3 Player    4. MP3 Player (MP 3)   

Mobile WinFax 1.0
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM

US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Stay on the scene like a fax machine! If James Brown has a Palm organizer, you know he's using Mobile WinFax software to close business deals and hire lawyers. All he needs is a modem and a free telephone line to send and receive faxes from anywhere in the world. All the benefits of faxes--signatures, diagrams, and other personal touches--are included with all the convenience of e-mail. Store messages for future or repeated use, attach large files easily, and send to as many recipients as you can think of--all with only a few keystrokes.

You can import files from your main computer's WinFax PRO, or create your own on the fly--either way, professional-looking documents appear in your correspondents' machines. The software is remarkably intuitive and easy to use; you'll be faxing in minutes. Free yourself from dependence on stationary computers or fax machines--install Mobile WinFax, and make your organizer the hardest working Palm in show business. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Caution! This product is discontinued by the publisher!
From [the website]:

"Mobile WinFax 1.0 has been discontinued - effective as of May 24th.

"Fee-based technical support will be available until June 30th, 2000. On-line technical support will be available until August 21st, 2000. There will be no replacement product."

As a Palm VII/VIIx user, I would strongly suggest wireless users try J2.com or other products available at rovenet.com, but there is no Symantec support for this product. (Which is completely typical for Symantec; see Norton CrashGuard and Norton Desktop under extinct-ware.) ... Read more

Asin: B00002S5IM
Subjects:  1. PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) Software    2. Palm Pilot (Palmpilot)    3. Handspring Hand spring visor    4. Business    5. Handheld (Hand Held)   

Lonely Planet CitySync
Average Customer Review:
CD-ROM
list price: $49.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

While there are fine freeware products that present maps and similarinformation, sometimes it's just worth investing the cash in a product asfantastic as Lonely Planet's CitySync. So well designed and so encompassing, andyet bite-size, CitySync provides information in categories such as shopping,nightlife, safety, and sleeping in exactly the manner most likely toplease travelers most. Integrated maps, keywords to learn more specifics, up-to-datephone numbers, and other vital information from a trusted source make thisa key purchase for tech-savvy travelers.

The product was painless to install, but it's worth describing some of thetechnical aspects of loading the program to a Palm. Like the Palm platform,CitySync is Mac and Windows compatible, so owners of either platform can beserved. We tested the product on a 2MB Handspring Visor and had more than enough room to store the informationCitySync provided. After installing the product on our hard drive, we were ableto seamlessly upload the specific cities we chose. One caveat: although manycities are provided, purchasing the software allows only four cities to beinstalled.

Due to the limited window space, the interface is necessarily complicated. Themain screen is icon based, though, and easy to understand. Once you select ahotel or location for more information, things get more confusing. There are aseries of drop-down menus that guide you through the vast number of choices.Having spent an hour or two playing with the program, we determined thatunderlying architecture of the program is sound. It's easy to understand thatone series of drop-downs is, for example, a list of neighborhoods within asection of Paris.

Where CitySync is truly exemplary, though, is in two areas: maps and reviews.These two key elements are also linked, which is an impressive and much-neededfunctionality. (The makers also include a notepad function where you, the user,can make additional comments as if writing in the margins of a Lonely Planetguidebook.) The maps are clear and well marked, and the content of the reviewsis wildly well written. For example, match these introductory sentences to thecity they describe:

• "On a cold, brutally windy day, when the temperature is subzero andstrong gusts keep you from walking down the street, you may find yourselfwondering who the hell decided to build a city and settle here?"
• "[This is a city] that demands the suspension of disbelief--the moment youstart to take it seriously you miss the point."
• "[City dwellers] may talk fast and walk fast and pay $10 for a sandwich, butthis megacity sometimes demands that you assault it with a game plan."
• "First-time visitors often arrive with all sorts of expectations: of grandvistas, of highbrow intellectuals pontificating in streetside cafes, of romance,of naughty nightclub revues."

By avoiding blandness and giving the reader a true sense of the city, the LonelyPlanet authors both inform and inspire. (The answers, by the way, are the fourcities we picked: Chicago, Las Vegas, New York, and Paris.) A fantastic use ofthe Palm platform, Lonely Planet CitySync should be the standard for Palmproducts set on delivering readable and engaging content. --JenniferBuckendorff ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Worth the price.
After test driving one of the cities from the CitySync site I bought thesoftware and I have not been disappointed. I decided to test drive thesoftware by trying a city that I was familiar with and, thereby, check theaccuracy and usefulness of the information provided.

I found theinformation to be basic for someone familiar with a particular city, but itwas accurate and potentially useful for a tourist. After buying thesoftware I loaded another city. (Even after buying the software you'relimited to loading no more than four cities, so carefully select the citiesyou will use most.) I loaded Vegas prior to my last trip there and, eventhough I'm fairly familiar with the city, I found the information to beuseful.

The restuarant reviews may be somewhat typical and brief, butwhen you need to make a choice on the run a quick check of the Palm can bevery helpful. Also, once you're familiar with using the software the mapscan be useful and much easier to carry than a paper fold-up map. ... Read more

Asin: B00004U1QS
Subjects:  1. Handheld (Hand Held)    2. Handspring hand spring visor    3. PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) Software    4. Palm Pilot (Palmpilot)    5. Travel    6. city sync    7. Great Deals (Outlet store)