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CNET editors' rating:
3.0 stars
Good
Detailed editors' rating - Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 148 reviews
- See all user reviews
Product summary
The good: Always-on wireless e-mail; elegant design; expansion slot for adding memory.
The bad: Mail application isn't industrial strength; can't use the unit as a cell phone; only 8MB of memory for e-mail.
The bottom line: Though it's a significant update to the Palm VIIx, the i705 faces very stiff competition from rivals RIM, Handspring, and Samsung.
Specifications: OS provided: Palm OS 4.1; Installed RAM: 8 MB DRAM; Processor: Motorola 33 MHzMC68VZ328; See full specs
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 01/30/2002
- Updated on:10/31/2002
A Palm with a wireless modem
The i705 is much like other Palm PDAs. Its aluminum case is a bit larger than that of the Palm m500 and m505 but considerably smaller than the VII's. We found the 5.9-ounce device easy to slip into a shirt pocket. Its 3-inch-diagonal, 160x160-pixel monochrome screen is serviceable but looks decidedly low rent compared to that of Sony's CLIE handhelds. Inside, it runs a 33MHz Motorola DragonBall VZ processor with 4MB of ROM, a meager 8MB of RAM, and Palm OS 4.1. The i705 does have a Secure Digital (SD) card expansion slot for adding more memory, but it can't be used to store e-mail. This model uses Palm's universal connector, so it works with cradles, keyboards, and other accessories designed for other recent Palm devices. For those who don't like Palm's Graffiti handwriting system, the company also offers a compatible thumb keyboard ($59).
The big change with this PDA is the built-in wireless modem that works with Cingular Interactive's Mobitex network. The service will cost you $40 per month for unlimited use or $35 per month if you sign up for a year's contract. Palm also offers 100K of data for $20 each month, but that's likely to be too little for almost all users. The advantage of the Cingular network is its wide coverage area in the United States, but data moves at an achingly slow 9.6Kbps. You'll also want to consider that there's no service in Europe or Asia, you can't use the i705 as a cell phone, and this model cannot be upgraded to any of the next-generation wireless networks such as GPRS, which offer higher data speeds.
According to Palm, the i705's rechargeable lithium-polymer battery should power the device for a week between charges with the modem turned on. However, those who send and receive hundreds of e-mails each day should expect a somewhat shortened battery life.
Support for business and personal e-mail
Palm's MultiMail application offers features that will appeal to individuals considering the i705. When you sign up for Palm.net service, you get a username@palm.com e-mail address, and you can easily check up to six POP3 or IMAP4 accounts. On the Palm.net Web site, you can configure the service to regularly check your POP3 accounts and forward the messages to your i705. Competing products such as the RIM BlackBerry and Handspring Treo don't provide such comprehensive e-mail support.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 148 reviews
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