Entered CNET Catalog: 11/24/2004
SKU: P80722ML-BP-GPS
Manufacturer: Palm
Manufacturer description
Now you can shoot photos and capture and watch video clips anywhere you go. Or listen to MP3s (video and MP3 capabilities require an expansion card, sold separately) as you take your tunes wherever life takes you. When it comes to productivity, the Zire 72 handheld means business. Create and edit Word- and Excel-compatible files. Or get wireless e-mail and Internet access with its built-in Bluetooth technology (requires a compatible Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone and an ISP, both sold separately). All on a brilliant color display that keeps your whole life looking good. Life moves pretty fast, but that doesn't mean you can't capture its moments. Thanks to the Zire 72 handheld's built-in camera, you can shoot photos and video clips, then share them with friends and co-workers. Simply show them in person or download and send them via e-mail from your computer. Create entire albums of pictures and videos on your handheld. Carry your tunes with you wherever you go, and listen to them using the built-in speakers or a pair of stereo headphones (headphones sold separately). It won't slow you down, either. You can play MP3s while you're scheduling appointments, adding contacts, or just enjoying a spare moment. With the Zire 72 handheld, your life just sounds better. The Zire 72 handheld keeps your business tools close at hand by letting you create and edit Word- and Excel-compatible documents. Not to mention opening up ever-popular Adobe Acrobat files.User opinions
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User Rating: 
6/10
Only use for Nav... with some trouble
Pros: Nav software decent
Cons: power jack gets damaged, low battery life, screen wash out in sun
Review:
I purchased this with the navigation GPS package. I figured I could get the navigation and also have all the Palm functions. The navigation by Tom Tom is fair. It loaded easily enough, offers Canada and all of US. If you want a large region in the palm (like the north east, not just one state) you will need to upgrade the SD memory card. The screen is hard to see in bright sun. Most of the time directions are fine, with bad choices sometimes being given instead of better. the system will recalulate the route when you miss a turn or go the way you want to. Also, the bracket is not a custom fit so securing the unit in the suction cup base is tricky. The battery life stinks on this Palm so you must have it plugged into your cigarette lighter for it to work. The screen and bluetooth (which is how it talks to the GPS receiver) drains the power fast. Because of the poor battery performance, I have lost my entries in the contact list because the unit was dead for a few days. I do not use the camera, recorder, and now I don't use the calendar nor address book, so in my opinion, the Palm based GPS is not more attractive than a dedicated unit. The biggest complaint is that the power cord has a long adapter so it sticks out the bottom of the Palm about 2.5 inches. It is prone to get wiggled and pushed side to side, for example against the top of the dashboard. This in turn damages the power socket. I have gone through two Palms with this failure. You can see it happening because the charge LED blinks when you wiggle the cord. recently, I tried the Verizon wireless VZ Navigator and it blows away this system. Maps are current, screen is clearer, instructions speak out the street names, not just "Left, Right, etc". Another problem is that the GPS takes a good 10 minutes to get the GPS signal, and you have to exit and reenter the Nav application once it does.
User Rating: 
8/10
Servers many functions
Pros: Can be day planner, camera, and MP3 player
Cons: Camera and video is low quality like a toy, battery life is short, and needs batches for hot sync
Review:
I recently (July 2006) bought a used Zire 72 for $100. It was replacing a palm 515 that I paid $400 for 4 years ago. I wanted a palm and also thought it would be good to have all the other features. It does work very well as a palm. As a MP3 play it works very well. I have a 1 GB card that can hold lot?s of music and the sound is good. You can create playlists. The biggest negative is that the battery does not last very long when you use it for any functions other then as a basic palm. The MP3 player drains the batteries after 1-2 hr but the camera or video drains it very quickly. I don?t think anyone would buy this to use as their main camera. It does come in handy to have a low quality camera/video in your pocket.
I am having a problem that after I Hotsync the palm needs to reboot. This is a known issue but I have not yet found the correct set if batches.
I can understand why other people didn?t like this model @ $250-400. However for $100 it is a great deal.
I am having a problem that after I Hotsync the palm needs to reboot. This is a known issue but I have not yet found the correct set if batches.
I can understand why other people didn?t like this model @ $250-400. However for $100 it is a great deal.
User Rating: 
4/10
Palm is going down hill fast
Pros: Camera, Bluetooth
Cons: Slow camera, hard to write using palm graffiti
Review:
This is my 4th, and by far WORST palm. I paid about $400 for mine, yet it wasn't built as well as the IIIxe that I started with 7+ years ago (or the V or the 515). The buttons are cheap, and the camera takes so long to take a picture that it's impossible to take an action photo. I was pretty good with using graffiti to write with, but I've had this thing for over 4 months and I still can't get the hang of using it quickly without a million mistakes. Not something I'd recommend, and I used to be a big fan of Palm. If they don't get there act together soon, they won't be selling many more.
User Rating: 
9/10
Excellent product!
Pros: Multiple functionality
Cons: Poor battery life
Review:
I've been using the Palmone Zire 72 with GPS for 2 weeks. It is truly an amazing product which has multiple uses for the everyday person. The digital camera is ok for daytime pictures since it doesn't have a flash. The MP3 player sounds great. The Palm itself is a fantastic PDA and the GPS is even more amazing! I had some problems getting a GPS signal, but I moved it to the back of my car and now it works excellent. I would highly recommend this product!
User Rating: 9/10
Great product, Highly recommend
Pros: easy to use, fast, small, great looking, mp3, navi
Cons: no built in wifi, battery a bit short on life
Review:
The nav is great, very accurate, easy to use. Doubles as mp3 player, good sound. Excellent value got the nav pak and 1 gig card for about $400 from buy.com. Highly recommend for nav and mp3, plus has all needed pda features but that's just a bounus would have galdly spent the money for just the nav and mp3. Camera is so-so, would not have minded it not having one to get rid of lump on back from the camera. Wish it had wi-fi built in, but can be purchased seperatly, nothings perfect. Battery is a bit short on life when using the bluetooth for nav, but that's about it. Purchased a dell axim x30 before this and returned it, much happier with this and palm os that ms mobile. Installtion pack for car is excellent. Overall 4.5 out of 5.
