Entered CNET Catalog: 09/22/2001
SKU: P80703U
Manufacturer: Palm
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Manufacturer description
The Palm m125 handheld is a great place to start. In no time, you'll be adding thousands of addresses, updating your Date Book and managing your To Do List. When you're ready, you can use the Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard expansion card slot and Palm Universal Connector to extend your handheld to fit your lifestyle. Expansion cards let you carry your favorite games, images, and applications with you. With the installation of the included software, your Palm handheld allows you to access the Internet, browse the Web, communicate with friends, and get the information that you want or need. All you need is a modem or compatible data-enabled mobile phone and an ISP account.Product summary
The good: Secure Digital (SD) card slot and Universal Connector for expandability; includes Documents To Go.
The bad: A little overpriced; small screen.
The bottom line: Mate an m500 with an m105, and you get the m125.
Average user rating: from 89 users
3.0 stars
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 10/31/2001
Getting the lines straight
Except for a slightly snazzier, two-tone, gray faceplate, the m125 looks virtually identical to the entry-level Palm m100 and the m105. It has rounded edges and a small but clear, 2-inch, monochrome LCD. There's also a screen cover with a little window that reveals the time at the press of a button.
According to Palm, this model, like the other m100-series handhelds, will run for as long as two months on two AAA batteries. But that's where the similarities end. Under the hood, the m125 has the same specs as the step-up m505, which include a 33MHz processor, 8MB of RAM, and Palm OS 4.0. You'll notice the faster processor when playing games or searching large databases. The 8MB of RAM, used to store data and additional applications, should be plenty for most users.
Like the m500 line, the m125 has an SD card slot. If you fill up the 8MB of built-in memory, just slip a memory card into the slot on the left-hand side of the device. This model also sports Palm's Universal Connector, which works with the supplied USB HotSync cradle and a variety of add-on hardware, including a digital camera and a wireless LAN adapter. But Palm is hardly alone in providing plenty of expansion options; Handspring's Visors all sport Springboard slots, which accept an array of peripheral and memory options.
Office in your pocket
The m125 comes preloaded with the basic Palm software, which includes the Address, the Date Book, the Note Pad, and the To-Do List functions. We're happy to note that, along with the usual assortment of bundled software, you also get DataViz Documents To Go Standard Edition 3.0, which lets you view and edit Word, Excel, and other desktop file types. The bundle includes the Palm Desktop PIM; Chapura PocketMirror for syncing with Microsoft Outlook; and Palm's Mobile Connectivity kit, software that allows you to connect to the Internet via your mobile phone, send e-mail, and do instant messaging.
If you take a look at Palm's product catalog, the $249 (list price) m125 slots nicely into the lineup, right between the m105 and the m500. But Handspring's Visor Neo costs $50 less and sports a larger screen and a Springboard slot. Sony's slick, little CLIE PEG-S320 also sells for $199, and for $299, you can pick up the Visor Prism, which has a color screen and rechargeable batteries. We like the m125, but it's not a bargain at its current price.
User opinions
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4.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
So far no problem, best low end Palm you can buy
Pros: Works really well, programs are easy to install, helps organize daily schedule
Cons: battery, perhaps black and white for some (not me), backlight
Review: This Palm is an amazing product. The digitizer problem everyone is talking about is an easy fix, there is a download from the official site (www.palm.com). This has helped me organize my life, especially my school work. It is quick and easy to store a note or school paper that is due. Programs are easily downloaded and then installed on the Palm, with the updated version of Palm Desktop, via the Palm site. Everything runs smoothly for me on the palm. Batteries are NOT built in, which can cause data loss if you are not careful, but can be corrected by a simple HotSync. You can insert an SD card for more space (which I needed, have a 128MB card and is more than enough space for me). Most programs will fit on your Palm itself, I have a slew of programs currently installed (everything from Chess to an astronomy program to a graphing calculator) and only half of my memory is being used. The basic things you wil need are already installed and use maybe a megabyte out of the 8. The backlight is the big drawback; its a pale on dark green light that doesn't keep clarity very well, but not an issue to keep you from purchasing.
If you want a basic Palm pilot, and you don't need color or huge memory on your palm, this is the one. It gets the neccesities done, and done well.
If you want a basic Palm pilot, and you don't need color or huge memory on your palm, this is the one. It gets the neccesities done, and done well.
User Rating:
1.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Waste of money; GREAT parper weight
Pros: Keeps you organized
Cons: Screen fails, data gets lost
Review: I hope palm has gotten its act together because this is just like the M100. Its lackin many and its unrelyable.
I was in the food store with my list and i just lost the data.
The screen started to have paralx(U have to touch above an item to select it. Note: the Items to the verytop cannot be selected at all) No good battery life for constant use.
O and if u ever decide to miss and drop it, consider your data gone, have to do hard restart and sync with computer.
THe lack of color really makes this unacceptable.
I was in the food store with my list and i just lost the data.
The screen started to have paralx(U have to touch above an item to select it. Note: the Items to the verytop cannot be selected at all) No good battery life for constant use.
O and if u ever decide to miss and drop it, consider your data gone, have to do hard restart and sync with computer.
THe lack of color really makes this unacceptable.
User Rating:
1.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Touchscreen fails, data gets lost
Pros: Expansion card
Cons: Loses all data everytime batteries are changed.
Review: Like others, I had the same problems with the m125. Changing the batteries caused all data to be wiped out, so I had to spend 20 mins. restoring everything, which sapped the life of the new batteries! And after just 2 years the lower-left quadrant of the touchscreen became unusable; of course, that's where all the "okay" and "done" buttons appear, so the unit is basically useless now.
User Rating:
0.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Great disappointment
Pros: compact, an improvement on earlier model
Cons: Graffiti not functioning, digitizier malfunctioning
Review: The M125 fails the first time I used it. This unit was given to me 2 years earlier in 2000. I kept it in the dry box during this period.
From the reviews the digitizier and the graffitti problems are rather common. I wonder if these are due to poor quality control during manufacture, use of defective components or design flaw.
The company should make a statement on why these 2 particular problems are so common with this model. For goodwill the company should recall the defective units and replace with them.
The local palm agent quoted a relatively expensive price to rectify this problem. It is more economical to buy a new PDA.
I will certainly not buy my next PDA from Palm.
From the reviews the digitizier and the graffitti problems are rather common. I wonder if these are due to poor quality control during manufacture, use of defective components or design flaw.
The company should make a statement on why these 2 particular problems are so common with this model. For goodwill the company should recall the defective units and replace with them.
The local palm agent quoted a relatively expensive price to rectify this problem. It is more economical to buy a new PDA.
I will certainly not buy my next PDA from Palm.
User Rating:
2.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Okay but one major problem.
Pros: Low-Priced Unit
Cons: Memory Zapped when batteries replaced
Review: My unit may be defective. Every time I replace the batteries, my information is wiped out and I have to perform a hot sync to restore all my files and info to the PDA. Something must be wrong with it. I have to perform a Hot Sync before and after a battery change or some information will be lost.
User Rating:
0.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
A bad dream that turns into a nightmare
Pros: Good software package. Inexpensive.
Cons: The digitizer (the software that makes sure the screen accurately record your stylus strokes) doesn't work. This also may have something to do with the cheap screen in the M100 series. This is is a known problem and a big one. Palm offers a patch that
Review:
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Does the job, AND the AAA batteries are reliable
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Review: Basically does the job I need - upgradded from a III. Use it continuously. Would like more features, but I particularly like the use of the AAA batteries. They last two to three weeks - I do not have to worry about daily loss of power (like my cell phone).
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Great PDA, but not too exciting
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Review: If you're looking for a PDA that gets the job done for a cheap price, then the m125 is for you. However, the lack of a color screen, and the lack of pretty much everything, lowers its performance. It's a great PDA for storing adresses and information, but when you want to play games, unless you enjoy playing them in black and white and very dim hard-to-see conditions, you will want a different PDA. Trust me, if you purchase this PDA, sooner or later, you will be going out to buy another one.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
$60.00 US at Fry's in Los Angeles...
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Review: ****! $60.00? You can't go wrong. It might be refurbished, but it still has a valid warranty. So far so good.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Good for beginners
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Review: This PDA is easier to use than a iPaq 3950 that I own ! Why ? Because of it's simplicity and it's speed, even if it's a 33MHz processor ! It's stable (not even one reset !), fast (try to run an application with thousands of records and you'll see !), affordable, and the batteries last long enough (still, they are not rechargeable... 
Good work you Palm-guys !
Good work you Palm-guys ! User Rating:
0.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Buy SONY!
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Review: I bot 3 Handspring Visor when it was launch in USA back in 2000. Broke one due to my careless handling. Replace it with M125. On its 13th month, 2 rows of pixel dead. I called my local customer support. They told me I can only pay for a replacement set. Simply not worth it. The other handspring I had still going strong after 3yrs with no problem so far. I had no choice. I will never go for palm again. I got myself a SONY PEG TG50 and I love it very much!
User Rating:
2.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Have had trouble with it locking up and having to be reset.
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Review: Like most of features. Love Note pad graffiti. Eates rechargable batteries for lunch! Wouldn't get another.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Good first PDA
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Review: This is my first PDA, got it as a gift. I already have a laptop so I wouldn't have bought it for myself. It does a great job...don't listen to those who complain about short battery life or messed up screens - those are the same people that play games on it 8 hours a day and wonder why the batteries have died and why the screen is scratched up. It is what it is - a PDA. Buy it to get organized, not to play games.
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Recurring H/W Problems
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Review: This is my seond m125. Both have developed hardware problems - graffiti not being recognized, soft buttons not working. I'm giving up on Palm and moving to Handspring.
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Not Bad for the first PDA
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Review: The only problem I have is that the tech support is not very lets put it this way technical. The only reply they always have is do a soft reset and if this does not work do a hard reset if this does not work sent us the unit for repair. Very unprofessional if you ask me. their analysis of the problem is not really analysed.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Great for students and easy to use
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Review: The palm m125 is a great PDA. I have had mine since chrismas. There are many ways to stay orginized. The only bad thing about is the manual is very short and does not cover all that is on the palm. But if you want a PDA buy plam opperating system, and get the m125 if you are looking for value and a good PDA
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
As a first time user, I have few complaints.
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Review: I received this as a gift for Christmas. As I would have never bought a PDA for myself, I was pleasantly surprised. Three things that I haven't liked, though: battery lasted 2 weeks, had to hard reset it twice (though, to be fair, once was after I dropped it and batteries went everywhere), and the graffiti numbers don't even come close to working. The last problem doesn't bother me a lot, though, as I am quicker at using the digitized keyboard for letters and numbers, anyway. The desktop software and sync functions are great, though. No problems with any of the software. And with the stability of the desktop software, a hard reset isn't a big deal, as a quick sync will restore everything to the handheld. Not sure I'd pay even $100 for it, but as a starter, it's gotten me hooked. No more Dayrunners for me!
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Totally worth it!
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Review: I bought my m125 a few weeks ago after much thought, and I couldn't be happier. I paid $130 for mine, and it was the best money I ever spent. The expansion slot is awesome! Buy a 32 mb card (Lexar Media makes a good one for around 30 bucks) - the download possibilities are almost endless. The battery life is decent, lasting about two weeks per set. Just remember to sync your palm with your desktop before you change the batteries. It's an absolute must for anyone wanting to get organized and save time. I couldn't be happier!
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Excellent Grayscale PDA
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Review: I had read the negative reviews after I had ordered my 125 but before it had arrived. Lots of complaints regarding the screen resolution, this dissapointed me and I wanted to cancel my order but I didn't. I downloaded every light hack available (Glowhack, Lighthack,invert hack etc.) I found no need for any of these hacks. Apparently complaints of the 125 screen came from people that either 1.Had poor eyesight 2.Lived or worked in cavelike conditions. 3.Expected the brilliance and resolution of a much more expensive PDA.I found no problem viewing the any text or graphics indoors or out, on the m125. On the contrary, the close pixels on the smaller screen makes for the sharpest resolution I've seen on a PDA in this class. No problems with data input. Syncs are very smooth. I own a 515 and an m130 and I found this PDA to be an excellent value with a nice look and feel to it. More comfortable to handle than my 515. I paid $112.00 from Datavis.com for mine(new), don't pay too much more than that though.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Solid, High Performance PDA
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Review: Excellent all around performance. Synchronizing files and uploading apps is a snap. This machine feels more solid in the hand,than any other palm I have tried. Recent price drops make this palm a very good value. Use the larger font sizes to compensate for smaller screen and you'll do fine with this one.
User Rating:
2.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Graffiti on lower left is a big problem !
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Review: the graffiti regconization has big probs and the worst thing is the lower left touch screens have probs .. anyone know how to solve ? do email me ...
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Best bang for the buck, excellent quality
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Review: Price: I got this model refurbished from returnbuy.com for $79 with 90 day manufacturer's warranty. Retailed at Circuit City for $149. Backlight: reverse backlight works well in pitch black HotSync: seemless, Palm Desktop is stable, cradle works with one touch. Graffiti: Palm OS does a great job with graffiti. I can write quickly with no errors. Battery: I chose the m125 because the battery lasts much longer than color PDAs. Construction: sturdy design. Will last long in your back pocket. Not flimsy like some other models. Display: much brighter than the Sony Clie. This was the main deciding factor. It is easy on the eyes. 160x160 display looks better than the m500 because the pixels are closer together. Plenty of storage space: I mainly use this PDA for the scheduler and ePocrates, but I had extra space for a dictionary and a pocket bible and still had 1.5MB left over. User friendly: Palm OS 4.1 is extremely user friendly. You will not have any problems learning how to use this PDA. I could not find a single fault in this PDA. It is exactly what I wanted and more! You can find it on the web for a good price. I plan to keep this one for a while.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Get 'em before they're gone!
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Review: The m125 is now an excellent value - I've just seen them on clearance (e.g., OfficeMax) for ~$89 after mail-in ebate ($10 less than Zire)! For a Palm w/8MB RAM, standard AAA batteries (so you'll never have to trash the unit because of dead internal battery), 33 MHz CPU, SD/MMC expansion slot, UC expansion, backlit display, proper flip cover, sync cradle, etc. this can't be beat (Zire has none of the above). If they're on clearance, it may mean Palm's dropping the product (have they lost their minds?!), but forget futures - this is a much better PDA than the "brand new" Zire will EVER be by ANY measure.
User Rating:
0.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
m125 wants you chained to your desktop
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Review: If you intend to enter data on a PDA, do not get this mode. I previously owned 2/Palm V's so know how this should work. The stylus is ineffective, graffiti writing a non-option, and the keyboard can only be used for writing in code. Touchpad is "off" by 1/16" so everything is scrambled. On-line & phone support is good, but there are no reset options that get the digitizer operating. You'd be better off with a chalkboard than the m125.
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Alright unit but....
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Review: Okay first PDA i have ever owned and I'm impressed but i have a couple problems. 1)Size the thing's thicker than a deck of cards! 2) the position of the SD slot, I'm left handed i hold the unit with my right hand, nuff said 3) A MONTH! The batteries last a week in my palm, What is "normal use" ne ways? 4) the stylus, i cant stand it it just feels to weak and cheap 5) smaller screen than the others The unit is alright but theres just to many things wrong with it, if u want A handheld, I reccomend palm but get a m500 or better!
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Best Palm for under 200!!
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Review: Small screen, but great palm! These posters need to look at the patch download site from palm. the digitizer has a patch that improves recognition.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
I like most of it
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Review: Putting this (and I would assume the m130 as well) in the m100 series is a mistake. The connecter and expansion slot set this aside from the m100/m105. The cradle is for the m500 series, and will not work with the older m10x units. I replaced my broken Visor Neo with this unit, and although I do enjoy the increased speed of the memory slot, and OS4, I'm not convinced it's better. The screen is smaller, and the additions Handspring had to the default software (especially the calculator!) are sorely missed.
User Rating:
2.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Poor quality, small screen
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Review: I got great service from my old IIIxe. The screen finally wore out. Thinking the M125 was just a new version, I bought it online. The screen is 20% smaller, the buttons feel cheap, and after 2 weeks, the screen wouldn't write. I'm thinking of checking out handspring or Sony.
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Great features!!!
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Review: I've been very satisfied with my Palm m125 unit (it's been almost 1 year of use). The 8Mb of memory is CRUCIAL, the expansion slot is a big plus too.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Simple... Yet Versatile
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Review: This PDA is a wonderful starter. Although I wouldn't recommend it for advanced users, it is a good PDA. This PDA comes with a variety of features, and there are thousands of free and shareware programs on the internet. The batteries (2 AAA's) last typically 10 hours. Also make sure you buy screen covers, such as WriteRight, which do a wonderful job of protecting the screen. The handwriting recognition could be better, and the screen could be a bit larger, but, with all taken into consideration, it is a marginal product.
User Rating:
1.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
This model must be a lemon
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Review: I am waiting on my THIRD replacement m125 from Palm. If this one dies, I'm switching to Sony
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Good Starter PDA
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Review: This PDA is the perfect Palm model for any new user. It doesn't have too many complex applications, and the PAlm OS 4 supports many downloadable programs. I don't, however, recommend this PDA for people who require advanced applications and large space for files. That's because upgrading or buying new materials for this Palm can be costly!
User Rating:
2.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Needs Design Improvements
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Review: This is a great PDA for starters and it looked great. However, after using this unit this was not very well designed. The screen is far too small, very very poor backlight (glowing green - not backlight), little expensive, lack of innovative features i.e. jog dial (Sony), difficult to slide into the cradle and the unit is extremely thick about double their competitors (yet same width and height)? Also, the expansion card placement should be a the top of the unit, not the upper left side where your thumb is located should you hold the unit in your left hand. A solidly built unit though with great software, unfortunately the poor designs (especially small screen about 15% smaller then competitors) bothered me as I could not accept the unit after only 4 weeks of use. A great PDA if you never hand one before, but not for users that will be buying this unit as an upgrade.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Wouldn't want any other handheld
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Review: It's a great handheld for a great price...It has plenty of memory, it's fast, and the list of stuff it can do is almost endless...A great start or value!
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Decent as a first PDA
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Review: This is my first PDA, and so far it has been relatively painless. I hear a lot about people getting bad units, but so far I haven't really had any problems. Batteries last me about 2 weeks under heavy use. I had to hard reset it ONCE after changing the batteries. I'm so nervous about damaging the screen so I put those stick on plastic protectors on, and it actually helps a lot. Got an open-box body glove case for $7 too. I only paid $130 for this thing, if had to pay anymore it probably wouldn't have been worth it. I don't have a use for the SD/MMC slot yet. I would have preferred USB or PCMCIA. I didn't feel like spending $300 on this, a laptop is more useful for that price (even a low end pentium).
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Tough, functional, great software
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Review: First off, this is the best built handheld around. Period. Handhelds take a lot of use and abuse. My IIIx was toast (cracked screen) when a coworker knocked it off my desk. My m125 recently survived a tumble down a half flight of hard tile stairs without a scratch. The batteries are held in place much more securly than the Palm III series, too. Although I haven't put them to the test (<grin>
, Sonys, Handsprings, and Palm m500s and even the m105 feel very fragile. On the other hand, I wouldn't be uncomfortable playing catch with an m125. Second, Flip covers GOOD! Sliding covers (Handspring) BAD! m1xx series flip covers are extremely convenient. Third, I love the low-cost, small expansion slot. Got me an 8MB backup card at Best Buy for $20 ($15 cheaper than a comparable springboard backup card). To tell you the truth, backup cards and other data storage uses are about the only use I see for expansion slots in PDAs. Browse the internet on a PDA? Please. Use your PDA as a digital camera? Don't make me laugh. E-mail? Well, OK, a wired/wireless modem may come in handy there for some people, but not me. Fourth, the battery life is great! No worries about an expensive internal battery failing to hold a charge after a couple years, and this thing lasts 5 weeks on a single pair of AAAs under very heavy usage. That's 1 week longer than my IIIxe did. Just pop in a set of batteries and don't worry about recharging your PDA or replacing the batteries for over a month! Fifth, the software package is great. The NotePad doodling software is sweet, and Documents To Go is AWESOME! Now the bad: The smallish screen doesn't bother me a bit, but the backlighting could be better. I'd prefer a conventional LED-emitted light illuminating the screen (like the Afterburner add-on for the GameBoy Advance) rather than the Indiglo lighting. No biggie. Also, the m125 is overpriced. $200 is the typical price these days. Wait for a sale (I paid $180 - $25 mail-in rebate). With it's feature set, it's competing with the likes of the $150 Visor Neo. I wouldn't pay more than $175 for it, certainly.
, Sonys, Handsprings, and Palm m500s and even the m105 feel very fragile. On the other hand, I wouldn't be uncomfortable playing catch with an m125. Second, Flip covers GOOD! Sliding covers (Handspring) BAD! m1xx series flip covers are extremely convenient. Third, I love the low-cost, small expansion slot. Got me an 8MB backup card at Best Buy for $20 ($15 cheaper than a comparable springboard backup card). To tell you the truth, backup cards and other data storage uses are about the only use I see for expansion slots in PDAs. Browse the internet on a PDA? Please. Use your PDA as a digital camera? Don't make me laugh. E-mail? Well, OK, a wired/wireless modem may come in handy there for some people, but not me. Fourth, the battery life is great! No worries about an expensive internal battery failing to hold a charge after a couple years, and this thing lasts 5 weeks on a single pair of AAAs under very heavy usage. That's 1 week longer than my IIIxe did. Just pop in a set of batteries and don't worry about recharging your PDA or replacing the batteries for over a month! Fifth, the software package is great. The NotePad doodling software is sweet, and Documents To Go is AWESOME! Now the bad: The smallish screen doesn't bother me a bit, but the backlighting could be better. I'd prefer a conventional LED-emitted light illuminating the screen (like the Afterburner add-on for the GameBoy Advance) rather than the Indiglo lighting. No biggie. Also, the m125 is overpriced. $200 is the typical price these days. Wait for a sale (I paid $180 - $25 mail-in rebate). With it's feature set, it's competing with the likes of the $150 Visor Neo. I wouldn't pay more than $175 for it, certainly. User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
It is a great palm for the first buy and good for the money.
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Review: It is a good deal. It is only $200.00 right now and it is well worth it. I am saving right now so I can buy it.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Great First Palm!
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Review: This is my first Palm and I couldn't ask for a betting learning one. I love it a lot and just started toying with some of the expandibility features.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
A bit pricey but worth it
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Review: I've read where people complain about reseting or graffiti. Frankly I haven't had this problem yet, perhaps it depends on the production date (mine being fairly recent) I have also found that using a relaxed hand nearer the center of the screen makes for really fast graffiti. The price at standard $199 seems a bit much but after researching many handhelds that fit my budget and my needs/desires this seemed like the best option and with a coupon from Staples it certainly has been so far. I love the documents-to-go feature as well as the ebooks and expansion card for holding tons of games and other usefull apps. I wish I could afford color but that's another story.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Great PDA (for the now reduced price)
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Review: You can get this PDA now for under $160, which is an amazing price for a PDA with this much going for it. The screen is fairly small and only grayscale and doesn't use a rechargable battery like the M130, but I really don't need those extra features to keep my tasks organized.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Great quality for value!
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Review: I got 16 mb card FREE just for buying it and got the keyboard for $50(cnd)regular $150. I put SO many games, applications, and I havent even used up a little of 2 mb of my total 24!
User Rating:
1.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
unreliable, break down, dissapointed
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Review: This is my fourth Palm M125. First M125 lasted 24 days, second palm lasted just under 90 days, third palm 2 days. All three Palms had left side screen failure; entire left side of screen would not work. First Palm was exchanged @ Staples with no problem. Second Palm was returned to palm, I Had to pay shipping and Insurance to Palm Inc. Expected better quality then what I have experienced. Will not buy another Palm product.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
One rugged handheld!
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Review: I got my M125 when my screen broke on my IIIx (luckily I bought ins.)and went to Staples to get a free replacement (well nearly I paid $6 difference, and I've got to say this is one sweet Palm, the software bundle is incredible, I've got volumes of formulas that I've DL from my PC, and I dropped it once (HARD) and it didn't even need a reset!
User Rating:
1.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Like Fingernails On The Chalkboard
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Review: The scratches on the screen drove me nuts. I protected this unit with a case, used a Palm stylus, and used it for less than six months--only occasionally. What else was I suppose to do? This has to be an inherent design flaw right? I mean, the stylus is suppose to be dragged across the screen, right? I guess I should have used a Q-Tip. a $200 waste of time. I should have put the money toward a laptop.
User Rating:
1.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
The screen is terrible.
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Review: I have tried to remedy problems with entering data using Graffiti. I have tried soft resets and calibrating the digitizer. But the problems continue. When I enter a character lines appear that weren't entered and although the line was drwn straight on the screen the result appears like a scribble. I like the Palm platform, and have no complaints about the software. It is intuitive and easy to use, that is why I gave it a 3 for features. Because of the above noted problems I do all my data entry on the desktop. I can count on the M125 is a read only device at this point.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Excellent first Palm purchase
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Review: I love this thing ! No reading the directions here. Just plug it in and go! This is my first palm device and its usefulness continues to expand.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
A nice upgrade to the m100
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Review: I used up the 2mb available in the m100 within 2 two weeks of ownership. Having both the 8mb built-in AND the SD slot for memory expansion makes the m125 a terrific choice! Compared with the m100, the m125's touch-screen takes a bit more pressure to recognize taps and the speaker seems a bit worse than the m100's, also. I still recommend this as *THE* Palm to own for value/features.
User Rating:
0.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Screen is TERRIBLE
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Review: There are many flaws with the screen. It is difficult to see and more importantly it is difficult to enter text. Doing a graffiti i or l is nearly impossible. When scribble notes in programs like Bugme strange lines show up that you never entered. I switched to a different PDA and I have NONE of these problems. Do NOT waiste your money on this product!
User Rating:
0.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Piece of Trash!
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Review: Within about one week's worth of use my palm m125 touch pad decided to not respond in the lower left quadrant. This left me unable to access almost all features or type notes.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Gets the job done.
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Review: I didn't know what I was doing when I bought it. It works just fine. Accessories are hard to find. I should have got a Visor.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Was great for only the first day!
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Review: My first PDA and it worked great for a day. The screen froze on the second day and I felt helpless not being able to do a ctl alt del to get it going. I did a soft reset than a hard reset. I e mailed Palms web site and the screen reply said an answer would come 'shortly"! I waited all day and then called Palm late in the day to resolve my issues. "Shortly" I was told is 24 hours. The unit (screen touch) was defective and Palm said just return it to where I bought it. No return authorization number is given but they will give you the service documentation number for reference. I did buy the modem and Palm keyboard (highly rated) attachments so for now I'm locked into Palm. After reading CNET reviews I was going to get the m130 but instead decided to upgrade to the m515 because of the lithum battery, slightly larger screen, color and 16MB. PDA's are awesome for contact information wherever you go given the size of the package. The price point however is approaching low end lap tops. In this case SIZE does matter! Thumbs up for Palms lead (although Sony & Compaq are on their heels)!Sound would be nice! Thumbs up for Palms "voice" customer service free for 90 days.
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Sucks Battery Life
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Review: I just got my m125 for x-mas, and I have been happy with it so far - although it is my first handheld. The screen could have been a bit larger and the battery life a little longer.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Best Buy!
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Review: With its expansion slot you can add all the palm programs you like without worrying about losing space.
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Versatile
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Review: I got a good deal (paid about $150 and got the 16 mb card too). I like the memory and have had positive experiences with Palm tech support. I do find that the m125 has an appetite for batteries and wish Palm included a Lithium ion battery. I also find it more difficult to select menu items or have it recognize written input compared with my previous Handspring unit.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Good value for 175$
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Review: Bought it 2 weeks ago and am pleased. The screen is not green, it is easily readable. In another year I will get a color model and my son will get this one. I gave only a 3 for support because I haven't had to use it.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Pretty okay for first Palm
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Review: This is my first Palm handheld. The Bad stuffs: 1) Very small screen and bad contrast makes reading really difficult. Especially with some shadows. This puts lots of strain on my eye. 2) Very bulky. At 2.2cm, probably the largest handhelds around. This makes it not very attractive to carry around. 3) Almost no accessories available. When I saw the really slim metallic casing for the m500 and m505, I really regret not spending more for them. Can't buy a stylus upgrade for m125 either. 4) Short IR range. It seems that beyond 6 inches away, the IR is almost undetectable. This is from experiences with playing IR games with my friend who also own a m125, and using my Nokia 8210 to conect to internet. The good: 1) Very good costomer support. My palm crashed after some problems with data on my SD card. The prompt email support is enough to get me through the problem. 2) Does everything I wanted. Downloaded lots of very neat games and utilities and works great on my Windows ME and XP OS. Overall: Basically, the biggest and most annoying fault I find from this handheld is its bulky size and poor screen. I have been window shopping around and would probably buy a second generation CLIE T165C or the next 320x320 color Palm model. Having color definately amplifies gaming experience on a Palm.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Unimaginably Amazing
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Review: I'm a first time palm user, and was contemplating a long while to get which model. Finally, I chose the M125 with its expandability and competitive price. Don't know why there's so much complaints about the small screen and bad batt life, mine worked just perfect. Changing batts once a fortnight, with normal use ain't so bad. Moreover, the resolution is just fantastic. Cheers to Palm for another great product!
User Rating:
1.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
go with the sony
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Review: 1) small, recessed screen makes it hard to both see and use, 2)poor graffiti recognition compared to others i have had, 3) much poorer battery life than suggested by Palm, 4) continual error messages and resettings, especially when battery charge goes down, 5) poor, slow customer service I want to return mine and get the Sony!!!
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Nice addition to Palm lineup
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Review: The seemingly abundant complaints about battery life and digitizer failure are simply not indicative of the m125's performance. These shortcomings can only be explained by inexperience with the PalmOS platform. For experienced users, the m125 offers the best of many worlds. The non-rechargeable batteries mean you won't get stuck without a charger, and your internal battery won't fail to hold a charge at some point in the future. The screen is small, but it provides an EXCELLENT high contrast display with some of the best resolution on a Palm. I have yet to find a situation where the screen is TOO small. My set of included AA batteries has lasted well over a month. Accessories are a wee bit hard to find, because the m125 uses the connection port of an m500-series, but has the form factor of the m100. Even Palm's docking cradle doesn't fit quite right. An EXCELLENT buy, a great upgrade for any experienced Palm user.
User Rating:
2.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
broken unit makes me sour
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Review: after about 2 days of use, the graffiti writing system stopped working. Having used other PDAs, I know how a touch screen should function, and the m125's screen seems below par. You can forget about getting customer service if something goes wrong with your palm. A long-distance call and 30 minutes of navigating through automated menus only leads to frustration.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
An efficient and easy to use companion.
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Review: Incredibly useful little gadget. I only wish I had it before. Compact and good looking with easy to use software and features.
User Rating:
1.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Be warned!
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Review: Yeah right - one month of battery life?? This one's a battery eater! I've gone through 3 sets already and it's been 4 days - with little use. As an added "plus" I lost all my programs and data while on a trip because I couldn't HotSync. Useless to me. My m100 batteries lasted a month. When I contacted support, they said to reset but it does NOTHING. Go with something else for the price. I want my mommy.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
compact, mid priced, good features
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Review: Although reviewed at a high price, I was amazed at how many features are available for this handheld, many options for software as well. Even better if you have a PC you can sync with. Or used alone as a handy organizer.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
The best value ever!
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Review: I just got the m125, and it's the best (IMHO) in their lineup. It has the same specs as the m500 series, at over $100 less! Get this one, even if you're considering a Handspring. The m125 comes LOADED with great software, too!
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Yo this is one rugged little PDA
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Review: Got it last week and been downloading ebooks, all kinds of games, Acrobat reader for palm. Avantgo for news and stuff is great. Sent a bunch of email. Its small but thats what a PDA is suppose to be! I didn't want color because it eats up batteries. I didn't want something flimsy and this little baby is anything but. I wanted something I coud use to write my column on for a local newspaper and sync it with MS Word, got that to! Lots and lots of software and most are FREE. I got a 16 meg card with it and still have lots of room. I've been reading a (free)Star Trek ebook on the small screen and put the font on big and have had many hours of easy reading. Thank you CNET for helping me pick a winner. I am a happy man!
User Rating:
1.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Not a good choice- Poor screen
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Review: I recently purchased the m125, and returned it 3 days later. What I liked: 1). It's a palm. For some, brand loyalty is important. 2). The new face plate with the rubberized grip was nice. What I DIDN'T like: 1). THE SCREEN!!! It's way tooo small. It may look a tad sharper than other screens, but it is just too small. You have to adjust it to large font size to see text at a decent distance from face. Also, the screen is a bit recessed (probably to accomodate the interchangable face plate option). This again, makes it a bit difficult to see images and does add some shadows sometimes. 2). It does have a nice shape to it, but it is kinda thick, actually thicker than a Handspring Neo. 3). The memory slot is a joke. Unless you plan on using data options (i.e. a dictionary) or really need to keep the names and numbers of millions of people, this was just palm's way of keeping up with Sony and Handspring and doing it different. They should have simulated Handspring and made a more usable springboard type slot. 4). No flash ROM to upgrade operating system. Not that this is really necessary, but it would have given Palm an advantage over Handspring is this price category. Basically, the m125 is a decent unit, in regards to quality. But, it really is a poor choice. The only real advantage over the m105 is the expansion slot (which most people probably won't even use). In addition, the m125 offers no advantage over the Handspring Neo, except for the Datawiz softward. Personally, I would rather have the bigger screen of the Neo and by the software later.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Pick up the m125
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Review: For $200, this is worth your money! It's easy to use, has the expansion slot, and comes with lots of good extra features, such as the Documents To Go. I have gotten a lot of use out of it. Why buy the m500 when you can get this? The m125 is a much, much better value! Use the money you will save to get those accessories you want!
User Rating:
1.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Believe the bad reviews
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Review: I order my palm m125 as a replacement for my IIIx when i broke it's screen. I was contemplating buying a handspring visor deluxe but decided to stay loyal to Palm. The first problem was when I was given an upgrade code that did not seem to give me the discount. This is Tuesday, that was last Friday. I still haven't gotten the credit. I did get the Palm however. It was wonderful for 5 minutes at which point the digitizer failed to function. Great. I just wasted a week when the visor would have been here already and have worked flawlessly (because all of my co-workers that ordered them around the same time seem to). I had read the reviews but decided with the upgrade discount I was getting a good deal. Oh well. Stay away from Palm. They have gotten their product down to the cheapest they can make them to maximize profit. Which means the consumer suffers. When will companies start to realize that solid product and 5 star customer service equals unfailing customer loyality? No wonder companies these days start to fail.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
expandable
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Review: This is the Palm worth getting if you want the basics, with a little extra. The SD expansion slot is the least you'll need out of a PDA. I would recommend the m500s with color though. But even I couldn't splurge that much, the m125 does the job.
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
2nd palm in our family
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Review: I bought m 125 for Christmas asn had buy of a life...asked to buy the m 105 and sales clerk went tot get ..but since they were out of them...would I take the M 125 dor $149...I did and my wife is happy so far... I have lllxe for ovewr a year and have had no problems to date
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
After the price drop, not bad
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Review: One month in, not a bad unit. Batteries last, syncs well. Some errors with Graffiti. Games card works well. doc reader bad on CD and Palm ignored the request for well.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Simple, Robust and Expandable Palm Device
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Review: First I bought a Sony CLIE T415 PDA. Returned it and bought this Palm 125 as the Sony's screen was too dim. Though this Palm PDA does not have that many features, it is more robust and more usable. This Palm is also expandable in two ways. Additional memory could be installed by inserting a Secure Digital or MMC card. Second expansion possibility is to connect a Palm modem or a keyboard. Besides MMC cards are very inexpensive. 32 MB MMC card costs around 25$.
User Rating:
2.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Problems that need to be addressed
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Review: The grafiti portion of mine became very hard to write on within 60 days. Then it stopped working. The replacement from the retailer was inacurate from the start. I ordered an m500 but after reading the reveiws, maybee I should get an IPAQ!!!
User Rating:
1.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Expensive Habit
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Review: My m125 used up three pairs of batteries in the first 3 days I owned it! When I contacted tech support they suggested that a reboot would solve this problem--well, it didn't. I was particularly upset with the fact that Palm's warranty only provides replacement with a "refurbished" device--in other words, another busted machine. I also had trouble selecting items with the stylus. Overall, I was quite disappointed, and I would not purchase from Palm again.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Great deal, great price...buy it.
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Review: This has everything you need plus it is light on your wallet. Buy it!
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Like the upgrade with mmc
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Review: The reason we bought the 125 was for the multi-media card expansion slot and the back light. With the mmc the price for memory is cheaper that the others
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Great product, much better than the m10x
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Review: Using it extensively. The expansion slot is fantastic, and I have had no trouble at all syncing it. Best palm yet for the average budget.
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Good features!
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Review: The features are better than m100 & m105, but similar to m500 & m505. It is pricey, but the features make up for it.
User Rating:
2.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
The worst of three palms I have owned
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Review: I have had a number of PDA's ranging from a Cassiopeia in 97, then a Palm IIIx, Handspring Visor Deluxe, Palm Vx (which I loved and lost) to the current Palm, the M125. The only positive thing I can say about this palm, is that it shows you the time without opening the cover. So far, it is the most difficult to get into the synch unit, has the smallest screen, the expansion slot broke in the first week and it comes with a very cheap stylus. I regret not paying the additional money to replace my PalmVx which I left at a client, never to be seen again. The Palm 125 is not a good purchase.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
wow. good stuff
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Review: I just got it yesterday and I was blown away by it. I love the fact that the m105 or m100 faceplates fit on it as well. It's great
User Rating:
2.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Let down from 3xe ( poor screen design)
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Review: Screen: Is small and deeply recessed, causes shadows under incandecant light. Backlight useless. Deep recess and tiny digitizer makes it harder to screen tap one handed. OS is ROM. Design inferior to 3xe. History: Screen cracked on 3xe, got m125 as replacement. Returned even though had to pay 15% restock. Will now repair 3xe or get Sony Clie 320.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Excellent at the new price.
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Review: The lowered price tag of $199 makes the m125 more than worth the extra hundred bucks over the m100. It has the expandability of the 500s, and the faceplates of the 100s, making it the ultimate handheld! ^_^
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Why get the m500?
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Review: this will do just as much as the m500 the only difference is the case. the only advantage to the 500 serries is the m505 with the color screen. but at this price will total compatable with the 500 as well as word and excel documents, why pay more?
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Poor screen and digitizer
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Review: Coming from a 3xe the screen is both small and difficult to enter text on in comparison. Also my screen is quite off center. I am thinking of returning it. I would consider the SONY Clie 320, which I may get to replace it.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
It's a rugged little unit.
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Review: I bought mine to keep track of items for my business, heavy equipment repair and mobile welding. I got it 2 months ago, and love it. Memory is fantastic and good looks too. I've even dropped it a few times from on top of an escavator and a bucket loader. Still works. Great product.More than I hoped for.
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Nice Upgrade from Palm 3e
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Review: This PDA is a good addition to the Palm M100 Family, touch pad is a little more difficult to write on, I have to repeat a couple of times before I get it right. I think there is a bug in the recognition engine. Don't like the stylus at all, not stiff enough, and the Palm 3 stylus is too big for the M125. Overall satisfaction is good though. Good software bundle, lots of tools,
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
i love mine
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Review: i had a 3e, and came back for more, its alot cheaper than an m500 or m505, and its not that bad at all. I use mine all the time, and love it.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Still not enough RAM!
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Review: This one looks hot! If they make a color version I'll buy it! 
But 8MB, come on! That's just not enough anymore!
But 8MB, come on! That's just not enough anymore! User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 89 user reviews
Good product, with a lot of capabilities
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Review: I enjoy my m125 a lot, and I haven't even tapped into the expandability of the handheld yet. The only thing I would like to see Palm do, is offer a rechargeable battery with the m100 series handhelds.
