Palm
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IntroductionSimplicity has always been a hallmark of the Palm operating system. Although version 5.4 packs in more features than ever, it's arguably just as easy to operate as the first version. To run a program, tap its icon. To enter data, write onscreen using the character recognition software or tap-type on the virtual keyboard. Everything about the operating system seems logical, intuitive, and uncomplicated. We particularly admire the way the Palm operating system manages applications. You never have to exit a program the way you do on a PC, you just switch to a different one. And unlike some operating systems (yes, we're looking at you, Windows Mobile), Palm's never gets bogged down by multiple memory-hogging apps running simultaneously.
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 Palm Treo 680 (click for full review) |
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Already solid when they debuted back in 1996, the Palm operating system's core apps have only improved over the years. For instance, you can now attach a photo to a contact, which is a particularly wonderful feature for camera-equipped models like the Palm Treo 680. The Tasks applet has added new buttons for quick sorting by date and category, and lets you assign alarms to your tasks. In short, Palm's core apps continue to combine power and simplicity, and we still rank them top among PDAs.
Desktop compatibility
Palm PDAs offer two desktop synchronization options, Outlook and Palm Desktop. The latter is a fairly robust information manager that has the advantage of being much more novice-friendly than Outlook. It also supplies the tools you need to copy photos and videos to your device, install new programs, and set up your email.
Office compatibility
Though not an inherent part of the Palm operating system, DataViz Documents To Go comes standard on nearly every Palm handheld (the sole exception being the Palm Z22), so we'd be remiss if we didn't consider it. The program automatically syncs Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents between your Palm and PC while keeping them in their native formats (meaning you can also instantly view documents received as email attachments with no conversion required). You can edit Word documents and Excel spreadsheets and compose new ones, though PowerPoint files are read-only. The software also supports PDFs.
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 Palm TX (click for full review) |
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Palm's VersaMail program has the enviable ability to fetch email over a variety of connections: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or even desktop synchronization, which relies on your PC's Internet connection for mail commerce. The applet itself is solid, supporting multiple POP3 and IMAP accounts, embedded images, and virtual private network (VPN) connections.
Multimedia
Although most Palm handhelds offer high-resolution screens and digital-audio capabilities, the Palm operating system isn't the multimedia juggernaut it could be. For instance, you need third-party software (NormSoft's Pocket Tunes Deluxe) to play DRM-protected songs, the kind you get from online music and subscription services. Palm bundles Pocket Tunes with some models, but the DRM-capable Deluxe version will cost you extra.
As for movies, Palm's Media applet can play them, but only MPEG-1 clips converted by Palm Desktop. For anything else you'll need third-party software. In fact, to watch a DVD, you'll need two programs, a desktop converter and a handheld viewer. And if you want to play TV shows recorded on a Media Center or TiVo--something Windows Mobile devices can do fairly easily--you're pretty much out of luck.
Third-party apps
In terms of sheer volume, the Palm operating system has an edge when it comes to third-party software. Users can draw from thousands of applications to extend the functionality of their handhelds. This number is declining though as Windows Mobile continues to gain in popularity and many developers have decided that it's more worth their while to write software for Microsoft's OS.
