Manufacturer: Palm Model#: 8030.1U Weight: 2.70lbs Height: 4.30"     Width: 7.90" Length: 13.30" Average Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars	Retail Price: $229.99 Online Sale Price:
Features: Enhanced LCD screen for improved viewing at angles and in both dim and bright light 4 MB storage capacity Infrared transceiver Open expansion slot for possible add-on hardware and memory upgrade cards What's in the box: Palm IIIx, Stylus, 2 AAA batteries, HotSync cradle with serial cable, DB-25 adapter, Protective cover, Organizer and Desktop applications, Handbook

User Submitted PalmOne IIIx Handheld Reviews (cont...)

Handspring Visors are the same machine but better, cheaper, and easily expandable. They even have a plug and play slot. You can get twice the memory of a Palm IIIx for $20 less. You can get the same 4MB as the Palm IIIx for $120 less. Same OS, same user interface, same everything. Except the Visors also have a better screen and Palms are not explandable. Need I go on?

Do yourself a favor. Go to handspring

Date: 2000-01-26
An excellent, reasonably priced organizer
If you don't want to spend all that money on the slimmer, sleeker Palm V, and you know you don't want a WinCE device, then the IIIx is the way to go.

The IIIx has the same screen technology and processor as the IIIe, but twice as much memory. Some users have reported "streaking" problems on the screen. I have not experienced that. In most cases, my screen is very clear and readable.

However, Palm recently introduced the "reverse backlighting" feature that inverts the color when you turn it on. It's great when you're sitting in very dark conditions, but in dimly lit rooms or during twilight outside, it can be quite difficult to read the screen because of the reverse backlighting. I learned, though, that there is a simple Graffiti shortcut to make the backlight "normal". Even with the normal backlighting, I had trouble reading the screen in twilight conditions.

Another feature of the IIIx that the IIIe lacks is an upgradeable operating system. This was the deciding factor for me when I chose the IIIx over the IIIe. The current PalmOS is 3.3, but the IIIe was shipping with 3.1 when I bought the unit for a friend for Christmas. The IIIx also had 3.1, but I immediately upgraded it to 3.3. There is no way to do that on the IIIe.

You may ask, Why would I need OS 3.3 instead of 3.1? Here's one reason: HotSyncing via infrared. OS 3.1 can't do it. If you're a laptop user and don't feel like carrying your HotSync cradle everywhere, or springing the extra money for a USB cable, then IR is a great feature. It's slower than the cradle, but way more convenient.

The IIIx also has an internal expansion slot that the IIIe lacks. Supposedly, you can open up your IIIx and plug devices like pager cards, etc., into it, but I don't think many of these devices exist right now. It wasn't a deciding factor for me.

Many people (including myself) have wondered: Why get a Palm IIIx instead of a Handspring Visor Deluxe? Here's is my reason, that I don't see many people mentioning: like the IIIe, the OS in the current Handsprings CANNOT be upgraded. That means if it ships with OS3.1, you are stuck with it.

If upgrading your OS is important to you, you should not get a current model of the Visor. (Perhaps in the future, their models will be upgradeable.)

The other reason I chose the IIIx over the Handspring was that Handspring was experiencing 6 week delays. I know that another reviewer has said he got his in 2.5 weeks, but if Handspring's own website is saying "It's going to be 6 weeks," then you pretty much have to take it at face value. I just checked their site as I write this, and it says their wait is down to four weeks. If you can wait that long and don't need an upgradeable version, then I would take a hard look at the Visor. It has a lot of attractive features. Remember that Visors ship with a USB cradle. If you don't have USB support on your computer, you'll have to purchase a serial cradle for (I think) $10.

As far as cost goes on the IIIx, shop around a little if you're cost-conscious.

To sum up, get the IIIx if:

(a) You can't afford/don't need the slimness of the V or Vx (b) Need the extra memory compared to the V or IIIe (c) Need the upgradeable OS or IR HotSync (d) Can't wait the possible 4 weeks for the Visor.

Hope this info is useful.

Date: 2000-01-25
Wonderful, great value!
The palm will certainly revolutionize the way you arrange your life. At the touch of a button, you can connect it to your PC and transfer all of its information (which also means you can input information to your palm from your PC). There's a myriad of freeware available on the net that will enhance the performance of the Palm IIIx. The screen is great for viewing. 4MB is more than you'll ever need (I have many programs loaded, and thousands of phone numbers and appointments, and I only use 1.3 MB).

The great advantage of the Palm IIIx is that it uses batteries (versus the Palm V and Vx, which are rechargeable), which means you don't have to carry your cradle when you travel, and you can get batteries for it anywhere! Small, lightweight, highly efficient. I highly recommend it.

Date: 2000-01-07
Excellent product...a must have
I am a student at a major university and it keeps everything from homework assignment, deadline and other project organized and convenient. It sure beats using a dayplanner. It has it all, I do know how I had ever managed to keep organized, more or less live with out this outstanding product. If your a student or anyone who like to be organized BUY it, it is worth every penny!

Date: 2000-01-05
Good but BEWARE the streaks
I have to say that I've grown very dependent on my IIIx. I'd give it a score of 5 except for the streaking problem. Mine didn't do this right away. It started hapening about 6 months after I began to use it. Sometimes its there sometimes it isn't. When its there, the streaking (looks like water was spilled on a sheet of ink writing) can make the screen totally unreadable. Five minutes later, all can be fine. PDA need to be dependable. Mine isn't always. Before I started reading other reviews, I thought mine was just broken. I was considering buying another but not if by luck, I get another "streaker". Even though I like the IIIx, its reasonably priced (though still expensive), has great software options, I'd be cautious about buying another one. Probably wouldn't go with the IIIx if I had known about the streaking problem in advance.