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Palm 3198WW Cradle Kit Review

Palm 3198WW Cradle Kit 
Manufacturer: Palmers East

Model#: 92488PLM
Weight: .80lbs
Height: 2"
   Width: 8.50"
Length: 5.50"

Average Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars


Retail Price: $69.95
Online Sale Price: $24.85
A discount of $45.10!
* Price is subject to change.
Features:
  • Includes cradle, spare battery charging drawer, USB cable and 110/240V charger with 4 international adapters
  • Convenient pedestal recharges batteries and synchronizes data at the touch of a button
  • Cable and power supply can detach from cradle and snap directly onto your smartphone
  • Uses new Multi Connector by Palm for compatibility
  • Includes voltage adapters for the U.S., Europe and Australia

User Submitted Palm 3198WW Cradle Kit Reviews (cont...)


Page << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >> 
Date: 2008-01-07
Works as orignal
The power supply is much larger than original which may be fit all of the options to. I just wanted a replacement cradle so this was a bit of overkill.

Date: 2007-10-30
treo cradle
As usual a product that has Palm logo and name on it usually works as stated. I had a previous Treo cradle, and found it to be a waste of money and junk with no recourse to seller. BUY Palm !!!!!

Date: 2007-10-13
Dreadful, connections in the base do not work well.
After a while I managed to get it to charge my Palm, but it took some work. It just won't work for synching with the computer. I have to disconnect the cable from the base and connect it directly to the Palm to synch, so not buying this would be better.

Date: 2007-10-05
This product WORKS!
This product worked the first time used!!! No drivers to install; just plug in and use!!! Very reliable Hot Syncs!!! Also, a great price (under $20.00); beating the price listed at PalmOne!

Date: 2007-09-24
Good Design, Reliable HotSync, Recommended For 680
This is the third cradle I've bought for my Treo 680, and the third time was the charm! The prior two were less expensive, but the first did not fit my 680, and the second would not HotSync reliably, although "not at all" is a better description the more I think about it.

Having read all 42 of the previous reviews, I think most of the issues are ancient history at this point. There is a known incompatibility between some Palm cradles and the 680 (and other later Treos). Since most of the negative reviews didn't mention which Treo they were using, I suspect many are due to this issue, which Palm documents on their support site.

As others have pointed out, one cannot charge or synch the phone in a case. This is true for every other cradle I've researched, except the Seidio, which requires you to buy their case as well. Since I prefer the rubber skin type of case, I just pull it off. I guess this could be a nuisance if you are in and out of the office several times a day, but other than that scenario I can't see it being a big problem for most people.

Did I mention it synchronizes reliably? This was a huge frustration for me with the prior two cradles.

The mounting and removal of the Treo into and out of the cradle is sticky, and two hands should be used. (If you have adequate dexterity, it can be removed by circling the top of the Treo with thumb and forefinger, then pressing down on the case with your middle finger. Large hands are an asset in this case. If this doesn't work for you, stick with two hands.) I think that the connector pins will seat in over time, and removal will eventually be a one-handed operation. My USB cable was sticky at first as well.

Regarding the travel adapters, I travel to the UK every year or two, so this was a plus for me. (However, having reliable HotSync operation is more important to me than the small added cost anyway.) Your mileage may vary.

The one item which is a slight nuisance is that the spare battery charger is not available without removing the phone. As I carry the spare with me most of the time, I'll have to change habits to put it in first before the Treo.

Finally...the complaint about no headphone jack is reasonable, although not very high on my priorities, since for me this is a business phone, not a personal music player. However, it looks to me like space should be available inside the case to mount a Palm Stereo Adapter (Palm P/N 3160WW). This would require drilling two holes in one's new cradle, and if you are horrified at that thought, read no more. A little work with a Dremel tool to fit, and some silicone seal as a grommet should place it in securely. (A spacer of some sort may be useful at the bottom to hold the adapter in place when the Treo is inserted into the cradle. Experiment away.)

It looks like the unit is held together by screws under the silicone feat, although I've only peeled back one to check.

Needless to say, any power tool experimentation you do on your new, pristine cradle is at your own risk, and may result in personal injury or wrecking your new, pristine cradle. But you kids will do anything for your rock'n'roll music. :o)

So: I recommend this cradle highly. Five stars.


User Review Page: 2 of 10

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