Okay, I'm a Palm-junkie, a nerd, a geek. I used to belong to a Macintosh user group, and back in 1996 when the first Pilots made the scene, I was one of the few who resisted the little gadget. I was able to justify not buying on until 1998 when I found myself in the aisle at Comp USA with some money buring a hole in my pocket, and the Everex Freestyle Windows CE device at the blowout price of $99.
Needless to say, I hated the Freestyle, but realized that a PDA was for me, just a different one. I returned the Everex and came home with a brand new Palm III, and a lot less money in my pocket. This review is on the whole Palm III family, as I've owned all of them now except for the IIIe.
To start with, there is far more in common than different, despite the passage of three years, two major operating system upgrades (3.3 and 3.5) and the addition of color and rechargeable batteries on my current Palm IIIc. The basics are the same, meaning that the modem and cradle I bought back in 1998 work perfectly on my IIIc, the IIIxe I bought for my wife, and my old IIIx, which is going to my brother to replace my first Palm III which he finally broke.
What is the same is that all Palm III series models are fast, have more storage than anyone will ever need for the basic PDA functions, and are so intuitive to use that even after 3 years of palming, I've never looked at the manuals for any of them (though I have read David Pogue's excellent book). The basic applications haven't changed much, while the interface has some subtle improvements which were always available via add-on "hacks". Even with OS 3.5 hacks are still necessary for things like making th clipboard large enough or monitoring non-alkaline batteries on the monochrome models.
I won't talk about the built-in programs or even the veritable mountains of add-on software, as those subjects have been covered to death here and elsewhere. What I will say is that with new applications such as Dataviz's "Documents to Go" (what I use) or "Quick Office" (sorry, forgot the developer name, used to be Smartdoc), Palm devices can now synchronize with MS Word and Excel, which was the one thing that Windows CE was able to do that the Palm was not. With this function, and an add-on keyboard and modem, I am finally able to leave my laptop at home.
Back to the hardware, so what is the difference between the various models? Except for the color IIIc, surprisingly little. The III and IIIe are both 2MB units, though the III also has roughly 800k of "flash memory" available through third party software. The IIIe makes up for the lack of flash memory by having the better screen design of the IIIx and IIIxe, the III having an improved version of the old Pilot screens. Side-by-side the IIIe, IIIx and IIIxe screens do look much better than that of the III, but when not comparing side-by-side, I never minded using the Palm III, and still don't. Another difference between the plain Palm III and the newer monochrome models is the processor, with the IIIE, IIIx and IIIxe using the Dragonball "ez" processor, which while running at the same 16MHz, as the Palm III's original Dragonball processor, somehow just seems faster (the IIIc uses a 20MNz Dragonball "ez").
Battery life is roughly the same on all of the III series monochrome units, with power coming from a pair of AAA cells. Of course the main difference from a sales point of view is memory. The IIIe and III have 2MB, the IIIx has 4MB and the IIIxe has 8MB of RAM (the IIIx and IIIxe share the "flash" memory with the III). The IIIxe also is encased in black plastic instead of the gray of the older models. Other than that, they are the same, and in my opinion, are better devices than the newer M100 series, which have tiny screens and less peripheral options.
Last I would like to talk about the Palm IIIc, which as originally released was sold at $449, but is down to around $300. While the IIIc is ostensibly a member of the III series, it actually has more in common internally with the Palm Vx than any previous member of the III series. Like the Vx, it has a 20MHz processor, a rechargeable battery, and it charges in the cradle. However its main reason for being is color. When I first read about and later played with the IIIc in the store I wasn't impressed. The basic PIM applications and even programs like "Documents to Go" really don't make much use of color, nor do they need to. Even most games are just fine in black and white. Color was to me just an expensive gimick, and so I kept my IIIx (my wife has a IIIxe) and decided to wait and buy a Vx when the new M505 model was released.
Luck conspired against my ever getting a V series unit (I've always wanted one), as I won a IIIc in a contest at school. I had all but set up a trade for my friend's Palm Vx, when I decided to put some photos in the IIIc. Soon I found the photos to be the least important benefit of the color screen, the real advantage being the screen's clarity when dealing with plain old black text. The color TFT display is so sharp and pleasing to the eye that I cannot imagine going back even to the wonderful displays of the V series, let alone that of the IIIx. The paper-white background and deep black text is simply a joy, and seeing dialog boxes in blue is kind of cool on a Palm.
In any light except outdoors, the IIIc is by far the easiest to read PDA I've ever used. Even outdoors, in direct Los Angeles sunlight, I can read it, though it is rather dark. The reflective TFTs are much better outdoors, but the IIIc is worlds better inside, where I believe most PDAs are used most often (at least mine is). When I used the III, and later the IIIx (with or without backlighting) for taking notes in classrooms, my eyes would get tired after roughly an hour. On the IIIc I am every bit as comfortable as I am on my laptop (thanks first to the GoType keyboard, and now the much better Palm Folding Keyboard).
So which III series should you buy? My advice is as follows, for a user on a real budget looking for a second hand or refurbished unit, no question, get a Palm III or IIIx. The IIIxe is probably still a little more expensive, though also likely still available new if you look. Another good value right now is the Palm VIIx, which is essentially a IIIxe with the addition of wireless. Even if you never use the radio, you are still getting a slightly bulky IIIxe for $200, and you can always activate the service later. A used Palm III should set you back around $100, and a IIIx perhaps $130.
The IIIxe when last I saw one was $199, at which price I would suggest the above mentioned Palm VIIx, but if the size and weight of that unit were too much, or you knew you would never use the wireless, then it's a nice machine. The IIIc is currently selling for $299, which is an excellent buy, though the Vx is the same price, and for users who don't do heavy notetaking, is probably a better option, though that color screen is awefully nice. I do not recommend the IIIe unless it is extremely cheap and you have no desire to go beyond the basic PDA functions.
Sleek case with protective flip cover Infrared transceiver 3 fonts for easy viewing 2 MB storage capacity What's in the box: Palm III, Protective flip...More at Amazon Marketplace
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