Fast and Furious (Palm Tungsten C)

Member Name: anthmack

Product:	Palm Tungsten C
Date:	18/05/04 (327 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beatifully crisp and clean screen, Great communication abilities without huge battery loss, 51MB of usable RAM, Fantastically fast processor, Built in QWERTY Keyboard, and a wide range of Software both on disk, and for download

Disadvantages: Mono Speaker, Cannot use Voice recording without optional headset which is purchased seperately, Limited OS MAC support, Easilly breakable screen (by rumour), For people with fat fingers, like me, keyboard keys, can seem fiddley, and inconvenient

* Initial Note *

Speaking on behalf of the family, the Palm Tungsten C has just been purchased by my sister. Joanne works in Marketing for a scottish brewery, which means that it is essential for her to be organised, as well as have relatively easy access to applications where she can do her work, and even more importantly something that can be served as a good communication device.

This accumulation of needs, required her to purchase something that would allow her to do her work, whilst on the move (she is always travelling). So this wee little handheld device was purchased for exactly this reason, and as I have experienced, serves her well. (-and me well, lol)

So, why should you, or should you not buy the PALM Tungsten C, well, I shall explain.

*Its features*

WiFi
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WiFi for those people who dont know what it is, is a communication device that allows somebody not only to communicate with a computer but many other things.

The WiFi networking (802.11b) will allow Joanne to access corporate applications, which of course, as I explained before is an essentiality with a busy, and important job. She will also be able to access her emails, which again, as I stated before is essential for the constant communication she must do with the company, and finally Internet access.

So therefore, with this in built capability, you will be able to communicate with the world, anywhere in the country, at any time, and for a little cost (Check rates for GPRS - I believe they are approximately the same rate)

The Display
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The display on this wee device is especially superior to most of its competition. This wee babe, incorporates,
a backlit 320-
by-320 screen, with an amazing 64K color display ( supports more that 65,000 colours)

It also allows a full screen input (i.e. for word processing applications or email for example) which is highly useful, as you are not reclined to a certain area, which allows writing easier, and therefore quicker and more efficiently

The Keyboard
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One nifty feature of the Tungsten C, is that it has a touchpad QWERTY keyboard, which can be very useful for those initial, learning but technophobic phases (i.e. how to use the touch sensitive screen) at the bottom of the device.

Its has been fine for my sister to use, as she has skinny fingers, but for a pretty large bloke like myself, pretty large fingers come with it, and therefore can be a little fiddley, and annoying when pressing two keys at the same time (seem to have the same problem with laptops too)

Address and Date Books
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This is exactly what you would expect from a hand held computer. Just standard entry of dates and times to remind yourself of meetings, or things to do, as well as standard input for your different addresses.

The only thing that really seperates this feature from its competition, is that it can be generally completed in a much quicker time, due to its quite vast memory and processing capabilities.

Rechargeable Battery
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One thing that is essentially annoying about not only Palm computers, but also mobile phones, is the fact that the battery runs out in 5 seconds. This is not the case with the PALM Tungsten C. The battery tends to last, with conservatively regular usage, approximately 7 hours, which is great considering the amount of processing a
nd complex procedures that are busilly going ahead in the little thing.

The battery is a 1500mh Rechargeable Lithium/Ion (dont ask me what the 1500mh means - may know a bit of techno-language, but thats going a bit far)

Notification features
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Although a smaller part of the review, the Palm Tungten C, has 3 different ways to notify you of something. It will either notify you by:

*Vibration
*An LED which flashes at the top of it
*or, more commonly known, by Audio, or Polytone notification.

I think notification devices are going a bit over board now, a bit like Aeroplane life jackets (who needs a light when your in water?)

The Memory and the Processor
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The processor includes an in-built Intel PXA225 400Mhz , which has INtel Xscale technology. This in combination with its 64MB storage capacity, really allows you to store, and run complex applications, not only at the ease of a button, but at a lightning speed.

Speed in computers are speeding up all the time, and to be honest, I am sure PALM will have faster ones very soon. But at present, this is definately one of the better equipped ones on the market.

Software
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The software for this device, already has a wide variety, ranging from spreadhseet and word processing applications, to web browsers, email software and even gaming applications.

Not only this, but you have the option to download, both free and cheap-ish, applications from the internet, meaning you can upgrade or change your applications, as your needs change. Brilliant!

What it
Requires
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This little handheld device, is also not very demanding. It needs, at a minimum:

?Pentium processor or equivalent
?50MB hard drive space
?CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive
?Microsoft Windows 98, NT 4.0 with SP6 or later,
Me, 2000 Professional, or XP Home or Professional; ?and Internet Explorer 4.1


Other Final Features
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? It has a mobile radio, with a headjack and a speaker on the back of the device. however I will mention that the sound is in mono format, and therefore not very good. Also, in order to use Voice recording, you will have ti puchase the headset, on top of the total cost of the palm device.

?It has a universal connection port, where you can add an additional or external keyboard for easier typing, or for example, a battery pack for extra hours.

? Expansion slot - This could be used for additional memory (however debateable whether it is needed), as well as useful things such as a travel card, or even a card module like a digital camera!

? It also has an infra-red port, allowing communication with your laptop, or even your mobile phone, with very little effort, and at the maximum speed.

? Has bluetooth capabilities, allowing sharing with a desktop or laptop (with the caapbilities) or even some mobile phones, and other palm or handheld pc devices.

Ergonomics
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This device, is extremely light, which makes it ideal for when you are on the go. Judging from the Palm Tungsten C's specification it weighs approximately 6.3 Ounces, which really is next
to nothing, allowing versaitle and highly mobile usage.

It is also slender thin, allowing easy slipping in to pocket or briefcase, but also allows comfortable holding when in the hand. Its size dimensions are also something to be respected, with a width of 3.07 inches, a height of 4.8 inches, and skinny wee waist or depth of only 0.65 inches.

It comes in a shiny, metallic almost aluminium effect finish, which makes it look especially contemporary. In the past, they used to be black, which I am especially glad they have moved away from.

Final Note
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Although this review has been mainly positive, I would like to draw your attention to the delicate screen. My sister has had friends, who have had the exact same model, and the screen has cracked, or broken, even without bashful or uncareful use, within a couple of months.

This however has not happened with my sisters, and also believe that they have a good support network set up in the UK, and via their website.

My sister, being a business consumer, has found this especially useful. Dont fork out on one, unless you are going to use their applications and communication abilities. They are designed for the corporate user, and as Joanne, and myself have realised, that this really is a good bit of kit.

Summary: