Your Life in Your Pocket (Palm Vx)

Member Name: epajl

Product:	Palm Vx
Date:	06/11/00 (194 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Tiny, stylish, very usable.

Disadvantages: Poor for lots of text entry

Perhaps the main reason for choosing the Vx over other PDAs is the fact it really does fit into a pocket without producing embarassing bulges.

I've used a Psion for many years and felt rather treacherous going over to rival American products, but I think the Palm fits my style of working the best. So, before rushing out, consider how you will use it.

Most obviously, if you want to enter lots of text, reply to lots of emails and write documents, go for Psion. Whilst the Palm 'graffiti' writing is much easier than I thought it would be, it's no substitute for a keyboard. However, as an offline reviewer of email and for making short replies it does the job wonderfully.

Aside from text entry, the Vx does just about everything I could want. What's more, because Palm is so HUGE in the states, the amount of software that is downloadable from the net is overwhelming. Everything from 'Universal' Remote Controls to Web Browsers.

The best thing I have downloaded is AvantGo microbrowser software. Everytime I synch with my PC, lots of Web pages are automatically cached on the device. Some are specially modified for the Palm, e.g. the Guardian on-line, FT.com. For others, I download the low-graphics version, e.g. BBC news. It's like the web in my pocket - cinema times for my local flea-pit, what's on TV tonight, weather from Yahoo, The Onion (invaluable), my stock prices - How did I live without it???

For this reason, do not consider anything less than the 8Mb version.

Summary: