Rating: 
Summary: BEWARE OF SUDS!!!
Review: One week ago my year old m515 quit hot synching for no apparent reason. After spending many hours and three days on the phone with Palm tech support and being bounced back and forth to my computer OS support and losing all my data needlessly, I heard about SUDS --static build up that causes the entire m500 series to just stop hot synching. After doing some research online I found that Palm just settled a class action suit in 12/03 regarding this matter.
Apparently their techs have not read the manuals because not one of the six I spoke to had a clue. BEWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW AND THE LACK OF A TRAINED SUPPORT STAFF!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Old Palm users - Worth waiting
Review: I started using Pilots when they were called Pilots. I've
upgraded from them to Palm IIIxe and now to the m515. I'm a
a real reviewer, not some marketting suit.I have to say I was tempted to get the first color Palm, but
I'm glad I waited. The m515 is a good product. It has nice color, the display
is suitable for different environments. It may not be the
best for all people, but for normal office/home/road use,
the display, and usability is great. I was relieved that the same style of applications came with
the hand-held. I was relieved that the PC applications look
like they've been nicely upgraded, except that they need
to be more refined, and MS-office-like in terms of function
to help get useful data from the PC world into the Palm. So, if you were looking for a vastly new PC software suite with
the m515, it's basically the same as it was. It just looks
better. The physical properties of the m515 are nice. It's light, thin,
looks cool. I really like the rechargable battery feature
that's been in the line for some time, but having gone from
AAA batteries to this, I'm happier. I still think that the accessories market is lacking really good
quality cases. They all look and work cheaply. What
I really want is a nice cordura case that can expand if I
want it to. Essentially, I see the m515 as a executive level
product-- for the price and function you'd expect a higher
level of accessories. I didnt' find that apparent. But the core of the unit is really beautiful. I love the color,
I bought a game-pack to go with it just for that reason. Now
I'm hooked on Sim-City. The m515 is really worth the wait.
I probably won't ever have to upgrade for quite some time
because I can always add more memory and the applications
that need the most help are the PC aids, not the palm applications. Other nits: Order it with extra styli, not just one.
Order it with a cover that covers it completely-
don't depend on the basic flap.
Dust and dirt will eventually get on the screen with the
standard flap cover. Recommended packages: * Get the game pack, it's fun.
* Zipper case is more secure and protective.
* Get more memory now, while you're online ordering it.
* Get the extra cradle NOW while you're ordering it. Remember
that NT/95 users need a serial kit, the USB won't work for those
older versions of Windows.
* Order your serial kit while you're there, the extra 4 days
wait is eternity. I gave this review 4 stars to leave room for some improvement
in the PC applications and quality of accessories to protect
and utlize the product. I'm really happy with the m515.
Rating: 
Summary: great - for awhile
Review: When I first bought the m515 to replace my Vx (whose screen broke in a fall), I was happily impressed with the bright color screen, increased memory, solid feel (a button had fallen off my Vx) and the upgraded software bundle (including Docs to Go). However, I was a bit upset that the accessories that I had bought for my Vx (keyboard, travel kit, etc) were incompatible with the m515 docking port, and thus money down the tubes. After happily using my m515 for about 6 months, suddenly the unit refused to sync, neither with my home desktop nor my workstation at work. I figured that the cradle had died. Discovered that I had to buy two cables, one for syncing + one for charging (not like the Vx travel kit, which was both in a single cable). When the cables arrived, the unit still didn't sync. That's when I did some homework, and found that the entire m500 series is plagued with defective USB chips, which misfunction due to static electricity charges. Do a google search for SUDS (Sudden USB Death Syndrome) for details. There is a workaround (belatedly posted on the PalmOne website) to *completely* drain the battery, which resets the USB chip. Unfortunately, the unit doesn't work the same since. Repeatedly the unit crashes, forcing a full reset with loss of data added since last sync. Some CPU-intensive programs (for example, 3DStarFighter game) always crash the machine. Heard horror stories about Palm support on this issue. Looking around for a replacement, I am hesitant to reinvest in another Palm product. Maybe Sony? Unfortunately, no distributor in my part of the planet. I'd hate to have to rely on a Pocket-PC unit.
Rating:
Summary: Great form factor
Review: I upgraded from a Palm m130 when the m515 price dropped recently. The m515 has a larger screen. The amount of text you see on the screen is the same, but all the letters are larger making it much easier to read. I find this a big plus. The m515 is nearly 50% thinner (0.5 vs. 0.9 inch) and is lighter (4.9 vs. 5.4 oz) which makes a world of difference if you want to carry it around in your pocket. I found I was always leaving my m130 somewhere due to the bulk, then the annoying task of hunting around to find it - and eventually likely to lose it that way. I compared m515 vs. Sony PEG SJ33, to my mind its closest competitor and priced the same. Palm wins on the form factor, although the Sony has higher resolution, faster processor and more features. But Sony is thicker (0.9 inch) and heavier (6.1 oz). Caution on this comparison, though: Sony data may include its flip cover, whereas Palm data excludes its leather cover. By the way, Palm doesnt say much about that cover - it comes with the product - no need to buy a special cover, in my view. This one works fine. Easy on-off if you don't need it and want ultra-slim for the shirt pocket. The m515 is a very pleasing product to have and to hold (literally). But I would suggest anyone do a close comparison with the SJ33 and see which one fits your own comfort level better.
Rating:
Summary: M515-Mixed Feelings
Review: I've been using the M515 (factory direct buying)for about a month-&-half. In my limited experience (I'm pretty new to the world of PDA's) the positives are: The ability to store so much information still amazes me. The size and weight are great-nicely slim & light. While I know people that have had problems with the lighting, I think it's fine. The downsides are: Poor battery life. But I know that is just PDA's in general-especially color PDA's. The big negative: Two dead pixels since I use it a lot.(Over the 30 day warranty) While the manufacturer's support staff is great, they told me to either ship it back for a refurbished model (no way) or they can try to fix the one I have with no guarantee that they can fix it. I've opted to live with the dead pixels (small annoyances) use it for "small time usage" & I will be purchasing a different brand PDA in the next few months. Hope this helps! After using the m515 a bit longer I am editing this review: The battery life isn't "that bad." When it gets to 75%, I just synch overnight. Overall I raised the rating from three stars to four stars because the m515 is really a good PDA with a lot to offer.
Rating: 
Summary: Good battery life and it does what it says-- no problems.
Review: I had a Toshiba E740 Pocket PC for six months, and finally sold it to step back "down" to a palm 515. The Toshiba promised some cool things like wireless LAN and an MP3 player, but it seemed like every 10th thing I tried to do caused some kind of annoying error, and worst of all the beautiful screen caused terrible battery life. With the Palm 515 I haven't had any glitches in the 5 months since I got it. Everything happens quickly, and with the "graffitti" handwriting system I get a lot fewer misspellings then with the Pocket PC. I'm just finding it a lot more pleasant to have a reliable PDA than a fancier one that doesn't always do the simple things right.
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT PALM
Review: I've had my Palm m515 for about 1 year now. I've continue
to marvel at all that it can do. I went from an original
(first issued) US robotics Palm Pilot. Upgraded that to be equivalent to a Palm Pilot professional. The m515 was newely released when I bought me. The colors are
great. The display is great. I recently bought my first SD
card (a 64MB viking). That would great. Palm OS rules. The number of applications for Palm OS rule. Don't kid yourself. if you buy a pocket PC you might as well by
a laptop. The purpose of a palm device isn't to have a PC in your hand. The palm can and does fit a nitch that a laptop doesn't. I couldn't recommend this any stronger. At least until the
Tungsten become cheaper. www.palm.com and handango.com and palmgear.com are all great sites. Does a search on these sites for anything and you're bound to find software doing what you want. Mortgage loan calculations, Nature Family Planning recording, games, database
apps, dictionaries, e-books, the bible. You name it. Its out
there for Palm OS. And the m515, with its color, is exceptional. The m515 holds its charge much longer than I anticipated. I almost never need to have the back light on. And when I do, I leave it on medium. At night if you turn the backlight on in the dark.. you can ues this baby as a flashlight (and I have :) its so bright. Recharge time is quite. Accessories are abundant. And bar none.
Palm OS is the defacto standard.
Rating:
Summary: Palm finally gets it right...
Review: I slammed the earlier version of this device (the m505) for its horrible color screen, but adding active TFT and 16 MB standard makes this a near-perfect PDA. It's nice to know that Palm can learn from their mistakes. This is functionally identical to the m130, which is cheaper, but you get what you pay for. The m515 has a significantly larger screen and far less bulk than the m130, easily justifying the higher price. With the built-in difficulty of pointing and clicking on a Palm device, size matters.
The life of the lithium-polymer rechargeable battery takes a hit with the new vibrant color screen, but you can still use your m515 fairly heavily for days before you need a recharge.
The only other compromise is the screen is low-res at 160 x 160 pixels. If you want photo-realism, you can buy a Sony Clie with 320 x 320, but those models have worse battery life and cost much more, so it's your choice.
The 515, quite simply, is the slimmest and lightest full-featured color PDA.
Here's a basic product guide:
Palm m100/Handspring Visor -- Bargain basement models with 2 MB of Ram. Good
starter models for the price. Distinguishing characteristics: Visor has significantly larger
screen/expansion slot and fast USB cradle. Palm has slower serial.
Palm m105/Visor Deluxe/Visor Neo -- Workhorse models with 8 MB of Ram (plenty for
monochrome models). Visor has bigger screen/USB/expansion slot. Neo has faster
processor.
Palm m125/Visor Platinum/Visor Pro -- Upper middle class models. Visor has larger
screen. Both have USB/expansion slot.
Palm Vx -- A discontinued classic, not significantly expandable. Smallest full-function PDA with lithium
rechargeable battery. Sharp, full-size mono screen. Slow serial port.
Visor Edge/Clie slimline -- ultraslim mono models sell at a premium, but have durability questions.
Palm m130 -- Fills consumer color niche. Compare to color Clie models, Visor Prism.
Small, bright screen, rechargeable battery, expandable.
Palm m515 -- top of the line. Screen is now brighter, 16 mb included, now we want
higher resolution. Still, a great improvement over the horrible washed-out color on the
Palm m505. Compare with top Sony models/iPaq.
Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Hot Sync Problems
Review: I really really liked my palm until one day it stopped syncing. I didn't do anything to it, it just no longer made a connection with the USB on my computer. My warranty was up so I had to pay if I wanted to talk to the Palm tech support people. I did some searching on the internet and discovered that many others had the same problem--funny Palm made no mention of that as I went through all the trouble shooting wizards on their website. Also really irritating that they do not have a way to solve the problem. Palm does have a program that will drain the battery which apparantly makes the palm sync again, but many Internet posts have said that this makes the battery fritzy thereafter. I have purchased a serial cradle which apparently is free of the syncing problem to hopefully allow me to use my palm again. No matter how good the product is, if it doesn't sync with my computer it is WORTHLESS.
Rating:
Summary: Good battery life and it does what it says-- no problems.
Review: I had a Toshiba E740 Pocket PC for six months, and finally sold it to step back "down" to a palm 515. The Toshiba promised some cool things like wireless LAN and an MP3 player, but it seemed like every 10th thing I tried to do caused some kind of annoying error, and worst of all the beautiful screen caused terrible battery life. With the Palm 515 I haven't had any glitches in the 5 months since I got it. Everything happens quickly, and with the "graffitti" handwriting system I get a lot fewer misspellings then with the Pocket PC. I'm just finding it a lot more pleasant to have a reliable PDA than a fancier one that doesn't always do the simple things right.
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