Rating: 
Summary: Full system backup in your wallet!
Review: It took me a few days to get used to the different screen technology, as I upgraded from the IIIc (you know, the one so bright you can signal aircraft with it). You just have to get accustomed to the silver background instead of white, which is why it looks milky white with the frontlight turned on.However, I'm facinated in that the screen is clear and readable no matter what the lighting situation may be. When walking down a corridor or past windows, you never 'lose' the image like I did on my former greyscale and color devices. There was also no hint of streaking or banding. Enough about the screen. The reason I bought it was because of the expansion. I can now travel with EVERY application I need, including my spreadsheets, relational databases, ebooks, and mapping software. I could only fill it up by loading multimedia clips and movie trailers. When it comes to making sure your data is safe, I can now carry a full system backup in my wallet. You insert the backup card in your Palm and two buttons pop up on the screen; Backup and Restore. Forget the manual! I should probably mention that you can put more than just Palm files on the card. Just drop any file into the Palm installer, send it to the card, and you have it with you. An extra trick when you get to that out of town meeting? Click on that special file and email your materials as attachments using McFile. I don't really have to mention size, you can slip it in your pocket without looking like you are stealing bricks for your diveway. Even though it is more solid than other handhelds I've owned (this is my 5th), I find myself being more careful due to it's size. One thing I was not expecting was the extra speed. If you don't know anyone with a Pocket PC (I have friends and coworkers with them), then go down to a local store and try out a Pocket PC with the 505 by it's side. You will be surprised by how sluggish most of them seem. I had to use a utility to slow the Palm down to get the responsiveness of the PPC's (HP Jordana was used in actual testing). Taking that same utility, you can crank the speed up to 50Mhz, which is the equivalent of above 300Mhz on a Pocket PC, and really watch it fly. Watch the battery though... you don't get as good mileage with your foot on the floor like that. Hotsyncing was also drastically different. A normal hotsync take 12 seconds. Sometimes I do it twice because I did not see the first one, even though it says it did. A full reload from the desktop computer used to take me about 55 minutes. A reload to the M505 takes 9 minutes, including backup and verification. On the downside, the battery life is not as good as the IIIc, which had a huge battery. Size does have it's tradeoffs, and Palm would have had to give up the expansion slot or vibrating alert to get more battery in there. Most users can expect about 2 weeks of use from a single charge, if they they don't watch too much video. But I should also mention that this is a concern only if you hotsync once every two weeks. The M505 soaks up a charge faster than any device I've known. In testing, it went from a 10% battery level to 53% in two minutes. Given time to stabilize, the voltage level evened out at 48%, so I imagine you would have to purposely avoid the cradle in order for the thing to even get low in the first place. If you do kill the battery by ignoring the many warnings which begin at 10%, it will not turn on. This is to protect your data, which will be safe for another week... but THAT'S something I'm not going to test!
Rating: 
Summary: m505 - some experiences
Review: Hi everybody ! I spent approximately more than 20 hours in the net reading all the comments in several newsgroups and gathering all reviews and test information I could get for a palm with a colour display. Finally after some sleepless nights and in spite of all complains, I decided to buy a Palm m505. First of all: the display is fine. I do really like it ! I have no problems with it. IMHO it is relaxing to look on a screen like this one (after sitting in front of a computers screen the whole day long). NB: I am from Gernamy, so I got a m505 assembled in Hungary. I am very satisfied with that new toy. Especially I do like its small and slim size, the very high quality standard of the housing and the very long battery life time (with backlight off), while sitting outside in the garden and playing chess ... :-)). Great ! But I have noticed some issues, I would like to mention here: - I saw a very strange behaviour using some backlight utilities on the m505. Some of them make the display flashing periodically, when the palm is powered off! Yes you are reading right! This happens every 60 seconds, exactly when the internal clock switches to a new minute. I found out, that the only utility which does not do so is the BacklightOn.prc, 827 byte. All other programms I have tried (505LightOn.prc, 17619 byte; Backlight.prc, 1981 byte, Keep_Lit_Hack.prc, 1336 byte) make the display flashing. Has anybody else seen such an efffect like this ? - An other point: some people wrote in their reviews, that it is difficult to get the m505 out of the cradle. It is true. And the noise it makes is really suspicious. I tought this can‘t be healthy for the material and I worried about the lifetime of the hole mechanism. Because of this, I put very carefully a little grease (using a needle) onto the metal clips of the cradle and a very small amout onto their counterparts on the palm itself. What a difference ! Now it slides very soft, smooth and easy in and out (!) off the cradle. Very simple, but what an improvement ! - The display scratches very easily. Some people suggested to use commercial plastic protection films. Because I had none of this layers, but was very eager to play with the palm immediately when it arrived, I used a liquid hard-wax to make the display more mar-resistant. Check it out, it works very well. No micro scratches any more and the stylus slides much better on the display. But after applying the hard-wax you should not use a micro-fiber duster to remove finger prints from the display, because this removes the hard-wax coating too. - Last but not least I saw that the unit becomes slow after running the GConsole (PalmConsoleDemo130.prc, version 1.3, 24155 byte). After haveing run this software once, the screen refresh is noticeable slower. This becomes clearly obviously when you power on the plam. After a soft reboot all is fine again. So this is not a big problem, but it took me some time to find out what software was responsible for this decrease of performance. If somebody likes to write me his experience, please address your comments to Klaus@Dr-Siemon.de Best greetings Klaus
Rating:
Summary: Read why the display isn't so bad after all....
Review: I'll be the first to admit that, with the backlight turned off, this display is DARK. Actually, I'll be the second to admit it, because Palm already has. As such, they provide for free download a utility that makes it so that the backlight stays on all the time--even after the unit has been powered off then on again. This is how they've admitted a problem, but the fix does work. I leave my backlight on all the time, and just love using the m505. Don't let these negative reviews get in the way--just install the backlight utility from the Palm website and enjoy using the best PDA on the market!
Rating:
Summary: I love it!
Review: As long as you get the 505 that is put together in the US you will fall in love w/ the vivid colors on the screen. For those of you that don't there is a utility on ... that will allow you to keep the 'frontlight' on at all times. I would recommend this to any one that does not mind spending the cash!
Rating: 
Summary: MENOS DE LO ESPERADO CON LA NUEVA PALM M505
Review: Tenia una Palm Vx, la cambie por el nuevo modelo PALM m505 esperando encontrarme con una agenda mucho mejor, pero no fue asi, este modelo a pesar de ser a color no es atractivo a la vista, no ofrece nada nuevo ni mejoras sustanciales a lo que ya se tenia en la Vx. Ademas de que muchos de los programas ya existentes para la Palm Vx no funcionan correctamente o no son compatibles con esta Palm M505. Despues de esta decepcion mejor me cambie a las Pocket Pc (IPAQ). En mi experiencia personal si ya tienes una Palm Vx, no vale la pena la inversion en este nuevo modelo de Palm, yo preferiria conservar mi Palm Vx. Mucho dinero por pocos cambios. Antonio.
Rating:
Summary: Not Perfect, But Good
Review: As a former Palm IIIe user, I must say that receiving this Palm as a graduation gift was a pleasure. First, the machine is very fast and small... and the wallet case (highly recommended) allowed me to reduce the number of things in my pocket. I like the stylus, which is thicker than its predecessor, thus fitting my hands. My only complaints are with the screen, it is excellent in sunlight and in brightly lit indoor areas. When no longer in a brightly light area, it still is visible, but it is more convenient to turn on the backlight. This, however drains the battery, reducing the useable life of the machine to perhaps a day and a half without charging. Now this wouldn't be a problem if the machine rested in its cradle overnight (as it usually does for me), but when I travel for one-two weeks, I find it a severe blow -- especially since Palm has not released the portable charger and won't until September! But on the whole, this is a wonderful machine that is great for organizing your life.
Rating:
Summary: Read this if you have questions about the display!
Review: Much has been written about the poor display on the m505. As the owner of a Cassiopeia E-125, and a former owner of both a Palm IIIc and the Handspring Visor Prism, I think I can help make sense of it all. For ease of reference, here they are in the order of brightness of the display: 1. Visor Prism -- Absolutely the brightest Palm display out there, including the new Clie n710 and 610 models from Sony. It's active-matrix back-lit display is bright and text is very readable. The expandable modules are a great idea, but I never took advantage of any of them. My only complaint about the Prism is that is was just too darn big and heavy. It's a bit boxy, and just felt like a weight when carried in a shirt pocket. In sum, awesome screen, but mediocre form factor still makes this a winner. 2. E-125 -- If you're in the market for a PocketPC, I think this is the way to go. The screen is gorgeous, and Microsoft's clear type font technology is really something. The display has more colors, and is larger than Palm displays, allowing you to really spend some quality time reading books or playing games. The new Windows Media Player 7.1 is also a vast improvement over former versions, and transferring audio files to the unit is a snap. Sound quality is very good, too. I personally prefer the Palm OS -- from running apps to hot-syncing, it's so much simpler and faster. Plus, the PocketPC platform is not nearly as stable in my experience. Programs tend to crash far too frequently, usually taking the entire OS down with it. It's also very easy to have too many apps running at once (not all of them have File/Exit menus), leading to a crash when you run out of memory. Finally, although the units do a whole lot more than the Palms, they are also much bigger -- no fun at all to carry in a pocket. In short, if you are really intrigued by the PocketPC -- hey, different strokes. But if you're a Palm user and happy with the platform, there really isn't a reason to switch, unless multimedia is essential .... 3. Palm IIIc -- not as many out there as there used to be, but still worth a look if you can find one. Zippy and attractive, this unit is relatively bright and clear, but not nearly as bright as the Prism. One thing the IIIc and the Prism have that the m505 does not is a brightness control (hold down the power button and the brightness meter appears, giving you control over whether to save power or let it shine). But it comes standard with a serial cradle (ugh!) meaning you'll have to pay extra for a USB cradle, and it's a bit boxy and has a plastic feel to it for my taste. The model has also been discontinued, raising questions about investing in old Palm technology. 4. Palm m505 -- First, I must address the rumors that units manufactured outside the U.S. (i.e., in Hungary) are not as bright as the U.S. models. I've seen both U.S. and Hungary models, and there is no difference in the brightness of the display. Check out the m505 FAQs at Palm's web site, where they address this by stating that the rumors are false, and that identical components are used regardless of where manufactured. Next, it's true, this display is the worst of the four units discussed here. But if you consider this model as an m500 (the monochrome version) with color, you won't be disappointed. Side by side, the m505 is much easier to read from all different angles than is the m500. And the color really does enhance the user experience, especially when the unit comes with a terrific app like MGI's mobile photo suite. Who wants to see digital pix on a grey-scale Palm? For the extra $... that Palm charges for a color display, it's just a no-brainer. Color is worth it! I also found that after a few days using this model, my eyes adjusted to the screen, and it was a pleasure to use. Still, Palm might have found a better balance between power conservation and the birghtness on this display -- they erred on the side of conservation, which, based on the reviews right here on Amazon, wasn't the way to go to satisfy most users. Notwithstanding the slightly disappointing screen, the m505 is my choice for daily use. For one, it ships with v.4 of the Palm OS and Desktop for Windows, as well as numerous other bonus apps (Palm Reader, AOL for Palm, and Documents to Go v. 3, to name a few). It also comes standard with a USB cradle, and is both PC and Mac compatible (as are Visors, but not PocketPCs or the Sony Clie, which are PC only). The m505 also offers the SDD/MMC slot for memory and software cards, and neat innovation that works like a charm (my m505 came with the GamesPack card). Finally, the m505 carries on the legendary form factor of the V/Vx models, which ultimately makes this the best PDA for me. Even with the optional Palm slim leather m505 case, the entire thing fits in my shirt pocket with room to spare. It's tiny and attractive, and every button has wonderful, snappy tactile response. The thing just feels great in your hand, and the craftsmanship really shows. The bottom line -- you've really got to go out to a retailer and compare these babies side by side. This model won't be for everyone, especially folks who want to read novels or write lengthy documents directly on their Palm device. For everyday contact and schedule info, and occasional reading and writing, the m505 is a definite winner in my book. A slightly brighter screen would make it perfect and worthy of 5 stars!
Rating: 
Summary: A major disappointment, even though it was a gift!
Review: I received my m505 as a birthday gift, replacing my broken but beloved Palm IIIx, so I hate to criticize something that was free. However, I am mad that a loved one paid more ... for this gift. I realized what a disappointment the device was before I even did my first HotSync. The cheap stylus, which is hard to remove from the handheld and has no weight for writing, was the first tip-off. It seems like a small thing, but the stylus is the primary tool for using the handheld, so it really makes a difference. I hurt my fingers trying to get it out of the side slot and it hasn't gotten any easier to remove with time. Also, my old styluses, which are much nicer, don't fit into the side slot so I can't use them unless I carry them around somewhere else. And what use will I ever have for an expansion slot? The cards seem like a useless gimmick to me, with the possible exception of using a card to back up files when away from your desktop. For me, that's hardly ever. I also don't need more space. Even as a busy journalist with lots of notes and records, I haven't used half of what is available. Moreover: Don't need more games. Very few U.S. cities are available on the travel card. In a way, I wish Palm or some other company would give us something worthwhile in the way of card programs. But isn't the idea of carrying a Palm to streamline and get away from carrying extra things, like expansion cards? Unlike some other reviewers, I am fairly pleased with the monitor, which is a major improvement from my prior Palm. I also like the quickness of the computer. I like the notepad program, too, but I noticed it doesn't work with as much accuracy as it could. However, none of these positives outweighs the negatives and the high prices of these new Palms. I'm sure a lot of people will soon agree and make plans to jump to a better product.
Rating:
Summary: A major disappointment, even though it was a gift!
Review: I received my m505 as a birthday gift, replacing my broken but beloved Palm IIIx, so I hate to criticize something that was free. However, I am mad that a loved one paid more than $... for this gift. I realized what a disappointment the device was before I even did my first HotSync. The cheap stylus, which is hard to remove from the handheld and has no weight for writing, was the first tip-off. It seems like a small thing, but the stylus is the primary tool for using the handheld, so it really makes a difference. I hurt my fingers trying to get it out of the side slot and it hasn't gotten any easier to remove with time. Also, my old styluses, which are much nicer, don't fit into the side slot so I can't use them unless I carry them around somewhere else. And what use will I ever have for an expansion slot? The cards seem like a useless gimmick to me, with the possible exception of using a card to back up files when away from your desktop. For me, that's hardly ever. I also don't need more space. Even as a busy journalist with lots of notes and records, I haven't used half of what is available. Moreover: Don't need more games. Very few U.S. cities are available on the travel card. In a way, I wish Palm or some other company would give us something worthwhile in the way of card programs. But isn't the idea of carrying a Palm to streamline and get away from carrying extra things, like expansion cards? Unlike some other reviewers, I am fairly pleased with the monitor, which is a major improvement from my prior Palm. I also like the quickness of the computer. I like the notepad program, too, but I noticed it doesn't work with as much accuracy as it could. However, none of these positives outweighs the negatives and the high prices of these new Palms. I'm sure a lot of people will soon agree and make plans to jump to a better product.
Rating:
Summary: Good product but the screen could be better
Review: I'll get right to the point - this is the best Palm ever, and one of the best PDA's ever, with the exception of the screen. However, I must say this. If you have never held a Palm V/Vx, you might not understand why some people value the small size of the M505 so much. Actually, many users think of the form factor (fancy term for size) to be more important than other features like memory or screen quality. This can be attributed to the simple fact that if your PDA isn't with you, you can't use it! Nobody likes to carry a brick in their pocket. The small size of the M505 makes it painless to keep it in your front shirt pocket or in the back pocket of your jeans. I am wary of crushing mine, so I usually keep it in a Rhinoskin titanium case in my back pocket. So even though the dimensions seem very similar to other PDA's on paper, the M505's pocketability is a major feature.<...
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