Rating: 
Summary: Best entry level handheld available.
Review: If you need a handheld for basic PIM tasks such as phone numbers adresses and e-mail this is the one for you, read on. If on the other hand you need a powerful handheld computer able to do multimedia I recommend you look at the Sony Clie line of Palm OS handhelds.The Zire provides all you need to substitute your paper based agenda out of the box. About the OS: Palm OS is actually the standard OS on handhelds (most like Windows on the desktop). This handheld includes a desktop PIM(personal information managers) as well as software to sync with Microsoft Outlook. There are thousand of programs available for the palm OS add such as enhanced PIM , Personal finance program to syncronize with MS Money and Quicken as well as office suites and games. Hardware: Zire has a very stilish design it is almost as small as a Palm M515 or clie T 665. Also this handheld as all Palm branded handhelds is build to last with a tought elegant casing. It is compatible with Windows and Machintos desktops. The only limitations I find in this computer are that it only has 2 MB of memory (but I am a power user), for most peple 2 MB is plenty to store thousand of addresses as well as and office suite and other programs. Another minor limitation for gammers it that there are only four buttons. Sumarry: The zire is arguably the best possible solution for someone just entering the world of handhelds. This is the best entry level handheld computer for the money
Rating:
Summary: Great Budget PDA!
Review: I purchased this for my daughter, who is a freshman in college, and was very impressed! For the price, the Zire is an outstanding entry-level Palm PDA. Set up is easy and the "hot synch" process enables you to back up info you've entered, as well as install new programs that are easily obtainable from the Palm website. Despite having only 2 mgs. of memory, I was able to install a Franklin Covey "Student Suite" program to help her keep track of assignments and grades, along with several other programs, and there is still plenty of room to store info. Text can be entered by tapping the stylus on a mini keyboard on the screen or by actually writing in the "graffiti" area (quite easy to learn). This surprising versatility at an excellent price, plus the standard Palm features (address book, appointment calendar, ability to download and read e-mail, etc.), make this much more than a PIM--it's an entry-level mini computer. It even comes with a flip-over plastic cover to protect the screen and, while it's a little cumbersome to keep out of the way, it's welcome and unexpected for the price. My Kyocera Palm Smartphone came with no protective cover and I've already scratched the screen, so I was glad to see one here. The bottom line? It's a wonderful product. If you're looking for an easy to learn, entry-level Palm with a surprising amount of features and quality--look no further!
Rating: 
Summary: Nice little Handheld
Review: I am seeing a lot of negative reviews for this item. I have to say that I do not agree. This is an extremely easy to use, stylish, and SMALL handheld. Those who want the bells and whistles of a $200-$300 handheld need to buck up, pay for one and stop complaining about this extremely useful little device. The Zire is a back to basics handheld and as such, needs to be viewed in that light. What it does, it does well. The palm date book , expense list, to do list, address list, and memo functions are all extremely useful and the unit has enough ram for a few 3rd party applications. I loaded mine with pocket Quicken, and a wonderful little application for more serious chess players called Chess Tiger. I have my schedule, address-phone books, To do listings, shopping lists, and complete financial info in a small package that fits discreetly in my front shirt pocket. (BTW - Nice to have one of these things that doesn?t look too geeky.) One push of a button and everything is synchronized in Quicken and my Calendar. As a self employed professional & busy freelance musician, I need to check my date book often and add things on the fly quite frequently. This Zire has made it all very easy for me and I have a great little handheld chess unit when I get a spare minute. The rechargeable battery is a great feature as is the IR beaming function. I would liked to have seen a bit more ram. The lack of a back light doesn't bother me at all. In short, this little handheld will fill the bill for someone who wants a good basic unit. If you want internet connectivity, zillions of games, E books, & the like, then pay more and get a fancier model. If you need a neat little Organizer that's easy to use, I'd recommend the Zire. I like mine. P.S. The cases do indeed have a peculiar odor to them as several reviewers mentioned. I think this fades in time. The glue or the plastic must be responsible. The case is attractive and protects the unit well however.
Rating:
Summary: Solid entry-level PDA
Review: I went against every technophile molecule in my body and purchased this handheld for my wife. She's a list-maker, our kitchen counter littered with page after mini-page of post-it notes with her to-do items scrawled on them. So I thought a PDA would make a nice Christmas present for her, but I didn't want to spend too much in case she didn't like using it. Enter the Palm Zire, a very inexpensive but solid entry-level PDA. It was a difficult purchase for me because I tend to have all the latest gadgets - the iSight from Apple, a video phone, the G5, etc. So buying an $80 PDA was hard, but necessary, and I'm glad I did it. It turns out the Palm Zire is a great way to find out if you're the kind of person who would end up using a PDA without spending several hundred dollars. It has very basic functions - to-do lists, addresses, contacts, and some simple games. You'll likely outgrow the Zire very quickly if you're using it a lot, but at least you'll know by then you will use a more expensive model. If you're looking for a feature-rich PDA, then by all means, avoid this model. But if you're only after the basic tasks of list keeping and address keeping, or if you're new to the PDA scene and aren't sure that you'll really use it, you can't lose with the Zire. It would also be great for a younger teenager to try, since the investment is minimal.
Rating:
Summary: A great little box
Review: Absolutely a first rate basic pda. No, there are no fancy color screens and no, you can't expand it. But, the basics are all there and work perfectly. Date Book, Addresses, To Do list, Memo Pad are the basic functions and all work flawlessly with the Palm desktop software which keeps the Zire and your computer in sync. Info entered directly into your pda gets updated to your computer and vice versa. The Zire has a USB to mini USB cable to hook up to your computer as well as a built in rechargeable battery, which I prefer to constantly replacing batteries. The coolest feature has to be the ability to "beam" info from one pda to another. You have to be close to the other pda, but it really works. If you want to add games or other functions to your Zire, you will find numerous websites with available freeware and shareware. The big question...is 2 megs of memory enough. Currently I have 645 entries in the Address Book, 1050 entries in my Date Book, 400 records in my Memo Pad as well as 2 blackjack games, a poker game, and a chess game. With all of this loaded in the Zire, I still have 1.3 megs of memory available. Really a great little box.
Rating: 
Summary: zire palm disappointing
Review: I purchased a zire palm this past January. It has been nothing but a big disappointment to me. If given the opportunity I would not purchase it again, I would spend a little more and get a better palm.
Rating:
Summary: Just what I needed
Review: I never had a palm before and didn't know how much I would use one. So I didn't want to spend too much on one. This one was exactly what I needed. It is very easy to use. Has plenty of memory for all my addresses and appointments. I have experience no problems with it at all. It has never reset on me or lost data. Its not color, so what. The data in very readable and clear. Very few games, so what. I didn't buy it as a game. No back light to view in the dark, so what. When's the last time there was no light around? I would recommend this to anyone who doesn't need bells and whistles, but just wants their information handy.
Rating:
Summary: TERRIBLE PRODUCT - AVOID BUYING!!
Review: I received a Palm handheld from my darling husband for Christmas '02. I thought it was great at the time, it was exactly what I wanted. However, it comes with a VERY short warranty period (just a few months) and approximately 6 months after I started using it, it quit on me. I contacted the company to get the product fixed and found out that it was already out of warranty and would cost me $75 for repairs. The unit only cost $99 at the time!!! What a waste! I would NOT NOT NOT recommend this product.
Rating:
Summary: Love it
Review: The bad reviews on this site blow me away. When reading said reviews remember these points: 1) Okay, people, the solution is not to buy a more expensive PDA! Look at the reviews for the more expensive Tungsten models and you'll see bad review there. Same for pocket pcs. There will always be people who buy electronics that do not fit their needs and that they do not know how to use and will take out frustrations on this board.
2) Backlight issue is valid, but it keeps the battery life high and is only necessary on color models.
3) Every Palm to date comes with a non-replaceable lithium ion battery. The average life of these batteries is 3 years. This is as true for a $500 unit as it is for this one. Palms do not last forever.
4) Do you really need expansion slots?
5) Technology will always get better and cheeper. Considering Palms are a relatively disposable device, why not buy low-end models and save your money for an upgrade?
Rating:
Summary: PDAs are more than electronic DayRunners
Review: This is my first handheld. Turns out this is what I always needed. I use it for calendar and addresses of course, and use the to-do list (which can be categorized), but I also use it to help me choose a restaurant (in a database file, sorted by whatever aspect), choose wine, see the nutritional value of a Big Mac, plan dinner for the week, remember birthdays, remind myself to do something 20 minutes from now, read/edit text documents, read the daily news and weather from various sources (obtained via my desktop and modem each morning), TV schedule always with me, entertainment while waiting, checkbook (and credit-card balance) keeper, exercise-plan keeper, reservoir for things I want to remember (info about Galileo, map of Iraq, directions to someplace either drawn or verbal, area codes for the whole US). And now that I'm going back to school, have have a flashcard program that's helping me to get A's even though I'm rotton at memorizing, and a homework scheduler which also keeps track of how I'm doing in each class. This model has 8 meg of memory, way more the original Zire, but not enough for enormous things like a dictionary (unless it's a small dictionary and you have very little else loaded). Also, it's not in color, and there's no expansion slot. It's a very affordable and functional handheld.
| 
