Rating: 
Summary: Almost...
Review: After the horror show of owning the M515 lemon, I almost gave up on Palm entirely. Chatted up the Palm reps on the phone, explained the issues, and they sent me a Tungsten T as a peace offering. As a replacement for the m515, it's a great PDA. It's sturdy, reliable, and its got Bluetooth. Yet, what's truly incredible about the Tungsten T is that it's already basically obselete. 16MB of memory (only 14MB of it accessible) is pretty low these days. If you want to do anything with email, or the much anticipated mp3 playing functions, you're going to have to buy an additional memory card - ...
Rating: 
Summary: Sleek and smooth, power to go.
Review: I have used 7 different Palm OS PDA's, and I haven't owned a Palm handheld since the Palm IIIc. The Palm Tungsten|T was the perfect way to welcome me home. I love the design, I love the sliding screen. It collapses down to a very reasonable size and fits easily in my coat or pants pocket. The display is sharp and clear, and the processing speed is fantastic. This Palm also comes with Documents to Go which edits MS Word and Excell documents better than a Pocket PC with Microsoft's own software! Insanity! Using Bluetooth to my laptop and mobile phone I can dial people from the phone, browse the web with two difference web browsers and read my email when I'm away from the office or home. The Palm Tungsten|T is a perfect companion to a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone. I even use the voice recorder, which I never thought I would do. I added a 256MB SD card for expansion and have more than enough room to grow. I recommend you pick one up too - at least a 32MB card for some applications that are getting bigger and bigger. If you plan to view photos on it at all, a card is not an option. You will hit the wall after a few photos if you have a lot of contacts and appointments. Palm supports Mac OS X, and you have a choice with their desktop software or using Apple's applications (Address Book and iCal) instead. Choice is good.
Rating:
Summary: Functional, but not quite perfect
Review: I like my Tungsten T a lot and use it many times every day for basic appointment and phone book tasks. Several times a week I use it to review Word and Excel documents. Finally, I do play some card games on it when trying to kill 15 minutes here or there. The interface is easy to use and the screen is great. I like the 5-way button. There are some areas that could use improvement, though. For starters, the Tungsten T is heavy for its size. On the one hand this gives it a feeling of durability. On the other hand it's really too heavy for a shirt or pants pocket. Also, the plastic cover that ships with the unit doesn't have cutouts for quick and easy access to all of the buttons on the bottom front. You can get there with the 5-way button, but it takes longer. All told, I'm happy with the Tungsten T and would recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely outstanding!
Review: I have never had a Palm device of any kind before I bought this one. I chose it for the high resolution display and built-in Bluetooth. I am an avid Mac user, and I'm used to having to deal with workarounds and other hacks to make things work. I was most pleased to find that the Tungsten T works with my Mac right out of the box! Setting up the Bluetooth connection (using a Belkin Bluetooth adapter on my Mac) took a little thinking, but I was syncing via Bluetooth within about 15 minutes without having read any manuals. It just works! The high resolution display is clear and bright. Before I bought the T, I remember reading some complaints about how easy it is to turn the unit on unintentionally, but I haven't had a problem. Granted, I'm not using the included plastic cover. I bought a nice leather zippered case from Franklin Covey for around [$]. I felt a little bit misled by the statement that the bundled Documents To Go software could create and edit Excel spreadsheets. Getting the document loaded and open wasn't a problem. Using it was. The Sheets To Go application apparently can't handle ALL Excel spreadsheet functions. I had to spend a couple of days reworking the spreadheet using functions that Sheets To Go could handle. Overall, I'm really pleased with my decision to buy the Tungsten T. It does everything I want it to do, and I'm learning more about what else it can do all the time!
Rating:
Summary: I have very few complaints with this Palm
Review: I purchased this Palm after having an i705 for a year. I got tired of paying the high wireless fees with the i705 and not getting good service. It was extremely slow and in my opinion, not worth the high service cost. I decided I did not need wireless internet access from a Palm device (since I can check my email from my cellphone) and I wanted something as small as possible. The Tungsten W and Tungsten C models are bigger than the Tungsten T. The Tungsten W has high monthly service fess while the Tungsten C only works in and around buildings with WiFi connectivity, which is not very many yet. I suppose if you have WiFi at home and at work and know that the public places you frequent have WiFi, it might be worth considering the Tungsten C. I like the fact that you can slide it closed over the graffiti area. It makes for a nice compact unit that can slip into a shirt pocket without feeling weighed down. I downloaded an application called Graffiti Anywhere (there is also one called NewPen, which works well) which allows me to write graffiti anywhere on the entire screen so I don't have to flip down the Palm as often-very handy! The color screen is quite nice and seems perfectly vibrant. My one major complaint is with the cover that comes with the Tungsten T. It is a separate clear plastic thingy and although it does not add much weight or bulk to the unit like some cases do, and you can attach it to the rear of the Palm when the device is in use, it's still a bit inconvenient to have a separate piece to contend with. I recommend a flip cover such as the Pocket Solutions Cover Up. It's a hard metal cover that fits the Tungsten T to protect the screen, yet flips back and out of the way when you are using the unit. Importantly, it adds very little bulky to the unit. I'm sure there are other good cases or covers too but I dislike most leather cases because they add too much bulk to Palms. My only other complaint (a small one) is that the Datebook does not come programmed with hoidays. This is understandable since Palm is selling units all over the world and each country celebrates different holidays. I found and downloaded a freeware application called Holidays which adds the U.S. (with option for some other countries) holidays with ease. My Tungsten T has exceeded my expectations so far. The screen seems more scratch resistant than prior Palms. I don't know for sure if this is true or if I've just been lucky but I don't use any stick on type of screen protector (I think they take away too much optical clarity) and my screen is still totally perfect. To get the dust off the screen, I use a lens cleaner called Clear Sight and a microfiber lens cloth and have had good results. The trick is not to clean it more often than you really need to. If you want a Palm that is strudy, small and compact, I would not hesitate in recommending the Tungsten T. It seems to be built quite sturdy (the case is metal) and it is very fast. In fact, I was surprised at the speed of launching different applications when I first did so.
Rating:
Summary: open close, open close, open close....
Review: processor speed is decent when using doc to go. but, very large spreadsheet does slow the unit down. Having to keep the pulling the unit open to use, and then closing to put back into shirt pocket gets to be a bit tedious when done 20+ times a day. (a bit of wasted motion) I have it housed in the palm hard plastic / Alumium clad case, it it works well for field work. I'd place sticking strips of the palm screen protector on the case where the fingers and thumb contact the case, in order to keep the smooth alumium from being too slippery. the digitizer have started to creep (lose stylus calabration). after a week of frustration, it stopped creeping. No know reason for this miracle self healing. I was wondering if it was the latest palm patch that caused the calabration problem. It does drain the battery in one day or less if used regularly. (i have heard the Pocket Pc units also drink battery like water) I use a car charger to keep the palm going when I'm on the road. overall, it's a fine unit unless you need to use large spreadsheets
Rating:
Summary: my new and only personal agenda
Review: Well, I've now had my Tungsten T for about 3 months. Hope the following points help you decide. applications: I love them all! I thought I would install lots of apps once I got the device, but after using it, I didn't see the need. The apps that come with the base Palm OS are simple yet completely satisfy my needs. I got rid of so many pieces of paper lying around our home-office, various files, emails, ... and put them on the pda. It then synchronizes with the computer to have access and backup. I use the Palm Desktop tool (bundled in), not the MS Outlook hookup. I'm not a pro-Outlook person. battery life: I use my palm a lot. My wife thinks it's a bit silly to use it everywhere. I have to get her one now - seriously! That would be perfect with bluetooth. Getting back to the battery. I use the palm all weekend and charge it when I get back to work on Monday - that's where the cradle is. By that point, it's little more than half full. So, I would assume it lasts 4 or 5 days of very heavy usage. Over normal weekends, I don't see the charge indicator change at all. I do know that if the battery drains, then the data is safe for about a week. buttons: It's kind of convenient to have the audio recorder button right there on the side, if only I used it. The power button, I feel, is awkwardly located on top of the device, forcing me to hold the pda up before using it - otherwize I'd only be pushing it around. The recorder button is right next to the power button, right where I put my fingers to hold the PDA when I turn it on - it's not a natural holding position for me. If I put the pda in my pocket, or jacket, I often find it turned on when I pull it out because of where the buttons are. I think a better idea would have been to place the buttons on the front panel. The device comes with a protective cover that would protect those buttons, had they been located on top face, like I'm suggesting. screen: I was concerned that it would scratch easily with the pen. I was wrong. It did, however, get scratched in my jacket pocket with my keys. I was almost crying when I saw it, but it still works just fine. mp3: Real has released an mp3 player for Tungsten, but you must have a memory card (extra) with the device to use it. You cannot store music files on the system memory. camera: I got the Veo camera with the pda. It takes 'ok' pictures at 320x240 or 640x480. You just can't move, or the picture will be fuzzy. I've taken pictures of my kids. That way, I can admire them anytime! The camera weight in a little more then a peanut. It's just incredible. The manual focus is a bit of a pain. bluetooth: I haven't used it yet. There are bluetooth access points out there, but I'm not sure how that would work. From what I understand, you must have a bluetooth phone to use the web browser. I've accidently dropped it 3 times on hard surface so far, mostly from hip height level - if only it had a little parachute! Nothing yet - but I wouldn't try it on purpose. Compared to Dell Axim: a friend has an Axim, which is substantially less money, a product that competes well with the Tungsten. I know he likes his pda, but he rarely uses it because it's bigger. Ok, it's not that much bigger, but it does make a difference if you put it in your pocket. Imagine having a bigger wallet, but only that you cannot sit on it! Where are you going to put it? All in all, after thinking I would never get a PDA, I now wouldn't get rid of it.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful product
Review: I am a college instructor, and had been carting around all sorts of things between home and class, and needed a way to keep everything on hand in a package that was smaller than a laptop. I looked at all of the PDA's and Pocket PC's, and first tried a Palm i705 (which went back the same day..couldn't even see the screen!)The older color Palms did not have good resolution on their displays, and the Sony's seemed hard to read. I finally decided to get the Tungsten T when I found it with an amazon.com rebate and a free mail in camera offer.
This thing is remarkable. I use it to keep my class grades with me (using Excel with the Documents to Go software). I can instantly update grades or attendance records, and the spreadsheets are completely readable even at the smallest zoom level.
I can bring Powerpoint lectures with me and edit or transfer them to computer at work.
I use the to-do list and daily calendar to remind me of the myriad of small things that have to be done for my classes and students.
I am still getting used to all the features and optimizing button selection. I've gotten it set so I rarely need to open the slider to access what I need now (have a graffiti program that works on the full screen).
I have found enough programs for OS5 to keep me happy, and have loaded quite a few into the thing with good results. (I suppose if you have a lot of old OS programs you might be unhappy if they weren't accessible on this, but I do not have that problem, and there seems to be plenty out there that works on it.)
So, in summary, I would HIGHLY recommend this unit to anyone who needs a compact way to keep organized and to take their Office apps with them. It is a really great product.
Rating:
Summary: 100% Better than the M500
Review: When I upgraded to my M500, I really wanted color. But the 505 was so weak, I didn't go that route. Of course, the 515 came out a few mos later - and who knows if I would have been happy. I knew the Tungsten was coming out and I waited for that. I even waited till the price dropped... - because I couldn't justify the $$$$. I did get a great deal on the Tungsten and am very happy with it. Getting used to the changes was not that difficult and I have had NO trouble with it whatsoever (except for a calculation on the World Clock - San Francisco is NOT 4 hrs behind NY, but 3 hrs). I admittedly have not found use for the bluetooth, but am hoping too find a phone that can support it (I do not have an Erickson phone). The Tungsten is a bit thicker than the 505, but the color and backlighting are so much superior, that the investment was worth it. I have more issues with a good case for the Tungsten. The aluminum is too bulky. The scuba skin is too flexible and bends out of shape. I have not tried the leather one yet. I did consider holding out for the Tungsten W, but decided I didn't not need to be 'in touch' w/anyone that badly.
Rating:
Summary: For this low price?
Review: I am from Europe and I have paid $ 400 for this device. Even for this price it is a very good machine. Below I will discuss the different posibilities which I use. Note these are merely my experiences.
Agenda: The standard palm organizer functions are good. Slight improvements over older (os 4.1) models, especcially the use of the D pad button on the Tungsten is handy.
Sound: With the free Real One player your pda is a full functioning mp3 player. You must buy an additional memory card (sd or mmc). Sound quality is good, but my sony cd walkman sounds better providing more bass with enhanced bass functions (groove and bass booster). Good quality headphones with low impedance are a must. My Tungsten plays up to 6 hours music on a full charge.
Internet: The palm web browser is good: you are able to check hotmail, use of frames are not a problem. Versamail is the email client includes which allows you to use multiple accounts and servers. It supports attachements like .doc (Word) and can upload only the subjects of emails stored on your server (less bandwith). If your have a bluetooth gsm the internet functions are a blessing for us mobile people. Infrared is another possibilty.
SMS: with the provided SMS manager and bluetooth you have a very efficient SMS system. Bluetooth is a wireless system, which lets your pda talk to other devices with bluetooth. Great! doesnt shorten the life of the rechargeable battery noticeably.
Games: there are few os 5.0 games. Fortunately you can use a lot of games which were developped for os 4.1 These are enjoyeable and there are thousands of them. The os 5.0 games are on par with the old SuperNes (Nintendo)games, but there are a few of them. The os 4.1 games are more like older 8 bit colour games. I have noticed that games tends to shorten battery life the most. 4-5 hours and you'll need to recharge your device.
Display: Excellent !
Form factor: small and useable. The slide mechanism feels sturdy and durable. As you use the Tungsten more you will get used to the D pad which is very handy and makes you use the slider less frequently. A bit heavy whem you compare to the M500 which was a b/w organiser with a plastic back. In everyday life the weight is no problem, the advantage? A nice built quality pda with aluminium front and back.
Battery life: Read above! If you intensively use your pda (music, games, agenda, internet) the battery will last 2 days before giving up on you. If you use your pda for organiser function it will last much longer up to 1,5 weeks. Conclusion: solid machine with usefull extra's like bluetooth and mp3 support. Battery life is ok, looks are great. This is the best palmos pda up to date.
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