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The Techtite Ratings System :

  • Burnout
  • Near Miss
  • Small Crater
  • Large Crater
  • Deep Impact

In Association with Amazon.com

The Palm Handheld Series: 

The Accessories

cover

Click pictures WITHIN THE REVIEW, to Order the 

m100 camera (above), plus many other items!

A Techtite Overview

coverIf you ever tried to buy a PDA from a store, you've probably seen how the popularity of this affordable-yet-powerful unit has led to whole shelves of accessories. Which should you choose? Well, for practical reasons, you might want to see what is included in the box. While m100 buyers, for example, will probably want to buy the "optional" m100 cradle (shown at left; click picture to order), buyers of more expensive PDA units, like the IIIc have a cradle included in the box. Conversely, if you prefer a laptop-savvy short cable for on-the-go, that's included free with the m100, though not with the IIIc, nor most other more expensive Palm units that already offer the cradle.

Confused yet? Don't worry; this review (or overview) is here to help!

Techtite.com, after testing both the m100 and the IIIc, tested many accessories, compatible with both or either unit. Here's some of the ones worth mentioning, as well as each item's rating. (Click on any title of a product, to order) :

  • Palm Portable Keyboard This portable keyboard by Palm (actually made by Targus), is compatible with BOTH the m100 and the IIIc. When folded, this add-on is perhaps just one size larger than the Palm unit itself. It even comes with a handy zippered cover, to keep it clean in any briefcase, or a student's backpack. Unfolded, the 66 keys have just the right size and sensitivity. However, how sturdy is it? That's a good question, since other users I've heard from, spoke of weakened latches after as little as a few short months. It's still very, very portable, though. Rating: Large Crater.

  •  coverLandWare GoType Portable Keyboard This is the "third party" keyboard, for people worried about the fragility of the foldable Palm/Targus keyboard. It is non-foldable, yet still quite small (10 by 4 inches) and can fit in any briefcase or student's backpack. It is compatible with the PalmPilot, Palm III, and Palm VII, as well as IBM Workpads and TRGpros! Unlike the as-is Palm Keyboard (which comes with only drivers), the GoType comes with a word processor and thesaurus. Two holes at the corners hold a stylus for easy access. While its non-fold design is not as "cool," it works on any unstable surface (like your lap), where the other cannot. Rating : Deep Impact.

  • Palm m100 series Stylus (3-Pack) As mentioned in my review for The m100, the stylus is not the same as the one included with the IIIc, and is basically a much flimsier piece of plastic. For those of us who might lose such a small stylus, or worried of breaking it, here's a 3-pack for you. However, I'd recommend getting a stylus/pen instead. Rating: Small Crater.

  • Palm Wallets...? There are many options to put your Palm unit in a wallet. As a rule, the Palm fits to the right, usually with an included velcro sticker; the left side includes pockets for credit cards, with a billfold in between for small amounts of cash. Techtite checked out many such wallets, though few could fit the criteria: 1) a wallet as versatile as the old wallet; 2) includes decent space for the Palm unit (unit doesn't peek out of the sides); and 3) it can fit in your pocket. As a rule, no wallet can fit this criteria, and all such wallets deserve a Techtite Rating of Near Miss. However, some people with just a few bills and 5 or less cards (discount, credit, or otherwise), might find such wallets useful. Some such options include:

  • Palm Modem Connectivity Kit for Palm IIIc, III and VII Series

    • Personally, if you want to send/receive email, nothing beats an affordable laptop. However, there is a modem kit, though the only one we could find was for the IIIc, and not the m100. The one offered in the above link offers a 33.6 Kbps connection to any phone line, supports the Palm's "hotsync" feature (to send all updated mail to your desktop later), and is compatible with the IIIc, IIIx, IIIe, IIIxe, and Pilot Professional. On the downside, it requires two AAA batteries to work. Its included "Multimail" software works well, though since there's little need for larger e-mails sent/received to a Palm PDA, it does not support file attachments. Users Techtite consulted recommended Eudora software for the Palm, which also supports web browsing. As for the modem itself: Large Crater.

  • Platinum Pen Mini Three Action PDA Stylus

    • One of the better pen/stylus all-in-one solutions reviewed here, this pen includes a blue ink pen, a black pen, and a PDA stylus. Conversion is with a simple twist. Switchable ink chambers means re-fills and cleaning is easy. It also will fit in the stylus slot of some --though not all-- PDA cases. Rating: Large Crater

  •  Platinum Pen Executive Three Action PDA Stylus

    • Similar to the above, this replaces the duo colors of ink with one black ink pen and a mechanical pencil (and of course the PDA stylus). Rating: Large Crater

  • Palm IIIc Travel Recharger Kit If you need to recharge your PDA in a hotel room or equivalent, you'll need this quick and easy way to plug the PDA into any wall. Included with the kit are adapters for a number of international wall outlets. A pouch is included to keep the recharger nice and safe for travel. While a simple accessory, it still is worth a Deep Impact.

 

NOTE: also see the m100 review, for links to buy any of those cool color faceplates, to personalize your m100!

 

coverAmong all of the little add-ons for the m100, however, nothing can quite compare to the Kodak PalmPix Digital Camera. While the m100 is in b&w, the images produced are in full color, and, if high-resolution mode is used, the 640x480 results are surprisingly good images. However, without a flash bulb, some pictures are not as good as they could be. Regardless, in the florescent lighting of most workplaces, it should work perfectly, and provide an amusing diversion for people who enjoy sending e-mail photos to family and business friends. Palm IIIc owners, by comparison, have an accessory called similarly the Kodak PalmPix Digital Camera for Palm Handhelds. Much like the IIIc, this is slightly improved from the m100's camera attachment, and includes 2x digital zoom, and 24-bit color VGA pictures. It is compatible with Palm III, IIIc, IIIe, IIIx, IIIxe, VII, and VIIx models. However, in either case I'd recommend getting a digital camera itself, unless you'd rather brag at how much your little PDA can do for you.

In conclusion, what can be said of all the accessories Palm units have to offer? Well, for starters, suffice to say there's too many for even this lengthy review page to cover completely. However, at least this page offers some of the more intriguing options possible, and gives you a good idea of what to look for...

 

Got a review you'd like to share? Techtite will post 2 of the best "guest" reviews received for each item, online, for all the world to see!

All text, Title graphics, and pix not of reviewed product, are created by Techtite, copyright 2001; all rights reserved. Pictures of product(s) are used only for the purpose of review (and to make shopping for product easier); they by no means represent any affiliation with Techtite and the distributors of that product. For further "legalese" & disclaimers, click here...