LifeDrive

[ggreig]

At last! After a gap of some years, PalmOne have released a new machine I might consider buying: the LifeDrive mobile manager.

It has WiFi as well as Bluetooth, it doesn't have a keyboard built in, and (though I wasn't looking for this) it has a 4GB hard drive. It looks a bit fatter and heavier than most recent models, no doubt due to the hard drive. I guess they are learning the capacity lessons from the iPod's use of a hard drive, though iPods still have more capacity than this does.

I'm slightly disappointed that the full-size folding keyboard (sold separately) is the infra-red "Universal Wireless Keyboard" now sold for all PalmOne models; I'm happier with the idea of a physical connector.

I'll think about it for a while before making a decision as to whether to buy, but it's nice to see PalmOne coming out with one worth thinking about.

Comments

[msinvisfem.livejournal.com]

Excellent features and very swish looking too. :-)

I assume you'll let everyone know in a future entry if you decided to go ahead and break-the-bank. ;-)

[myceliumme.livejournal.com]

It does look lovely and wifi would be a useful thing. However the only thing I definitely want to add to my 2MB black-and-white screened Zire is cellphone functionality. This ancient beastie has served me faithfully for several years - thanks again msinvisfem.

It seems a bit retro to have to look up contact details then key them into a separate device. So I'll hold out until I have money for new toys and then see if Treos are still available.

[ggreig]

wifi would be a useful thing

My frustration at the lack of WiFi in PalmOne devices has been growing for a couple of years! It's not that they couldn't do it, becasue they did put out one model, the Tungsten C, which had it. Unfortunately, it also had a nasty built-in keyboard which I definitely didn't want.

In the meantime, WiFi has become standard in Pocket PCs and - I don't know whether this is directly related or not - Pocket PCs have overtaken PalmOne in the handheld market.

[myceliumme.livejournal.com]

My frustration at the lack of WiFi in PalmOne devices has been growing for a couple of years!

I guess I don't miss what I've (almost) never had. My Mac laptop was only wirelessing for about 2 weeks before the dodgy power supply fritzed the mobo. I didn't get to take the Pismo to any wireless hotspots (apart from my bed) during that time - and I still have the ethernet cable coming out of the wall at me.

[sharikkamur.livejournal.com]

Also, the WiFi cards for the T5 are incredibly difficult to get hold of. Even from the website.

That's my only complaint about the T5. it's great for reading eBooks, which is its main use in my case. And as I've only had it for six months I can't justify a new thing for at least two years. :)