The PalmOne m100 Handheld was introduced to the world at about the same time in 2001 by now-defunct Palm, Inc. It was designed to be a simple, low-cost device for personal information management, encompassing everything from contacts, calendars, and notes. In this review, we will analyze the feature-set with the positives and negatives of the PalmOne m100 Handheld.
Features:
The PalmOne m100 Handheld provided many features that rendered it a useful and practical device for managing personal information. The PDA had following features:
Compact design: The PalmOne m100 Handheld was small and lightweight and therefore really easy to carry in a pocket or purse.
Monochrome display: On the PalmOne m100 Handheld was a nice clear 2.7-inch diagonal monochrome display that had good readability if relatively lower in resolution than some of the newer PDAs.
Personal information management: The PalmOne m100 Handheld provided several tools for personal information management, including a contacts database, calendar, to-do list, and notes.
Synchronization: Synchronization with a desktop computer using the software provided with the device allowed for data transfer to and from the PDA computer and updates of the PDA with new software and applications.
Expansion card slot: The PalmOne m100 Handheld offered an expansion card slot for adding extra storage or extra applications to the device.
Pros:
Cheap pricing: The PalmOne m100 Handheld was a reasonably priced product offering the benefit of most of the features of costlier PDAs. Hence it was a very good choice for the users who wanted a PDA but did not want to spend too much on it.
Ease of use: The PalmOne m100 Handheld was designed keeping in view easy handling even for users with no experience with a PDA. The interface was intuitive, and navigation with the device was easy.
Compact: The PalmOne m100 Handheld was tiny and light, making it easy to carry. It was a perfect gadget for users who needed to manage personal information wherever they went.
Pros:
Features for PIM: However, it did offer several user-friendly and effective personal information management functionality. The contact database, the calendar, the to-do list, and the notes applications were essentially designed around user needs and proved useful.
Synchronization: Another prime advantage of the PalmOne m100 Handheld was its ability to synchronize with a desktop computer. This enabled the user to transfer data from their PDA to their computer and update any new software and applications to their PDA.
Cons:
Limited storage capacity: Users had to be selective about what data and applications to keep on the handheld as the PalmOne m100 Handheld offered limited storage capacity.
Limited battery life: Users had limited battery life on the PalmOne m100 Handheld; this necessitated the careful usage of the device, considering the time they turned the device on.
Monochrome display: The PalmOne m100 Handheld featured a mono display and was somewhat low resolution compared to some later PDAs, making graphics and images somewhat less clear and detailed than they should have been.
Limited expansion options: Besides, the PalmOne m100 Handheld had an expansion card slot, though its expansion options were scanty. Users could only add storage or extra applications, but the options for third-party hardware accessories were not many.
Limited connectivity: The PalmOne m100 Handheld had limited connectivity options. There was no WiFi or Bluetooth, thus requiring a physical connection to a desktop computer for the purposes of synchronizing data or transferring files.
Conclusion:
To sum up, PalmOne m100 Handheld is one of the inexpensive PDAs well planned and equipped with a set of personal information management tools. Compact and easy to use, this device was most excellent for information organization on the go. Available storage, battery life, and the monochrome display were some of the drawbacks with this PDA, but comparatively, the connection to the modern PDAs was quite fair.
Though for most users, PalmOne m100 Handheld may no longer be a significant choice, it was among the leading pioneers paving the way for contemporary smartphones and tablets. The Palm-One m100 has its legacy in the plethora of personal information management programs today available in mobile computing.
If you are looking for a simple and budget-friendly PDA, PalmOne m100 Handheld might still suit some users. Otherwise, for advanced and feature-rich ones, it is in the market in scores. In short, the PalmOne m100 Handheld was a groundbreaking device that spearheaded the revolution in personal computing; thus it will forever remain special in the history of technology.
PalmOne m100 Handheld: Buy it now