Comments on: Rumor: m505 Appears at Palm SD Seminar

with the 100 series already out, Palm's sticking to the odd numbers, again.

;)
It's a dream...

Namely resolution and color depth. Color depth helps alot as it allows more blending, which can reduce the appearance of pixelation. 16 bit color gives you 65536 colors vs the IIIc's what? 16 color? I can't remember.

I'm not sure if the resolution has changed up from the 160x160 its been for so long, but in any case, its going to be much better then the IIIC.

Palm Tech Employee

160x160 pixels = 25600 pixels = max. 25600 colors

Which doesn't really matter 'cause the main point about the m505 is the Palm V form factor combined with color plus an expansion slot.

>The number of pixels has NOTHING to do with the
>number of displayable colors. Providing 16 bits of
>framebuffer memory per pixel is what allows EACH
>PIXEL to take on any one of 65536 different colors.

Exactly. But you will never be able to display 65.536 colors AT THE SAME TIME (due to the limitation to 25.600 pixels). Which was my original point - I think this discussion about 65536 colors is rather academical. The main point about the m505 is the Palm V form factor + color + expansion slot. (Plus the range of Palm applications, of course...)

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/zd/20010207/tc/sony_s_new_display_prototype_lets_video_shine_1.html

It will be interesting how Omnisky plans on making a compatible
modem for this unit. Seems like they can go 2 ways... use the
new bottom connector, or talk through the SD slot. I only hope
that they offer a passthrough connector on the back so that you
can cradle charge and/or Hotsync, and maybe use the PPK when
the modem is connected.

Palm is releasing new products to stay competitive as technology evolves. My Palm Vx is still every bit as useful as it was when I purchased it and not at all made obselete by the release of the IIIc and VII/VIIx models. My first Palm was a PalmPilot Personal, which I later upgraded with the 2MB card to get IR functionality and an improved OS. I upgraded to a Palm Vx to get the crisper display and, more importantly, the additional memory. In the four years that I've been a Palm owner I have registered over easily $800 of software, almost all of which is still useful or has been upgraded to match the evolution of the Palm hardware and OS.

Put simply: If you want the latest and greatest, than you have to pay for it. Technology is constantly evolving and the "latest and greatest" changes almost from day to day. I'll buy the color V form factor when it comes out to get color and SD expansion capability. You have color on the IIIc, can upgrade the OS and third-party software to increase functionality and have 8MB of RAM. Unless you run into a memory bottleneck with the 8MB you have no real desperate need to immediately upgrade until there are enough viable SD hardware enhancement options available to make an informed investment decision. The display may ultimately be better, but I'm sure that even that will be debated on this forum and others once the actual product is released.

Technomania is an expensive hobby and I am certainly guilty of it. Older models can often be sold to a loving new home through eBay or user forums and software investments are usually still good despite a change in similiar hardware. If you expect Palm to hold off releasing new products so that you're Palm IIIc can stay on the Palm platform cutting edge, than you need to reevaluate the nature of your purchase and investment. Paper day planners sold today are very similiar in price and function to those sold a few years ago. PDA models are not.

Benjamin Hawk Duncan

Video card technology has been changing very rapidly, but a card bought four years ago is still not obsolete. It may not be able to support a smooth, high framerate game of "Unreal Tournament" or "Quake III", but it will serve a business application user just as well as it did when it was purchased. VHS videotape was not made obsolete by the release of DVD technology. Movie lovers who wanted the ultimate home viewing experience were compelled to upgrade, but many people were satisfied with keeping their VCRs. The current Palm models will NOT be obselete for users who don't need the latest and greatest features.

Any argument that new models with cutting edge functionality shouldn't be released to prevent older models from becoming less useful (not obsolete) is foolish. I'll probably give my Palm Vx to a friend or family member when I upgrade and, to them, the functionality offered will not be obsolete.

Benjamin Hawk Duncan