Comments on: palmOne Releases the Zire 31
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RE: Hope they are in stores
Ayhh, enough whining, I need to see it in person I guess.
1st devices with "PalmOne" on the front. 12 bit color in lo rez ... is this the m130 screen?
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: Hope they are in stores
--
Psion 5> Vx > m505 > N770C > T625C > NR70V > e310 > T/T > HP h2210 > T/T3 & h4150
StarTac 75 > T28m > T39m > T68m > T610 > T630
RE: Hope they are in stores
RE: Hope they are in stores
Hey throw one of those my way since your being so generous. And since you've upgraded that T610, I would be glad to have that with my T3. :-)
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: Hope they are in stores
Initially, I thought Zire 31 is a good deal for people who don'e need too many features. But I really concern about the screen quality and the size.
New Palm OS?
-k
RE: New Palm OS?
--
Ben Combee
http://palmos.combee.net - PDA programmer weblog
Passive matrix transmissive display!
RE: Passive matrix transmissive display!
RE: Passive matrix transmissive display!
Donald
RE: Passive matrix transmissive display!
--
Ben Combee
http://palmos.combee.net - PDA programmer weblog
Same screen as on Treo600!!!!?
Anyway, this is a good deal for the money imo. Once retailers start discounting the Z31 another 15-20 bucks...these should start flying off the shelves!!!
I support http://Tapland.com/
--------------------
GNM
RE: Passive matrix transmissive display!
This is the bargain basement folks, don't get all twitchy now.
RE: Passive matrix transmissive display!
-Ryan
RE: Passive matrix transmissive display!
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: Passive matrix transmissive display!
True it has a 320 x 320 color screen for the same price ($149 from sony - though maybe you've found it for the $99 price somewhere, i couldn't find it for less than 149) but the sj 22 has a 33mhz dragonball (vs 200mhz ARM processor), uses OS 4.1 vs 5.2, and cannot play mp3s.
RE: Passive matrix transmissive display!
RE: Passive matrix transmissive display!
(But don't say it too loudly, those old Zire owners are a bit rabid when it comes to the backlighting issue.) ;)
RE: Passive matrix transmissive display!
It's a real shame that Palm had to cut corners on the screen; otherwise, this would be a great entry-level handheld.
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Z31 screen = Treo600 screen
Ryan, have you seen the screens PalmOne is putting in the new PalmOne branded Treo600's lately. There have been several threads regarding this over at Treocentral comparing the screens of the older Handspring branded Treos and newer PalmOne branded ones and the screens are definitely different. According to reports, the new screens are much dimmer and have blueish tinge to them that was not present in the older Treos which would descirbe them exactly as you have done with the Z31 screens. Alot of people are dissatisfied with the new screens and now it seems plausible that PalmOne is using the same screens in both the Treo600 and Z31...
I support http://Tapland.com/
--------------------
GNM
RE: Passive matrix transmissive display!
Can anyone out there who has had firsthand experience with the Z31 and the old m130 give some feedback? I mean, we all know the Z31's disappointing next to any of the current P1 devices.
But how does it compare to the Treo 90 & Palm m130 screens? Is it ANY better than those? Is it even within shouting distance (I mean actual LCD panel quality & illumination, lower resolution aside) to the T|T and T|W screens?
Thanks!
RE: Passive matrix transmissive display!
The display looks far worse than the m130.
Besides the resolution/color stuff mentioned above, this thing actually has a perceptible flicker!!! (I'm under fluorescent lights)
I've done the digitizer calibration a few times and the screen still doesn't seem to register taps in the right places and with the right sensitivity (I have to press and hold!)
Maybe this is a bad unit? Interested to hear if others have the flicker / tap issues as well.
Shades of the m505...
And impulse buyers will take one look at the Zire 31 screen compared to the T3 etc. and laugh.
Palm will soon be moving its new corporate HQ to Chapitreonze - that little town just off the 280, north of San Jose (between Arocque and Aardplaice).
Dear Lord, please bless the Caneman and Boy Blunder. Please keep them safe from harm.
SOLD! SOLD! SOLD!
You like me! You really like me!
RE: T4
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
RE: T4
The E2 will be basically the original T|E with 64mb, Blutooth, an improved D-pad, and a 320*320 screen. I bet it'll run Garnet. Then this fall we'll see the big wave of Tungstens running Cobalt/OS6 and hopefully some other goodies as well (*cough* dual wireless *cough*)
Not bad, but my idea was better ;)
IMO, a better device would be that $130 B&W version that I hoped for before. Or, perhaps a $150 B&W version with 128MB or 256MB on-board RAM, so that people can play MP3's right off the bat. With this they'll still need to shell out another $60+ to get a 256MB memory card.
My point is that having a basic, no frills, PDA/MP3 convergence device at a cheap price point could be a huge seller. I'm not sure they got it quite right here.
Along those lines, I'd also recommend tweaking the physical design so as to add hard buttons for MP3 functionality (and/or make the existing ones serve double-duty so, for example, the DateBook button might also be the "Play" button, etc.) and they'd label them appropriately.
Scott
http://Tapland.com
- Tapwave Zodiac News, Reviews, & Discussion -
RE: Not bad, but my idea was better ;)
There are probably not many manufacturers who are making greyscales 160x160 screens anymore and in the long run it might actually be cheaper to get colour.
And don't make me laugh, there is no way palm or any PDA manufacturers would ever put a 128Mb RAM on a low end PDA even if they remove all the frills to keep the cost down.
--
Psion 5> Vx > m505 > N770C > T625C > NR70V > e310 > T/T > HP h2210 > T/T3 & h4150
StarTac 75 > T28m > T39m > T68m > T610 > T630
RE: Not bad, but my idea was better ;)
Scott
http://Tapland.com
- Tapwave Zodiac News, Reviews, & Discussion -
RE: Not bad, but my idea was better ;)
The iPod is a dedicated player whose primary usage is to sit in your pocket (or whereever) when you listen, and occasionally change songs, and last as long as possible. For that, color doesn't really matter at all. (and before you argue that it's used for other things, keep in mind that these are all third-party hacks :) )
That being said, I'm inclined to disagree with the post anyways, seeing as though half my family with Palms have grayscale screens and don't mind at all. But then again, my siblings do not exactly constitute a significant segment of the market. :D
RE: Not bad, but my idea was better ;)
If done properly, a m500-style PDA with a full feature set (priced between $100 and $125) would sell well to the "dads'n grads" segment. Basically, a large paper-white screen (ipod style) with strong illumination and minimal ghosting/blurring. I really think that the Zire31 was released only to still be profitable at $100-$125ish later on this year around Christmastime.
It'd still be be nice to see a "genuine" $150 model....basially a Tungsten E with 16mb ram and no audio capabilities. Now that'd be a hot seller!
Nevertheless, I'm interested to hear the reports or see a Z31 myself to see just HOW bad the screen is and if there are any improvements at all over the miserable m130 screen--truly the worst screen ever on a PDA from the modern age!
RE: Not bad, but my idea was better ;)
We'll have to agree to disagree, but I think the low-end mass consumer market sees value in MP3 playback and value in basic PIM functionality, but a low-res poor quality color screen would be less valuable. Remember that most of the color phones these days have a camera. If you have a camera, you have to have a color screen (no matter how bad it is).
Part of my point is that the do-everything PDA concept doesn't scale well. If you're making a $500 uber-PDA, you can make it do a decent job of doing many things, but if you try to scale that to a $150 device, it's going to do a lot of things really badly. Better to remove features but make the features that it does have work really well. I see no reason why a B&W 160x160 PDA with MP3, 256MB on-board RAM, and hard-application buttons which operate the MP3 functionality couldn't be built to be profitable at $150. And I think it could be a hot seller. The geeks here will bash me for this, but I even think a B&W model with a 4GB HD for under $300 could be built and also would be quite hot.
Scott
http://Tapland.com
- Tapwave Zodiac News, Reviews, & Discussion -
RE: Not bad, but my idea was better ;)
Donald
RE: Not bad, but my idea was better ;)
This is the UPGRADE for all those people who bought the non-backlit monochrome Zires. All those people who Tried It, Liked It, and Want More -- but Not Expensively.
These people do not play zoomzoomgames. They look up phone numbers, put things in their schedules and to do lists, and jot notes. Maybe -- just maybe -- they might venture into ebooks. And just maybe they will venture into MP3s.
And if they do those two new things, maybe they will move up to the next level of PalmOS device.
RE: Not bad, but my idea was better ;)
I don't play zoomzoomgames either, you see!
RE: Not bad, but my idea was better ;)
Jesus Mike! You still haven't ditched the crappy S320? Haven't you been waiting for the perfect replacement for long enough :) Seriously, you are quite active in the commentary here - i would have thought you would have something beyond the S320 by now. I mean why bother to even comment on the last 2 years of happenings when your personal frame of reference (the S320) is soooooooo off base from any modern pda! just kidding of course - its actually a nice, refreshing change from all of the freaks who say 'now with this new Sony FZ80, 500 mhz pda, i'll have to buy it to supplement my NZ70, Zodiac 2, treo 600 and SE p900!"
RE: Not bad, but my idea was better ;)
RE: Not bad, but my idea was better ;)
Yeah, that's why the original Zire, Zire 21 and iPod are some of the worst selling devices out there.
RE: Not bad, but my idea was better ;)
Let's face it, 8mb would be plenty for the average PIM & BeJeweled novice user. If they really want to get serious, they can buy an SD card for shoter-term storage and then get a Z72 or whatever next time around. I fared quite well with an 8mb m505 and a 128mb SD card. I personally would rather omit "novelty" features in order to keep the main method of interaction of a PDA (screen, buttons, stylus) of a reasonable quality. I'd likely take an 515 over a
RE: Not bad, but my idea was better ;)
Scott
http://Tapland.com
- Tapwave Zodiac News, Reviews, & Discussion -
RE: Not bad, but my idea was better ;)
I didn't suggest a "flashier" PDA by any means, but rather a "back to basics" one with solid build quality, a decent color screen and a minimum of bells & whistles. Essentially, a scaled down Tungsten E with a smaller software bundle and no audio. It'd be a huge seller at $150 over the "jack of all trades master of none" Z31. Sometimes instead of the latest & greatest, it'd be nice to see a mainstream model with all of the bugs worked out and no drastic corners cut.
RE: Not bad, but my idea was better ;)
Why not make a truly truly truly pocketable PDA in the following way?
#1 320x480 (light) monochrome -> Super thin as compared to a color, super efficient on power, lighter weight, super low cost, but make sure it's of the lighter m500 or Zire21 tint. Can it be backlit and keep the form factor? It really needs to be.
#2 Maximize screen to frontal area ratio -> In other words, have a little area as possible around the screen with NO buttons or wasted space on the front.
#3 Minimize weight & thickness -> 1/4 inch & 3 ounces are the goal. Just imagine the frontal area of the T3 screen only with these dimensions. Drop it in a shirt, front or back pocket and go.
#5 Has to be rechargeable -> A small/light 500mAh NiMH would still blow the doors off the drain time of a T3 or NX.
#6 I hate to Say it But ... a super thin stylus -> Every Sonly PDA review since the thinny stylus has moaned about those crappy things. But a truly pocketable PDA would probably demand it. :-|
#7 Get Hawkins (or Jobs) to work a little Palm V magic -> Needs a fresh, innovative yet simple, distinctive look in the tightest package possible.
#8 Micro I/O -> Miniturize the "bulky" IR hardware and use the small mini-usb aka Zire with a sync/charge cable, speaker on back but superthin. Can an SD be crowbarred into the form factor? The SD slots are pretty bulky inside a device.
#9 Buttons on the sides -> Buttons on the sides including scrolls or d-pad. Maybe wrap or label them on limited front panel for location / identification. 4 apps, 2 scrolls and power.
#10 Make it rugged -> Use the plastic (lightweight) m100 style screen which unbreakable from < 32,000 feet. Take care to make certain that it is drop-proof and sit-in-the-pickup proof. Refer to that Visor Edge "rubber border" idea if needed. Remember, if it's only 3 ounces, then it hits the floor 1/2 as hard as a typical 6 ouncer! (Is that correct Physics majors out there?)
#11 Include 3 screen protectors and sell replacements -> This defys the need for a bulky or "another step" flip lid and gives another revenue stream at $9.99 for a pack of three screen protectors which cost PalmOne 7.25 cents apeice.
#12 Under the hood -> Drop that 200mhz PXA270 with multi-speed clock cycles, 16mb RAM, no flash, OS Garnet with >4k cut-paste, PIMs, Docs2Go as an in-box upgrade coupon for $9.99, Outlook conduit.
#13 New Markets -> Sell it at Lowes check out counter in bubble pak for $99 and market it to the blue collar guys, intimidated non-tekkies, joe-six-packs, students and normals of the world as the tiniest-truly-useable-powerful-pocketable-micro-organizer in the world. This could start another revolution like the Palm Pilot began.
... done dreamin' now.
Pat Horne; www.churchoflivingfaith.com
NEW PALM DESKTOP 4.2 - w/Mac OS 10.3.3, T3 - SAFE?!
http://www.palmone.com/us/support/macintosh/macdesk421.html
Changes from v.4.1
Send to Handheld droplet 1.3: The Send To Handheld Droplet allows you to send image and audio files to your palmOne handheld or expansion card. Compatible with Mac OS X (through OS X 10.3.3)
This
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- Some image files, video clips and audio files require installation to an expansion card. Expansion card enabled palmOne device may be required. Expansion card and handheld applications not included.
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sounds like it might still necessary to install photos to SD, and and then to PDA, in my case with T3, because of the larger screen.
My T3 is Palm OS 5.2.1, while these new Zires 32 & 72 are • Palm OS® 5.2.8
I WISH THEY INDICATED if this version was BACKWARD COMPATIBLE with 4.1., in case of the problems...
If you know anything about it, please let me know... I'll wait till the dust settles
RE: NEW PALM DESKTOP 4.2 - w/Mac OS 10.3.3, T3 - SAFE?!
PalmSource said that Palm OS Cobalt will not ship with a Mac OS version of HotSync or Palm OS Desktop, but they would work with Mark/Space to make sure that a version of The Missing Sync was available when devices shipped.
--
Ben Combee
http://palmos.combee.net - PDA programmer weblog
Great for schools!
Zire 31
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Hope they are in stores
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