Contact Info:

Landware

PalmInfocenter.com Bottom Line:

The Price:

• $20

The Pros:

• Easy to travel with
• Charges using your computer's USB port
• Requires no drivers
• Syncs Fast

The Cons:

• Cable Length is a little strange
• Sparse Documentation

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*Maximum Rating is FIVE (5) InfoPalms

Installation
The HotLink USB cable comes in a small box, with no CD for drivers, and only brief instructions on the back. Of course, since this is simply a cable, it's pretty self-explanatory. To install, plug it into a computer's USB port. It's run with the USB drivers that come with Palm desktop, which come with all three of the Palm models supported. It's quick and simple.

Impressions
Quite frankly, this is going to be a short review, because it works great, and there's not too much to say. I plugged in the cable into my OS X computer (thank you Palm for finally making that), connected it to my m505, and pressed the sync button. It started almost immediately and successfully Hotsynced in what for me seemed to be a normal time. I've never had a problem syncing with my m505 using it's cradle and after a dozen trial syncs the cable always works too. I ran a few sample speed tests and I found it to be almost identical speed-wise. You remove the cable by pushing the connection joint forward then pulling it off.

So why get it, if it's so similar? Well, the main reason, of course, is for travel. Anyone who's ever had to take their Palm and it's cradle on a trip knows what a pain it is. Especially with Palm's new cradle design, consisting of a heavy cradle, a USB and a power cord, plus the power transformer, and you've got yourself a monster. This cable is, well, just a cable, so it's quite easy to pack and use. If you've ever had to go overseas, just sorting out your laptop's power can be a pain, so charging of the laptop or desktop itself is a welcome feature.

It charges at about the same rate as the normal Hotsync cradle, which can be a drain on a laptop's battery because it can take an hour or so. Fortunately, most laptops still power the USB port while they're sleeping so it's not an issue. Overall, this is a great product, and it's a Palming Roadwarrior's must-have.

I only had a few minor problems with the cable, but they're all outside the realm of what it's advertised to do. One, if you don't have a laptop, you can't charge it away from a computer. Of course, if you didn't have a computer, you wouldn't need to sync your Palm either, so it's kind of a moot point.

It doesn't charge while your computer is off, but that's the computer's fault for not powering USB either.

My final quibble is with the cable length. It's three feet, if you're wondering, but it seems like an odd length to me. It's too long to be easily used on an airline tray-table, or any small surface, because the cable might fall over the edge and drag the Palm with it. On a desk, the cable's too short for having all the way around the back of your computer to the front where you'd typically put your Palm. But, it's a minor issue in an otherwise great product.

Conclusion
So, if you travel, or if you find Palm's standard cradle to be a pain, get this. For twenty dollars, it's well worth the money, especially if you travel. The cable length problems are heavily outweighed by this products ease of use and capabilities. If you're shopping for a new way to HotSync, this is the method for you.