Comments on: New Mini Cradle for palmOne Handhelds

I'm assuming that there is a light in the base of the cradle which illuminates the clear back when the device is inserted into the cradle.

Stylish yes, functional...not really :)

I had the Dell Axim for a short time, and its cradle lit up the Dell logo in blue when connected. This is purely aesthetic but pretty cool and draws attention. I like the thought but too expensive as agreed by all.

"Beige... And a grayscale screen. Color is more form than function."

"Yes, minimalist utiltarianism!"

"Who cares how it looks. Forget style, clunky is good enough."

"Style? What style?! We don't need no stinkin' style."

You don't want to pay the price, don't buy.

It's that simple.

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An armed society is a polite society.

Are you guys really that excited about a cradle?

Who cares what the freaking cradle looks like? Give me styling in the design of the PDA, yes, but I don't think the styling of a cradle is going to make a rat's ass worth of difference to anything.

Yeah, and then she spends the night with your PDA instead of you!! =P

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Sean

Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else.

"Palm should also offer this cradle at a discount to current owners or at least to all T,C, and Z71 owners."

If you don't own a Palm with a Universal Connector, or if you don't use it any more, why would you buy the cradle? So that would mean that almost everyone buying it would be a current owner.

(Why do some people say you can kill two birds with one stone when it's hard enough killing one bird with two stones?)

Yes, I have a question:

Back to the comment that karrock made earlier, I am interested if a T3, etc. still "teeters" in the cradle while docked. That is one of the most annoying things about the current cradle. It wasn't ever really designed for the new form factor of the newer devices, and it seems to be a balancing act just to keep the T3 in contact with the connector. I would prefer if the far left and right sides of the device actually made contact with the cradle instead of being suspended by the connector.

"The cradles does not have a USB trickle charge, it must be plugged in with the included AC plug."

Does the AC connection plug into the base directly, or does it plug along with the USB cable (like the current default Tungsten cradles do)?

I'm not sure if you know what I mean, but the current set up of my Tungsten cradle makes it a pain to manage the wires. It would be great if the USB cable was also detachable, though unlikely.

Jim

ok, here's some answers...

The T3 (and prob every other model) does rest on the connector, just as the old cradle.

It is much lighter then the old cradle, maybe 7-10 ounces?

the AC cable and USB cord plugs directly into the rear base of the cradle.

-Ryan

I am interested if a T3, etc. still "teeters" in the cradle while docked

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You can try to bend the springs on the left and right of the UC a little to the front, it than should hold the T3 firmly.

By chance do you have the part #? I need an additional cradle for home and would like to order this one.

The cradle that came with my T3 is slightly different to what I got with the T|T or my M515, it has the socket for the AC pack in the base unit, rather than as a line socket at the USB connector end. Unfortunately, they haven't used this to advantage, and allowed you to power from the USB connector if the plugpack isn't connected.

Incidentally, I have modified my other cradles so they DO charge from the USB supply. The +5v and earth connections on the USB connector do connect to the PCB inside the cradle base. If you are competent with a soldering iron, then modifying it is relatively simple, and you can analyse it for yourself. If you're not, THEN DON'T TRY IT! it will only end in tears :-)

UC? why not just use miniUSB or even serial ATA. Ind. Standard is better then Plam's so-called UC.

> UC? why not just use miniUSB or even serial ATA.

The Palm wouldn't be able to connect to any peripherals there if it was miniUSB. The nice thing about the universal connector is that it provides both serial and USB as well as some basic functionality to detect what type of universal connector device is connected.

I just would like to see a cradle for the T|E! I bought it w/o even knowing that there was not a cradle available.

Exactly, this is a very nice high margin, stylish product that will make a good Xmas gift for many, many existing Palm users. IMNSHO, this is for those that have more money and more style that most who post to this site.

Also, any change from UC to a new connector for factor is suicide to PalmOne. While I'm sure Jeff and company at the merged PalmOne sees UC as "not invented here", he better just suck up and accept that this alternative to Springboard won out.

If he wants to superset the UC with some USB2GO stuff, that is fine. But whatever Jeff and company does, make it compatible with all the existing UC devices out there already. Thus, keep the serial port for keyboards and a bunch of other stuff. Serial ports are going to be with us for a long long time no matter what the USB proponents say.

It is on their site. Go to http://www.palmone.com/us/products/accessories/chargerscablescradles/

Click on red camera icon to see a bigger image and description.

However, you can not purchase it currently, at least not online.

In my view this "new" cradle is a Cynical attempt to cream more profit from consumers. USB 2.0? No. Does it come with a removeable charging portion to make charging on the road easy? No.

So what does it do? It looks pretty and it lights up? Okay - I should have expected them to include it when you but their Tungsten - top of the line - product anyway.

I don't know if many palm owners will buy this with NO real improvement. I don't think its targeted at them.

However, its not conicidental that it turns up at Christmas when everyone is looking for gift for other people who they don't know what to buy. "Oh a nice pretty crade - perfect!" Thats the idea. Cynical marketing ploy.