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Review Palm Zire 21

Standard kit:

  • PDA
  • CD (software for both Windows and Mac)
  • User's guide
  • Rubber flip cover
  • AC adapter
  • USB synchronization cable

You could count low end PDAs priced below $100 on the fingers of one hand (we do not take into account the secondary market). There are just three models: Sony SL10, Palm Zire (or Palm m150) and its updated version, today’s test handheld – Palm Zire 21. The Zire 21 seems to be the last mass model with a monochrome screen. Palm suggests the next Palm Zire 31 with a color LCD, Sony has given up making PDAs with monochrome screens, besides Pocket PCs come with color screens for a long time. There is a simple explanation to the fact: little by little display makers have been cutting the production of monochrome matrixes, and that production may result in higher costs for monochrome screens compared to color ones. It’s evident that a low end price segment on any market enjoys maximum sales rate. However, PDA makers prefer lowering prices for color screen models. Such models have concentrated at $200 level (right for Palm and Pocket PC based handhelds). We’ll witness a further price reduction.

The handheld has a simple design, lacks customary control elements, wireless adapters and extension slots, and comes with a small screen and poor standard kit. A sacrifice for a better price. The reviewers haven’t liked the original Palm Zire putting a verdict “Not a pocket PC, but an advanced address book”. PalmOne positioned that model the same – a paper substitute (marketing issues put the paper the key rival) and not a pocket entertainer. As the result Palm Zire managed a million release (being sold in supermarkets and in fuel stations), the fact greatly improved the annual report 2003 of PalmOne. It turned a shrewd marketing move – positioning stationery instead of a digital gadget aimed at sudden buys.

The handheld keeps the extreme simplicity in design: the casing is smooth white plastic in front and gray plastic in back. Average length and width (112x74,2 mm), increased thickness (16 mm) and light weight (109 grams) make a feeling of hollow inside. But that doesn’t affect a comfortable handling. The sides are smooth and free of buttons. In all, there is a minimum set of control buttons – four buttons on the front panel (“up’, “down”, “contacts”, “calendar”) and a reset button on the back panel. There are no LED indicators. The top of the device includes miniUSB jack for HotSyncing and charging, invisible infrared port and stylus silo. The stylus has average dimensions, is made of plastic and is easy to handle. Well, other elements such as speaker, headphone jack or expansion slots are absent.

The screen has poor features: the 2.5” diagonal, a 160x160 pixel resolution, 16 shades of gray. However, that’s not the main flaw (no multimedia applications meant here), the Zire 21 totally lacks backlight. When it is dark you fail to make out screen images. The matrix stays inert (a screen object moving fast leaves traces), so you can hardly read books using scrolling, the text gets blurred. Use application buttons to browse pages.

The standard kit offers minimum essential items – a power supply adapter, synchronization cable, CD. I should mention a rubber flip cover. Well, it do perform its main function (protects the screen from mechanical damages), though it looks cheap and is uncomfortable to handle (when open the cover is about to shut down).

Specifications

The Zire 21 includes 8 MB RAM – four times that available on the original Zire (a useful feature considering the lack of extension slots). By the end of the testing process we have occupied almost full memory with applications and digital books.

There is an ARM-compatible processor by Texas Instruments (126 MHz) inside. The same processor powers an expensive Palm Tungsten E. Such productivity proves useless without multimedia opportunities. Thus we won’t comment on the table below.

The Zire 21 uses a Li-Ion rechargeable internal battery. Under our tests the device is good for 12-13 hours in the book reading mode on a charge, that somewhat little compared to previous generation monochrome Palms (u to 24 hours of continuous work). This happens because of a powerful processor. Even idle it consumes much power. A single charge provides a week of 20-30 per day work.

Software

The PDA is powered by Palm OS 5.2.1. The Zire 21 represents a unique (may be the last) monochrome device supporting the fifth Palm OS version.

In addition to the standard virtual keypad you can use a hand-write input application Graffiti 2. There are the following programs installed to the handheld.

Quick Tour. The application is meant for the beginners describing in pictures the PDA functions, telling bout the Graffiti area.

Address. The main function of the device is managing contacts. There are 14 basic fields and four fields assigned by the user. You can set a category (for example, work) to the contact and supply a text note. The number of contacts is limited by free memory. The contacts get synchronized correctly.

Calc. It's a common calculator, nothing special.

Date Book. It helps to set schedules, appointments and events. Simple and clear. There is no need in a larger screen for the Zire 21 to make schedules. This application gets synchronized with MS Outlook calendar correctly.

Expense. This application helps you keep track of expenses. Expenses are dated and have categories assigned.

HotSync. The application guides the synchronization and views the log, which displays the recent synchronization date and time.

Memo Pad. Here you make your text notes. The notes get synchronized with MS Outlook.

Note Pad. The program keeps your hand-written notes.

Prefs. Here are located almost all system settings ranging from the volume of system sounds and keys control to connection settings.

To Do List. It’s a task manager. Here you can assign categories, set task priorities, follow their completion, set the due date. All the tasks can be synchronized with MS Outlook.

World Clock. The application displays world time and runs the alarm clock.

Conclusion

The handheld is a revised version of the original Zire with improved specifications: updated operating system, extended memory and the ARM processor. We wouldn’t call it a pocket PC for its poor connectivity and the lack of multimedia. However it is good for reading books, making contacts and hand notes, using a calculator and playing simple logic games. Thus it’s rather an “electronic organizer”. Palm Zire 21 with the new operating system has brought to light many applications designed for Palm OS 5. At the moment the Zire 21 has almost no rivals; that’s apparently enough for an entry-end handheld to follow the success of the original Zire.

General features:

  • Class: low end
  • Rival models: Sony CLIE SL10, Palm Zire
  • Operating system: Palm OS 5.2.1
  • Processor: Texas Instruments OMAP 311 ARM (126 MHz)
  • Display: 4 bit gray scale, 160x160 pixels, no backlight, 46x46 of hot area, 2,53” diagonal
  • Memory: 8 MB RAM (7.2 MB available to the user)
  • Connectivity: IrDA, miniUSB client for synchronization
  • Dimensions: 112x74,2x16 mm
  • Weight: 108,7 grams.

CD software:

  • PC software: Palm Desktop 4.1, PocketMirror 3.1.3 (synchronization with MS Outlook).
  • PDA software: Palm Reader (for e-books), Magic Dogs (two card games, two players via infrared), MobileDB (data base, list manager), PDA Money (finance manager), powerOne Personal (advanced calculator).

Anton Kotov ([email protected])
Translated by Anja Rytchkova ([email protected])

Published - 28 June 2004

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