The Palm TX Handheld

Given the wide array of topics in this section, I figured I'd review my latest "toy" of sorts. It's Palm's new TX. It offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, making it a complete wireless solution that retails for a list price of $299. Having had it for a week now, I thought I'd pass along my thoughts.

The Wi-Fi works extremely well, it picks up networks with great ease. You have the option of browsing with only text, which makes the speed very reasonable. The screen is large and vivid. The small overall size of the Palm is also handy.

There's also MP3 capabilities, which is a big plus. I don't use it enough to justify an iPod, but it's handy to have an MP3 player. The device can also play video clips and display photos. And, of course, there's the ability to review documents.

There aren't too many negatives. At 128 MB of memory, you may need more if you store too many video clips or MP3s. Due to the Wi-Fi, the battery can be used up somewhat quickly. Still, it's rechargeable and lasts for hours. Finally, with Palmsource being purchased, it's difficult to see what the long-term future of the OS is, although they claim they are behind it.

So, all in all, it's a powerful, reasonably priced handheld unit. So, if you're in the market, it's worth a look.