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Palm Zire
Palm Zire
pros and cons
- Separate connector for recharging without a computer
- battery recharges through the USB port
- easy connection via a mini-USB cable.
- Lacks backlight
- no expansion slot
- slow processor.
- Editors' review
- Specs
Palm's latest handheld is a budget device targeted at newcomers. Other manufacturers may be adding more memory, larger screens and faster processors, but the Zire has just 2MB of RAM, a small monochrome screen with no backlight and a relatively low-power 16MHz processor. So the attractively designed Zire is about as basic as a Palm gets, but if you're looking for a no-frills personal organiser, it will certainly do the job -- as long as you're not trying to read the screen in a dimly lit location.
Taking a page from Apple's design book, the Zire has a white-plastic iPod-like look. With the new colour scheme, the Zire seems fresh -- or at least different from its predecessors. The unit's rounded edges, white bezel and protective cover make the device look simple and easy to use. At 11.2cm by 7.4cm by 1.6cm and 109g, the Zire is no smaller than other Palms, although it is lighter.
The differences between the Zire and its Palm siblings extend beyond cosmetics. Palm has removed the To Do and Note keys and has brought the Contacts and Calendar buttons flush against the scroll controls, a layout that allows for easy one-handed operation. Also gone is the Calculator key in the upper-right corner of the Graffiti area: this has been replaced by a customisable Favorites button that can be reassigned -- as can all controls -- via the Preferences menu.
The real innovation here is Palm's abandonment of the proprietary data connector. You now connect the device to your PC or Mac via a simple mini-USB cable -- there's no cradle. This is a positive step for a couple of reasons: you have one fewer item to lug around, and if you lose the cable, you can easily replace it.
The same USB connection also recharges the Zire's batteries. However, if you aren't near a computer you can use the included AC adapter, which plugs into the top of the unit. The Zire’s protective cover is irritating: not only does it flop around, but it often accidentally activates the Zire when it's in your pocket or your backpack.
To say that the Zire, which also goes by the model number m150, is a no-frills handheld would be an understatement -- this model is more like a blast from the past. With just 2MB of RAM, a 16MHz DragonBall EZ processor and a 2.75in. monochrome screen, the Zire is practically on a par with a Palm III in the specifications department. In fact, Palm's previous low-end model, the m105 has a more generous 8MB of RAM, although its screen and processor are the same as the Zire’s.
Unlike the m105, however, the Zire lacks a backlight. To be fair, this device’s high level of contrast makes the screen easy to read, even in dim light. Even so, the lack of a backlight is a major shortcoming in our opinion.
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On the software side, the Zire fares a bit better. The unit itself runs Palm OS 4.1 -- compared to the m105's 3.5.1 -- and the software CD includes the latest versions of Palm Desktop for the PC and the Mac. Windows users also get Chapura’s PocketMirror for synchronising with Outlook. The notable exclusion from this package is Documents To Go, which lets you view and edit Microsoft Word and Excel documents on your handheld or exchange them between your handheld and your PC.
Four basic games round out the package: Giraffe helps you learn the Graffiti writing system by making you draw falling letters before they hit the ground; Hard Ball is a classic Breakout clone; and Mine Hunt and Puzzle are two puzzle-based games.
As noted earlier, the Zire is equipped with a 16MHz processor and 2MB of RAM. Considering this model's hardware limitations, it's no surprise that its performance is correspondingly limited. In our informal tests, we found that the Zire's processor and screen performance were at the low end of the handheld spectrum. On the other hand, its battery life was above average.
Using a freeware benchmark from Quartus, the unit scored 91 percent -- the same as Palm's IIIx, V and m100 models. By comparison, the Palm m515 scored 154 percent, while Sony's CLIE PEG-NR70V delivered a whopping 305 percent.
The Zire's screen is not an impressive performer. Aside from the fact that the display is monochrome and non-backlit, it also responds very slowly. Even if you play relatively slow games, there's visible streaking and blurring as objects move across the display. But the screen is at least as sharp as those of other monochrome Palm models, and has the same 160 by 160 pixel resolution.
On the plus side, the screen's humble properties mean that battery life is improved. With no energy-sapping backlight or colours to display, the battery delivered 30 hours and 22 minutes of use before giving out.
The Palm Zire certainly does not fit the mould of a new handheld. With technology constantly getting better and cheaper, we were surprised and disappointed that the Zire was more limited than Palm’s previous entry-level handheld, the m105, which now sells for about the same price. The Zire's price is bound to go down over time, and when it actually starts retailing for less than £50 (inc. VAT), it will be the perfect handheld for the first-time buyer.