1src Forums - Palm TX: the Palm IIIx for a New Generation

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Reggie

11-23-2005, 06:51 AM

In reading comments in various online forums, I've come across quite a few that criticized the Palm TX for its lack of innovation. I know I'm going against the grain here, but I believe that this lack is actually its greatest strength. [details (http://www.1src.com/?m=show&id=1331)]

Jimmie Geddes

11-23-2005, 07:07 AM

Great editorial. The TX is one of the best Palm handhelds Palm has released to date. It's high on features at a low price. I was expecting this to debut at the usual $399.00 price tag almost all of Palm's handhelds debut at. This will do very well at $299.00 it's an affordable dual wireless handheld, with an amazing screen.

Blue Knight

11-23-2005, 07:13 AM

I never owned a IIIx, but I must say that I agree with the point made. The TX is not the fanciest PDA out there, but it gets the job done for. There is never going to be a "silver bullet" that will satisfy all people. Nor should there be. The TX allows me to have Organizer functionality, carry documents, play music and show off pictures of my 15 month old son. I can also check IMDB.com to see where else I have seen the actress on the show I am watching. ;) All while being able to use the whole screen and flip between portrait and landscape.

The point is well made that the TX is has a lot of good "basic" features for an excellent price and allows you to add additional features you may want.

I am very happy with my TX and think it will serve me for man years to come.

blues

11-23-2005, 07:51 AM

I own 2 Palm IIIxe devices. Hand-me-downs. They actually are very nice, extremely rugged, and stable. I was able to replace the screen on one of them from a broken IIIe. I eventually ended up upgrading them both to OS 4. I still remember how good I felt after boothing them up to OS4 for the first time. http://www.1src.com/forums/images/smilie/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

I am still using my IIIxe, and if the TX is eventually going to fill those shoes, it has some growing-up to do. Will Palm eventually offer an OS upgrade for it? Can the battery be easily replaced? How will it's plastic case stand the test of time?

On another note, the NVFS on the TX is a major plus. I hate it when I have to replace the batteries on the IIIxe. Eventually when the TX is a hand-me-down, and I find it in the bottom drawer somewhere, what will be installed on it?

Jimmie Geddes

11-23-2005, 08:57 AM

I think the TX is a high end handheld at a low price. Where else can you get all these features for that price? No one should think of this as just a basic handheld, maybe the price is deceiving:)

Legodude522

11-23-2005, 09:04 AM

Yes, but how many mobile phones work with the T|X?

Jimmie Geddes

11-23-2005, 09:19 AM

I know that my Treo 650 works:)

rolandrsr

11-23-2005, 11:02 AM

I agree with the fan club. As I have said other places, the TX is my ultimate handheld. I like the ability to use both the Wifi and the bluetooth. I even have had to use it when my daughter is on the computer and I want to check emails. I have loaded all sorts of programs on it with no major issues and my Motorola V500 does connect to it with no problems.
Roland

rolandrsr

11-23-2005, 11:06 AM

One other thing about the memory. It was interesting to have the internal flash drive with the T5. I found like other people that I did not use it as a drive mode. It was more as another "SD" card for me. I can still do that with the TX and also have the option of having plenty of memory to add other applications. That is one thing I could not do with the T5.
Roland

mauibro

11-23-2005, 11:22 AM

I think the TX is a high end handheld at a low price. Where else can you get all these features for that price? No one should think of this as just a basic handheld, maybe the price is deceiving:)

I disagree.
Actually that is the flawed previse on which the criticism is based.
People keep saying that Palm isn't about "cutting edge" devices.

I like you believe in Palm.
A more accurate defense of Palm is that "this device" is the best mid range device ever created.

Palm has effectively raised the bar on the mid range.

Both critics and defenders of Palm accept the premise that Palm is deliberately not going after the bleeding edge.
The premise is flawed.
People just overlook the lifedrive.
The Mobile Manager is the new high end.
And it is in fact as bleeding edge as anything in its own way.

lf people recognized that currently the Tunsten line has been replaced as the top end Palm, the enthusiast criticism of the TX would ease.
Save for the enthusiast crowd it is more than the vast majority need at a sweet price.

Those PPC users who bash the TX will see soon enough that Palm has something to entice them with later versions of the mobile manager line.
Its flawed today but once the wrinkles are ironed out; a brand new OS, watch out!

Remember Win Mobile cannot become too capable.
That would cannibalize the far more profitable windows desktop OS.
Palm has no such restriction, in fact has incentive to grow in power.

It is the lifedrive perhaps with a home grown Linux based PalmOs friends that will attack the top end of the market.

First the hard drive then the desktop powerful OS.
Th. hints that the mobile manager line is Something completely different.
Well the lifedrive is just a slow bug filled PDA with a hard drive.
I tell you they have something huge planned for the Mobile Manager line far beyond the lifedrive.

And the funny thing about geeks is that they might scream "palm is dead" today.
Once Palm gets the high end in gear with the mobile manager line, geeks will come back in droves.

Think about it people it makes perfect sense.

clicclic

11-23-2005, 02:58 PM

The T|X sounds great but unfortunately my NX70 hasn't died yet (will it ever) and I have all the add-ons for it (CF and memstick WiFi, memstick BT).

Which means blowing $$$ on this sweet Palm just doesn't make cents.

Jimmie Geddes

11-23-2005, 03:03 PM

Mauibro, very good post. It makes sense,everything you wrote. Palm needs to get a ROM upgrade for the current LifeDrive, that thing is so buggy. Your post really made me think:)

Jimmie Geddes

11-23-2005, 03:06 PM

Palm did a great job with the TX. If they could put those resources into a ROM upgrade for the LifeDrive it would be awesome. Then the LifeDrive would be the revolutionary device it was meant to be. It just seems Palm has forgotten about the LifeDrive, or at least the one that's out. I think like Mauibro wrote that the LifeDrive is the high end brand now, Palm just needs to fix it.

archangel

11-23-2005, 05:18 PM

The TX is equally as unimpressive as the T5, but the biggest complaint against that device was it was unimpressive and expensive. Palm has finally found a great ballance of features and price point and the TX is well worth the cost. I can deal with lack of innovation if they are giving you great value in return.

Legodude522

11-23-2005, 05:23 PM

sinar

11-23-2005, 06:27 PM

but TX doesn't have a micrphone/voice recorder... That's somethign that I don't know why Palm didn't include? A little microphone (and maybe record button on side) could add to this Super device and also wouldn't really hurt Palm.

Other than that, one feature that I would like (maybe there's one out), is to have BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES. [no no not headsets, headphones] so I can listen to music and not to be worried about the wires of my headphone.

:cool:Peace!

Legodude522

11-23-2005, 06:36 PM

Other than that, one feature that I would like (maybe there's one out), is to have BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES. [no no not headsets, headphones] so I can listen to music and not to be worried about the wires of my headphone.

:cool:Peace!
Palm would need to add bluetooth 1.2 profiles to do that. Cobalt has it. Palm just doesn't feel like porting it to Garnet and using it.

sinar

11-23-2005, 06:42 PM

Palm would need to add bluetooth 1.2 profiles to do that.
But are there any Bluetooth wireless headphones in the market?! I searched, couldn't find any. I found one, but it had its own sender device, that you had to plug in to your mp3 player/cd player/palm/...

Legodude522

11-23-2005, 06:45 PM

sinar

11-23-2005, 06:47 PM

There should be. I don't know if the sound quality is any good. Found many here- http://tinyurl.com/b7s3k
great! I'm going to check that out. Thanks :)

EDIT: wow, the prices are high! for a headphone... hmmm... maybe I'll just stick to my wired headphones! :D
:cool:Peace!

jjesusfreak01

11-23-2005, 07:38 PM

But are there any Bluetooth wireless headphones in the market?! I searched, couldn't find any. I found one, but it had its own sender device, that you had to plug in to your mp3 player/cd player/palm/...
What the earlier poster is saying is that without a "sending device", you cant have BT headphones. Just because a device has BT, it does not mean it can use BT headphones. The TX cannot use any BT headphones that dont have a sending attachment.

rolandrsr

11-24-2005, 01:26 AM

Compared to the the prepatched T|5 and the still unpatched LifeDrive, the T|X isn't bad. Palm did a good job at releasign a semi stable device. Yeah this is pathetic but Palm should have an update up its sleave before Spring.

First of all, after Jimmie and you I guess this a hint that I need to return to New Jersey. You are right about the patched T5, solid as a Timex. But, what update are you talking about?
Roland

Jonavin

11-24-2005, 03:29 PM

It's interesting comparing the TX to the Palm IIIx. This was my very first PDA and ever since I couldn't live without one. I had wanted a Pilot before but it was too expensive until they released the Palm IIIx and Palm IIIxe. There's something to be said about pricing the product just right, and the TX has hit the sweet spot with the features and price.

sinar

11-24-2005, 06:57 PM

What the earlier poster is saying is that without a "sending device", you cant have BT headphones. Just because a device has BT, it does not mean it can use BT headphones. The TX cannot use any BT headphones that dont have a sending attachment.
:( it would be good if there was no need for an attachment device.

ackmondual

11-29-2005, 05:59 PM

tonyreynolds

11-29-2005, 06:58 PM

I liked the general tenor of the article. I actually have an old IIIx in a drawer as a last resort backup unit. Like was said: in a pinch it gets the job done, even after all these years.

If I was looking at a new Palm OS unit today, the T|X would be my unit, but I have two TH55's, so I'm set for now...

Tony