T3 or T5

[dante21]

I have enough money to either get a T3 orthe T5. I have seen both of them in person but I have no idea which one would be better for me. I have a bluetooth phone and both of them have bluetooth so that is not a problem. I like the T5 screen but I like the way you can hide some of the screen with the slider. I have had only clie's so I will like multimedia as an option also. Any help will be appreciated.

[austinp]

You answered by yoursel to the question. If you don't need more ram (but remember that t5 has a new kind) and you like the slider (I don't) go for a T3!
I own a T5 and I'm very happy with it, but I know it's more expensive than a T3.

[dante21]

yeah your right! I guess I was wanting someoe to tell me that the the T5 could do something really great like make breakfast and stuff. I went out and got the T3. I had one before but returned it for a TH-55. I like it but the wi-fi of the Th-55 really drew me in. But now that I have a bluetooth cell phone it doesn't bother me that much to have wi-fi or not.

[xplorer]

Has the T3 been discontinued by Palm? Have anyone heard of an update soon? Will it have a slider design?

[dante21]

Well I know that CompUSA is clearing them out that is why at least in Spokane Wa they are 299 (399-100 instant rebate)

[arizona cactus]

http://channelsource.palmone.com/regac/chsrc/CommunicationsItem?item=1223

yes, the t3 is discontinued. just click "cancel" to view the web page.

my suggestion, if you can afford it, is to go with the newer product, the t5.

[dante21]

I went with the T3 because I could not afford the T5. I loved the screen on the T5! When I first say it I thought it was a display picture! But I remember the fact that I liked the T3 so much and it is cheaper.

[AWS]

Well I know that CompUSA is clearing them out that is why at least in Spokane Wa they are 299 (399-100 instant rebate)

It may be too late now but Staples started marking the T3 down to $249.00 just before Christmas. The extra savings made the T3 a clear winner for me. Also, since Palm seems to be abandoning the Universal Connector, All Universal Connector peripherals are going at firesale prices (not at Staples but at various internet shopping sites). I got extra docking cradles for less than $20.00, a Stowaway keyboard for $18.50, and the external battery pack (Power to Go) for less than $40.00, which is less than half the original price. The Power to Go is not a bad idea as the worst thing about the T3 is its short battery life when watching more than one movie on a trip.

For the price of a T5 I was able to get the T3, 2 extra cradles, a keyboard, Power to Go and a case.

Some of my initial concerns about the T3 were:

1. Complaints by some that you HAD to open the slider to input text. I found that this is not true. There is a small icon on the T3's status bar that you can tap which then activates a "Grafitti Anywhere" like function so you can enter text without opening the slider. The left side of the screen is for letters and the right side for numbers. It works great for the times when you simply want to make a quick entry into the datebook or to-do list.

2. Short battery life. The T3 will easily go for several days during "normal" use... when not watching movies or playing games for extended periods. But with the aforementioned extra cradles and the Power to Go that is not too much of a problem.

3. Slider mechanical failures. This is still a bit of a concern but I do like the smaller form factor the slider provides. I tend to take care with my gadgets and not handle them too roughly so I hope to not have any problems with the slider.

I was also disappointed that they left out the voice recorder on the T5. I don't use the voice recorder much, but when I do I am always glad I have it. Also, without a microphone and voice input capabilities, the T5 will not be able to use possible future Voice over IP (VOIP) applications like Skype. With a WiFi card, the T3 could use it (if Skype decides to develop for Palm again).

With Palm's $49.00 extended warranty, the T3 will be covered for two years, which is as long as I expect to use it... Maybe there will actually be some OS6 devices available by then.

Good Luck

[minimalposter]

[QUOTE=dante21]yeah your right! I guess I was wanting someoe to tell me that the the T5 could do something really great like make breakfast and stuff. QUOTE]

I don't like breakfast so I bought the T3 instead (does not prepare main meals, but makes a mean cup of coffee).

Yes we all know that the T3 has a voice recorder and is cheaper, but the main difference for me was the UC. I all ready had UC products (mainly cradles -- 3-- and travel chargers, but that stuff is important too).

[dante21]

I really needed a PDA again after getting paperwork for missing appointments I never missed with my UX 50 at my side (those were the good old days). I knew I wanted more than the lower palms were givin me and I remebered before I got the TH55 I had the T3 for a couple of days and I loved the little thing. I just love the fact that now that I am in my new job I can play games on it without anyone knowing!

[Wollombi]

I really needed a PDA again after getting paperwork for missing appointments I never missed with my UX 50 at my side (those were the good old days). I knew I wanted more than the lower palms were givin me and I remebered before I got the TH55 I had the T3 for a couple of days and I loved the little thing. I just love the fact that now that I am in my new job I can play games on it without anyone knowing!
Dante, this is off topic, but how long have you been out at Fairchild? I'm currently living in town up on the S. Hill.

[dante21]

I will have been here 4 years this March.

[palmdoc88]

Yes I could live without a voice recorder but for me a VOIP solution for PalmOS would make me switch from the T3 to whatever palmOne releases next which supports this & Wifi * BT. However I'll bet that if at all Skype decides to release a Palm version, palmOne would have released a new model by then.