Palm introduces new light-weight $99 Zire PDA


Palm's latest offer offers the small profile of its higher-end devices, while delivering an attractive price. The new Zire handheld is scaled down in features, but boasts a few points shared with its popular high-end cousins, the m5xx series devices. Like all Palm devices, the Zire offers a Date Book, Address Book, To Do List, Memo Pad and Alarm clock. The PDA connects IR beaming and built-in USB for synchronization. Separating itself from the lower end m105 and m125 products, the Zire includes a rechargeable internal battery. The Zire is close in size and weight to the m500, being .2 ounces lighter, and slightly smaller.

"The Palm Zire handheld symbolizes the beginning of a new generation of useful tools to simplify our lives," said Todd Bradley, president and chief executive officer of Palm Solutions. "Zire handhelds can replace or augment paper-based organization systems and deliver substantial savings in time and cost."

Looking at the specs sheet, the Zire's lower price point can easily be seen. The PDA has significantly smaller built-in memory, which only includes 2 MB, where the rest of the Palm line includes at least 8 MB. Also lacking is the ability to upgrade via SD and other expansion, and also lacks an upgradable flash ROM for future updates. The Zire also lacks any Internet support. One other major shortcoming is the display, which is monochrome versus gray scale and is not backlit.

Analysis:

Most active PDA users will discount the Zire as inadequate, however, new users will surely be attracted to the price and functionality. Personally, I don't like handhelds. They're expensive and just something else to carry around/keep track of. I am, however, kind of attracted to the Zire because it fits my needs. I just pretty much need a portable address book and calendar and this seems like a pretty cheap and easy solution. I suspect the Zire will register well with people similar to me (there's got to be millions and millions, right? =) and first time PDA users who have sat out the PDA revolution because of high prices.

I'm making the assumption that the Zire will sync easily with iSync, which is a bonus for those using iSync already with multiple computers or a cell phone.