PalmOne m130 Handheld

• Bright and easy-to-read color screen with support for 58,621 colors
• Built-in 8 MB memory stores thousands of contacts, appointments, to-do items, and notes
• Expandable via Secure Digital and MultiMedia cards--add memory, applications, and content
• Windows and Macintosh compatible--includes desktop software for both platforms
• Box: Palm OS 4.1, USB cradle, rechargeable battery, and add-on applications,alculator, MultiMail, and Palm Reader

I've slammed the earlier version of this device (the m125) for its SMALL SCREEN, but adding color (and TFT at that) and rechargeable lithium battery are significant improvements that puts this unit into the realm of contenders.

However, keep in mind that this is still a compromise unit, with several drawbacks relative to the higher-priced m515, or to the color Clie models.

The m130 is functionally identical to the m105 (which costs about half), with the exception of an expansion slot that you will probably never use, a faster processor, a fast USB cradle,a couple of software doodads, and now the color screen and rechargeable battery.

If you want the cheapest PALM-branded model with color and expansion capabilities, then the m125 is it. (You can get a used color IIIc model for a lot less, check around).

This model is still plagued by a small screen, and it's low-res at that.

With the built-in difficulty of pointing and clickin on a Palm device, size matters. But the color makes it far easier to see, so it's a trade-off.

The color Visor Prism has significantly greater screen real estate.

If you want to stay with Palm, consider the Palm m515. It comes in a super-slim package with a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery and a full-size screen (although low-res).

In that price range, however, a Pocket PC might make more sense (Palm still can't compete with the gorgeous iPaq active color screens).

Here's a basic product guide:

Palm m100/Handspring Visor -Bargain basement models with 2 MB of Ram. Good starter models for the price. Distinguishing characteristics: Visor has significantly larger screen/expansion slot and fast USB cradle. Palm has slower serial.

Palm m105/Visor Deluxe/Visor Neo -Workhorse models with 8 MB of Ram (plenty for monochrome models). Visor has bigger screen/USB/expansion slot. Neo has faster processor.

Palm m125/Visor Platinum/Visor Pro -Upper middle class models. Visor has larger screen. Both have USB/expansion slot.

Palm Vx -Classic, not significantly expandable. Smallest full-function PDA with lithium rechargeable battery. Sharp, full-size mono screen.

Visor Edge/Clie slimline -ultraslim mono models sell at a premium.

Palm m130 -Fills consumer color niche. Compare to color Clie models, Visor Prism. Small, bright screen, rechargeable battery, expandable.

Palm m515 -top of the line. Screen is now brighter, 16 mb included, now we want higher resolution. Still, a great improvement over the horrible washed-out color on the Palm m505. Compare with top Sony models/iPaq.

Enjoy!

Buy PalmOne m130 Handheld Now

The Palm m130, for its price and what it offers, is probably the best deal on the PDA market right now.

The m130 offers the same basic functions like any other PDA on the market: address book, calendar, notepad, beaming and other tools and accessories. Like most other PDA you can also upgrade it and download additional tools and utilities to it. The HotSync feature with your PIM software (Outlook, Palm Desktop, etc) is still there (and gradually getting better). Its biggest advantages over its competitors are simple, but important.

1. IT'S IN COLOR!!! For those of us who grew up in the "Gameboy generation" users will quickly come to appreciate it's easy-to-read color screen and you'll save yourself a few trips to the optometrist this way. Previous generations of PDA (and most current ones) are still on small screens (or even bigger screens) that are black and white and still difficult to read. Readability is not an issue for the m130.

2. Built in lithium batteries. No more Energizer or Duracel worries as this babies basically like a cell phone with Lithium batteries that are easily rechargeable, like your cell...

If you are looking for a fairly inexpensive, high-quality PDA, this is a good start.

Highly Recommended

Read Best Reviews of PalmOne m130 Handheld Here

If you are thinking of buying this handheld, make sure you understand what you are getting. It is not top of the line anymore. It does not have a high-resolution (320x240) screen, a super-fast ARM processor, built-in wireless connectivity, and it cannot play MP3's or videos. If you want these features, take a look at the Tungsten models or the Zire 71.

That being said, however, this handheld is simply the best in its price range. Indoors, the color screen is phenomenal and outdoors it is readable except in the most direct sunlight. The battery life is quite reasonable and the battery charges quickly. The m130 comes bundled with DataViz Documents To Go, for easy editing of Word and Excel documents on the go. DocsToGo also lets you view PowerPoint shows. There are hundreds of free games available for download, as well as both shareware (Liberty) and freeware (Phoinix) Game Boy emulators, which further expand the library of available games.

If you ever *do* decide you want some more advanced features, many are available with add-on accessories. The m130 may have only 8MB of memory built in, but the SecureDigital / MultiMediaCard expansion slot provides virtually limitless storage. It may not have built-in Bluetooth, but the Palm Bluetooth SDIO card, which snaps into the SecureDigital slot, provides this capability. The Palm Universal Connector on the bottom snaps into a lot more than just the charger / sync cradle, including wired and wireless modems, digital cameras, keyboards, printers, and GPS units!

If you want an afforable handheld with a high "cool" factor and lots of room to grow, the m130 is the best pick.

Want PalmOne m130 Handheld Discount?

I have owned Palm's since the first one. I recently owned a Palm 5x. I was hoping to hold out until a future high-end version came along but my Palm Vx had taken one too many knocks and I needed more storage space.

This new M130 allows me to get all the features of the high-end models: (color, rechargable, MMC/SD slot, USB connection to my PC, the software bundle and expansion). The price was just right for me.

The screen is bright enough but a bit smaller. I've downloaded some pictures on a 32MB card and they look ok.

The unit seems pretty sturdy, the case is hard plastic and has a flip down screen protector. I like the one-button time feature of the M1xx models.

I was thinking about buying some of the software that is included with the M130. So this made the decision to buy a new device even easier. It comes with DataViz Documents ToGo Pro, Palm Reader, the MGI Photo application and a few other apps.

There are a few minor trade-offs like screen size and slower processor but I'm just amazed at the value combination of this product. The trade-offs are worth it. You can even get it with a bundle from Amazon for less that SRP. Great!

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The M130 is my 6th PDA, having previously owned the m100, m125, m500, Sony CLIE PEGS320, and a Handspring Visor Prism. In terms of form factor, features, price, and dependability it blows them all out of the water! I bought my m130 the day it came out on the market (March 7, 2002) and I haven't been disappointed one bit. It's been completely trouble free, hotsyncs every time without fail, and has a brilliant color display that in my opinion is superior to the m515. I personally prefer the m130's slightly thicker form factor and smaller screen over the m515, and I really like the ability to change faceplates to suit whatever mood I'm in at the time.

I've heard that the m515 has the same manufacturing glitch that has plagued the m500 and m515 and after three warranty exchanges on my m500 I cannot in good faith recommend the m515. I can and do recommend the m130 though.