PalmOne m500 Handheld

• Windows and Macintosh compatible--includes desktop software for both platforms
• Native USB cradle allows faster HotSync operations
• New, advanced monochrome LCD screen makes it easier to see in dim light and in bright sunlight
• Built-in 8 MB memory stores thousands of contacts, appointments, to-do items, and notes
• New Secure Digital Card/MultiMediaCard expansion slot for additional memory and functionality such as a dictionary/thesaurus, games, and more

Ok...I just finished reading all the reviews between the Palm m500 and the Palm m505 (color). This is my first Palm so this review is coming from a novice point of view. I decided to go with the m500. I made a wise choice! I really don't need a color screen. I don't play games or anything like that. So I decided to go with the m500 and save almost a hundred bucks. I bought it for the address book, the memo feature, the to do list, and the additional memory you can buy. I really don't need to see these things in color. Many people complain about the screen clarity, size etc..etc..I really don't have a problem with it. It is nice and clear. I can see the fonts no problem, and the palm icons are nice and clear. The screen is a good size too. The illuminated light is nice and bright. The screen is dark while the fonts and all the graphics nicely light up. It comes with alot of extra software too. It was also very easy to operate. I started to feel confident within 5 minutes after I pulled it out of the box. It's navigation is very straight forward and easy to understand. I just installed software that allows you to view and edit Microsoft Word and Excel files right on your Palm!

All in all I am very satisfied with the m500. I would highly recommend it to beginners who want basic Palm functions, but also want the option of exploring and using the other great features that puts the m500 at the top of the line of Palm handhelds. You also save some money too!

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I really liked this machine when I got it, and I like it now-when it works. The m500 is runs the programs I need it to run, is light and fits in my pocket, has a long battery life, and is expandable with SD memory cards.

Unfortunately the m500 is so unreliable that I am selling it and buying another brand. My screen developed problems 2 months after buying the machine. That machine was replaced with a machine that developed a screen problem before I had the chance to ship the first one back. The next replacement worked for 4 months with a screen that worked moderately well, then completely died. It was replaced by a machine with a defective screen, which has been replaced yet again with a machine that will last who knows how long. All Palm can do is continue to send me bad replacements, which I do have to admit I get quickly. That's about all Palm can do-replace bad machines with more bad machines, as quickly and politely as possible without addressing the real problem.

Please do yourself a favor and investigate the product further before buying an m500. I have read reviews on other web sites and am definitely not the only one with this problem. One site shows the m500 with a 52% negative rating for this machine based on 222 opinions, far worse than ratings any other PDA I've seen. Many people who comment on problems seem to be having very similar problems to mine.

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The Palm m500 is very similar to the very versatile Palm Vx in many ways. Palm has added some features that make this model even better. The interface with the PC and hotsync tasking is flawless.

The response time and speed of this unit is very much improved as is it's overall functionality given the software package. Coming with Documents to go, AOL and Power One, the software just keeps getting better. Now I can take my important documents and spreadsheets with me.

It has a nice greyscale screen and is much lighter than the Vx model. Eight MB of RAM might not be enough, but it can be expanded through the use of memory cards. I've backed up all of my data, e-books, databses and applications on one card which [are fairly inexpensive].

I highly recommend the Palm m500 for professional uses. It's wide variety of supplementary accessories also makes this model a plus. My only criticism is that the power button does protrude more than the Vx model. In the Palm hard case, the power button does turn on inadvertently at times. Hopefully better hard cases will become available for those, who like me insist on such accessories. Overall, a very responsive, high quality unit.

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My wife bought me the m500 for Christmas to replace my Palm V (she was sick of me telling her I had to delete Frogger to make more room for Datebk4). I am very happy to have the additional memory and room for expansion. Color would've been a nice upgrade, but it wasn't my choice.

On the down side, my first disappointment was the new diameter of the case-holder, or whatever they call it. I'm talking about the slot along the left side that is used to keep the palm attached to a protective case. With my Palm V, I used the Metallic Blue, Special Edition Hard case from Palm. Seeing as the overall dimensions of the m500 are just slightly smaller than the V, I figured I could reuse this case on my new toy. Apparently Palm saw this coming, and shrunk the diameter of the slot so that the old Palm V cases will not fit in the m500 series. I read an explanation somewhere that said this was due to some design change in the internal circuitry, but I don't buy that. It's a marketing change to get upgraders to shell out [more] for a new hard case.

Also, I'm on my second m500 now. The cradle on the first one stopped working after 2.5 months because of a pin that bent when I was putting it in the cradle. I called the customer support line, and they offered to replace it even though it was my fault. Great! Problem was, they had to replace the entire system cradle and handheld. I was even more upset when I found out the replacement I got was a refurbished unit. The service rep didn't mention this on the phone I had to learn about it from a message board. Palm's replacement policy could use some improvement.

All-in-all, it's been a worthwhile upgrade for me. The added flexibility of the expansion slot, USB HotSyncs, and the same dependability of the Palm V (excluding the bad cradle) continue to earn my respect. The design changes and replacement policy, on the other hand...

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I bought a PDA kicking and screaming, and this, my first one, has been dynamite. It's got great battery life and visibility, it's incredibly easy to use, and despite the fact that I've dropped it on the driveway five or six times, it just keeps on going. The slim leather case is fabulous--it's replaced my wallet altogether, and I have a simpler, more orderly life, with fewer bulky items to carry around. The design is incredibly elegant, and as a low end tech user, I'm very pleased.