Palm Z22 Handheld
by PALM
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List Price: Buy Used: from $30.00 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Palm Z22 Handheld
Customer Review: Love My Palm Z22
Summary: 5 Stars
I was given a Palm Z22 this past Christmas and have used it heavily since then. Although you can't surf the internet with it, I wasn't needing a mini-hand-held computer. I needed something to organize all of my addresses, phone #'s, etc...plus schedule all my tasks, meetings, lists, etc... It does all these plus it has tons more useful functions. It has plenty of memory for what I need and holds a lot of data. I teach Classical Guitar and I schedule all of my student lessons on it. It also will remind in advance of something important coming up. I love the game "Scrabble" and have downloaded that onto it. My Palm Z22 is really a great tool and I sort of nut up when I think I have misplaced it! It's pretty easy to use so I recently bought my husband one too. I only had one problem with it - once it wouldn't turn on but a simple press of it's tiny reset button fixed that and no data was lost. I'm left-handed so using the instant write function is awkward for me but I can still see how righties would like it. I mean it when I say I have used it a lot - it gets a terrific daily workout from me and it still shows no signs of malfunctions. I never bought a case for it but it's pretty tough already being encased in molded plastic. I put the plastic film on the screen and it's never needed replacing yet. I highly recommend buying one if you don't need to use it like a computer. You can download programs and games onto it from the Palm store of which there is a humongous selection. Also, it's battery has a long life between recharges and it recharges really fast. I can go for days without recharging despite playing 15+ games of scrabble at one time. It's front is mainly screen with a simple toggle button below which is very streamlined and easy to use. It comes with a program to load onto your PC so syncing it everyday to back up new data is quite easy and fast.
UPDATE:
It is now March 7, 2008 and I am STILL USING my Z22! It has really held up well. I have used it hard nearly every day. I carry it almost daily in my purse, and I still will play scrabble late into the evening after the world has settled down. I plan to keep using it until the day it finally quits on me - whenever that will be!
UPDATE AGAIN: October 31, 2008
I just noticed that the Palm Z22 is costing $369.99??? NO WAY!!! DO NOT BUY THIS FOR THAT MUCH MONEY!!! I think I paid around $99.00 when I bought my husband's. That price (369.99) has to be a mistake.....
UPDATE: May 6, 2009
It just keeps on going! I still use it heavily and the only thing that is askew with it is that it's internal battery now needs replacing which will cost about $30.00 I think. It still hold a charge for a little while but I usually just keep it connected to the power cord. I've done the reset thing in hopes of resetting the battery charge level indicator but the battery has finally shot it's wad.
Customer Review: Palm Quality Control & Customer Service is below Sub Par
Summary: 1 Stars
BUYER BEWARE! Read the reviews before considering buying this. The screws keep falling out on my palm pilot, and I've found that this is a problem that many people have had (just google "Palm Replacement Screws"). If you buy this, there's a good chance that you'll be the next person having the exact same issue - so be warned. It may not seem serious, but screws coming out basically means your unit casing will come off and that leaves the memory and all the important things you write down in your schedule UNPROTECTED.
When I contacted them about the issue, I found out what the Palm company was really all about. That is, getting your money and not looking back. Instead of admitting that their is a serious design flaw with their product, and doing what they could to rememdy the situation....they figure this is another way they ought to try and add to their profit margin. Not very smart. I'm not even asking them to apologize for their imcompitant case designs (which would help them save face imho). What really gets me is that theres enough people that have this problem for it to be clearly visible to the higher ups, and some executives at the company actually made the decision that they would trade 75 cents in screws for the loss of their company name. And If the guys running the PALM company are idiots, then it's time to look elsewhere.
I can't believe they wouldn't just ship out replacements and try to fix the product designs. But as I reseacrch the net to try and find some decent replacement screws for my own unit in the meantime, I just keep finding more and more stories of good people (who don't have problems with screws coming out of other small electronics btw) who are in the same pathetic PALM ownership boat as me. Am I ever sorry I bought the unit. Besides the screws, it has reset on me on a number of occasions and luckily I'm religious about backing up data. Still, you lose some entries and its a major pain. In fact, I did miss a meeting once because I missed reentering it after the unit reset and lost data.
Well Palm won't be fattening their margins on me anymore, and I hope you heed the warning I give. I am in the market for a new Handheld, but I'll NEVER allow myself to get swindled by them again. They could've used the problem as an opportunity to show their customers that they do value us and score some points. Unfortunately for them and for us customers, the cold response I've gotten from them tells me that they really could care less and do not have a long term outlook on what it means to sell a business product as important as a scheduling device. It's best to stay away from them. I'm through giving PALM any more business. If you find a better company, please do share.
Customer Review: Best low-end Palm yet
Summary: 5 Stars
I just switched from my old Palm V to this new Z22. It's a little smaller and much lighter, and all I really need is a device that keeps track of my appts.and holds all my contacts and notes I use in my business. And yeah, it has a few nice games in it, too -- for those long meetings where your turn seems to take for ever.
The setup was painless, and the upgrade and sync of my data from my old software to the new software and Z22 went smooth as silk. I only had two problems. The first was I couldn't find any of my contacts in the computer, but I didn't have the right list selected. The second was I thought some names were missing on the computer, but the list was organized by Firstname,Lastname so no wonder they didn't match. All was there on both the Palm and my computer.
I don't know how long the thing will last on a charge, but it certainly is lasting way longer than the eight hours someone else claimed. I charged it last night, and after using it "normally" all day today, the battery still shows a full charge.
I looked at some cases for it, but opted to go with the screen protectors instead and just stick it in my pocket. I don't like the way the cases open and close, and someone said the soft/gummy cases can make it hard to get out of your pocket. If I can't get to it fast and use it quickly what's the point? An integrated flip cover, like on some of the other Palms, would have been nice.
I don't miss the extra buttons that were on my old Palm, and I can still get to most things I need just using my finger and fingernail without using the stylus.
The color screen is clear and bright and easy to read in daylight or darkness, but being smaller than its bigger brothers you will need to break out your reading glasses. I just got new progressive bifocal glasses, so I'm having no problems.
The icing on the cake is that a small program which loads on your computer allows you to manage photos on the Palm. You don't need to load it, but it was nice to be able to put a photo of my girlfriend in there.
I guess the only negative thing I can say about it is why white? Does every new electronic device have to look like an iPod? Some colors would be very cool. Oh, yeah. I wish the alarm was a little louder. You can hear my Palm V across the room. Even cranked up all the way the Z22 just doesn't cut it in the volume catagory. Just loud enough, but would never get your attention with the car windows rolled down or the stereo cranked up.
Anyway, the bottom line is that if you don't need all the whistles and bells the larger Palm's have, this is a great little device with just enough tools to make your life a little easier.
Customer Review: Perfectly satisfactory.
Summary: 5 Stars
When I was working, all my business was conducted in front of a computer -desktop at work or home office, or at a VPN-connected laptop. I had no real use for a PDA.
Now I'm retired, very active in volunteer work, and often in circumstances where I have no laptop or desktop, and so am without my calendar. My wife said now that I'm mobile, I need a mobile calendar.
So I went shopping for a calendar that could fit my shirt pocket, sync with my Outlook calendar, and replace the 3x5 cards it would be displacing in my pocket. I ended up buying the Palm Z22, and am perfectly satisfied so far.
I received it the day before a 4-day "business" trip. The little thing is easy enough to learn that I was able to load the Z22 calendar from my desktop Outlook, make new appointments on the road, write memos and notes, and then resync with the desktop when I got back, without doing any heavy-duty training or manual reading. The included onboard "Quick Tour" showed me everything I needed to know to make the Z22 useful.
I bought the 3235WW Air Case for the Z22. Unlike many, I have no problem opening it. I don't know whether the mold changed, QA inmproved, or I'm just lucky. There also seems to be no problem with stylus registration or wavering. Also, no problem with Vista: having been alerted by previous reviewers, I downloaded the current version of the Palm Desktop, installed it, and everything is fine.
I bought 2 sets of extra styluses (styli?) just because. Eventually I'll train myself so the Z22 can read my writing unerringly, but so far it does a better job of that than I do. I will also probably by an extra set of screen protectors.
I make appointments on the run without having to say "let me call you when I can check my calendar." I did away with my pocket full of notecards and now take notes I can transfer directly to my computer without transcribing. As a bonus, I have a contact list and task list that are synced to my desktop / laptop, a syncable expense record (for tax-deductible in-kind contributions), and a calculator that takes no extra pocket space.
Someday I may want a PDA that is an internet capable SmartPhone with USB infrared blue teeth, WiFi, GPS, foldout or virtual keyboard, remote TV controls, video camera, virtual display screen, heart rate monitor and calorie burn rate counter, Dance Revolution, home entertainment center and blender and espresso maker.
OTOH, I might end up with a pocket of 3x5 cards again.
But for now, the Z22 does what I got it for, a little bit more, and is not loaded with stuff I don't need and is easy to learn. Perfect for my first PDA. Tag me well pleased.
Customer Review: Great for organization
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently bought the Palm Z22 and I love it!
Before purchasing it I looked through all the reviews I could find on this palm and others. I decided to buy the palm z22 because, according to reviews it was simple to use and its primary function is as an organizer.
A little background on me:
I am recovering from a severe depression due to Post-traumatic stress, have 2 kids, a full time job and many extracurricular activities for myself and my children. I needed a palm to keep my many activities and tasks in one place. I also did not want to have anxiety about being able to fit events into one day on my calendar and still be able to see them. Most of all, I wanted something that I could use to keep my essential information with me at all times so that, no matter where I was, I could make necessary phone calls, see my calendar and tasks, have my phone book, etc.
I had one of the old palms in the past that was no color and used AAA batteries and I did not find that palm as helpful as I would have liked. Whenever the battery would die, I would lose all of my info, and sometimes it was difficult to see information with o color.
However, with the simple charging of the z22, the color and the optional display screen that shows pending tasks and obligations as recorded on the calendar, I have been able to successfully record and satisfy my obligations due to the easy use.
I also like that when you make a task, you can pull a number from your phone book, on the PDA, for ease in making a phone call, or sending a letter. As an added plus, I can also play games on my pda anytime, such as at the doctor's office, or when I am commuting to work on the bus. You can also set an alarm for tasks, calendar events, and even for people's birthdays.
Since I have bought the z22 I have seen several people with it. One person in particular said that they had it for 2 years with no problems. He also said that he loads a lot of games on it and that it is very east to use.
If you are looking for a simple daily management device that is small, attractive and manageable without too many functions, I think that the z22 is for you.
FYI: The z22 is pretty durable, but if you would like a case similar to cell phone cases, there is a flip case on Palm's website that is very sturdy and does not require removal of the pda for use. (With kids, you never know what's going to happen.) I highly recommend that as well and it is only $20.