Palm VIIx Review
Page Three
This is an "amateur user's viewpoint" review,
and comparison to Wizard OZ-770
of the Palm VIIx by Marshall St. John

The Palm VIIx comes with everything you need to sync with your PC.
In this photo you can see the sync cradle (it has a serial connection),
batteries, and a large printed manual. If you don't have a serial port
on your computer, there is an adaptor
for a parallel connection via your printer. You can sync
to the Palm Desktop application (very much like the Wizard's Daytimer),
or you can sync to Microsoft Outlook.

I used Rupplynx Express (a free download with the Wizard OZ-770--you just supply your serial number) to move all my Wizard data to Outlook. Then I synced the Palm VIIx with Outlook, and transfered all my Wizard data, with no problem.

Note the antenna on the VIIx in the photo on the box. The VIIx has built-in capability to wirelessly connect to the internet, to retrieve email, and to browse the web. However, the ISP cost is about $40 per month, and I have no intention of ever using this capability.

I have no intention of throwing away my OZ-770. However, it cannot be denied that the Palm VIIx has some advantages: 1) The keyboard is far better; 2) Memory is 8MB instead of 3MB; 3) Even though our Wizard programmers have made a good number of games and excellent applications, there are a thousand times MORE (really) of those for the Palm. For example, I had no trouble finding (on the internet) the complete Bible for the Palm, and a program called "MegaMemo," which enables the Palm user to type memos of 32,000 characters, rather than the normal 4,000 on the Palm. These were both "freeware."

The GoType keyboard comes with its own word processor, "TakeNote." TakeNote has been discontinued by the manufacturer in favor of "Wordsmith." I picked up a copy of the Wordsmith word processor (Developed by Blue Nomad, and sold by Handmark) at Office Depot for $9.95. (It usually retails for $29.95, and I don't know why it was so inexpensive.) It syncs directly back and forth between the Palm and MS Word on my PC. There is no limit to the size of file you can type on your Palm, when you use Wordsmith.

The Wizard still has some advantages: 1) The screen is better; 2) It is more convenient and easier to carry in your pocket. The Palm and the keyboard would be fine to carry in a briefcase, but putting both into your pockets would be a bit bulky. The GoType (or Palm) keyboard is small, but still too big (or fat) for your pocket. 3) The Wizard retains a greater compactness and convenience. Also, there is something satisfying about having the entire screen, keyboard etc., all contained in one attractive package. Bottom line: If you just want to carry around some information, and enter a few short memos here and there, stick with the Wizard. But if you want larger storage capacity, and the ability to type longer articles from time to time, the Palm VIIx and the Palm keyboard together are better. It is like having a mini-laptop computer, for a very low price, and that has a very long battery life.

HOME