Comments on: Palm Zire 21 Review http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/ Gadget reviews and news by Julie Strietelmeier and friends since 1997 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:52:11 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: xzen54321 http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18134 xzen54321 Tue, 30 Aug 2005 20:27:47 +0000 #comment-18134 WOW, this thread is a bit dated... Well here is an update for people who are looking at the zire 21. The price of the unit is down to a cool $60 USD, and the specks are still the same. I am a high school student, a very bussy and rough one at that. As posted, this is a CHEEP and BASIC pda if thats not what you need than DONT get this thing. DO get it if you, break things a lot and want something that feels ruggud and your not to afrade to break, some thing to jot market lists, homework, notes, phone numbers. your secudual, and stuf you need to do. Also the thing has a IR port, the printers at my school have IR ports, so i can print notes and stuf i take in class and keep them in my folders for later referencs. In addetion my mother got one too and you can beem notes with an atached alarm to her, so i can remind her to pick me up. You could also use these to send notes in class, the range between two zire 21s is about 20 feet'ish(wondering if i could mod this). The planer is very cool and usefull I will not go into that because theres just so much about it that i find uesfull. I dont need a backlight because, well, im never anywhere where it is dark. On that note thsis thing has GREAT battery_life. as for not being very powerfull it plays tetris at the bus stop, nuf said. So to sum it up cheep, ruggud, works and even though its only 8MB thats a crapload of numbers, simple programs, and planner events. And the only thing i dont like about the thing is the fact that the alarm is not very loud. K'thx xzen WOW, this thread is a bit dated…
Well here is an update for people who are looking at the zire 21.
The price of the unit is down to a cool $60 USD, and the specks are still the same. I am a high school student, a very bussy and rough one at that. As posted, this is a CHEEP and BASIC pda if thats not what you need than DONT get this thing. DO get it if you, break things a lot and want something that feels ruggud and your not to afrade to break, some thing to jot market lists, homework, notes, phone numbers. your secudual, and stuf you need to do. Also the thing has a IR port, the printers at my school have IR ports, so i can print notes and stuf i take in class and keep them in my folders for later referencs. In addetion my mother got one too and you can beem notes with an atached alarm to her, so i can remind her to pick me up. You could also use these to send notes in class, the range between two zire 21s is about 20 feet’ish(wondering if i could mod this). The planer is very cool and usefull I will not go into that because theres just so much about it that i find uesfull. I dont need a backlight because, well, im never anywhere where it is dark. On that note thsis thing has GREAT battery_life. as for not being very powerfull it plays tetris at the bus stop, nuf said. So to sum it up cheep, ruggud, works and even though its only 8MB thats a crapload of numbers, simple programs, and planner events. And the only thing i dont like about the thing is the fact that the alarm is not very loud.

K’thx xzen

]]> By: madeye http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18133 madeye Mon, 18 Oct 2004 16:29:14 +0000 #comment-18133 Review: "The Palm Zire 21 is fine for someone that will never do much more than look up addresses or check their daily schedule. It has a handy calculator and it includes several programs that make it a much better solution than lugging around a paper-based planner." I beg to differ - I have just bought one (2Mb, £20, refurbished, 1 yr warranty) for my daughter for her 6th birthday. I have managed to load the complete Mother Goose (illustrated), everything Hans Christian Anderson ever wrote, the Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland and about 5 other illustrated stories using <a href="http://www.plucker.org">Plucker</a>. It still has 700k free ... it can also provide basic (off line) email capabilities when using a conduit to Outlook Express. The only really major complaint is the lack of a back light. No reading in bed for her :sad: Review: “The Palm Zire 21 is fine for someone that will never do much more than look up addresses or check their daily schedule. It has a handy calculator and it includes several programs that make it a much better solution than lugging around a paper-based planner.”

I beg to differ – I have just bought one (2Mb, £20, refurbished, 1 yr warranty) for my daughter for her 6th birthday. I have managed to load the complete Mother Goose (illustrated), everything Hans Christian Anderson ever wrote, the Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland and about 5 other illustrated stories using Plucker. It still has 700k free … it can also provide basic (off line) email capabilities when using a conduit to Outlook Express.

The only really major complaint is the lack of a back light. No reading in bed for her :sad:

]]> By: viqsi http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18132 viqsi Tue, 16 Mar 2004 15:46:08 +0000 #comment-18132 Heh. My father (who picked up a Pilot 5000 and wowed his geek children with it very shortly after they first came out) picked up a Palm IIIc ages ago off eBay and is still using it. He keeps reccomending one to me, but to me the display on it makes it look like I'm looking at my data through a screen window and that just drives me subtly nuts :). There IS a market that exists for this thing to target; whether or not it's still available is what I'd question. My brother is (amazingly) still on his original m105 after several years, and he's got no need to change from it. (I say "amazingly" because he went through <strong>three</strong> 5000s and a Palm III before we decided he couldn't be trusted with anything with glass in it :) ). And there's plenty of those still out there; you can find one for typically under $70 on eBay, and $30's worth a whole lot of AAA battery replacements :D. Heh. My father (who picked up a Pilot 5000 and wowed his geek children with it very shortly after they first came out) picked up a Palm IIIc ages ago off eBay and is still using it. He keeps reccomending one to me, but to me the display on it makes it look like I’m looking at my data through a screen window and that just drives me subtly nuts :) .

There IS a market that exists for this thing to target; whether or not it’s still available is what I’d question. My brother is (amazingly) still on his original m105 after several years, and he’s got no need to change from it. (I say “amazingly” because he went through three 5000s and a Palm III before we decided he couldn’t be trusted with anything with glass in it :) ). And there’s plenty of those still out there; you can find one for typically under $70 on eBay, and $30’s worth a whole lot of AAA battery replacements :D .

]]> By: Judie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18131 Judie Tue, 07 Oct 2003 19:29:08 +0000 #comment-18131 I can remember <strong>very</strong> well when the IIIc was the ultimate Palm for me. I still think today that it was one of the best Palms ever made. If they had added an expansion card slot and 320x480, but otherwise kept the same form factor, I might have never looked at another PDA. Judie :0) I can remember very well when the IIIc was the ultimate Palm for me. I still think today that it was one of the best Palms ever made.

If they had added an expansion card slot and 320×480, but otherwise kept the same form factor, I might have never looked at another PDA.

Judie :0)

]]> By: ggoode http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18130 ggoode Tue, 07 Oct 2003 19:27:09 +0000 #comment-18130 It must be pretty good for b&w no backlight It must be pretty good for b&w no backlight

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18129 Julie Tue, 07 Oct 2003 18:05:01 +0000 #comment-18129 The Reader: I have a friend that is STILL using an original Pilot 5000! So, you are right to some extent. PDAs still do the very same tasks that they did when they were first introduced. The only difference is that now they can do even more tasks and can do the original tasks way faster. The Reader:
I have a friend that is STILL using an original Pilot 5000!

So, you are right to some extent. PDAs still do the very same tasks that they did when they were first introduced. The only difference is that now they can do even more tasks and can do the original tasks way faster.

]]> By: The Reader http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18128 The Reader Tue, 07 Oct 2003 17:48:27 +0000 #comment-18128 I got my palm IIIXE 8mb for 250 USD in Sept of 2000, it still works very well till today! So many PDA's has came out since, but the difference in usefulness has be very very minimal. The most important thing they added was the wireless and expansion cards. The color is just for fancy and minimal need for extra colors in most applications. My PDA is on par with some newer Palms because I overclock it using Afterburner(to extend it's use) and I urge everyone to overclock it because it produces heat nowhere close to a degree that can cause damage, it may cause stability issues, so just decrease the speed. I've also got the Kodak Palm Pix and the GoType! keyboard for Palm. Also, with my slew of apps and utils, I make my palm look almost like a laptop! The time I'll upgrade my PDA is when it breaks, because the newer ones arent going to increase the level of usefullness too much from my current Palm. But the Sony UX50 does look extremely interesting! I got my palm IIIXE 8mb for 250 USD in Sept of 2000, it still works very well till today! So many PDA’s has came out since, but the difference in usefulness has be very very minimal. The most important thing they added was the wireless and expansion cards. The color is just for fancy and minimal need for extra colors in most applications.

My PDA is on par with some newer Palms because I overclock it using Afterburner(to extend it’s use) and I urge everyone to overclock it because it produces heat nowhere close to a degree that can cause damage, it may cause stability issues, so just decrease the speed.

I’ve also got the Kodak Palm Pix and the GoType! keyboard for Palm. Also, with my slew of apps and utils, I make my palm look almost like a laptop!

The time I’ll upgrade my PDA is when it breaks, because the newer ones arent going to increase the level of usefullness too much from my current Palm. But the Sony UX50 does look extremely interesting!

]]> By: Judie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18127 Judie Tue, 07 Oct 2003 04:38:42 +0000 #comment-18127 Yes, and in less than what...4 years? I wonder what we will be nit-picking about in 2007... Judie :0) Yes, and in less than what…4 years?

I wonder what we will be nit-picking about in 2007…

Judie :0)

]]> By: 10basetom http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18126 10basetom Tue, 07 Oct 2003 02:47:55 +0000 #comment-18126 I remember when an 8mb PDA that weighs less than 4 ounces used to be unheard of. And at $100, this would've induced puddles of drool. How times have changed. I remember when an 8mb PDA that weighs less than 4 ounces used to be unheard of. And at $100, this would’ve induced puddles of drool.

How times have changed.

]]> By: The Reader http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18125 The Reader Mon, 06 Oct 2003 23:39:35 +0000 #comment-18125 Finally you guys are really pumping out some good stuff consistantly!! That's actually 3 gadgeets in a row!! But the other thing I like is the frequent update, it's never too dull comming to your site even with those useless pda box/bags reviews. Finally you guys are really pumping out some good stuff consistantly!! That’s actually 3 gadgeets in a row!! But the other thing I like is the frequent update, it’s never too dull comming to your site even with those useless pda box/bags reviews.

]]> By: Judie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18124 Judie Mon, 06 Oct 2003 18:00:31 +0000 #comment-18124 helf, I am not sure what you mean by "ghost," but if you mean like a burned or double image, then no - nothing like that is evident. This is a brand new unit, tho. I am not sure if what you are describing would be noticable right away or if it is only over time. Also, this Zire is going back to Palm today, so I won't have it to test in the future... Judie :0) helf,

I am not sure what you mean by “ghost,” but if you mean like a burned or double image, then no – nothing like that is evident.

This is a brand new unit, tho. I am not sure if what you are describing would be noticable right away or if it is only over time.

Also, this Zire is going back to Palm today, so I won’t have it to test in the future…

Judie :0)

]]> By: helf http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18123 helf Mon, 06 Oct 2003 17:54:43 +0000 #comment-18123 hey judie, does the screen on the z21 ghost any? Every greyscale palm I have owned ghosted pretty badly.. Even my he330 does to some degree( its not bad tho :) ).. hey judie, does the screen on the z21 ghost any? Every greyscale palm I have owned ghosted pretty badly.. Even my he330 does to some degree( its not bad tho :) )..

]]> By: steved http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18122 steved Mon, 06 Oct 2003 15:10:10 +0000 #comment-18122 <blockquote><em>Originally posted by PeterS </em> [B]The Zire21 is currently only available in the US, as Palm Europe still has los of the "original 2MB Zire" in Stock. My Palm-Source projected a release-date for the Zire 21 in Europe at Q1 2004. Probably before or at CeBIT 2004, but nevertheless after the christmas-sales have passed. Cheers, Peter [/B]</blockquote> Bummer :( going to have to get one from somewhere...I'll see if anyone in the Office is going to the States anytime soon...

Originally posted by PeterS
[B]The Zire21 is currently only available in the US, as Palm Europe still has los of the “original 2MB Zire” in Stock.

My Palm-Source projected a release-date for the Zire 21 in Europe at Q1 2004. Probably before or at CeBIT 2004, but nevertheless after the christmas-sales have passed.

Cheers,

Peter [/B]

Bummer :( going to have to get one from somewhere…I’ll see if anyone in the Office is going to the States anytime soon…

]]> By: PeterS http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18121 PeterS Mon, 06 Oct 2003 12:38:31 +0000 #comment-18121 The Zire21 is currently only available in the US, as Palm Europe still has los of the "original 2MB Zire" in Stock. My Palm-Source projected a release-date for the Zire 21 in Europe at Q1 2004. Probably before or at CeBIT 2004, but nevertheless after the christmas-sales have passed. Cheers, Peter The Zire21 is currently only available in the US, as Palm Europe still has los of the “original 2MB Zire” in Stock.

My Palm-Source projected a release-date for the Zire 21 in Europe at Q1 2004. Probably before or at CeBIT 2004, but nevertheless after the christmas-sales have passed.

Cheers,

Peter

]]> By: steved http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18120 steved Mon, 06 Oct 2003 06:56:03 +0000 #comment-18120 Hello, Is the Zire 21 availabe in the US only??? Reason I ask is I've checked the usual suppliers here in the UK, like Expansys, Dixons, PC World, Dabs, Fingertech etc, etc but can't find any mention of the Zire 21 :( Hello,

Is the Zire 21 availabe in the US only???

Reason I ask is I’ve checked the usual suppliers here in the UK, like Expansys, Dixons, PC World, Dabs, Fingertech etc, etc but can’t find any mention of the Zire 21 :(

]]> By: Judie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18119 Judie Sun, 05 Oct 2003 15:26:11 +0000 #comment-18119 Peter, I don't doubt that it was a matter of pricing for a minute. Now if they could have got a good deal on some bulk-backlighting, I would have been much less hesitant to reccomend this PDA, at least for beginners. I can understand a 1993 PDA not coming with backlighting, but in 2003 there is no excuse. Judie :0) Peter,

I don’t doubt that it was a matter of pricing for a minute.

Now if they could have got a good deal on some bulk-backlighting, I would have been much less hesitant to reccomend this PDA, at least for beginners.

I can understand a 1993 PDA not coming with backlighting, but in 2003 there is no excuse.

Judie :0)

]]> By: PeterS http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18118 PeterS Sun, 05 Oct 2003 11:32:59 +0000 #comment-18118 Just wanted to point one tiny thing out: the 2->8 MB Upgrade has nothing to do with market-research and having people wanting to put more stuff on their PDA, the reason is much more profane... :o ... it's just that for Palm the 2 MB Memory-chips get nearly as expensive in production as the 8 MB-Chips are rigt now. :cool: So it's just simple financial-mathematics: if you can buy a better product for the same price, you do. Sounds quite disappointing, but that's the information I got from a high-ranking Palm-marketing-official. :p Just wanted to point one tiny thing out: the 2->8 MB Upgrade has nothing to do with market-research and having people wanting to put more stuff on their PDA, the reason is much more profane… :o

… it’s just that for Palm the 2 MB Memory-chips get nearly as expensive in production as the 8 MB-Chips are rigt now. :cool:

So it’s just simple financial-mathematics: if you can buy a better product for the same price, you do. Sounds quite disappointing, but that’s the information I got from a high-ranking Palm-marketing-official. :p

]]> By: maxintosh http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18117 maxintosh Sun, 05 Oct 2003 05:13:08 +0000 #comment-18117 The Palm Zire 71 looks great except... WHY OH WHY can't it just have a backlight? How much could it POSSIBLY add to the cost? I know I can Indiglo watches for $5 at Target, so why is it so hard to put an EL panel in the Zire? Come on Palm, this is one of the dumbest things I've heard in a long time. It would be an excellent contender with its expanded memory and simple design, if only the screen was comfortably useable in more than just bright light. :mad: The Palm Zire 71 looks great except…

WHY OH WHY can’t it just have a backlight? How much could it POSSIBLY add to the cost? I know I can Indiglo watches for $5 at Target, so why is it so hard to put an EL panel in the Zire?

Come on Palm, this is one of the dumbest things I’ve heard in a long time. It would be an excellent contender with its expanded memory and simple design, if only the screen was comfortably useable in more than just bright light. :mad:

]]> By: doteltech http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18116 doteltech Sat, 04 Oct 2003 02:10:20 +0000 #comment-18116 I agree that is a bit cheap. My first pilot was a Palm Personal. It even had a decient indiglow backlight. It wasn't anything compared to todays lcd screens. but the display was more then usable in the dark. and what can that add to the cost of production $1? or less? probably. But a 8mb palm for sub 100 is a step. It will open up the world of digital organaization and ebooks, etc to people that would never get a chance to experience it. I for one was lucky to be able to afford the $400+ myself in highschoool, but I know that 95% of that people out there in highschool and college can not affored to pay $299 or more for a pda. But most are able to scrimp $99 together for something that can really aid them in school/life and work. I agree that is a bit cheap. My first pilot was a Palm Personal. It even had a decient indiglow backlight. It wasn’t anything compared to todays lcd screens. but the display was more then usable in the dark. and what can that add to the cost of production $1? or less? probably. But a 8mb palm for sub 100 is a step. It will open up the world of digital organaization and ebooks, etc to people that would never get a chance to experience it. I for one was lucky to be able to afford the $400+ myself in highschoool, but I know that 95% of that people out there in highschool and college can not affored to pay $299 or more for a pda. But most are able to scrimp $99 together for something that can really aid them in school/life and work.

]]> By: Judie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18115 Judie Sat, 04 Oct 2003 00:19:56 +0000 #comment-18115 Come to think of it, I can remember paying over $300 for the EFIG 8MB upgrade on my PalmV. I agree that it is great there are PDAs in this price range, but is a backlight too much to ask? Judie :0) Come to think of it, I can remember paying over $300 for the EFIG 8MB upgrade on my PalmV.

I agree that it is great there are PDAs in this price range, but is a backlight too much to ask?

Judie :0)

]]> By: doteltech http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18114 doteltech Sat, 04 Oct 2003 00:10:09 +0000 #comment-18114 The $99 price really is not bad for what you are getting. I remember paying $400 for my first palm, which did that. it has like a 12mhz processor. This guys got what 100mhz+? I'm impressed to see a decient powered sub $100 unit. The $99 price really is not bad for what you are getting. I remember paying $400 for my first palm, which did that. it has like a 12mhz processor. This guys got what 100mhz+? I’m impressed to see a decient powered sub $100 unit.

]]> By: Judie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2003/10/03/palm_zire_21_review/comment-page-1/#comment-18113 Judie Fri, 03 Oct 2003 23:06:43 +0000 #comment-18113 Post your comments here on the Palm Zire 21. <a href="http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/zire-21-review.html">http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/zire-21-review.html</a> Just click the POST REPLY button ont his page. Post your comments here on the Palm Zire 21.

http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/zire-21-review.html

Just click the POST REPLY button ont his page.

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