Palm LifeDrive

My previous Lifedrive, after password protecting it, "bricked" due to a popular hack upgrade to SDHC. If you decide to get SDHC enabled thus, don't password-protect your Lifedrive--nor, any other Palm eligible for such upgrading.

I considered getting a cheap tablet PC. I decided to purchase this used here, instead. The vendor did "refurbish" the unit--he installed a new screen, not a new battery, though. Nevertheless,the unit appears to function as new. (Certainly, replacing the unit's microdrive with a compact flash card wasn't included.) New Lifedrives first entered the market for $500+!

1. It uses a stylus--using a finger proves possible--to a limited extent.

2. This works well with either a bluetooth keyboard intended for this and other Palms, or the IR keyboard offered by Palm. Given capability to change screen orientation to "landscape," journaling with this is nice. Scheduling software for desktop PCs/PDAs certainly works fine, too.

3. Apps: Handango has given up on Palm--they do offer many freeware apps. Handmark still offers some apps for Palm, though.

4. For protecting this, I prefer Palm's Lifedrive aluminum case with the hinged door--and, of course, a screen protector. The case's hinged door becomes easier to manage over time--given that the door's small locking tab wears out somewhat.

3. I can't yet get this to work with "J-pilot" for Linux (Xubuntu 10.10, 64-bit). Windows always proves quite useful for this.

4. Troubled Hewlett-Packard bought Palm's PDA business. (Palm gave in totally to their phones.) Find standard software, including the desktop, and info PDFs for Palm, with some searching, on HP's site. Palm discontinued Lifedrive and other non-phone PDAs prior to HP taking over--thus, HP had nothing to do with fabrication. Don't expect much in the way of personal support from HP. The PDFs and PDA community forums, etc., may have some answers one needs, though.

5. Surfing: Hooking to wifi in a coffeehouse, the server immediately indicated, immediately, that the unit's browser, "Brazer," is out-dated. Brazer can't be upgraded by replacement with aftermarket software or upgrading the ROM--as far as I can tell. Surfing proves slow and tedious--I don't think it's worth it! Surfing is possible, though.

6. Music: I think that the unit sounds quite good. As with PCs, given the proper software, most compressed formats play well on Palms. Stupidly, the Lifedrive's 3.5mm headphone jack is located on the bottom--not the top. Furthermore, the jack loosens somewhat over time.

(To fix: The adventurous may open the Palm (remove the two little rubberized "bumpers" on the bottom to show those small screws, first). Carefully ground oneself from static. Then, with a small tool, "fix" the jack appropriately to tighten.)

The unit's microdrive will allow more tune storage than 2GB SD/MMC cards--Palm never did bother to enable SDHC. As indicated previously, carefully using a "hack" may enable SDHC.

Microdrives are mechanical and do fail. With proper instruction and, perhaps "hack" software, the 4GB microdrive may be replaced by certain high-capacity compact flash (CF) memory-chip cards. (CF originally was intended for better cameras.) Alternately, one may send the unit to a tech.

7. PDAs/Accessories, both new and used, prove widely available online. Ebay proves the best place to start!

Palm: The first PDAs--rudimentary "tablet PCs." Google and Apple, to some extent, stand upon those shoulders!

Unit arrived quickly and works great. Thanks
A very useful unit and better than a Palm TX for keeping personal data and transporting information from one computer to another. The color screen is great and the speed of retrival is very quick. I can store all my contacts and often used data when I travel. I no longer have to use a bulky laptop. No high mo fees like the various I phone or smart phone plans.

palm worked as discribed, good seller, prompt deliver. I have other Palm Lifedrive units and bought this one to replace one I was having touble with.. So far I have not found anything wrong with this unit. Would recommend this unit to other s that are looking for a small personal unit to handle all you needs.

Received product within 3 days in perfect condition. Just wanted to upgrade from an older Palm Zire and this had more features such as WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities. Comes in handy at lunch spots with WiFi access and also can use it as a reader and watch short movies. Wish the manufacturer still supported it though. Really like a mini laptop.

This Life Drive was purchased for parts and cover. I have another LifeDrive and I love it as it stores information well and does multiple activities with its Web and Wifi as well as photo capabilities. It serves as my library for many mobipocket books and I enjoy an occasional solitaire game on it, too.