Product Description

Breeze through tough tasks with one of the most compact Palm handhelds available. The perfect balance of power and size - the new Tungsten T2 handheld is built to last and has storage space to burn.This compact powerhouse will perform your most demanding tasks - with the Texas Instruments OMAP1510 processor, the latest Palm OS, and 32MB memory.Display your presentations, images and videos in their best light with Palm's leading-edge 320x320 transflective color screen.Create and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint compatible files and keep them at your fingertips. Synchronize with your Outlook calendar, contacts, tasks and notes.It's wireless connectivity when you need it. Access email and surf the Web when you team your handheld with a compatible Bluetooth mobile phone (ISP required, not included). Perform a wireless Hotsync operation with your Bluetooth wireless technology enabled desktop, or wirelessly share data with colleagues that have compatible handhelds.Make any environment more enjoyable when you take along your favorite MP3s, video clips and eBooks. It's a snap to organize and move these files from your handheld to your desktop and back again.Record your thoughts with no thought at all - capture and organize your ideas with a built-in voice memo recorder. Synchronize your dictations to your desktop with the touch of a button, then email to colleagues.Turn your handheld into your dream machine by adding optional peripherals like a full-size keyboard or digital camera. Add thousands of software applications, from expense trackers and financial calculators to travel guides and games.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25927 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Palm
• Model: T2
• Platform: PDA
• Original language: English
• CPU: Texas Instruments OMAP1510 144 MHz

Features

• Compact and powerful Palm device with advanced wireless functionality
• Bluetooth-ready, for wireless email and Internet access
• 32 MB of memory
• MP3 and video playback
• What's in the box: Palm Tungsten T2 handheld, Stylus, Premium Screen Protector, USB HotSync Cradle, Power Supply, Software Essentials CD, Palm Desktop, Palm Photos, Documents To Go 5 by DataViz, Phone Link Updater

Amazon.com Review
The Tungsten T2 is a progression of the Tungsten T, and there are many similarities between the two models, with the T2 being an update of the line for the modern user.

The processor has not changed from that used in the Tungsten T -- the 144MHz Texas Instruments OMAP 1510, which has proved itself capable in the Tungsten T has been retained. But now there is 32MB of internal memory, of which 29.5 is available. All the better for you to store even more data without resorting to SD cards. The SD card slot, incidentally, sits on the top of the casing just as it did in the Tungsten T.

The hardware design has changed little. There has been a lightening of the casing color from slate grey to brighter silver, but no other substantial alterations. In fact it is the hardware that really makes this PDA stand out from the crowd. The bottom segment of the casing slides up and down to reveal/hide the Graffiti area. When the case is up it reduces the overall size of this PDA to very small and impressive dimensions. Thanks to the five-way button on the front of the casing you can use the Tungsten T2 for general look-up style tasks without actually needing to slide this portion down.

Bluetooth is built in, and the Tungsten T2 comes with a range of applications designed to take advantage of this, including BlueBoard and BlueChat for sharing information with other Tungsten T2 users. Other applications provided include Palm’s VersaMail software and WebBrowser Pro, both of which can be used along with a Bluetooth phone if you have one. And if you want to listen to MP3s, the RealOne player is on the installation CD.

The Tungsten T2 is a good logical progression from the original Tungsten T. It doesn't blow your mind with frills and party tricks, but it is a versatile and solid performer suitable for both professionals and consumers.--Sandra Vogel

From the Manufacturer
Early Adopters Pick: August 2003. Palm's most compact handheld ever. Boasting a fast ARM processor, 32 MB of memory, the latest Palm OS, v5.2.1, and a new, ultra-sharp, high resolution 320x320 color screen.

The Palm Tungsten T2 handheld packs power into Palm’s most compact handheld ever. Boasting a fast ARM processor, 32 MB of memory, the latest Palm OS, v5.2.1, and a new, ultra-sharp, high resolution 320x320 color screen, the Tungsten T2 handheld gives you the performance you need to manage both your business files and personal information. Take your office with you—create and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint compatible files on your handheld, even synchronize with Outlook with software included in the box. Built-in Bluetooth technology allows you to wirelessly access email, dial phone numbers, send text messages and connect to the Internet with the use of a compatible mobile phone (requires a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone and an ISP, both sold separately. Not all phones compatible). On top of all this, the Tungsten T2 handheld has MP3 (Requires expansion card, sold separately) and video playback, photo software, built-in voice recorder, 5-way navigator button for one-! hand operation, plus dual expansion for adding functionality so your handheld grows with you.

Features and Benefits:

• Compact and powerful
  The perfect balance of size and power. Running on a powerful Texas Instruments OMAP1510 processor with the latest Palm OS, v5.2.1, and 32MB of memory, the Tungsten T2 handheld handles your demanding tasks—presentations, Bluetooth collaboration, video clips—efficiently and with plenty of storage space. All delivered on a handheld that’s Palm’s most compact ever.
• Outstanding color
  The Tungsten T2 handheld’s new high resolution, 320x320 screen clearly and crisply displays images, video and type in vibrant, ultra-sharp color.
• Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
  Take your office with you. Create and edit your Word-, Excel- and PowerPoint-compatible files on your handheld. Synchronize with Outlook’s calendar, contacts, tasks and notes with software included in the box.
• Built-in Bluetooth
  Wirelessly access email, dial phone numbers, send text messages and connect to the Internet using a compatible mobile phone; share files, photos and more with other compatible Bluetooth devices. It’s wireless connectivity when you need it. (Requires an ISP, not included. Not all phones compatible.)
• Carry a tune, videos, images and more
  With its high-quality sound and outstanding screen clarity, you can listen to MP3s, watch video clips, and carry and share your favorite photos on your Tungsten T2 handheld. (Expansion card required for MP3s, sold separately. QuickTime required for videos; free Internet download available.)
• Room to expand
  Insert expansion cards for additional memory, add applications, even plug in a digital camera using the expansion slot. Use the Universal Connector to attach a portable keyboard or a battery pack (all sold separately).
• Record a thought with no thought at all
  Capture and organize your thoughts, ideas and reminders on the go using the Tungsten T2 handheld’s built-in voice recorder.
• 5-way navigator
  Its unique 5-way navigator button lets you access information with just one hand.
• Make it yours
  Personalize your handheld with a choice of more than 15,000 add-on applications to help you manage your finances, track inventory, calculate foreign currencies, and more.

  What's in the Box
  Palm Tungsten T2 handheld, Stylus, Premium Screen Protector, USB HotSync Cradle, Power Supply (120 VAC), Software Essentials CD, Palm Desktop 4.1 for Windows (includes: Palm Quick Install for easy transfer of software, documents, photos and more from your computer to your handheld. Palm Photos for editing and emailing photos from your desktop, Palm Desktop 4.1 for Mac, Documents To Go 5 by DataViz, Phone Link Updater to download latest phone drivers and carrier settings, Multimedia Getting Started Guide.)

Customer Reviews

Improvement on a great theme
I am a former owner of the original T|T. After a little over a year of T|T use, the power button became much less responsive. After several calls to PalmOne's customer service and speaking to several nice Indian folks (Note: PalmOne customer service is obviously outsourced overseas), I was told that it would be $125 to have the unit repaired. This was too much to invest in old hardware. I enjoyed the small form factor of that device so much, I decided to buy a T2 (depite PalmOne's abysmal customer service).

The appeal of the screen has been mentioned several times. I would agree tremendously! I thought the original screen was pretty good. However, the 320x320 display on this unit makes the original T|T look like someone put window tint on it. I also enjoyed the extra internal memory. The subtle changes with the Palm OS were nice too: like hitting the 5 way button to the right when in your address book to look a name up and the color themes.

One aspect that I just could not bring myselft to do was to adopt Graffiti 2. I have used the original Graffiti for so long that using anything else is heresy. For those that are like me, simply grab your old handheld with Graffiti 1 and get a file manager program. Search the ROM for the following two files: Graffiti Library.prc, and Graffiti Library_enUS.prc. Now beam them to your new handheld. Do a Soft Reset on your new handheld and PRESTO, you now have Graffiti 1 again.

If I had any advice, it would be to buy PalmOne products with a credit card that doubles the manufacture's warranty because their customer service is terrible and they will deny warranty service if your handheld is 1yr and 1day old.

Great Update to the Classic T
Having owned the original Tungsten T for just over a month, I have to say that the original is a great Palm device. Compact, quick and very useful. The Tungsten T2 primarily refines the great features already present on the original T.

So why buy? Why upgrade? If you are a casual user of a Palm that primarily uses the device for occassional reference, stick with the original T. There is some great pricing available right now. But if you use your Palm frequently, the screen and additional memory are worth the upgrade.

The original screen is fine, and until I compared the two devices side by side, I was completely content with it, but a transflective screen is a lot easier to look at for quick glances or extended work sessions. It requires less time to focus on the information you need and while it is completely subjective, I find that has value for me.

If you like to read, ebooks on this device are absolutely incredible, and totally accessible while the device is in closed position.

The additional memory means you won't have to spend any valuable time trying to shoehorn even more programs into the 16mb memory space. 16 megs is plenty, but 32 megs is better.

There are more refinements, all the Tungsten patches are now incorporated into the OS upgrade, the graffiti input has been upgraded to Graffiti 2, which should be easier for new users. But there are text input utilities to customize character recognition anyway you want.

Hunt for a good bargain and jump in. An additional Tungsten model (the T3) will be available before Christmas with some nice specs reported, but when a Palm is this good, there is no compelling reason to wait. This device will still have a good resale value if you can't resist the new model. Something that can't be said for the original T with it's reflective screen.

My 1 month old orignal Tungsten T? My co-worker was still using a M100, I don't think he'll be disappointed with the replacement.

Somebody's got to test these new units.

Palm Support is Non-existent
I own the Tungsten T2 and it's a nifty piece of hardware with a beautiful display and innovative features. However, mine arrived without the software CD. After two long distance calls to support including total hold times of nearly 50 minutes, I was told I could not obtain the missing software that there were no CDs to ship and nothing they could email me. This means basic Palm apps like the calculator and photo viewer are not present on my device. The representative suggested I return the device (at the expense of the retailer?) and either purchase another one or keep my Dell Axim. Free support for Palm devices only lasts 90 days (after that $25 a call) and they were not willing to help me, unlike Dell which has provided support and replacement without question or cost. The Palm hardware is nice, but the software is nonexistant and the support is laughable. Weigh these factors in making your PDA decision.