HandEra 330

PC World.com

WHAT’S HOT: With useful enhancements to the Palm Inc. OS and separate expansion slots for CompactFlash and Secure Digital cards, HandEra Inc.’s value-packed device outdoes much of its Palm OS competition. A 240-by-320 screen provides 25 per cent more viewable area than what most Palms offer, and it also presents superior resolution and visibility. The unit boasts a fast 33-MHz processor too.

WHAT’S NOT: The HandEra 330 is housed in a bulky Palm III-style case, making it one of the chunkier PDAs on the market and it requires four AAA batteries, not the usual two.

WHAT ELSE: Unlike other Palm devices, the HandEra 330’s Graffiti handwriting area is based on software, so you can hide it for more screen real estate. You can rotate the display from portrait to landscape view – great for spreadsheets, e-books, and other apps. A scroll-wheel/button on the side permits quick selection of apps, addresses, and more. The HandEra 330’s battery life is about four to six weeks.

UPSHOT: A good choice for people who want the most productive Palm they can get for relatively little money – and who are willing to accept a little extra bulk as a trade-off.

Handera can be reached at http://www.handera.com.

Prices listed are in US currency.