IBM WorkPad 8602-20X Handheld

I wasn?t going to review the IBM WorkPad c3 as I believed that IBM simply licensed the whole Palm V package from Palm and slapped the IBM name on it to take advantage of the share of the market that might gravitate to the IBM name and not the Palm. If so, they were putting their name on an excellent product.

I found my suspicion to be mostly true but it?s not as shady as my wording above might have you believe. These are built to IBM?s standards and satisfaction. IBM?s name is on the product and they will stand behind it as they would any of their products. This is no different than Sears contracting with many vendors to build their Kenmore and Craftsman lines. They are built to Sears standards and Sears will take care of you in the event of a problem.

So indeed, if you have more faith in the IBM name than Palm, don?t hesitate to buy the IBM c3 WorkPad instead of the Palm V - but read below first.

The IBM WorkPad c3 is virtually identical in operation to the Palm V but with several main differences:

1) The WorkPad is black as opposed to the Palm V?s silver.

2) IBM owns Lotus so naturally this is made to sync with Lotus apps instead of the MS Apps as with the Palm V. As most people have Microsoft on their desktops this is the single biggest consideration when choosing between the IBM and the Palm.

3) The IBM is (somewhat surprisingly) less well known than the Palm. Since I can?t recall seeing any marketing on IBM?s part I guess this is why. IBM had pretty much left the consumer market and has been selling itself to businesses so perhaps they are marketing this more towards large corporations to outfit their salesforce and/or execs. Because the IBM is less well known you will find far more flexibility in the price and you should shop around and should save $50 to $100 by doing so.

If you?re just reading this to find the differences between IBM WorkPad c3 and the Palm V you can stop here. The rest of the review pretty much duplicates the information for the Palm V and is meant for those who aren?t familiar with either.

Although the IBM fit easily in my shirt pocket I soon found out that this is a VERY bad idea. Bend over and CRASH - it can easily fall to the floor. Be safe and purchase one of the leather cases on the market to protect your investment.

The IBM will quickly become a part of your life by way of it's ability to help organize. The standard Palm Desktop software is included as well as Lotus EasySync software. The standard functions:

EMAIL

While you can download and upload from your desktop you cannot send without a modem. You can read, write, upload to your desktop and then send.

DATE BOOK

This is the can't live without scheduler feature. As good as it is Datebook 4 is an optional downloadable program for $25 you simply must try. It has has 45 trial period.

MEMO PAD

Write notes, email (cut and paste) etc.

EXPENSES

Template program to track all expenses.

TO DO LIST

Self explanatory.

ADDRESS BOOK

Templates with room for virtually unlimited names, addresses, phone numbers, notes etc.

There are many web sites where you can download free and other Palm OS compatible software that can be used on the IBM. Some other programs I've added are enhancements to the existing installed software that makes it more flexible - a function which allows screen writing with the ability to save messages in your own handwriting, measurement converter, stop watch, image viewer, two readers to download books and magazines, an advanced scientific calculator, a world time clock, and lots of fun stuff including...of course...games.

If the smaller, more attractive size doesn't interest you and you want to save some money, take a look at the Palm IIIxe. But if you want a sleek, state of the art version of the IIIxe the Palm V or this IBM is for you. Also consider the Palm IIIe which is almost the same as the Palm V but in the plainer package - like the Palm IIIxe - and is only $100 to $150.

If you have Lotus on your desktop, or if you only want to sync with the standard Palm Desktop software also included with the IBM, you should consider the IBM before the Palm V.