IBM WorkPad z50 Handheld

MSNBC?s website had a featured article this past weekend about the IBM WorkPad z50. It said this model, which was originally being sold for $999 was being discontinued and was now available for $299! I checked the reviews at epinions.com and saw that it was recommended by all seven reviewers and had a four star plus rating. I had been looking for a personal data assistant (PDA) or handheld PC (H/PC) for a couple months, but hadn?t found the right one at the right price. This one seemed to be all that I wanted and at an amazing price, so I ordered one on Monday, and had it overnighted in.

It?s now Tuesday early evening and I?ve been playing with my new toy for the past several hours. I can?t believe how satisfied I am with this purchase, so far. It appears to be everything I had wanted in a H/PC and more! A friend stopped by and happened to see it. He had me place an online order for one for him, on the spot! I?ve never had that happen before!

Please forgive this somewhat rushed and not very thorough review, but I thought I should let the other epinions readers know about this bargain, before they are all gone. The place I ordered mine from was sold out when I tried the second order for my friend. However, I was able to find another etailer that still had them in stock at a good price ($295 including two day shipping).

This is not a pocket sized PDA, it?s the size of a small notebook PC and has a decent sized keyboard, an approximately 8?x6? color display, a 33.6 modem and 16 MB of memory (expandable to 340 with the IBM MicroDrive). It uses the Windows CE operating system. For more details please check the MSNBC article entitled ?Big PDA Bargain Of the Millennium" at: http://www.msnbc.com/news/366148.asp.

I?ll complete this review in a few days after I?ve had more time to evaluate the WorkPad z50. I?ve been reading and rating epinions with mine, and even wrote this on it! It has a pocket version of Windows Word. So, if you?re like me and have been waiting for a PDA or H/PC with the right features, at the right price, this might just be it!

Note: If you would like to see my photo of the z50 with epinons.com loaded on it's browser, please go to:
http://image.photoloft.com/image.asp?s=plft&u=193604&a=211226&i=1072836
Click on actual size and then apply to see the image in detail.

Update: static electricity fried my little PC companion's modem, so I'm getting a chance to evaluate IBM's service on this item. Therefore, the completion of this review is on hold. Also, since the MSNBC web article was posted, these have been selling like hotcakes. Many vendors have raised prices.

Another Update: IBM service called today (2/22/00) to say that parts will not be available until 2/28 to repair the PDA. I should have it back the first week of March.