Complete upgrade of the model range of Palm, happened in the past six months, completed the release of the mainstream news Zire 71, which has many impressive qualities. Our colleagues from the site Brighthand.com were among the first users, to evaluate the pros and cons of fresh models. Bring to your attention to look at the functional and exterior Zire 71.
By design Zire 71 handheld is a bit like the original entry-level Zire, and the fundamental differences can be found only in a color scheme of the case. If "easy» Zire is made of white plastic artless, then the 71-th differ-coloring - dark blue with silver - and the lower part is made of silvery metal. Apparently, the purpose of this design - to protect from damage your digital camera, hiding behind a metal lid.
On the front side of the device is placed a large display, unfortunately, "cut" area for handwriting Graffiti. Given that soft Graffiti 2 (Recognition Systems Jot), which is equipped with this PDA, you can write anywhere on the screen, the logic of this design is not entirely clear.
Below the display are four "hardware" button, the default is responsible for running the most frequently used programs (calendar, address book, view photos, and notes). In the center is five-way joystick, touch on that at any time to display a larger font date and time, and holding the analog stick pressed, we turn to the "home screen" to run any installed application.
Considering the device "in profile" can not but notice that Palm continues to avoid installing any buttons, connectors, or wheels for scrolling on the side walls of the CCP. Even at the lower end of the PDA, we find only entrance Universal Connector.
But at the top of the whole "pandemonium" - slot Secure Digital, infrared port, headphone jack, stylus, and the power button. Dimensions Zire 71 - 114 x 74 x 17 mm and weighs 150 g. In these settings, it is quite suitable for carrying in your pocket. Some shortcomings in the design Zire 71 can be called that, by the typewriter fit only a few cheholchiki and cases. Established "odezhka" This model has a rather awkward: it will not be able to remove with one hand. A popular case-flips with the Zire 71, it seems, can not be used. And yet, housing design deserves evaluation "excellent".
What he does
Until recently palmovoe family could not boast a variety of fashionable technical twists, like a Pocket PC, has long been flaunting wireless modules, excellent color displays, fast processors and huge amounts of memory.Now, through the efforts of the producer situation is completely changed: the Zire 71 has everything to compete on a par with any other handhelds medium price range. Hardware: Advanced Operating System Palm OS 5 is not brought too many new things. The user interface of large changes have occurred, except that the screen fonts and icons have become clearer. But for "iron" part of the progress is very significant: 33 - and 66-megahertz Motorola Dragonball processors are disappearing, giving way to "rock» Texas Instruments OMAP, clocked at 144 MHz. It is a pity that part of the memory of such a breakthrough has not occurred, and Zire 71, like its predecessor comes to ridiculous standards Pocket PC module of RAM - only 16 megabytes, of which 13 MB user available (greater volume of palmovyh has only a top-model Tungsten C) . Still, for "large" flash cards dramatic decrease in the functional "close" RAM does not cause. Multimedia importantly, what is new palmovaya really corresponds to the current level - is the ability to work with audio and video data. If the Tungsten T was ready to play music technically, but did not have the appropriate software, the Zire 71 fully meet the expectations of fans. The model comes with the player RealOne, which provides a truly professional sounding music, either through headphones or when connected to an external powered speakers. Plays MP3 and RealAudio files pleased with the rich palette of sound and purity of sound.
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For working with video Zire 71 meets Kinoma Player 1.5.1 and its desktop-addition Kinoma Producer. Run the benchmark with a trailer for the movie Men In Black II showed the exorbitant rate of processing of video - 162 frames per second. Although in fairness, we note that the visual playback of this movie-was not entirely smooth (this, of course, may be due to shortcomings of the file). Luggage main part of the list of exceptional "fichey" this device - of course, a digital camera. Despite the quite standard for "integrated" camera settings - 640 x 480 pixel, VGA-quality graphics and auto exposure - crisp shots pretty decent.
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The camera automatically turns on when the user moves the rear panel. Button at the bottom of the sliding panel is a "trigger" the camera. And the touch of a button and immediately called an application that controls the camera and the screen begins to work in the viewfinder. Photo program lets you change the resolution of images, store them in RAM or on a flash card and send to the desktop. The LCD matrix, which is equipped with the Zire 71 has all the necessary characteristics to work with graphics in photo quality: the resolution of 320 x 320, 16-bit color (65,536 colors). Since the display is transflective, it behaves a little worse when working outdoors in bright sunlight, but indoors it has not quibble - the owners of Tungsten T with a reflective matrix can only dream. Communication great disadvantage news is that at the moment it does not work with Palm Bluetooth Card, and hence will not be able to use this computer for mobile internet access in conjunction with Bluetooth / GPRS-phone (for example, Sony Ericsson T68i). More precisely, we certainly have the opportunity to connect the PDA with a mobile phone via infrared or cable, but these tandems is rather inconvenient for our "Wireless Age" will not do.Periphery to the SD / MMC slot of the PDA can be connected to the corresponding flash cards and additional equipment (equipment for presentations, external digital cameras, etc.). Also to interact with peripherals can be used connector Universal Connector. Meals: Ability of prolonged battery life remains the most important advantage of PC Palm. Fortunately, the transition to more powerful TI OMAP processors do not impact on the economy of the PDA. Charge lithium-ion battery will last device on the week's work in normal mode or 5 hours of continuous music playback MP3. Minus the Zire 71 to supply parts is just that the battery on this model can not be replaced, that is, take a trip several charged power sources fail. System software: First, by using the operating system Palm OS 5.2.1 in the PDA can change the visualization interface using the "Desktop Themes". Secondly, the system of handwriting Graffiti 2 allows you to write by hand, not only in a special area, but across the screen. In addition, you can make "electronic ink" for a few moments lingered on the screen before you turn into typed text. This greatly facilitates the entry. Among other programs - well-known standard palmovye applications: synchronizer Quick Install, e-mail client VersaMail 2.5 and some others. Surprises only the absence of the office suite Documents To Go, which appear to now be the exclusive membership of computers Tungsten, aimed at corporate users.
On cups weights
When quite "reasonable" price of $ 299 (U.S.) Zire 71 is very functional, qualitative and miniature devices. With his digital camera that is hidden behind a sliding panel novelty turns into a great tool, "Digitization of reality." But with a software player RealOne, the computer becomes a powerful portable audio system. And despite the abundance of technological "bells and whistles, this PDA is not moving away from traditional brand Palm priorities: a truly" pocket "size, simple interface and ability for long battery life.
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The only (but controversial) minus the Zire 71, of course, is the lack of wireless capabilities and that the model does not support external card Palm Bluetooth SD. With the latter, however, have to put up all the owners of devices based on Palm OS 5 OSes. But even so, Zire 71 with more than enough "fichey" to dispel the stereotype that palmovye handhelds are among the technologically lagging relative to competitors on a platform Pocket PC. And finally, the timing of the appearance of new items on the Russian market. First Palm Zire 71 will come to Moscow in mid-May, so get ready for the meeting:) However, a personal impression, which immediately share with you, to work with cars, we hope in the near future. Follow our news! The authors, translation:
