Palm i705 Review

The i705 was Palm's gadget for folks who wanted wireless connectivity early on. It was an early attempt and provided some value, but they didn't get everything right. Of course, there are now more advanced wireless options available, but the Palm i705 may still be a solution for some people.

The i705 provides always-on email, as long as you have a service plan. And it has all of the most common software found on Palm devices, including the ability to read and edit Word and Excel files.

On the downside, the Palm i705 has a monochrome screen and only comes with 8 MB of memory.

The Palm i705 got pretty good ratings overall, although there are some complaints that need to be considered as well. Of 428 votes on one web site, only 57% recommended the Palm i705.

Professional Ratings: 7.3 out of 10 (3 reviews)

User Ratings: 7.2 out of 10 (47 reviews)

A common complaint of the i705 is that it's overpriced. Also, the screen is monochrome, which just doesn't make sense considering that the i705 was not designed as a budget PDA. Some users have suggested that the wireless features the i705 has are inadequate, and several are disappointed that it has no phone. Yet another common complaint is the scarcity of memory. And at least one professional reviewer has taken issue with the effectiveness of the email software.

Nonetheless, there are many very faithful i705 owners, as the ratings demonstrate.

Memory

8 MB standard
128 MB expansion card slot Compatible with Secure Digital & MultiMedia cards

Display

160 X 160 pixels
Monochrome

Processor

33 MHz Motorola Dragonball VZ

Operating System

Palm OS 4.1

Audio

No speaker
No headset jack
No voice recorder

Dimensions

3.06 X 4.65 X .61 inches
5.9 ounces

Software

MultiMail Deluxe
AvantGo
Palm Reader
MGI PhotoSuite
Documents To Go