PalmOne LifeDrive

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The LifeDrive marks the first in PalmOne's new line of Mobile Manager products and features a 4GB Hitachi hard drive that's a first for a PDA. Targeted at business people, media junkies and smart-phone addicts, the handheld provides the ability to carry, file and manage rich digital content as a mobile manager. But is this revolutionary enough to drive PalmOne ahead of the madding crowd?

Editors' note:

PalmOne has announced that the LifeDrive will be available in stores on the 28 May, 2005.

Design
Our initial impressions were good. Though the handheld weighs a hefty 192.8g, we were impressed by the minimalist feel given by the LifeDrive. On looks, it seems that PalmOne is returning to the usual rectangular-shaped form factor after its run with the curvy Zire models.

Sporting a tray-like appearance, most of the real estate is given over to a 3.7-inch diagonal TFT display, featuring 320 x 480 pixels and supporting more than 65K colors. At 121 x 73 x 19mm, the handheld is definitely bulky and may not slip into pockets that easily. Flat is in with its panel-customizable application shortcuts similar to the Acer n50.

	Comparing the size

The ovalish five-way navigator can be found in previous Palm offerings like the Zire 72, and sits between the shortcuts, though oval may not be the best choice for navigation as this time the curves are too thin for fast scrolling. We kept producing smudges on the screen when we clicked the top button. Nevertheless, it didn't affect us too much during operation.

The top of the LifeDrive holds an SDIO/MMC expansion slot, a power button, infrared port and a stylus holder, while a 3.5mm head jack and reset button can be found at the bottom. While it's good that the head jack accepts standard Walkman earphones, its positioning makes it awkward for listening as we had to turn the device upside down.

Features
What stands out in this new series is the 4GB microdrive (3.85GB usable) which allows for 300 songs and 2.5 hours worth of videos. The handheld also offers the ability to double as a plug-and-play USB removable drive. Simply turn its Drive mode on, and you can drag-and-drop information and media files on-the-go using its large storage space.

A new file management software called the LifeDrive Manager is also included in the CD package. This application lets users manage data almost like a Windows interface, which is more user-friendly than Palm's Quick Install.

	Landscape and voice recorder buttons

In terms of features, the handheld contains a menu akin to the Tungsten T5. There's the convenient taskbar and Favorites screen which allow you to view applications in menu format. While the LifeDrive uses an Intel XScale 416MHz processor, one of the fastest in the PalmOne range, it's hardly comparable with the higher-end Pocket PCs in the market.

The device also uses the same USB sync cable as the Tungsten T5, which features a one-touch button to activate a HotSync operation, though some may prefer a cradle to host this PDA. A protective sleeve is also included in the sales package.

Where connectivity is concerned, the LifeDrive finally has it right. Both Bluetooth and integrated Wi-Fi are finally installed on a PalmOne, allowing users to surf wirelessly. The two functions are easy to set up even for newbies and can be run simultaneously.

Performance
Using a Palm Garnet v5.4, we didn't experience any lag during response time. We tested MP3s on its default media player and found the music rather muffled and echoy due to the speakers being located at the back. Transferring 100MB of files between the microdrive and SD card proved quite breezy, taking about 4 minutes.

Converting a video file into PalmOne's media format required some time. We took about 45 minutes just to convert a 1GB AVI file. After all that effort, we were dismayed by the lack of contrast during video play. Adjusting the handheld's brightness didn't help much. In short, forget about watching shows like Pitch Black as it tends to produce a negative effect.

We weren't too pleased with its screen quality either, as this produced a faint bluish tint. While the handheld's display is brighter and more colorful than some PalmOne PDAs, it still looked washed out in direct sunlight.

In our battery test, we played a looped video clip with both the sound and the backlight turned all the way up. The LifeDrive lasted 4 hours 20 minutes. With both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth left on, it lasted about 2.5 hours. Unfortunately, the 1660mAh Lithium-ion battery is not removable.

Conclusion
The LifeDrive is a formidable showcase of features, suitable for those with a demanding corporate lifestyle who seek more out of a handheld. Its 4GB hard drive is commendable in the PDA space but hardly new in the microdrive industry. Some features such as the display and sound quality are found wanting and the S$868 (US$580.87) price may put off all but hardcore early adopters and Palm aficionados. For that price, one can get a HP iPaq hx2400 with a higher processing horse power, removable battery, dual expansion slots (SD and Compact Flash Type II), as well as a 4GB CF card for storage needs.