Larry Garfield looks at Palm's new business entry-level model, packing many features not yet seen at this price point.
Palm's Zire line for end users has has an "introductory" model for some time, but the business-oriented Tungsten line has started high-end. That's now changed with Palm's new "E for Entry" Tungsten. The Tungsten E pulls elements from its larger siblings in the Tungsten T line as well as from old design favorites like the Palm V and Palm m500 series to create a surprisingly good handheld for the price.
Design
The TE uses a very traditional if thin design. Measuring 114 x 78 x 12.7 mm and weighing 130 grams, the TE comes in a slick metal casing. The sides are tapered in slightly, as with several of Palm's "executive" models before it, to better fit the hand.
The screen is the now-familiar crisp 320 x 320 transflective TFT Palm has been using since this spring, with the traditional silk-screened handwriting area. Below the screen are the usual application buttons, although the 5-way Navigator is rather rectangular and flush with the casing, making it harder to use. We wish Palm had stuck with the Tungsten T-style NavPad, which is still our favorite design.
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The top of the TE sports the usual Secure Digital slot and low-power infrared port, as well as an audio jack and power button on the right. The metal barrel stylus slides into a partially-exposed silo on the right, just as on the m500 series, while the included leather flip cover slides into a dedicated track on the left. The cover now slides in from the bottom rather than the top, making it possible to hold the device by the cover without it falling on the ground. (Palm claims that was a frequent occurrence with earlier models.) There is also a strong speaker on the back.
Connectivity
Aside from the aforementioned SD slot and infrared port, the TE has very few connectivity options. It does not include the usual Palm Universal Connector, instead opting for bottom-mounted mini-USB and mini-AC ports similar to those found on the original Palm Zire. That eliminates the main feature-expansion option from the TE, which is disappointing. The TE also includes no wireless capabilities.
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