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The HandEra 330 is a palmtop computer running the Palm operating system. Nothing new there then, as Palm, Handspring and Sony all have similarly equipped PDAs on sale at the moment. The Palm OS includes a range of applications designed to help you get your life organised.
Address Book, Diary and To Do List comprise the core software. Add to that an email application, expenses manager, calculator, memo pad for taking important jottings and a handwriting recognition system called Graffiti, and a few tweaks between devices notwithstanding, you've got the measure of the built-in tools.
Like the other Palm-based devices, the HandEra 330 comes with synchronisation software and a docking cradle so information can be shared with your PC. In this case, the docking cradle is serial, which is a nuisance, as USB is faster; but the upshot is that everything you need to start using the HandEra 330 comes in the box.
HandEra has made the 330 different from other 'Palm powered' palmtops in several ways. Expansion is probably the most important one, and there are two slots to choose between. One of these takes Compact Flash cards: these currently come in capacities up to 256Mb but out of sheer mischief we tried a 340Mb IBM Microdrive, which is a real mechanical hard drive in Compact Flash card format and it was recognised. IBM makes a 1Gb version of the Microdrive, so you can add up to 1Gb of memory, applications or data, or any mix of those if you have the right card.
The other slot takes MultiMedia cards (MMC) and supports the Secure Digital format. The tiny MultiMedia cards are used in many digital cameras and MP3 players. Secure Digital is a new technology for distributing copyrighted material such as music - expect to see it being used later in the year.
The HandEra 330 comes with applications to back up the contents of its 8Mb of internal storage onto either type of card. Palmtops, like normal PCs, need a processor but a handheld computer doesn't need anything like as much power. The one in the HandEra is the same as that found in Handspring models like the Visor and the Edge.
If you've got a palmtop already, you'll know that keeping it powered up can be a bind. HandEra has tried to make the power options as flexible as possible. Out of the box you get four AAA batteries. There is an optional mains adapter and you can also get a lithium ion rechargeable battery pack for around £35, which pops in the battery slot.
We'd have liked HandEra to supply the battery pack and mains adapter, instead of making them available separately, but at least the options are there if you need them.
The general design is familiar, with application shortcut buttons sitting below the screen area. There is a neat jog-dial button on the left side that helps you get through menus and make selections easily when working with one hand.
However, in the looks department, the HandEra 330 is not a prizewinner. The silver casing is solid but not very pretty, and the black plastic, screen-protecting, flip-up lid might be flipped off and replaced with a soft cover by those looking for a little more style.
Tap the on/off switch, though, and the HandEra 330 reveals a very clever software tweak. Normally on a Palm-based Palmtop, about a quarter of the screen is taken up by the Graffiti area - the space in which you can write special characters straight onto the screen and have them turned into editable text. That's fine when you want to use Graffiti, but it is just taking up valuable space when you don't.
On the HandEra, you can tap a tiny icon on the Graffiti area and it disappears, leaving a full-screen view. In practice, this means you can see more of your diary - or any other information - at once.
The screen itself is crisp and clear; it's greyscale rather than colour, with a higher-than-normal (for a Palm device) resolution of 240 x 320.
While it's easy to read, the backlight helps out when there isn't enough ambient lighting around. One of the bundled applications is AportisDoc, an eBook reader which allows you to flip the screen into landscape format. Reading any kind of text is a lot easier this way around.
The main strength of the HandEra 330 has to be its support for Compact Flash and MultiMedia cards. Sadly, its looks aren't too hot.
Contact
Finger Technology: 01923 289878 www.handera.co.uk
ALSO CONSIDER
HANDSPRING VISOR EDGE
Handspring versatility in a scrumptious slimline package.
£329 ****
Reviewed in Computeractive, Issue 85
See also:
All Palm PDAs
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