Zodiac vs other Palm products - your thoughts

[sethm]

A informal survey-
I have a Zire 71, but thinking of expanding. There are only 2 things I like about the T-5 > Portrait/Landscape mode and the large screen (what took Palm so long).

So, the question is- has any one swapped there 'regular' palm for a Zodiac and how do you like it? The only thing keeping me back is the size- but w/the extra controls what do you do? Also, Wi-fi for Zodiac announced today, so even a better PDA(?)

[Telyx]

When my Tungsten E dies eventually, I plan to get a Zodiac 2 myself. I think the big screen, big battery, big RAM, and two SD slots more than make up for the big size of the device.

[PalmTealLover]

AMEN!!

Made that decision tonight myself before deciding to "peruse" this part of the forum . . . OS 5.2 (compatible with all my stuff!), already asked Tealpoint about compatibility (they've written SEVERAL updates for the button configurations, sizing, etc).

Only question now -- and I imagine it's a simple "yes," is whether Sheet To Go will work. Can't imagine why not, and the "inverted landscape table view" would show more columns. I'm still looking at where to find more details other than the Tapwave site on processor speed and all that, but I figure as long as it plays GAMES it's got to be pretty quick.

Resizing some AcidImage photos would be all I'd probably need to do . . . unless the "landscape" can be inverted as on the T3. Seems like the BEST all around "Palm" device out now, and since the T3 is practically history and the Z2 has 128 MB of RAM, I wouldn't need to "Sprat" anything and have plenty of battery life, RAM room and permanent non-slider view. EXCELLENT!

I do have two questions for Zodiac users out there:

1. How much stuff "bundled" like WordSmith is ON THE CD and how much is PUT INTO THE ROM OF THE DEVICE? I would MUCH prefer the option of loading it myself (unlike the T3 which came with it in ROM - that's why I became a JackSprat fan).

2. Does it use the SAME Palm Desktop I have already loaded for the T3 is it something "different?" In other words, can I use same hotsync name and sync the Zodiac on its cradle without it talking to the "Palm/user" folder I have for the T3? If it's the same I could deal with a 2nd user name but I'd rather not - hopefully it's "different software altogether."

If all goes well with "information gathering," I may abandon the 2nd "spare" T3 and get a Zodiac. Like Telyx, the size doesn't bother me - just carry it horizontal on a belt-loop case. I'll miss the voice recorder but hell, the T5 doesn't have one either.

[Pride Of Lions]

It doesn't like it at all. Like oil and water mixed with electricity. Complete unhappiness all around.

PTL, you raise a great question...when I was looking for a T|3 replacement, the TapWave website had this fantastical comparison chart (with little half-circles and everything), but no info on processor speed. Now, the "megehertz myth" might not apply, but later (After I bought the Z2) I found that the T|3 has the 400mhz processor, and the Z2 has "only" 200mhz. I could be wrong, or the source I got that from could be, but after I bought the Z2 and played many, many games and many, many movies and such processor speed didn't matter much to me. It handled all that I through at it really well. And after I found out it has the "slower" processor, I couldn't believe it. I guess it was a compromise for battery life. All I know is that it does what I want it to do really, really well, and that all it needs is built-in WiFi.

I think one has the option of adding/subtracting whatever little app's on the CD instead of being told what to have on the Z2. It's not like the T|3 where we were told what version of Docs-To-Go to have on our PDA's.

And, most importantly, your Palm Desktop never has to know that you've moved on from a T|3 to the Z2. Same user name and all that still applies. I now sync my Z2 to my Mac in my office, and I keep my "old" T|3 synced with my tablet PC in the Living Room. I haven't tried syncing both PDA's to the same computer using the same user name, but I'm not interested in finding out if it's possible. I just got my Mac back after having seemingly lost all my data and now I want to be a good boy to my computer. (No more bit torrent!!)

Interestingly enough, the TapWave website lists the Z2 at $349. I paid the full $399 and I love it, but it's always sad to see my PDA's on sale for cheaper than when I bought them. I think TapWave might become a player in this PDA biz, especially if they make one with built-in WiFi.
POL9A

[Telyx]

The Z2 may have "only" a 200 MHz processor, but it also has a separate graphics processor with 8 MB of its own RAM whereas the 400 MHz processor in the T3 has to handle the whole load. I'd guess that's why you won't see much (if any) speed difference between the two.

They released a free mail client for the Z2 recently and I downloaded it as a "pre-emptive strike," but I wonder if good old VersaMail will work--even if only in "portrait mode." I've read that WebPro 3 will only work in "portrait mode," which is OK since I don't do THAT much browsing--and the Z2 comes with a browser that WILL work in "landscape" mode anyway. (It's just that I paid for WebPro 3 and wouldn't mind getting my money's worth.)

Good to know that Tapwave dropped the price. Maybe CompUSA will follow suit... I'd rather buy it at CompUSA and have it in my hot little hands (when the time comes) than wait for it to be shipped.

Still saving my pennies...

[Pride Of Lions]

For those of us who don't live near a CompUSA (is there such a place?) or who don't like CompUSA (for whatever reason), Zodiacs are now being sold at Fry's Electronics (as per this (http://www.tapland.com/news_arc/?id=581) thread.)

Enjoy.
POL9A

[maxxximum]

i was going to buy one until they went up in price a hundred bucks from what they were when they first hit the market.

[Pride Of Lions]

Originally posted by maxxximum
i was going to buy one until they went up in price a hundred bucks from what they were when they first hit the market.

You must be confusing the Zodiac1 ($299) and the Zodiac2 ($399) when they first hit the market. The prices are down slightly now (about $50 cheaper now each) and can even be found for a great deal on eBay.

I hope this helps your confusion. I've NEVER seen a consumer electronics product raise in price at the retail level.
POL9A

[maxxximum]

when they first came out(before retail store placement and when the zodiac site first came up) they were 199 and 299. the only reason why i remember is because when they site first went up, i had looked on ebay and a guy was selling the zodiac1 for 249.99 and had started arguing with me because i asked him why he was selling it for so much over the direct website.

[Pride Of Lions]

Originally posted by maxxximum
when they first came out(before retail store placement and when the zodiac site first came up) they were 199 and 299. the only reason why i remember is because when they site first went up, i had looked on ebay and a guy was selling the zodiac1 for 249.99 and had started arguing with me because i asked him why he was selling it for so much over the direct website.

Well, then that's not very nice of them then is it? That would make me reconsider, too.

They probably put out the cheap price initially to reward adverturous early-adopter souls and to build a war-chest for a more splendid marketing blitz.
POL9A

[tswill]

I recently bought a Zodiac 2 used from ebay. ($288 = shpg) and sold my Zire 72 for $207. No regrets. I have not been doing much with the games in it, but have put a bunch of jpg and mp3s onto a 256meg SD card. The sound from the built in speakers is pretty tinny, no lows but still much better than the Zire's. From the headphone jack it will drive phones or passive or active speakers and put out quality sound. The photo display will run a slideshow while the audio is providing background music without interference. The photos are the BEST I have seen on a pocket device. I am planning on getting a Wi-Fi SD card soon and will post my opinion of it later. I have a 1gb SD coming for $70 and will also post on that. :cool: tswill
ps: Recently read that Tapwave will not be coming out with an upgrade until 2006, but it will have Wi-Fi in it.
update 2/16/05 - got the PQI 1G SD card and it works great. Got a SanDisk WiFi SD card, but so far it won't recognize my net.
I've read that other users get good WiFi netting. More later....