The following eexerpt is from the MacInTouch website:

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As expected, Palm today announced new handheld computers. The Palm IIIc is said
to be "the smallest, thinnest and lightest color handheld computer on the market." The
computer features a 256-color, active-matrix screen, 8 MBytes of RAM, Palm OS
3.5 and a rechargeable, "memory-free" battery that draws power from a desktop
cradle. It's available immediately at $449. Also shipping today, at $99, is the new
Palm Portable Keyboard, a full-size keyboard that collapses to 3.6"x5.1"x 0.8" and
weighs 7.9 ounces. The Palm IIIxe updates the black-and-white line at $249 with 8
MBytes of RAM and a "new dark-slate case."

Reply to post by Russ Carlson, on February 23, 2000 at 16:16:46:

Russ, have they managed to stay with AA (or is it AAA) batteries with the color display or gone to LithIon rechargeable?

Reply to post by Scott, on February 23, 2000 at 16:16:46:

They have switched to Li batteries on this one. They claim they last about 2 weeks per charge, but are charged when plugged into the synchronization cracle attached to your Mac or PC, and direct adapters are available for AC or 12 volt DC (auto). The other Palms still mostly use 2 AAA batteries.

There are several other new models out, including a new PalmIIIxe. One of them is listed at US$149.95. Can you say "disposable"? [g]

Reply to post by Russ Carlson, on February 24, 2000 at 06:17:26:

Well, let's say expendible... or expensible rather than long term amortizable. The real issue remains that your data are not disposable and one better stay pretty scrupulous about uploading.

I'm finding in the magazines and web sites that there is something of a dissatisfaction with the devices migrating toward color, and micro size and whiz bang features like wireless e-mail all of which may add expense and power consumption. There is a demand for more basic data entry tools that don't do multi-media graphics and all that other stuff. There's a standards group developing an open standard for a new device type that has the sort of simple features found on the original HP palmtop models. Look at www.morphyone.org .

Reply to post by Scott, on February 24, 2000 at 23:29:26:

I can live with 'expendable'. My point is that if you lose or damage it, you aren't out a huge part of this week's paycheck.

Simple is better. Yesterday I had occasion to survey 50 trees along a street- a part of the assignment that was added on the spot, and I hadn't prepared in advance. I could have done it on paper, but I spent 5 minutes setting up a quick database on the Palm, did the survey with nothing more than a Biltmore stick and the Palm, and finished the filed work in 90 minutes. At the office, I uploaded the file, imported to FileMaker, and had a complete database to work with, in another 5 minutes. Would have taken over an hour to create the database and enter the data manually.

There is no doubt in my mind that these little devices can make you more efficient, if you learn how to use them to your advantage.