With the Zire 72, PalmOne is redefining what you can expect from a budget handheld computer. The blue plastic casing looks and feels quite cheap but don't let that put you off. Switch on the Zire 72 and the excellent touch-screen comes to life.

It's bright, sharp and has a decent resolution of 320 x 320. The screen needs to be good as a 1.2-megapixel camera is housed in the rear of the case. It doesn't rival a dedicated digital camera, but the pictures are good enough for email or viewing on a PC.

The camera can also record movies, although you need a SD memory card to store them. The quality isn't brilliant but you can't expect too much from a handheld. The SD card slot is quite badly designed, though. It sits in a recess on the top of the Zire and it's hard to insert and remove cards.

The Zire 72 can also be used as an MP3 player via the headphone socket, while a built-in microphone turns it into a handy voice recorder. Both of these functions require a memory card, as the 24Mb of memory included is really only enough for storing dates, appointments and addresses.

Data synchronises with your desktop PC via the USB connection. To cut costs, PalmOne doesn't bundle this handheld with a cradle. Instead a USB port sits at the bottom of the unit, alongside the power connection. This means you don't need to lug a cradle around with you, but some PalmOne peripherals, such as keyboards, won't work with the Zire 72 as it doesn't have the right connector.

While you're on the move, the Bluetooth connection will probably come in useful, as you can connect to the internet via a suitable mobile phone to browse the web and check your email. Finally, a carry case is included to protect the screen.

For £230, it's great value for money and has many components you'd expect to find on more expensive models. As long as you can live with the way it looks, it's a good buy.

Contact: PalmOne 0118 974 2700
www.palmone.com