Palm Tungsten W

Smartphones exist because there's a belief that rather than carry two gadgets around that perform overlapping functions, people would rather carry one. In principle, that's true but in practice, multi-function gadgets are inevitably less than the sum of their parts and smartphones are a case in point.

Palm knows a thing or two about handheld computers but the Tungsten W is its first product to incorporate mobile phone features.

It's also its first handheld to use a keyboard rather than handwriting-recognition and the result is a device that bears more than a passing resemblance to the Handspring Treo 270 (reviewed in issue 117).

The Tungsten W is a bit bigger and heavier than any previous Palm handheld but it still fits comfortably into a pocket and the stubby, rounded antenna should prevent any torn linings. The keyboard is about the same size as that used on the Treo 270, which is to say that its minuscule keys are intended to be used with both thumbs but it takes a bit of getting used to for anyone accustomed to using a stylus to work their Palm. Unlike on the Treo 270 though, the keys aren't backlit. As a result, using the Tungsten W in the dark is a distinctly hit-and-miss affair.

Handheld-wise, the Tungsten W is a standard Palm with 16Mb of memory, a crisp 320 x 320 resolution colour screen and a memory card slot. It doesn't run the new Palm OS 5 operating system though, and its 33MHz processor is much slower than the ones used by the Tungsten T and Zire 71.

As a tri-band mobile phone, the Tungsten W works reasonably well but there are a few quirks. Firstly, calls can only be made with the supplied hands-free kit and secondly, making a call involves going to the Home menu, starting the phone application and if need be, turning on the phone using a menu option. The Treo 270, on the other hand, has a built-in microphone and speaker and works as a phone as soon as you open its lid.

Contact: Palm 0118 974 2700
www.palm.com/uk