palmOne Tungsten T5: the Mixture as Before

Meet Tungsten T5

Expecting a miracle is a gripping process. Though palmOne did not promise anything extraordinary, the users hoped for the best. At minimum, Palm OS 6 (Cobalt). A properly supported VGA display would also be good. Wireless interface, preferably WiFi, or rather two. Much memory and long operating time. And here it is – meet Tungsten T5 in iXBT.com lab!

Specification

General hardware unification tendency is felt here too. Hardware characteristics of Palm OS and Windows powered handhelds are getting increasingly similar.

• Transflective HVGA (320x480) touchscreen. In the pioneering days of VGA displays a semi-VGA display in a top model may give rise to unfavourable criticism.
• Intel XScale PXA270 processor (416 MHz). Even 312 MHz is more than enough for the majority of Palm OS applications. Increased frequency will be good for multimedia applications, but the slow memory used in this device nullifies this initiative.
• 225 MB of user available RAM, where 63.8 MB are used for applications, 161.2 – a flash drive for users, the rest is used by the system.
• SDio expansion slot. Unfortunately, the list of compatible devices cannot be called long. Expansion slots of other types in Palm-based devices are not to be expected yet.
• Wireless interface – Bluetooth. The new model was expected to support at least WiFi if not two wireless interfaces! What is really sad is that users, who really need WiFi, will not be even able to buy an SDio expansion card – no one cared to write a driver for Tungsten T5.
• Dimensions 120.9x78.2x15.5. You cannot call this handheld tiny.
• Weight 144.5 g, it won't weigh down your shirt pocket.
• Palm OS 5.4 (Garnet). Another disappointment. The public expected a handheld based on Palm OS 6 (Cobalt). But the same Palm OS 5 is hidden behind the decorated updated front instead. As you may remember, it was designed as a transition version. Transition solutions are truly the most permanent!

Package Contents

Moderately sized box weighs much. Willy-nilly you expect an impressive bundle inside. But in fact the package contents are disappointing: half of the box is filled with paper manuals, catalogs of accessories, stickers with Graffiti 2 symbols and CDs with software. AC adapter with various extensions, a sync cable and a protective cover do not look serious against a pile of documentation. The bundle does not include a case. To say nothing of the cradle. They even didn't put an extra stylus. These are obvious signs of maximum price reduction. palmOne should have called this model Tungsten E2: the appearance is also a perfect match.