Palm Z22 - December 2005
For those craving a simple hi-tech handheld, the Z22 may be just the ticket.
PDAs have come a long way over the years. Manufacturers are constantly pushing the boundaries of technology, combining the organizational functions of PDAs with those of other gadgets. Walk into just about any electronics store, and you'll see PDAs that include cell phone capabilities, MP3 players, voice recorders, video recorders, digital cameras, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, keyboards....
While it's convenient to carry around one gadget that does a little bit of everything, not everyone wants or needs all of those different functions in a single device. Palm, one of the leaders in handheld computers, has come up with a way to reach out and organize those who want something simpler by creating the Palm Z22. The Z22 is notable not for the fact that it has more bells and whistles, but that it actually has less. Less gizmos, fewer features, fewer buttons to push, small pricetag. Although the Z22 does less than all of those PDA-cell phone-whatever combos, it isn't a stripped-down piece of plastic. On the contrary, it packs a surprising amount of useful functions into its circuits.
What Is the Palm Z22?
The Palm Z22 looks a liitle like an iPod, with a small color screen and white-and-black plastic case. It's easy to find at the bottom of your purse or briefcase, and yet it weights a mere 3.4 ounces. The Z22 has a 200Mhz ARM-based processor, and runs on a Palm OS 5.4 operating system with 20MB of accessible memory (32MB total). What does that mean exactly? The Palm OS 5.4 operating system seems to be standard for most handheld computers in the Palm family, so the Z22 is on par with other PDAs. Also, the 200mhz processor is adequate for the Z22's functionality, although higher-end PDAs run at twice that speed. The 32MB of memory storage is comparable with other handhelds in the under $300 category. It has a long life rechargeable battery, which has proven to be on of its most admirable features, in that it never seems to run down suddenly when you least expect it. And it can store and save data to a PC or Mac, running windows 2000, Windows XP, Mac OS 10.2.8 to 10.4, and several versions of Outlook . The Z22 is a snap to install and comes with basic software, such as a calendar, task list, contacts with photos, expense tracker, memos, notepad, photo gallery, etc. The Z22's memory space gives you plenty of room to add Top Producer and other software REALTORS® frequently use on their handhelds.
Potential Uses & Impacts on the Real Estate Industry
If you are one of those people who always has tons of Post-it Notes, lists, stray business cards, and appointment reminder held to the fridge magnets, then the Z22 may be just the organizational tool you need. It may not revolutionize your life, but it will make it run more smoothly. Appointments are easy to add to the calendar and handy reminders keep you on track. Your shopping list will always be available, so the quick trip to the grocery store will be a breeze. The contact list allows you to add pictures, which is not just fun but functional. Birthdays and other important dates can be automatically added to your calendar, with notification given in plenty of time to get that card out. The calendar will give you your appointments a week or a month at a glance, so open houses, closings and client appointments are easily visible and effortless to remember. The notepad is a simple way to jot down reminders about home features you want to tell your homebuyers. And, there is also a database to track regular business expenses, which makes dreaded tax time that much easier.
Drawbacks
The more technologically savvy person may fall victim to either frustration or boredom with the Z22. Given the endless functionality of many of today's better-quality cell phones, the necessity of having a separate organizational gadget is very subjective. The Z22 might end up being just an expensive, very fancy coaster, if you are not in the market for the most basic of electronic assistants. Also, the picture quality is less than stellar and would not be acceptable for most business uses, although it functions perfectly fine for quickly storing and viewing photos of listings, family members, etc. And while the touchkey pad is very easy and quick to use, the graffiti writing is not very intuitive. It should also be noted that the Z22 is not equipped for wireless e-mail or other Internet capabilities, as many other PDAs and cell phones are these days, nor does it offer an expansion slot or even a headphone jack.
Costs
The Palm Z22 currently retails for $99.
- Michele Cordero
NAR's Web Wizard Report - No. 74 (December 2005)
For Further Reading
Old-fashioned PDA (Sydney Morning Herald, Dec. 3, 2005)
Palm Z22, (The Gadgeteer, Nov. 21, 2005)
Palm Z22, (CNET Reviews, Oct. 19, 2005)
Questions or Comments?
Send an e-mail to NAR's Web Wizards.
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