Reports of m500 Available at Office Depot (Updated)

Posted By: Ed Saturday, April 21, 2001 4:18:42 PM

Reports are continuing to trickle in from readers across the country that they have either seen or already purchased an m500 in an Office Depot. We've also had reports from Staples stores who say they will have them on sale sometime next week.

Update Some Staples stores are reporting that they will have the m500 and the m505 in stock on May 1.

In a related story, one of our readers, Fred Schwartz, called Novatel Wireless and asked them when the Novatel Wireless modem for the m500 series would be available. The Customer Service Representative replied, "We are working on the device right now and it should be on the shelves in June."

Novatel Wireless, developer of the Minstrel line of wireless modems, announced in March they would be releasing a model for the m500 series. It will clip to the bottom of the handhelds, leaving the SD slot clear for other uses. It will use CDPD or GPRS, allows pass-through charging, and has a longer battery life than the Minstrel V. No pricing is yet available.

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Not Near Me

Ed @ 4/21/2001 6:02:14 PM #
I just called the Office Depot near me and they do not have them in stock yet. I'd suggest calling ahead before throwing the kids in the minivan and heading off. Here's Office Depot's office locator, which will give you the phone number you need.

http://www.officedepot.com/Stores/default.asp

BTW, I did get a report from someone I trust that they bought an m500 today. So they are available somewhere.

---
Plenipotentiary
Palm Infocenter

RE: Not Near Me
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2001 6:15:23 PM #
Bought an M500 this morning at Office Depot. They did not have them on display - I had to ask if they had received them. They had received a total of 5. Now they have 4 :)

RE: Not Near Me
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2001 7:45:38 PM #
Bought it this afternoon at office depot. The clerk pulled it out of the back after I told him that I read on this site about them having it. (he first told me they would not have it till the end of the week) He also asked the manager about the 505. they printed out an avalibility of May 10th.

He told me to call them and if I wanted to do an exchange, that I could then.(I dont think that I will, but it's nice to know that I can)

We've got it in Wisconsin

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2001 6:09:47 PM #
I went to the office Depot in Madison on Witney Way today. They had it there and it was SWEET! The thing is even smaller and lighter than the photos suggest!!! They had it next to a Vx to compare with, and this one is DEFINATELY smaller, lighter, and more portable. Also, I noticed that the screen really was much better then the previous monochromes. The SD cards were very light and small . . . EXCELLENT! It was, overall, the best one on display (my hoplessly out-of-date parents could even see that). Just imagining that with a color screen makes me wanna drool. I can't wait for the m505 to be there, but they had no real word on dates. Although it IS true that Office Depot rutinely gets palm products first, so I might cancel my preorder if offie depot beats palm on delivery.

**Another note: they had the SD cards for sale so you might want to buy them now if you're waiting for the m505, unless you want to wait untill EVERYBODY is getting them and risk backorders and "out of stock" signs

Palm m505 preordered comes later
Davy @ 4/21/2001 7:04:35 PM #
Why does Palm simply ship to the stores first? I understand it's good to have consumer intrest by putting them on store shelves, but shouldn't you also try to cater to people who people who cater to you months before? I dropped almost $600 for a Palm m505 and assecories, along with overnight shipping. If I'd known I could've picked it up from the store quicker than that, I wouldn't have bought it that way.
-Davy Fields

RE: We've got it in Wisconsin
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/23/2001 5:25:40 PM #
Thats exactly what they wanted, Davy. You are a the typical consumer who jumped on it.

They are relying on a lot of people to not be smart.

RE: We've got it in Wisconsin
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/23/2001 7:21:48 PM #
So I suggest that you quit complaining and be smart.

If your local store has the model you want, buy it. Bring your cell phone and call Palm to cancel your Web order before you head to the cash register, just to make sure they're not sending your unit out while you pay for a second.

Palm does not charge your credit card until your unit ships. Your $600 is safe - just check your bill.

Remember, it's Palm's loss, not yours, when you pay your markup to a retailer. I don't think conspiracy theories are necessary here - Palm isn't currently holding your money in escrow and collecting interest - they're just waiting for stock to send out. If you buy your unit at a store, I would think that would be much worse for their bottom line. But surely they have deals with places like Office Depot to supply them with units before anyone else, which it somehow pays Palm in the long run to honor.

But if you're obsessed, then go to the store and get one. It's that simple.



Just got one!

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2001 7:01:24 PM #
I went to one of the four Office Depot's here in Tulsa, OK and picked one up! They all have at least three in stock. This thing is so cool. I'll go over some of the spiffy features that impressed me the most.. as well as share som einside info I found out on the m505!

First off... The cradle is more stable. When you slide your palm in, it won't come out without tipping it towards you, making it harder to bump it out. There's these little hooks inside the connections that make it so it catches on and won't let go. Also, the cradle is heavier, making it hardher to shuffle around on my desk like the last one. The connector on the bottom in much smaller as well. These may seem like small features, but it's the little things that make the difference with this one. There are also a few other spiffy features like a vibrating alarm and more extensive system options.

About the m505... the reason I got the m500 was because I wanted a plain black and white display. Until today I owned a IIIc, but the darn color display made it hard for me to see it when I'm outside. After getting my new m500, I was at the mall and I stopped off at Franklin Covey to see if they had gotten them in as well. They did not, BUT, the manager did show me a "retail VIP press release" which talked a lot about the m505. One of th emain issues was with the color display. The IIIc used a laptop-like display, relying on light from within the screen to shine through. The m505 on the other hand uses ambient light outside of the screen to show the image. This means two things: less power consumption, and it can clearly be seen outside in direct sunlight. It also means that it can retain the same thin shape as the m500. Don't worry though... there's also a back light so it can be viewed when sufficient lighting is not available to show the image. I'm already kicking myself for not waiting for the m505. But I'm just fine with what I've got. There's so much more I could write on this, but I'll save it for the review I know this site will let me write for them, right? :-)

~Charlie

me too and here are the pics...
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2001 7:58:21 PM #
You can check the comparison close-ups of V and m500
http://palmpilotupgrade.com/m500/

RE: Just got one!
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2001 10:57:08 AM #
What about the stylus rails on either side? The pictures make it look like this has been eliminated. Where does the stylus go?

RE: Just got one!
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2001 11:27:51 AM #
What about the stylus rails on either side? Are they the same or different?

RE: Just got one!
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2001 11:38:22 AM #
The rails are different sizes. The rail on the right can hold the stylus. The rail on the left is not as thick, and is only there for things like the hard case to slip on to.

flip cover
schmuckychucky @ 4/22/2001 12:10:09 PM #
One thing I noticed about the new flip cover is that it's better made than the V's. It's already creased so it doesn't stick out so much. I'm one of the few who actually likes the factory flip cover.


RE: Just got one!
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2001 2:01:53 PM #
I was wondering if the Coach flip cover case with the plastic restraints on the bottom to hold the Palm V will also work for the Palm m500/05.



RE: Just got one!
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2001 5:11:24 PM #
Glad you enjoyed your Palm m500. At least you are enjoying yours and it is refreshing to see a positive review. I have seen so many that have been so "nit picky" that it has been annoying. Personally for me I am waiting for the 505 and while I am anxiously counting the days I believe it will definately be worth the wait. I just called my staples and they don't have a clue when they will have theirs. I won't order mine through palm--seems it will just be too long now. Also Franklin Covey has yet to receive them.
My wait continues


RE: Just got one!
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2001 6:37:58 PM #
Just a little nit to pick. Having seen an m505, the light is a sidelight not a backlight.

It's nowhere near as brilliant as a Prism indoors, however considering the Prism and the IIIc are unsuable outdoors and the nature fo the display, I'm sure the 505 will perform splendidly outdoors.

505 at Staples

scouter075 @ 4/21/2001 7:58:20 PM #
The Staples in Roswell, GA (NW suburb of Atlanta) took my pre-order for a 505 today (I ws the 1st one.) It will come with a free game card (worth $29). The manager is expecting it this week.

scouter075@mindspring.com
m500 carrying cases
Telengard @ 4/21/2001 10:46:37 PM #
For those of you that got your m500, I heard that the old carrying cases will not work because the spline that attaches the m500 to the case is smaller. Is that actually true? I didn't want to have to buy a new carrying case if I didn't have to..

Thanks!

RE: 505 at Staples
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2001 11:21:46 PM #
I pre-ordered yesterday from the Staples in Marietta, GA. Unfortunately I was number 4. They expect them in on the 27th.

RE: 505 at Staples
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2001 11:38:56 PM #
Yes you will need a new case!

RE: 505 at Staples
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2001 2:03:35 PM #
I was wondering if the Coach flip cover case with the plastic restraints on the bottom to hold the Palm V will also work for the Palm m500/05.

RE: 505 at Staples
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2001 8:47:31 PM #
I pre-ordered my 505 today at Staples. They had no idea when it would be in but the sign posted said that it was expected in early May. If you pre-order one and put a $20 deposit, they will give you a free game card. They had the 500 in stock. They got 2 of them in yesterday and haven't put one on display yet. This is in Orange County California.

RE: 505 at Staples
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/23/2001 10:22:57 AM #
I pre-ordered my m505 at Staples on Saturday (4/21) - $20 plus tax and will include the game card. I have the first one coming in. They say they expect them at the end of the week, but I saw copies of Staples paperwork about the m500 series launch which indicated May 10 for the m505 so we'll see. Either way, I am sure I'll see it before the one I pre-ordered from Palm, so the next order of business for today is to cancel the Palm pre-order. Oh yea, maybe I can even find one of those Staples coupons somewhere and save a few extra $$$ when it does finally arrive. BTW I'm in Owensboro, KY.

RE: 505 at Staples
Bubba @ 4/23/2001 4:48:55 PM #
What Staples coupon?????????????????

RE: 505 at Staples
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/24/2001 3:36:57 PM #
Staples is known to produce coupons on occasions, such as $25 of purchases over $200 etc. for previous customers and occasionally as direct mail enticements to come to the store. It's been a while since I have received one myself, so maybe with good carma, I'll receive one before my m505 hits the store. I have also heard of coupons available on the net, but I have not confirmed that yet.

RE: 505 at Staples
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/24/2001 6:48:31 PM #
www.dailyedeals.com
Go to that website and look in the Right hand corner. Click on the link that says online coupons. You will see Staples.com coupons.
www.dealcatcher.com is another site.
Good Luck!!!

Standard Flip Cover?

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2001 9:03:00 PM #
To all those who managed to get an m500 early...

Do the new units come with the same inadequate flip-style cover as the V series, or has Palm come up with something a little more impressive?

Oh yeah, the same exact one
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2001 11:09:06 PM #
If you think about it it's just an improved Vx...

What type of backlight?
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2001 4:49:19 AM #
What type of backlight is used on the M500? Rerverse(Palm V's style) or Old style(sony's, Palm III's)? I hate the backlight of Palm V, and that's the main reason I bought a sony clie insted of it.

RE: Standard Flip Cover?
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2001 5:04:07 AM #
and further more, the reverse backlight stop me from buying a Visor edge.

RE: Standard Flip Cover?
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2001 6:42:08 PM #
I believe that there is a stroke sequence you can use to reverse the reverse backlight. At least it applied to the Palm III and Palm V series.

Look around for an FAQ.

much appreciated

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2001 10:00:59 PM #
thank you so much for everybody's input. i am one of those cautious customers who decided to wait and see other people's comments before I go out and buy one for myself. keep it comin'. i like what i hear so far. :)

Everybody missed the coolest new thing

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2001 12:04:45 AM #
THE BACKLIGHT. It's lime-white. Almost white lime green and brighter- thank goodness. I love it.

RE: Everybody missed the coolest new thing
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2001 4:54:33 AM #
So that is not the infamous reverse backlight? Am I right? Thank god, Palm finally listen to the customers.

RE: Everybody missed the coolest new thing
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2001 2:03:52 PM #
no, it's still reverse, but not so bad because it's brighter.

RE: Everybody missed the coolest new thing
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/23/2001 8:48:59 AM #
X-master and GreenLightHack fixes this problem. JBH

RE: Everybody missed the coolest new thing
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/23/2001 3:17:03 PM #
Well, not exactly, because the issue isn't just whether it's light on dark or dark on light. The issue is with the chosen technology; with the back light on, there is light coming through whichever pixels happen to be turned on (black). So, during low/twighlight conditions, you have a problem with contrast whichever way you set it, pixels that ought to be black are too light to see, and/or pixels that ought to be light are too dark to see. The technology works fine in good light and no light, but in so-so light it's a bit frustrating. (Hint, the better workaround than a hack for this is to rotate and or shade the screen until you find an angle that works best.)

All said, I haven't seen the m500, so I don't know if it suffers from this as much. All the same, I'm waiting for my front-lit m505, which will clear up the issue.

Some are already selling ON EBAY m500/m505
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/23/2001 7:46:52 PM #
I am noticing ebayers are selling on Ebay. One high bidder even placed up $600 for the m505. For me I am still waiting to see when Best Buy or Staples will pop up with it (m505) soon. I believe that it is important for me to get it now before I see the out of stock signs. I advise those that if they did ordered from Palm and they are sending them out later cancel and get them while they are available.

RE: m505 on eBay
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/23/2001 8:21:41 PM #
I just had a thought. Some stores will have the m505 on stock later this week. I could start an eBay auction now that doesn't end for 5 days. Later this week I'll buy the m505 for $450 but I'll bet by then the eBay auction will be up to $600 or so.

Wouldn't be anything like the first time I saw an auction selling something for way more than I could buy it retail.

RE: Everybody missed the coolest new thing
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/23/2001 10:46:17 PM #
I saw someone pay $690 the other day for just the m505. No pic either...

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