Palm PDA & Black Friday Sale Going on Now

Posted By: Kris Keilhack Tuesday, November 20, 2007 11:12:54 AM

Palm TX SaleBlack Friday may still be a couple days out, but the deep discounts are already going on now at the Palm.com store. Two Palm PDAs are being substantially discounted as part of the Palm Store's "Black Friday" specials. Both deals sweeten the offer with a free bundled Palm accessory with each PDA in addition to free ground shipping and the opportunity to avoid the crowds at local malls and stores.

The Palm TX is currently on sale for an ultra-low $199.00 after a $100 instant rebate. This is the first time to my knowledge that a new Palm TX has been available under $240 and definitely the first time it’s been available under $200 from a reputable seller. Palm is bundling a Palm Wireless IR Keyboard (a $69.00 value from the Palm Store) with each TX purchase. I personally own this exact keyboard and while it’s not as pleasant to use as the newer, pricier Palm Bluetooth keyboard, it's a solid unit if you can live with the usual limitations of Infrared. Users whose needs require a dedicated PDA and wi-fi or a 320x480 screen should definitely jump on this deal ASAP.

The Tungsten E2 is on sale for $149.00, a full $50 off of its standard MSRP. Its bundled accessory, a T|E hard case, isn't quite as attractive as the TX's free keyboard but is still a nice freebie.

Another superb value is the Palm GPS Navigator Smartphone Edition 3. This is on sale for $149.00, a huge $100 drop from the usual $249.00 price, and also has free ground shipping from the Palm Store. The $149 price is valid only until November 24th, upon which it will return to $188.00, which is still a considerable bit less than this GPS packed had at launch. See my review of the essentially similar GPS Navgiator Edition 2 here. While this is Palm's newest GPS bundle featuring the TomTom 6 software, it is not officially supported by the Palm Centro (but has been reported to work fine if installed to a separate microSD card) and is going to be phased out next year by the new Palm/Garmin GPS bundle designed to work with the Palm Centro.

Palm GPS Navigator SaleWhile the Palm TX deal is definitely the better of the two handheld deals due to its superior specs and included keyboard, either deal is still a great value for someone looking to acquire a backup PDA or make one final new handheld purchase. The Palm store’s offer looks to be the last and best gasp from the slowly dying PDA market this holiday season, especially with Palm’s handhelds swiftly disappearing from Palm's remaining brick and mortar retail chain partners.

Both PDA deals at the Palm store are set to expire at 11:59 PM Monday, November 26th or, as Palm states, "while supplies last" so it’s very likely this deal could disappear prior to the 26th.

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The End of the Phoneless PDA

He||Raiser @ 11/20/2007 2:44:48 PM # Q
If this really is the end of the Tungsten line, I guess my big dilemma is whether to snap this up or to hope that Palm will come out with a decent smartphone. I currently have a T3, so even if I get the TX, it'll be an upgrade. I like the consolidation of the Treo and Centro, but have trouble with the idea of returning to 320x320 screens. Anyone have a suggestion or a consolation?

RE: The End of the Phoneless PDA
DarthRepublican @ 11/20/2007 8:42:24 PM # Q
Look at it this way. With rebates, the Centro is $99. Without rebates, the Palm TX is now $199. Together, that's about the price of either a new Treo or a new TX at the beginning of the year -- so you can get both if you have the cash. If you don't have the money for both, get the TX. It's superior to the T3 in every respect. If you really can't live without a voice recorder, Tech Center Labs sells microphones for the TX for $15-25.

Here are some PIC reviews of their stuff:
http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/8976/palm-tx-mini-bud-mic-review/
http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/8959/palm-tx-external-mic-review/
http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/9106/interview-with-tech-center-labs/

RE: The End of the Phoneless PDA
SeldomVisitor @ 11/21/2007 9:27:48 AM # Q
> ...With rebates, the Centro is $99...

Nah, PALM redid their pricing fairly quickly - don't need no stinkin' rebates to get a $99 Centro anymore.

[of course, this MIGHT suggest something about either (1) lack of sales or (2) high percent of rebate submittals per unit sale thus making them not cost-effective.

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Snatch it up

Dan Georges @ 11/20/2007 2:53:48 PM # Q
If I had the $$, I would snatch up the TX. At $199, including a wireless keyboard, this is a veritable steal. I bought a T|C a couple of years ago (used on eBay) for more than that, and if I had the cash, I grab up the TX.

I currently own a 650, so buying yet another PDA would land me in the doghouse (and the couch) for a while.

"If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts."

-Einstein

RE: Snatch it up
cstamper @ 11/21/2007 1:17:19 PM # Q
^Right. Wish I had $200 dollars to spend now. My m515's getting old... :-)
RE: Snatch it up
PacManFoo @ 11/21/2007 9:19:54 PM # Q
Just ordered mine. The $100 off was enough to change my mind from the iTouch back to another TX. Palm is Palm however and my confirmation email says the wireless keyboard is currently unavailable. Not a big deal to me but I'm sure there will be some disappointed people who wanted to get everything at once.

Since I've been looking at alternatives the past month I thought I'd share some of my observations. I've been eyeing the iTouch as I said as well as the HP 110. I've managed to find working displays of both and played around with them several times. The iTouch really is as cool as they say. The web browsing is better then any handheld device I've used. The other apps are average and of course it lacks basic notes out of the box. It feels more like a MP3 player then a pocket computer and if you like to customize your devices like I do then you'll be disappointed. The HP 110 has the latest Windows Mobile. I was really disappointed in this device. If feels cheap, and it's response time seems quite slow. The OS hasn't really changed other then looking more Vista like. Between the three (iTouch, HP110, and another TX) the 110 would have been third on my list.

All in all, I'll be really happy to get my TX back again! It's just sad it's not a TX2.

PDA's Past and Present:
iPod Touch ???? Maybe soon.
Palm - IIIxe, Vx, M500, M505, Tungsten T, TX
Handspring - Edge, Platinum, Deluxe
Sony - SJ22
Apple - MP110, MP2000, MP2100

RE: Snatch it up
hkklife @ 11/21/2007 11:01:48 PM # Q
PacMan;

Congrats on the purchase. Do you have a 4GB SD card yet? If not, go ahead and grab one while they are still rather affordable and available. Pretty soon now it's just gonna be SDHC cards.

I have a Patriot 4GB SD card on my TX and it is fantastic. I also had a Transcend 4GB card previously and it worked fine as well on both my TX & 700p but I sold it to get an 8GB SDHC.



Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX-->Treo 700P

RE: Snatch it up
mikecane @ 11/23/2007 11:57:34 AM # Q
>>>and if you like to customize your devices like I do then you'll be disappointed

Right. Come back when the SDK is released.

iTouch as PDA-
madmaxmedia @ 11/27/2007 2:30:50 AM # Q
My iTouch is my new PDA, after going PDA-less for awhile. I actually type on it faster than my old CLIE TG50 (thanks to auto-correction), and the web browser absolutely kicks ass (I've personally never experienced the problem with music and web browsing.) The 1.1.2 update actually improved responsiveness of the unit a bit further, and battery life is excellent (better than I remember my Palm Tungsten C being.)

All that being said, it's an iPod/movie player first, PDA second. Since those are roughly the order of priorities for me, it's been great. If you need a PDA first, then it would be hard to recommend a iTouch over a Treo or dedicated PDA. Plus I use a Mac, and that makes the whole thing work better than if I used Windows. While I was PDA-less I stuck a spiral notepad in my back pocket, that was my retro hipster PDA or whatever they call that now.

Who knows what they will come up with with the SDK though. My guess is that there are going to be some really great apps, but who knows if the app library will ever cover the breadth of Palm software. If you're the type of person who has tricked out your Palm with launchers and hacks and have loaded all sorts of apps (bonus points if you actively use them all), then there's no probably reason to switch anyway.



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Go with the TX! This is the end of the road for Palm OS PDAs!

hkklife @ 11/20/2007 2:54:36 PM # Q
I HIGHLY doubt Palm is going to release anything but Treos with small square screens anytime soon (at least throughout 2008).

My advice (as owner of every 320x480 Palm OS device ever produced and currently two TXs & a Treo 700p) is to jump on this deal NOW and buy a new, factory fresh TX. Sell the keyboard if you need to bring the effective price of the TX down further. Sell your T3 if you are pleased with the TX. Ride out 2008 and let's hope that Palm will survive long enough to release Plinux and a iPhone/Touch-style Treo with a large screen.

Let me repeat: This is the LAST non-square screen thing we are likely to see from Palm for the forseeable future. Palm's PDAs are dead. The Fooleo is dead. If you don't want 240x240 or 320x320, then this is a superb deal on a TX.

Over the T3 you'll enjoy:

-Better battery life
-Solid (though plastic) construction without the wobbly slider
-Wi-fi (a huge bonus)
-Newer OS & bundled apps
-NVFS (debatable, sure, but the TX has a better implementation of NVFS than the T5/650/700p)
-FAT 32 (so 4GB SD cards)
-128MB RAM (a huge bonus)
-Cleaner audio output quality through the headphone jack
-Athena connector

Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX-->Treo 700P

RE: Go with the TX! This is the end of the road for Palm OS PDAs!
Hazniet @ 11/20/2007 3:58:39 PM # Q
Over the TX my T3 wil enjoy:
1. The same battery life (thanks to new battery)
2. Upgraded OS just like the TX
3. voice recorder
4. vibrating alarms
5. FAT 32

Palm makes me sick. I figured out how to update the T3, why couldn't they do it?

________________________________________
If you feel like you're under control, you're just not going fast enough.

RE: Go with the TX! This is the end of the road for Palm OS PDAs!
hkklife @ 11/20/2007 4:03:42 PM # Q
All true, but I wwas reffering to stock, unmodded units with "official" specs. And good luck for anyone looking to find a mint or unopened T3 nowadays for $199 (with a free keyboard)!

Palm COULD have so easily released a proper T3 successor or even a TX2. They just don't WANT to. Remember, by artifically smothering the remaining life out of the PDA market they make themselves look like a industry-leadng smartphone company and will force at least a handful of PDA owners into smartphones. That's all they care about at this stage of the game.

Out of curiosity, how did you upgrade the T3 to Garnet 5.4? And what capacity is your aftermarket battery and who is the supplier?

Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX-->Treo 700P

RE: Go with the TX! This is the end of the road for Palm OS PDAs!
Poopie @ 11/20/2007 6:12:06 PM # Q

Ride out 2008 and let's hope that Palm will survive long enough to release Plinux and a iPhone/Touch-style Treo with a large screen.

hkklife:
http://www.ukimagehost.com/uploads/7a20b75e30.jpg

RE: Go with the TX! This is the end of the road for Palm OS PDAs!
Hazniet @ 11/21/2007 10:15:42 AM # Q
hkklife:

I took the launcher, files, media, and FAT32 from a TX. Now I have backgrounds and all the fun a TX has, except for Blazer. Here's the discussion:
http://www.palminfocenter.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24889&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0


As for the battery I just bought one on ebay. It was an easy switchout and it works great. There's lots of forums on this topic too:
http://www.palminfocenter.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29644&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0


________________________________________
If you feel like you're under control, you're just not going fast enough.

RE: Go with the TX! This is the end of the road for Palm OS PDAs!
twrock @ 11/21/2007 11:58:52 PM # Q
Yes, this is a great deal! I can't believe I had just ordered the replacement digitizer for my current TX last week. Knock off the cost of that $60 purchase (and shipping to boot) and I'd only be spending $135 for a brand new TX and keyboard. Unfortunately I already have a TX which already has a mic and vibrator built in and will shortly have a new digitizer, and I already have the IR keyboard. (But then there is the issue of the Chinese OS....) So I can't justify getting another.


Thinking about Vista? Think again: http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut001/pubs/vista_cost.txt
Want an alternative? Try this: http://www.ubuntu.com/ or http://www.mepis.org/
RE: Go with the TX! This is the end of the road for Palm OS PDAs!
adamsmark @ 11/27/2007 7:17:33 PM # Q
Nah, my T3 is still a better machine (I like the slider, too). Still waiting for a true upgrade from the T3.

"I believe in the atomic bomb."

Blogging at http://agabus.com">Agabus.com.

Palm V > Vx > Clie Peg T615C > T3 > Clie TH55 > T3 > Treo 650 > Treo 700p & T3!

RE: Go with the TX! This is the end of the road for Palm OS PDAs!
hkklife @ 11/27/2007 7:53:25 PM # Q
I think it's more of "to each his own" rather than "T3 is better than TX" and vice versa.

True, the T3 has a faster CPU and oerall snappier performance and no NVFS lag. But it also maxes out at a 1 or 1.5gb SD card (unless you hack it), has an extremely weak stock battery, and has a slider prone to various sorts of looseness/wobbliness.

The TX trumps the T3 with a newer OS/bundled apps and has the arguable advantage of NVFS memory. But wi-fi and 128mb RAM are the biggies here in addition to the few small touches that come from being two years newer than the T3.

I personally will take the one-piece design, wi-fi, Athena connector, FAT32 and 128mb RAM of the TX over the speed, slider, metal case, voice recorder, and charge LED of the T3.

Palm should've continued the T3 on with a proper T4 or T5 (metal body, slider etc) and had what really was the T5/TX more of a midrange T|E-style device. Of course Palm has let both the T3 AND the TX fans down, so what's the difference?



Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX-->Treo 700P

RE: Go with the TX! This is the end of the road for Palm OS PDAs!
mikecane @ 11/28/2007 8:22:27 AM # Q
>>>But wi-fi

WiFi has a use with PalmOS? Surely you're joking, Mr. Feynman...

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Audio output?

frankie69 @ 11/20/2007 3:06:23 PM # Q
Cleaner audio output???

I thought the TX has a huge hiss.....when using good wuality headphones (low impedance)

RE: Audio output?
hkklife @ 11/20/2007 3:13:53 PM # Q
I've got a set of older but super quality Sony MDR-series studio monitors as well as a newer set of Sony Fontopia earbuds and my personal favorite Shure E3C's. So not audiophile cans by any means but definitely better than the average set of iPod buds.

I got the E3's after I sold my T3 but I definitely remember the other 'phones sounding better on the TX/T5 than on the T3. My T3's (I had 2) were LOUD but quite noisy. My TXs (I have two) actually sound slightly different (one is a bit louder than the other, with the louder one being noisier) but overall I still think it's a more pleasant sound than I recall the T3 having. I think it's safe to say we'll never be seeing the words "Palm" and "Audiophile" in the same sentence! As always, with anything from Palm, YMMV. For example, I bought my very first TX in '05 and it had a very dim yellow screen. I returned it and got a slightly less dim yellow screen. Then in '06 I bought another TX as an emergency backup unit and it has a bluish screen with less color saturation.

Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX-->Treo 700P

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Are Dictaphones on sale too?

Gekko @ 11/20/2007 3:16:19 PM # Q

???

RE: Are Dictaphones on sale too?
He||Raiser @ 11/20/2007 3:31:35 PM # Q
Do you have a suggestion then? Most current smartphones are crippled or have a more limited feature set than their phoneless predecessors.

RE: Are Dictaphones on sale too?
twrock @ 11/21/2007 11:59:32 PM # Q
(He's just trolling; ignore him.)


Thinking about Vista? Think again: http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut001/pubs/vista_cost.txt
Want an alternative? Try this: http://www.ubuntu.com/ or http://www.mepis.org/
Reply to this comment

Do I care?

mikecane @ 11/20/2007 5:50:40 PM # Q
>>>The Palm TX is currently on sale for an ultra-low $199.00

Me: Do I care?

Me: No.

Me: Hmmmm... does it blend?

RE: Do I care?
cstamper @ 11/21/2007 1:22:24 PM # Q
Me: Do I care?

Me: Not really.

If I can't afford it, it makes little difference, $100,000 or $200.

Nice idea. But not cheap enough....

RE: Do I care?
mikecane @ 11/21/2007 1:55:07 PM # Q
But does it BLEND, dammit!! Let's see it BLEND!!

Reply to this comment

Amazon also has a discount

DarthRepublican @ 11/20/2007 8:44:38 PM # Q
While they are not throwing in a free keyboard. Amazon.com has also dropped the price of the TX to $199. So if you have an Amazon gift card and don't need a keyboard, this might be a better deal.

Reply to this comment

Treo 680 also on sale

rpa @ 11/21/2007 5:39:24 AM # Q
For $349 before 27 Nov or "while supplies last". You get the automatic discount before purchase (also free shipping).

rpa
Palm Pilot >> Palm Tungsten E user
Reply to this comment

Yeah!

jmccullough @ 11/23/2007 11:37:03 AM # Q
I've been looking to upgrade from my T665C and I've had the TX on BIN for $199.00 on eBay for months. Of course, that only had a 90-day, non-Palm, warranty, so I'm glad I waited.
I assume "not available" means I'm not getting the IR keyboard now or ever, but I can live with that. I'm looking forward to this delivery.

Now I need to order a 4gb SD card and a new case. I'm thinking Innopocket black. Any other suggestions?

Reply to this comment

OT: Retail hordes go loony over Zune

Gekko @ 11/23/2007 12:45:03 PM # Q

this is good news for MSFT.


Retail hordes go loony over Zune
Black Friday customers rush Toys 'R' Us flagship store in New York for Wii, Guitar Hero. 'The Zunes are done!' yells one.
By Aaron Smith, CNNMoney.com staff writer
November 23 2007: 9:27 AM EST

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- It was only half an hour into Black Friday, and a customer at the Toys 'R' Us flagship store in Manhattan's Times Square was already yelling, "The Zunes are done!"

http://money.cnn.com/2007/11/23/news/companies/toysrus/index.htm?postversion=2007112309



RE: OT: Retail hordes go loony over Zune
nastebu @ 11/23/2007 5:40:08 PM # Q
ah, but the fine print points out they were on sale at 60% discount. Not such good news if you have to sell them at the break even point to move 'em.

RE: OT: Retail hordes go loony over Zune
mikecane @ 11/24/2007 12:34:54 PM # Q
Yeah, I saw the Toys R Us sales ad. BFD.

Why Microsoft’s Zune is Still Failing
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2007/11/22/why-microsofts-zune-is-still-failing/

>>>Last winter, I detailed why Microsoft’s iPod Killer would fail miserably. This year, Microsoft will fail again, but for a new set of reasons. It is not obvious that the company has figured this out itself. Here’s why the Zune will fail in 2007, and how Microsoft is painting a fraudulent portrait of interest that doesn’t exist.

RE: OT: Retail hordes go loony over Zune
Gekko @ 11/24/2007 1:06:24 PM # Q

MSFT will rule the world!!!!!!!!!

RE: OT: Retail hordes go loony over Zune
mikecane @ 11/24/2007 1:18:17 PM # Q
Then God help the world!!

http://mikecane.wordpress.com/2007/09/17/what-a-world-run-by-windows-looks-like/

RE: OT: Retail hordes go loony over Zune
Gekko @ 11/24/2007 1:43:49 PM # Q

Corporate America already owns you. You just don't know it yet.


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TX still selling?

theog @ 11/24/2007 9:01:06 PM # Q
Guess I should put mine on ebay... not used it in almost a year since I got my treo 700wx. lol Heck, I need to dump my backup E2 as well... lol

Far as them being on sale, I don't care as much now that I have a treo... treo simply rock. I'm still waiting on the treo 800w!

Vote for John Kerry... best man for the job.

Reply to this comment

did anyone take advantage of this deal?

averageguy @ 11/26/2007 2:35:57 AM # Q
anyone buy the tx for the 199 price. i almost got it but i bought the zodiac 2 for 150 new instead. i use ljp a lot and the control pad on the zodiac is just more friendly for games. then i got the wifi card for 70. this thing will probably sit next to my fossil watch soon but i wanted a new toy.

m125-zire 71-zire 72
"Never pay full price for late pizza" Michelangelo
RE: did anyone take advantage of this deal?
Tuckermaclain @ 11/26/2007 9:31:21 PM # Q
I would have except for the timing. Sensing the demise of the Palm PDA while looking at my badly gouged TX screen I pondered my options. The T2 was a favorite and pretty functional. Only drawback was that it doesn't have NVFS which prolongs battery life. I watched ebay and grabbed 2 "like new" and 2 "new in box" T2s for about $300 total. Of course I had to buy some software to make it efficient (needed silkscreen and palm revolt). I do like the smaller size and writing on the screen. I rarely open the slider. I do miss WiFi although I only used it for email. A 320x320 screen doesn't bother me too much. Just as I'm admiring my stash of T2s the TX goes on sale. Even worse, PIC has 20% off on software. Oh well, the TX was a little chunky for my taste anyway. Swapping the Razr for a Blackberry will make it right. I'll never give up my PDA.

RE: did anyone take advantage of this deal?
DarthRepublican @ 11/27/2007 3:05:00 PM # Q
I bought mine from Amazon (I had a coupon which allowed me to get it for just $160) and have been enjoying it for about two days. It's fast and stable, two things that my LIfeDrive was not. It doesn't have the storage capacity that my LD had but I long ago moved to a 5th gen iPod for the 30GBs of storage -- if Palm had released an LDII with a 30GB hard drive I may have never bought an iPod. I have it tethered to my Treo 680 through Bluetooth and can now go online with it anywhere with or without a nearby wifi hotspot. It's screen is dimmer than the LD's screen but still looks great and is very comfortable for reading. (Kindle my ass! I've been reading e-books for years and I don't need Sony or Jeff Bezos to do it.)

Reply to this comment

Now I'm waiting

jmccullough @ 11/29/2007 4:24:48 PM # Q
I ordered it last Friday, then today I got a message from them saying they're "waiting for inventory". I don't quite know what that means, but I hope it gets here soon.

I kind of like this part of their message:
Please visit our website often as we are continually expanding our product assortment
to serve you better.

I think the other members of this board would take issue with this claim.


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