Palm V

Palm V
Palm V in its dock
Developer3Com
Product family
Palm
TypePersonal digital assistant
Released1999 (1999)
Palm OS 3.0
CPUDragonball EZ
Memory2 MB
Display
Connectivity
PowerLithium-ion battery
Dimensions
  • 4.5 in (110 mm) tall
  • <0.5 in (13 mm) thick
Weight4 ounces (110 g)
PredecessorPalm III family

The Palm V is a personal digital assistant (PDA) by 3Com.

Released in 1999 by 3Com, the four-ounce (110 g) PDA has an aluminum enclosure containing a Dragonball EZ (a central processing unit capable of overclocking to 39 megahertz) and two megabytes of memory. Measuring 4.5 inches (110 mm) tall and less than 0.5 inches (13 mm) thick, the device's 16-shade grayscale display has a backlight and increased resolution from the previous-generation Palm III. Unlike that older device, which uses disposable batteries (AAAs), the Palm V has a built-in lithium-ion battery, which can be recharged, with an expected charge lasting 1–2 weeks. Palm Vs are equipped with a serial port that is electrically though not physically compatible with the EIA-232-D telecommunications standard (the redesigned enclosure design prevents Palm III-compatible accessories from connecting to the port) and a Consumer IR transceiver.

Upon launch, the Palm V cost about US$500 (equivalent to about $970 in 2025), though it had reduced to $300–400 by January 2000 (equivalent to about $560–750 in 2025). Units sold in late 1999 came pre-loaded with version 3.0 of Palm OS, though 3.3 was available to download and install. The IBM WorkPad c3 is the Palm V, relabeled.

Ars Technica's Will Smith raved about his Palm V in 1999, recommending it to all interested, excepting Palm III users for whom the technical-specifications upgrade was not substantial enough. Writing for TechRepublic in January 2000, Jeff Thompson was enthusiastically full of praise for the Palm V, both for personal and enterprise uses.

Vx

A Palm Vx

On October 4, 1999, 3Com released the Palm Vx. Measuring 11.5 by 8 by 1 centimetre (4.53 by 3.15 by 0.39 in) and weighing 114 grams (4.0 oz), the new product featured an improved eight megabytes of memory storage and faster PC synchronization. The list price was US$449 (equivalent to $867.77 in 2025).

In 2000, 3Com partnered with supermodel Claudia Schiffer to release the Palm Vx Claudia Schiffer Edition on August 1: it features a "blue brushed-metal" exterior rather than the base silver color, and was sold exclusively through Schiffer's website.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Rischpater, Ray (2001). "Hardware". Palm™ Enterprise Applications. United States: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 6–9. ISBN 0-471-39379-7.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Smith, Will "Gonzo" (1999). "Palm V Thoughts". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  3. ↑ Salvatore, Kristen (October 2001). Phillips, Jon (ed.). "How to… Hack Your Palm PDA". Maximum PC. Brisbane, California: Imagine Media. pp. 56–58. ISSN 1522-4279. A step-by-step guide to tweaking your PC experience
  4. 1 2 3 Thompson, Jeff (January 10, 2000). "How my new Palm V is helping me do my job". TechRepublic. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Garrigus, Kristen (October 4, 1999). "3Com Debuts Special Edition Palm Computing® Organizers for Holiday Season". Santa Clara, California: 3Com. Archived from the original on April 21, 2008. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Palm Vx handheld: Product Details". Palm, Inc. Archived from the original on December 7, 2006.
  7. ↑ Miles, Stephanie (August 1, 2000). "New Palm model: Simply Schiffer". CNET. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2025. For all the hype the technology world generates, there are few truly revolutionary products anymore. But someone came very close today: Get ready for the first handheld computer named for a supermodel.