PalmOne unveils LifeDrive for mobile users

The scoop: LifeDrive mobile manager, about $500, from PalmOne.

What it does: Part PDA, part mobile entertainment device, the LifeDrive is the latest handheld device from PalmOne that combines several technologies into a sleek and stylish package. The LifeDrive includes a 4G-byte hard drive (3.85G bytes available for end users), a 320-by-480-pixel high-resolution color screen, and wireless connectivity through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (802.11g).

The device uses its Intel 416-MHz processor to let users carry all their information - music, photos, videos, spreadsheets, Word documents or other data - on one device instead. Other applications include basic e-mail (through its VersaMail application), Web surfing (Blazer browser) and other PalmOS applications.

To continue reading, register here and become an Insider. You'll get free access to premium content from CIO, Computerworld, CSO, InfoWorld, and Network World. See more Insider content or sign in.

The scoop: LifeDrive mobile manager, about $500, from PalmOne.

What it does: Part PDA, part mobile entertainment device, the LifeDrive is the latest handheld device from PalmOne that combines several technologies into a sleek and stylish package. The LifeDrive includes a 4G-byte hard drive (3.85G bytes available for end users), a 320-by-480-pixel high-resolution color screen, and wireless connectivity through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (802.11g).

Click to see: Palm's LifeDrive

Why it's cool: If you see data and the storage of such data as central to staying mobile, the LifeDrive (with its gigantic hard drive) makes sense. For those who consider network access and connectivity more important, other devices (such as the PalmOne Treo series of converged cell phones or a BlackBerry wireless e-mail handheld) make more sense.

PalmOne has done a good job of making a device that appeals to business and personal use. For business, the LifeDrive supports a VPN client and corporate e-mail (through a third-party application). For personal use, it includes Pocket Tunes for listening to music and a photo viewer/slide-show application that takes advantage of the crisp color screen.

We loved the Camera Companion application, which let us slide in a Secure Digital camera card and transfer our photos from the card onto the LifeDrive. Freeing up space on a digital camera card without having to connect to a PC saves tons of time. We also liked the WiFile application, which lets users connect wirelessly to their home networks and access shared files/folders stored on separate PCs.

On the network side, we give PalmOne bonus points for supporting Wi-Fi Protected Access wireless security (the pre-shared key option), which other mobile devices don't have.

Some caveats: While the LifeDrive supports business applications, they are not bundled with the device. For example, it supports a VPN client but you have to purchase that client separately. The same goes for corporate e-mail access such as connecting to an Exchange server. The bundled VersaMail application is similar to that found on the Treo handsets.

Initially, we had difficulty connecting to our Wi-Fi network, and discovered that the device has intermittent connectivity issues with the Linksys WRT54g router and Belkin's 802.11g router.

The bundled Blazer Web browser still disappoints us. If you want to do some serious Web browsing, look to download a third-party browser.

Bottom line: Palm fans who want to carry around a lot of information (music, photos, videos and other documents) will appreciate the extra space the hard drive provides. Users who already have other devices (such as an iPod, entertainment player or even a smart phone) will not likely switch for the additional functions (PalmOS applications, e-mail, browser) that the LifeDrive provides.