WHAT'S HOT: Palm gets it right with its new top-of-the-line, sleekly designed, 5-ounce M515. The sharp, 65,000-color TFT screen uses a reflective technology that exploits sunlight and bright indoor lighting to make the screen easier to read without resorting to its remarkably bright backlighting. While obviously more of a battery drain, the robust backlight makes this Palm usable in even the darkest room. And because the M515 relies on a rechargeable battery, power ultimately isn't an issue: The battery is topped off anytime it is in its synching cradle.

Palm has packed a generous 16MB of RAM (most other Palms come with 8MB or less) and a 33-MHz Motorola Dragonball VZ processor into the M515. The extra memory should be particularly helpful for working in the bundled Dataviz Documents to Go, a mobile office suite with Microsoft Word and Excel compatibility, and for using Palm Reader, an e-book app that lets you read books and articles. For even more expansion, the integrated Secure Digital/Multimedia Card slot can handle widely available memory cards with capacities up to 128MB, as well as dedicated software and hardware peripheral cards.

WHAT'S NOT: It takes some effort to correctly insert the M515 into its included cradle: If you don't put it in at the right angle, it won't clip in properly. Although the sharp color screen and extra memory are great perks, the M515 is at the expensive end of the range for Palm OS-based PDAs at $340. At $370, Sony's Clie T615C would seem to be a better deal: For only a few dollars more, the 5-ounce Clie T615C has a higher-resolution screen, a Memory Stick slot, and a built-in speaker. (However, relatively few Memory Stick devices are available, so Secure Digital may be a better bet for adding devices such as wireless modems or network cards.)

WHAT ELSE: The M515's four dedicated function buttons are easy to push, yet are also designed not to inadvertently power on when you are carrying the unit in a pocket or bag. The unit comes with the Palm 4.1 OS and can be flash-upgraded when a new version is released.

UPSHOT: The Palm M515 offers a bright color screen that is usable in any lighting situation, making it ideal for those who want a color screen in a small, convenient package.

SUMMARY

Palm M515 Palm OS 4.1, 16MB internal memory, 2.3-by-2.3-inch active screen area, 160-by-160 resolution, SD Card expansion slots, lithium ion battery; 4.9 ounces; one-year parts and labor warranty, toll-free support for 16 hours daily; free tech support for 90 days, fee per call thereafter. $340 800/618-6719 www.palm.com