Palm PALM ZIRE HANDHELD (PALM COMPUTING-P80707US)

WHAT'S HOT: Price-wise, it's hard to beat Palm's Zire, one of the company's newest PDAs aimed at a mass consumer audience. Though it costs only $99, it can handle basic tasks such as calendar entries and contact information, and it can sync with Palm Desktop or Microsoft Outlook, just as Palm's pricier models do. Weighing in at 3.8 ounces, the Zire is also one of the lightest PDAs we've tested. It comes with a rechargeable lithium ion battery--unexpected at this price--which means you won't have to pay for a steady stream of batteries for power.

WHAT'S NOT: To whittle down the price, the Zire lacks a few key features. For instance, the unit doesn't have a backlight, so you'll be hard-pressed to see appointments or contacts in places with dim lighting. Other drawbacks include a comparatively small viewing area, due in part to a rather wide beige border that frames the LCD screen. The unit also lacks an expansion slot, which means you won't be able to add storage space or take advantage of applications or games that come installed on Secure Digital or CompactFlash cards. Finally, the unit has only 2MB of internal memory--that's pretty tight, only good for basic tasks and to store a few small applications.

WHAT ELSE: Unlike the four-button layout found on many PDAs, the Zire has just two main navigation buttons. For syncing the PDA with your computer, it has a top-mounted USB port instead of a cradle. Similar to other PDAs, the Zire provides a cover to protect the screen from accidental dings, but it's made of a flimsy-feeling rubber instead of more-durable plastic.

UPSHOT: Power users will be underwhelmed with the Zire's bare-bones functionality, but those looking for a basic PIM will like its inexpensive price.

SUMMARY

Palm Zire Palm OS 4.1, 2MB of internal memory, 2-by-1.4-inch active screen area, no expansion slot, 160-by-160-pixel resolution, lithium ion battery, 3.8 ounces. One-year parts and labor warranty, toll-free support for 24 hours daily. $99 www.palm.com