It’s black against white, business against lifestyle, Palm vs. Apple: A comparison between the Palm TX and the Apple iPod Video 30GB.
Now some of you maybe want to ask: “Why compare two totaly different devices?”. And well, you’re right in a way. Both devices have a different history and philosophy. While Palm’s devices originally were made for PIM and multimedia features were added later, the iPod was designed as an entertainment an lifestyle product with added PIM functionality. But after a closer look, you can see that both devices have more in common that you might think: both can handle your calendar, contacts and notes, both can play music and videos. And both are about the same price. So why not compare them? (Especially when a TamsPalm author owns both of them… 
)
My comparison will be devided into the following parts:
1) Introduction (that’s what you’re reading right now)
2) PIM
3) Multimedia (music, video, games)
4) Connectivity and extensibility (accessoires, 3rd party software…)
At the end of part one, here are some pictures of both devices (click at the image to see a larger version).
Next week, I’ll go on with part 2: PIM. If you have any questions or whishes regarding this, just leave a comment!
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Hi,
the TX is set to which brightness in the comparison picture? Posting comparions at highest and lowest brightness would IMHO really help!
Best regards
Tam
there are plenty of comments against the palm tx on cnet; mostly from morons who compare the tx to the ipod.
this post, however, takes it a through a retrospective alternative- which is instead interesting. Good Job = ]
comparing the palm tx to the ipod video for its entertainment utility is like comparing the air conditioner in my car to that of your house.
Hi Brian,
thank you for the praise.
To be perfectly honest, I prefer my Tungsten TE2 over an ipod,… for one simple reason: the touchscreen. The screen is much bigger, and that makes viewing videos, pictures,.. comfortable. I watched ther history of blinkenlights yesterday with a friend on my T3, and we had no problems. Imagine doing that with the tiny, tiny ipod screen. Or, have fun finding one song from 15000 wihtou a touchscreen…
For me, capacity is not everything. There needs to be a brain behind it…..
Best regards
Tam Hanna
@Tam:
On the pictures the brightness of the TX screen is on highest level. I’ll add some pictures in the next part of my test.
@brian:
That’s it. Many people say “why should I buy a Palm? I can handle my contacts and calendar with my iPod/mobile phone/whatever.” But let’s see which device is the better one in the PIM competition…;)
Thomas, this is a rather akward situation because, although PIM is a category we will be using to compare the two, the iPod is not a PIM machine. Data entry and data search are out of the question. As an owner of a 4th generation iPod since its public release, I have never used its calendar, notes, or ebook function.
I will also agree on Tam’s concern about finding the one specific audio file. The iPod’s lack of a true OS will deprive it of a search function as well as the ability to create a playlist without a computer.
Nonetheless, I am eagerly anticipating Part 2 of this post = ]