General comments
This palm connects/interacts with other devices like no other palm. Bluetooth? Check. Infrared? Check. Wifi? Check. GPS? Nope but with Bluetooth it will interact with Bluetooth GPS receivers.

Want to listen to MP3s? No problem, Like the Zire line, the TX has an SD card slot and a standard headphone jack. If you prefer, there is also a speaker on the back, but don't expect much from it. This device comes packaged with pTunes, which is okay, but I prefer TCPMP which is a freeware media player that plays videos also.

This palm comes packed with Memory. 128MB or memory is nice for this device. In fact it's more memory than I think I'll use for a while, as I use the SD card slot continuously. That said it's still Palm OS, o all you Palm veterans will know that multitasking is non-existent(With the exception of playing MP3s while doing something else). Palm OS 5.4 Garnet has some improvements, but it's still dated. For the Palm T/X The writing area can be hidden to expand your screen size, a nice feature esp. when playing back videos.

Graffiti

Palm did change the graffiti language with the Palm OS version 5. I had to re-learn some letters when I moved to the Zire, so the TX isn't to blame, but old timers will have a learning curve for this. That being said, once you're used to it, the new graffiti works better in my opinion. Palm OS5 offers integration of photos into your contact list as well as some other nice improvements however.

Battery life.

Other reviewers had some harsh words about the battery life, so I'd like to offer my opinion. Battery life isn't great. Don't expect the battery to last as long as the AAAs in your Palm III, but consider the fact that you're powering a 320x480 color display at minimum. You could be powering bluetooth, wifi and sound as well. With my Zire 72s, my battery life was exactly 1 hour when I used the SDIO wifi card. In comparison, I can surf the web for an hour on my palm, listen to MP3s and still have ample battery left to get me through a day of regular use without a concern. That said, I use the Bluetooth very little. as with mobile phones, expect the bluetooth to suck the battery down, but it's a conscious trade off you decide to make if you chose. I've never drained this battery. Palm recommends that with regular use that you charge the TX for 30 minutes or more each day.

Camera

*SIGH* This is a gripe for me. I am not a fan of cellphones and cameras. My Clie had a camera, my Zire 72s had a camera, the TX does not. I used my camera a LOT. I'd use it for impromptu use when I see something that caught my eye.
(Perfect for blogging, as seen here:
http://blog.germanpickle.com/2006/04/18/chuck-norris-roundhouse-kick/ ) Another use for the camera was for comparison shopping. Taking photos of items on shelves with their price. An easy way to compare. This feature alone, is making me consider the jump to a TREO, but alas no wifi! When will Palm get this right?

Mass storage device

Sony knew it, palm doesn't get it. The device has a built in SD slot, so why Can't I connect my pda to my computer and transfer directly to the card? I need a card reader to transfer to the card, then put the card in the pda. An added step that shouldn't be necessary!

Reliability

I will never by a PDA without extended warranty. Note I've had 6 PDAs. Well actually 7. My Palm Pilot and Palm III were the most reliable. My Clie broke 4 weeks outside warranty.(don't recall the problem) My Zire 72s Broke 3 weeks outside warranty (wouldn't power on after an overnight charge.) My TX has been replaced with 10 days left on warranty. Luckily I've had Product Protection Plans on the PDAs, so the Clie->72->TX move was all through the warranty plans. I'm not rough with these devices, but I do use them daily. Reliability is an issue for sure. Since Sony built the Clie, I believe it's PDA reliability in general and not Palm specific.

Conclusion

The TX has it's short comings. Battery life isn't the best, but it's still better than other newer palms, especially when you consider the connectivity options. Want to maximize battery life, only use bluetooth when you'll need it. The screen is sharp, and watching videos is nice and clear (Provided you use a good player like TCPMP) Built in wifi is nice, but alas it's not "G" so you're surfing at "B" speeds. The lack of a camera chokes me, even after over a year of ownership. All said, the TX is a solid choice.

Recommended:
Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 350
Recommended for: Gadget Lovers - Trendy and Hip