PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide, Second Edition

The Lineup of Models

The PalmPilot, like any computer, is constantly being reinvented and enhanced. Within the first three years of existence, 12 different models were available from four different companies, and the operating system had been upgraded eight times. As you read this book, and as you go on through life, identifying what model and system software you’re using will be increasingly important.

Here’s a brief guide to the history of Palm models; for more detail, tips and tricks for individual models, and a list of upgrading options, see Chapter 18.

Pilot 1000, Pilot 5000

These original models were the first to capture the world’s attention—they proved that, despite the failures of many previous gadgets from other companies, a palmtop could indeed become a mass-market best-seller.

They were boxy and limited by today’s standards (see Figure 1.6). They had non-backlit screens, had no email or Internet capability, and the less expensive model had only 128K of RAM. But the HotSync process worked like a charm, the batteries lasted forever, and absolutely nobody felt overwhelmed by the software.

PalmPilot Personal, PalmPilot Professional

The newly named PalmPilot models debuted in 1997 with backlighting, greatly enhanced built-in programs (part of Palm OS 2.0), and an Expense application. As the manufacturer relaxed about the product’s success in the business world, it also wrote four addictive games to include in the package (they’re described in Chapter 4).

The Professional model ...