Day 1 of our LifeDrive Review

By Michael Prost

The LifeDrive is the most ambitious device PalmOne has yet released. PalmOne suggests the LifeDrive is an entire new class of device; a Mobile Manager. This defined as an instrument that can do all the things a PDA does, but do them better, while also doing a whole lot more.

To read the LifeDrive specs read the dream-feature lists of many long-time Palm fans.

Wireless networking; both Wi-Fi and BlueTooth, a large, brilliant color screen, full motion video, high quality audio, easy and fast ways of copying and syncing files, super fast processing speed, and huge amounts of storage.

This makes the LifeDrive quite possibly the most feature-filled and technically complex PDA to ever run the Palm OS. It has so many new and exciting attributes; we could probably devote an entire review to each one of them... Which is exactly what we're going to do.

In this, the first of a multi-part LifeDrive feature, you'll find an overview of the LifeDrive including our initial LifeDrive impressions.

In the coming days, we'll delve into the LifeDrive's inner technical workings, applications, multi-media potential, and we may even dispel a few bad rumors.

Out of the Box

Opening the LifeDrive's packaging reveals the unit itself, a USB sync cable, an AC charger, the software installation CD and a real leather carrying pouch.

As we've seen with previous Palm OS devices, the AC power cord plugs directly into the sync cable. The HotSync cable is also where you will conveniently find the HotSync button.

I've noticed a bit of grumbling about Palm One's decision to include a sync cable instead of the more traditional docking cradle. I've always found cradles to be a pain to travel with, so I actually prefer cables. Still, I get the cradle lust; a hot, new device like this just can't be displayed as an office showpiece without the cradle. For those in such need, PalmOne has an optional cradle on offer.

I find PalmOne's decision to go with a cable a good one. Especially when one considers this cable is a necessity for using the LifeDrive as a USB flash-drive.

Documentation

The printed documentation is sparse. Aside from assorted marketing materials, the only printed manual is a folded, poster-style getting started guide. However, there is an excellent and very detailed manual located on the CD. It is in the familiar PDF format and is well over 700 pages in length.

I've come to actually prefer the digital versions of these massive manuals. Aside from saving a few trees, it's just so much faster to search through digital documents. But if you're really in need of a hard copy, I guess that's between you and your office printer.

A Bright and Shining LifeDrive

The LifeDrive itself is a sharp, utilitarian and head-turning device. The aluminum-trimmed aesthetic is uncluttered and uniform. It's a slab of processed bauxite that I find very appealing. The screen is large, and the case is metal. There are no little bits or buttons sticking out. And unlike the majority of its plastic-cased compatriots, the LifeDrive doesn't bend or buckle in your hand. It's as solid and sturdy as the metal it's made of.

For a PDA, the LifeDrive's external case is especially spartan. Those buttons present, are inset and shaded to match the rest of the case. The face of the LifeDrive is highlighted by the large transflective screen. Immediately beneath the screen is a five-way Navigator surrounded by 4 buttons made of two tilting panels.

On the left side there is a Voice Record button and Rotate Screen button. The bottom finds the Palm Multi-Connector port, a headphone Audio Jack and the reset button. On top is an LED indicator, the on/off/hold switch, the IR port and the Expansion Card slot.

The outside of the case is beveled, allowing the screen to be inset a short distance. As well as visual appeal, I suspect the bevel was designed to protect the screen, especially while the device is placed face down. Something that might be more common than one would think. As the perforated metal backing allows both sound from the speaker and heat from the hard drive to escape.

It's not the Size, it's the Edge

Early rumors suggested the LifeDrive was the size and weight of a paving stone. Well, not quite, but there was a lot of hubbub about the unit being far too large for easy pocketablity. After all that talk, I was pleasantly surprised to find how easily transportable the LifeDrive actually is.

On paper, the LifeDrive is just a few millimeters smaller than one of my old Palm OS stand-bys, the Visor Prism. Yet the LifeDrive is far easier to pocket. How is that possible? The difference is in the corners. The height, width, and depth measurements you read don't take corners into consideration. I almost never pocketed the aptly named, sharp-edged rectangle of the Prism. Every time I sat down, the square edges would painfully poke into my leg.

The LifeDrive's corners are so deeply and softly curved, it easily slides in and out of these same pockets without the Prism's painful side effects.

I see a PDA like a piece of clothing, you never know if it will fit until you try it on. Sure, the LifeDrive is thicker than some recent devices. But it easily and painlessly fits into the small to medium-sized pockets of my jeans and slacks, passing my pocketability test.

Tune in tomorrow for Day 2 of our review!