Palm launches $99 Z22 organizer

Palm has finally launched the Z22 organizer. This PDA has a colour display and retails for only $99, making it Palm's most affordable color handheld yet. The company says the Palm Z22 organizer offers paper-planner users, as well as others, an extremely simple and fun way to stay organized.

The Z22 only weighs just over 3 ounces and has the same size as a deck of playing cards. Here's a look at the benefits of the Palm Z22 over paper planners:

Organizes information easily. Everything is super-simple -- a touch of a button brings up appointments, addresses, restaurant recommendations and more. No more flipping through multiple pages, looking for scraps of paper or keeping track of to-do lists.

Keeps information safe. Even if the user forgets to charge the device, the Palm Z22's memory will keep information safe. All information also can be backed up easily on the user's PC.

Reminds users of important events. Set reminders to return a rented video, to remember birthdays, or simply to wake up from a long-overdue nap.

Saves time. Users won't have to enter the same thing twice. Enter a recurring appointment once and tell the Palm Z22 organizer how often to repeat it.

Carries digital photos. Show photos to family and friends on the bright color screen. Included software makes transferring photos from the computer a snap.

To help new users get started quickly, Palm provides six easy ways to enter information into the Palm Z22 organizer:

1. Tap on the screen's built-in keyboard.
2. Type into the computer first, then transfer to the organizer with a tap.
3. Print using the stylus pen.
4. Jot notes anywhere on the screen using the Note Pad.
5. Beam info to or from another Palm OS based organizer.
6. Use a wireless keyboard ($69.99, sold separately).

Key software includes core applications, such as Calendar, Contacts, Memos, Tasks, Note Pad, Expense, Calculator, World Clock and Photos. It also includes a new game, Crazy Daisy, made by Astraware. The Palm Z22 organizer comes with AddIt, a program that includes a variety of applications such as CheckSplit, Chess, Carb Counter and Solitaire. The software CD, included with the organizer, has an eBook reader with three books and a dictionary; the powerOne Calculator, perfect for basic and advanced mathematics; and SplashShopper, a helpful shopping list application.