My little test lab for developing on PDAs consists initially of 3 units, as below.  Each was chosen for a reason related to software testing.  Each is integrated into my LAN via various means, such as USB, 802.11b Wi-Fi, etc, as needed.  I develop the software for them using various tools, SDK's, emulators, etc, on my main computer(s), and by pushing a button at any time I can download the programs to any PDA and test it there as well, for appearance, performance, etc.

      I can retro-test to a large number of older Palm and other brand ROM's under POSE ( Palm OS Emulator ) and other tools.  These are very nice to have and use ( as I do ), with ROM images and Skins and all that, but nothing quite compares to actually downloading the software into a piece of hardware and running it !  So, I do both.

     Just getting started, the hardware plus the development tools, etc, have cost me well over $ 1,000 cash.  This does not count my time and efforts, just the equipment and tools to build and test the software I write.  So, for those that I know will pop up saying 'Why don't you just give the software away ?', I say 'Please go write your own.'  :-)

    My recommendation among the below units is, without doubt, the Tungsten.  For speed, brightness and clarity of display, memory, etc, it just can't be beat ( by the others in the current Palm line, anyway ).  The m130 offers very acceptable performance, at a reasonable price.  The Zire is strictly low-end, 'disposable'.  It will run my programs, but don't expect to be blown away.

"The good stuff " -  Palm TungstenC ( or 'T', 'W', etc )

Integrated 802.11b Wi-Fi

320 x 320 screen w/ 65,000 colors.  If you care about what the screen on your PDA looks like, see this before buying !  Blows the others ( m130, below, for instance ) out of the water !  Brightness and readability are superb !

64 mb memory 'stock' ( 51 mb available )

400MHz Intel processor

Palm OS 5.2.1

Of course, USB ( and Wi-Fi ) sync to desktop, etc.

"A normal midline unit" - Palm m130

160 x 160 screen, very acceptable, typical color and brightness rendition.

7.7 mb available memory 'stock', Palm OS 4.x.x.

This unit represents to me, in my testing, something that most people probably say 'OK, I shelled out a couple hundred bucks, I expect something pretty worthwhile and beneficial for my money'.

It doesn't touch the TungstenC in any regard, but many people will be very satisfied with it, and serves its purpose very well.

It will hold and run my programs very well, with lots of memory left over for others.

"For the cheapskate..."  Palm Zire

What, for $ 100 you want me to talk a lot about this one ?

1.8 mb available, enough to hold my programs with no problem.  However, the display brightness and speed are very limited, compared to either of the units above.

Display is monochrome, no back-light, can't compare to the above units !  But it will in fact work, accept my programs, and run them, albeit slowly compared to the above units.

If you lose it on a hot roof, or it gets trashed in a busy mechanical room or on the service truck, it hurts a whole lot less to lose than the high-$ ones !