Pros:
Let's begin with the facts. These units represent the fourth generation of computers built on the Palm Computing® platform. As is the case with most electronics today, these units, although similar in function and look to their three year old brothers, are light years away from them in terms of technology. Both the Palm IIIx and the Palm V sport a brand new screen technology, which is VERY impressive. I had heard rumors that they weren't as good as the "older units" and that 3Com had somehow compromised on the screen quality. Don't you believe it! These new screens make the older ones look dull and grainy by comparison. In fact, it reminds me a bit of the old laptop screen wars, passive matrix vs. active matrix. The fact is, these new screens are razor sharp. "That's all fine and dandy," you might say, "but...what about battery life? Won't the Palm have to sacrifice some of its 'industry envy' in battery life to support these new screens?" That's where technology and time make a difference. Apparently, there is no compromise in battery life. What a deal! You actually get a better, cleaner screen and it costs you nothing in terms of battery performance.

Speaking of battery performance, I think we should discuss the Palm V's new battery. Although the IIIx is just like it's older brothers, taking 2 AAA batteries to perform, the Palm V has made the leap. We finally have a Palm unit with a rechargeable battery, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, to be exact. After a 3 hour initial charge, this little powerhouse will run for a full month before it needs recharging. Under normal usage, a daily HotSync is all that is required to keep the battery fully charged, ad infinitum (Latin for "forever and ever, amen"). Needless to say, you won't have to worry too much about losing power out in the field. It'll be like having a brand new set of batteries on a daily basis. (And I was just getting to like those 3rd party battery monitoring programs...rats!)

One of the biggest differences between the Palm IIIx and the Palm V is, of course, their looks. We saw the first departure in looks when 3Com (US Robotics?) went from the PalmPilot units to the Palm III. Although it wasn't much of a change in terms of size and weight, there was a slightly different shape to the unit's case. The Palm IIIx looks exactly like it's younger brother, the Palm III; however, 3Com claims to have made the newer unit more "durable and rugged" (whatever that means) than the Palm III. The only real difference I spotted was the printed name on the top of the case that says "Palm IIIx" instead of "Palm III". The Palm V, different from any of the previous designs, is an entirely new concept. The unit itself is much thinner and lighter. The exact dimensions are 4.5" x 3.1" x 0.4" and the weight is a meager 4 oz. (Pretty tiny, huh?) And, instead of that grayish plastic we've grown so accustomed to, the new Palm V totes a case that is made from anodized aluminum. It's looks are...well... trés chic. I guess time will tell if this elegant case will hold up under stress. My guess? Thick plastic is tougher than thin aluminum. I'd recommend the IIIx instead of the V if you work in a rough environment (or tend to break things).

Cons:
The new units also have a new Palm OS(tm) 3.1 which is slightly ahead of the 3.0 version we saw with the Palm III units. Although the Palm III was supposed to support flash upgrades to its operating system, it seems that there is no way to upgrade to the 3.1 version of the current models without a hardware purchase. In a Palm Computing FAQ released by 3Com the question, "Can I upgrade my current device to get Palm V and Palm IIIx organizers functionality?" is answered with, "No. However, Technology Resources Group (TRG) offers upgrade cards with additional memory and a more recent version of the Palm OS(tm) for earlier products such as the Pilot, PalmPilot and Palm III organizers." I am assuming from that answer that you will still have to purchase hardware if you wish to upgrade your Palm III to the 3.1 operating system. Thankfully, 3rd party applications are plentiful. We who are "behind the times" might even be said to be in better shape as far as 3rd party apps are concerned. Most of the programs that are out there are known to work with Palm OS(tm) 1.x, 2.x and 3.0. Unfortunately for those of you who have to be "first" to have the newest toys, you may have to deal with some of those "first" software bugs. Hopefully, most of the developers will fix these bugs quickly. But, just to be safe, it might not be a bad idea to wait a few months before you purchase the cutting edge of palm computing. You might even save a few bucks.

Summary:
To sum it up, the Palm IIIx and Palm V are superior in several ways to the Palm III and, of course, superior in many ways to earlier generations of Palm computers. The main differences in comparing the Palm III to these new brothers would have to be the screen technology and memory of the IIIx, and the battery and overall design of the Palm V. While it is to be assumed that 3Com will advance on the newer Palm V design and bid farewell to the plastic version we have become so familiar with, I'm looking forward with great anticipation to the release of the new Palm VII which is destined to emerge later this year. I guess I'd better start saving my pennies, though. With retail prices at $369 for the Palm IIIx and $449 for the Palm V, It can be safely assumed that the Palm VII will cost more; and, if recent press releases are true, we are looking at a VERY expensive ($800?) "perfect companion to your PC".