The palmOne Zire 72 ($299) is a step up from last year's 71, the previous high-end Zire, and it is targeted at the young professional, someone who wants both entertainment and business applications. Now with Bluetooth, which the 71 lacked, the 72 has everything but Wi-Fi.

The 72's blue and silver design is similar to the 31's blue and white look, but is decidedly more upscale. It features four application buttons on its front, versus the 31's two. The 320x320 pixel, 16-bit TFT display is far superior to the 31's display, with a crisp resolution and vivid colors. The 72 weighs in at 4.8 oz. and measures 4.6 x 2.95 x 0.68-inches.


Zire 72

Other specs include a 312-MHz Intel ARM-based processor, 32MB of memory (24MB of which are usable), an SD expansion card slot, and a rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery that will last a week under normal usage (or five hours with continuous play). The 72 runs Palm OS 5.2.8, so you'll need to learn Graffiti 2 if you're upgrading.

The 72 is looking for it's own "tweener" market, meaning people who are entering the business world but still want fun features on their handheld. For business, the 72 has Bluetooth (filling a big gap in the 71) and Bluetooth Manager software that makes it incredibly easy to get online. The generous software bundle includes VersaMail 2.7 and DataViz Documents to Go 6.0.

For play, the Zire 72 has a camera, like the 71, but this time upgraded to 1.2 megapixels. We found the camera convenient and easy to use, but the image quality wasn't strong. Use the low-light mode if you're in anything but direct sunlight. It's more a fun camera to have on hand for impromptu shots than something you'd want to rely on. The camera can also take videos with audio, a handheld first. Still shots have a maximum resolution of 1280 x 960, while videos have a maximum resolution of 320 x 240. The 72 also has a miniature version of the RealOne Player for listening to MP3s. Songs need to be stored on an expansion card, though (which must be purchased separately).


Rear, Showing Digital Camera

Like the 31, the 72 doesn't ship with a cradle, but instead with separate power and USB cords. It improves on the 31 by coming with a nylon carrying case that, while not slim, has a pleasing design and should provide excellent protection.


Zire 72's Sturdy Carrying Case

If you're new to the Zire line of handhelds, you might want to check out Now You Know Zire: The portable companion for palmOne Zire 31 and 72 handhelds by Rick Overton & Frank Marquardt. The book is a pocket-sized companion book for the Zire 31 and Zire 72 put out by palmOne and Peach Pit Press.





This 178-page title offers an thorough introduction to everything on these two models and does so in a colorful, engaging manner. We think it's better suited to users who have never picked up a Palm before, since it covers even very basic material in great detail, but it's also a useful guide to those who haven't tried OS 5.2.8 and want to get the most out of it.