The m500 ‘vs’ m515

T

he Palm m500 and m515 are almost identical devices save for their screens. They’re an even closer fit than the Palm IIIxe and IIIc, sharing the same processor and battery.

The differences between the two devices are insignificant. The m500 uses PalmOS 4·0 and the m515 uses PalmOS 4·1. There’s the screen - the m500’s 4-bit greyscale unit versus the m515’s 16-bit colour unit. And finally, the case: the m515 uses an all metal case design whereas the back of the m500 is plastic.

Screen Performance

When new, the m500’s screen was the best monochrome one in the business. It’s crisp, easy to use in a variety of lighting conditions, and improves upon the IIIxe’s display in most respects. However, all is not rosy: in certain circumstances, the screen is hard to read either with or without the “reversing” backlight – although readers should note that the m500 is much easier to use compared to previous monochrome devices.

The m515’s screen, however, has the full 16-bit colour depth with a two stage backlight - “low” and “high.” Most users will not need to use the backlight in the “high” mode. Thanks to the transflective nature of the m515’s screen, under office lighting one may turn the backlight off and the screen is perfectly usable. It’s not as good as the m500, but this is academic since both may be used.

Unfortunately, the m500’s screen does have a weakness when compared side by side with the m515: performance. Palm have provided the m515 with a dedicated screen control unit, which essentially means that the screen is fast. Very fast. Whereas the m500’s screen update is adequate, the m515’s screen flies along. The perception is that the m500 is pedestrian in comparison.

Battery Performance

When used as an OBD-II Scanner and without the backlight, the m515 can manage over eighteen hours from a single charge. Use of the backlight, and some Bluetooth and Hotsync activity, sees this battery life typically reduced to between nine and twelve hours of uptime. Nevertheless, this longevity is especially welcome for a colour device, even if is does not quite match the IIIc.

The m500, however, manages slightly improved battery uptime.