The display on the Palm IIIc enhances digital image programs and games that use colour and improves the visibility of monochrome applications both indoors and out. Colour is not a total win for the IIIc, however, because the price is high and the vaunted battery life of Palm's organisers (compared with Microsoft Windows CE models) disappears. The 8-bit, 160 x 160 display doesn't compete with Pocket PC displays for image quality, and the Palm IIIc also lacks audio support. The IIIc's greatest plus is that it takes an already easy-to-use platform up a level with improved icon and text visibility. Third-party modems and browsers abound, although none are bundled with the IIIc.

A slim, fashion-coloured, multimedia Pocket PC. The EM-500 is powered by a moderately fast 150-MHz CPU and has 16MB of RAM and 16MB of ROM. The Casio unit runs Microsoft Windows CE 3.0 and includes standard Pocket PIM applications and multimedia software. The Cassiopeia EM-500 is Casio's first PDA to employ MMC, SanDisk's MultiMedia Card format. The advantage of MMC is that it offers postage stamp-sized storage in capacities from 8MB to 64MB at about the same price as CompactFlash or Smart Media. The Cassiopeia E-115's excellent color screen on the Cassiopeia EM-500. This TFT screen displays 65,536 colours and looks great both indoors and out.

Look under the hood of the Psion Revo's smart-looking silver and grey case and you'll find it packed with goodies - a sliding cover that converts to a tilted monochrome screen, an internal speaker for alarms, internal nickel hydride batteries, 8MB of RAM, plus PIM and office management applications. With its ARM 710T RISC processor running at 36 MHz, the Revo's responsiveness is impressive. Although the unit is slightly larger than Palm organisers and Windows CE Palm-size PCs, at 15 by 7.6 by 1.9 cms (HWD), the Revo weighs only 221 grams with batteries. It has a comfortable (for its size) 12mm centre-to-centre key spacing, 53-key QWERTY keyboard, and a display with a 3.8 x 11.4 cm (HW) viewing area. Psion's exceptionally good use of shaded menus enhances the 480 x 160 pixel, 16-grey-scale reflective touch screen, which has contrast adjustment but no backlighting. Connectivity programs include PC synchronisation, Internet e-mail, a Web browser, infrared Phonebook, and infrared file exchange with other Revos, Psion Series 5mx PDAs, or infrared-enabled printers.

The HP Jornada 548 is slim, rugged, easy to use, and comes loaded with dozens of useful features. A full-colour miniaturisation of Windows 98, Pocket PC comes preloaded with such handy features as Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, and Pocket Money. The drag-and-drop interface, complete with pop-up start menu, will be immediately familiar to anyone who's used a PC in the past five years. We put the Jornadas' lithium- ion battery through its paces and consistently got four to five hours of hard use, but this included frequent MP3 playback that ate up battery power. The TFT colour screen only supports only 12-bit colour (4,096 colours), not the 16-bit colour (65,536 colours.) We found the screen a bit streaky but otherwise fine, and snapshots display clearly.

Ever thought your Palm could make people say cheese? Your PDA could be getting smiles in no time with the Kodak PalmPix Camera, a clip-on unit that turns most Palm handhelds into a digital camera. Although the 24-bit colour images can be a bit fuzzy, this highly pocketable device is a handy way for Palm users to take photos on the go. The camera offers two resolutions: 320 x 240 or 640 x 480. In high-resolution mode, the press of a Palm button also activates a 2x digital zoom.

Turn your Palm Organiser into a data entry device with the compact Palm Portable Keyboard (AU$199). Unfolded, the 232-gram keyboard lies flat and presents a comfortable interface with 19mm key spacing, the desktop standard. Opening and closing it takes only a few seconds. When you pack your Palm Organiser for a trip, add the Palm Portable Keyboard as a valuable tool for mobile productivity.

The Molded Hard Case from Rhino Skin is striking, supersleek, and one of the coolest cases in all categories. Entirely constructed from aircraft-grade, heat-treated aluminum, the case is ridged for added strength and durability. The Molded Hard Case can fit in a back pocket and provides reliable protection for your Palm V. The PDA slides into the case on a centre rail hinge and rests securely in the case's neoprene-lined interior. The Molded Hard case features a clamshell design so that your Palm handheld is completely protected when the case is closed. When the case is opened there is easy access to the Palm's infrared port and stylus.

The Ti Slider Hard Case is constructed from a very durable, bead-blasted Titanium. A clamshell design folds open and slides - collapsing on itself to reveal your Palm handheld, which is held in place by a padded neoprene interior. The padded interior allows you to easily lift your Palm out of the case, yet also holds it securely in place without the need for Velcro. With the front cover open, the Palm's stylus and infrared port are easily accessed.