Cool features: see NX70V below. The main improvements are more memory, an improved keyboard, an extra set of the Big 4 buttons (datebook/address/to do/memo) usable when the screen is flipped, and a better camera (8 times the resolution of the NX70V's) with a "capture light".
Negatives: Graffiti 2 (some people like it, but I don't; fortunately, you can replace it with Graffiti through Ben Combee's instructions). Page up and down hardware buttons are too small (very easy to accidentally press another key instead). Compact flash compartment jiggles a little when in use (it's on a hinge). Requires special stylus (a spring-compacting version of the stylus used for the T415 and NX70V, which means my pen-styluses are too tall to fit into the slot, which is now at the top and cut off by the memory stick slot).
Cool features: swivel (allows use in tablet mode [like most Palm devices] or open mode [like a laptop]), jog dial, voice recorder, camera also takes miniature video (160x112), MP3 (and ATRAC) music playing from memory stick (NOTE: MP3s will play from any memory stick, while ATRAC requires the more expensive, secure, white memory sticks). Bundled software includes photo and video management software, flash player, IR remote control, and simple drawing program. Soft graffiti area can be collapsed in applications that support the full screen.
Negatives: the Compact Flash card slot is *only* for Sony's wireless LAN card. There was a third party who supported memory cards, but the Athena CF Enabler is no longer available. It worked pretty well, but had a few glitches.
I won this device in a raffle, so I shouldn't be too harsh on it, but suffice it to say that I would never have bought this device for myself or anyone else.
On the plus side, the sound is excellent (not the cheap piezo-electric chip in most Palm devices), the screen resolution (320x320) is nice as is the Palm V-ish form factor, and the jog dial is excellent. The infrared is stronger than any other device I've used, and the bundled remote control software is pretty cool. Although the unit does not come with a memory stick, I was able to borrow the one from our camcorder (since we never use that for taking pictures) and do backups there until I was able to get HotSync working (see below).
On the negative side, the hardware buttons are awful (the 4 main buttons and especially the up/down rocker switch), the cover is very flimsily attached and can easily depress the buttons (I put a rubber band around it to prevent this), and the screen is difficult to see in non-direct indoor lighting (perfectly fine in bright light or in dim light or darkness with the backlight on). For me and my old Macintosh, the USB cradle was useless and there is no serial cable available yet (fortunately, I finally managed to get the Infrared HotSync to work to MacOS 9.1)!
My wife's gift to me so she could have my Palm IIIc. The only real advantage of the Prism over the IIIc is the ability to use Springboard modules. I immediately purchased the 8 Mb flash module (not the backup module) and filled it up! There aren't enough 16-bit color applications for that to matter yet (heck, I still run a fair number of black-and-white applications; my one use of 16-bit color was for baby pictures).
Biggest negatives: the provided cover snaps on instead of flipping up like the III's and IIIc's, getting a good connection when placing the unit into the cradle is a little flaky, and the unit is larger than the others (especially in depth). Occasionally, the charging light will stay on when the unit is in the cradle but isn't fully charged. A soft reset seems to fix this problem (don't know what causes it).
On the other side, the Prism unit seems to be better quality than the IIIc.
NOTE: for all Visors, if you use Datebk5 (or Datebk3 or Datebk4), you should install DatebkStub to prevent both Datebk5 and Datebk+ from announcing alarms.
Cool features: 5-way navigator (left/right/up/down/select) often allows one-handed use of this device without even opening the sliding door to expose the Graffiti area. Built-in voice recorder, Bluetooth, pop-up stylus. When unit is off, quickly pressing the Select button displays date and time, while a longer press brings you to the Launcher.
Feature-wise, this device can't compare to the Sony Clie NX70V or its cousins. Surprisingly, this is even a much slower device (given that they're both running ARM chips; the Sonys have extra video help that make a huge difference in screen-intensive applications). But if you like the small form-factor, this is definitely the one for you (it feels less than half the size of the Sony).
Some people find the color screen to be difficult to read because it is more pixelated than Palm's grayscale screens, but I have no problem with that at all. In fact, I find reading black text on a white background to be especially easy on my eyes (as opposed to a greenish or yellowish background on the grayscale models).
Color definitely does slow down the device. For most tasks this won't be noticeable or relevant. But in some cases (e.g. action games), you may want to either overclock your device (I don't do this, so I won't make any recommendations here) or change to gray or black-and-white using Depth ($5 shareware; recommended by one of my beta testers; I don't use it myself).
Other common complaints about the Palm IIIc include bad Graffiti recognition and short battery life when the backlight is turned all the way up, and broken or difficult to use page down buttons. My IIIc has the Graffiti/backlight problem, but I don't use it outdoors much, so it isn't a big deal.
The rechargeable battery on my unit has died, so I can only use it for testing while it is sitting in its cradle. Score one for Palm models that use alkaline batteries!
One other bug in OS 3.5.0 and 3.5.2 is that the category settings in the built-in Launcher get reset (to "Unfiled") each time you re-install a program. Very annoying. NOTE: OS 3.5.2H, which is installed on Handspring Prism and Platinum models has fixed this problem.
A useful utility for your Palm VII is the freeware CobWeb, which will allow you to clean up downloaded web clippings. I'm amazed that Palm didn't build this into the Web Clipping App.
This is the Palm model that I used as my primary device the longest. It was the first model that had infrared capability.
The first Palm device I ever owned. No infrared capability. Will not HotSync with newer Palm Desktop versions.