In our last PDA group test we were unsure of the value of colour in PalmOS. Since that time, however, many applications and games have been released through third-party developers that support colour, and this together with the continuation of OS support have convinced us that its a useful addition.

Unfortunately, the screen in the m505 isn't the best on test, with the non-adjustable brightness the lights either on or off a distinct drawback.
The m505 includes an MMC/SD slot that offers more flexibility and cheaper memory upgrades. Palm also bundles the Word and Excel versions of Documents to Go, allowing you to edit these files on the device.

The m505 is also the only device in the Labs to feature vibrating alarm alerts. Just as many mobile phones use this form of silent ringing, the m505 can alert you to important events while making sure you dont disrupt a important meeting.
Though a matter of taste, the leather wallet generally felt clumsy, as it opens from the side and folds back around the bottom of the model. Not only did this feel awkward but we werent confident in its ability to protect the screen, particularly when compared to the HP Jornada 565.

The only other colour PalmOS model to compare the m505 to is the bulkier Handspring Visor Prism which, at $250 less is the recommended option, especially for those wanting the expandability of the Springboard platform.