Palm launches IT manager's nightmare

IT'S BEEN DUBBED the 'Mobile Manager' but PalmOne's latest mobile beastie, the LifeDrive, is set to land network managers with one of their worst nightmares. A device which is designed to suck data out of any decent Windows machine.

Not only does the PalmOne LifeDrive boast a 4 GB hard drive but its software is deliberately designed to sync with a PC. Copy the entire contents of your my Documents folder is dead simple. As is syncing your emails with a Microsoft Exchange server.

The INQ's heard of some firms banning iPods for similar reasons but the LifeDrive takes this threat to a new height. Which is a pity really because most ‘prosumers' (profressionals/consumers) will kill for a LifeDrive.

Not only does it have all that spare storage space for your entire digital music collection, it even boasts both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi as well. The INQ in particular likes its ‘camera companion' facility.

There's an SD memory card slot in the top of the LifeDrive. Drop your camera's memory card into this slot and not only can you display its contents (including videos) but you can also wipe the SD card clean. And start shooting new stuff.

Nokia cameraphone owners will be pleased to learn the LifeDrive can copy all of the files to its disk. However, playing back the videos will prove an interesting feat since it doesn't yet recognise the 3GPP video format.

Given that the LifeDrive is running Palm Garnet 5.4.8, you'll probably have to wait a while until someone figures out a swift conversion utility.

PalmOne made lots of noises about the LifeDrive's ability to work with corporate applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint. So they definitely are targeting the office worker.

However, it's the SMEs who run their own businesses who'll be able to afford the £329 inc VAT that Palm want. Who cares that it doesn't look as sexy as an iPod? We want one. µ