OBTAINING THE UPGRADE
In order to install an OS upgrade, you need the OS in a file called a ROM image. Palm has released upgrade kits for OS 3.3 (free) and 3.5 (small charge) with both ROM images and a program to rewrite ("flash") these onto your Palm. The re-flashing tools and other ROM images are also available for download from Palm's developer site. If you choose to upgrade to a version not part of an upgrade kit, however, pay close attention to the warnings and instructions Palm put on their web site as using the incorrect file can make your Palm into a fairly function-free device. The Palm newsgroups are a good source for information and hints about performing the process.

Older Palm models such as the original Pilot or PalmPilot models can't normally be re-flashed, but can be upgraded by replacing their internal memory expansion boards with ones which do contain flash. SuperPilot 8Mb boards are still available from HandEra (www.handera.com), though you can probably get a less expensive used 2Mb board from someone who has upgraded their Palm III to more memory.

Now here's the bad news. Each file needs to be customized by the manufacturer to match your specific handheld, but not all devices have had equal opportunity to upgrade. Upgrade ROM images have been plentiful for most Palm Computing devices, but those for PalmVII have been hard to come by. HandEra has had a good record releasing ROM Images and updates for their TRGPro and HandEra 330, but Handspring Visors don't have flash memory so they can't be fully upgraded. Similarly, while Sony CLIE organizers do use flash memory internally, they reportedly cannot be user-upgraded.

PURCHASING ADVICE
So how should upgradeability affect which new handheld to buy? Hopefully, this article will give you an idea of what each OS version offers, and the value of future OS upgrades. Most new handhelds ship with OS 3.5 or higher, though Visors and Visor Platinums still ship with OS 3.1. By purchasing a handheld with flash memory, you don't have to be locked into a single OS version. This gives you flexibility you can't get with limited RAM patches, which are typically released only to address specific bugs or issues in the OS.

However, while the ability to upgrade is definitely a plus, it's not the only factor to consider in making a purchase decision. Flash chips are more expensive than ROM chips, and this price difference is often reflected in the final price of the organizer. Also consider how long you realistically will keep the same handheld. Immediately after shelling out a few hundred bucks on a new handheld, the unit will seem like a lifelong friend you'll keep forever. After two or three years, however, your friend will likely appear quite a bit less zippy and entertaining than he (or she) once was. So if you think you might find yourself tempted to go make friends with a newer model after a few years, it might be worth foregoing flash memory if features and/or price would otherwise have you strongly leaning towards a non-upgradeable model. You could then use any cost savings to, say, register some quality apps from a PalmOS software developer. ;)

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