Royal DV3 daVinci 2MB PDA

My advice, shell out 20 bucks more and get a real PDA, not this over-priced organizer.


Horrid Product, Don't Even Accept as a Gift!   November 9, 2001
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

What a mess. Subject to breakdowns, can't use all the memory claimed in any reasonable way, no applications, no expectation of any applications, tiny individual note storage space of a few characters(no warning at limit), unbelievably poor support, long litany of complaints on Web bulletin boards (...), flimsy, faulty, embarassing product that is not of a quality that should be sold to the public.


Was good for a while, but...   October 25, 2001
Kimberly Smith (Northridge, CA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Initially, I really enjoyed using my DV3. But I didn't get the keyboard, and it was difficult suffering through the hunt-and-peck method of touch-screen writing. Although I wasn't unhappy with this product, it ended up dying out on me one day. I had only used it about 3-4 weeks before the PDA died and lost ALL my information -- there was no low-battery warning or anything of the sort, because if there were I would have changed batteries and not have had to throw it in the back of my drawer, where it still sits today.


Very Disappointing!   April 25, 2001
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

In less than a week my DV3 lost all my data. I exchanged for a new DV3, and the lid broke off the next week. I kept it because I enjoyed using it and found it very helpful, but within a month the new one froze on me, loosing all my info again. I was using the DV3 correctly, not abusing it (I bought a padded case for it almost immediately) but there was evidently a fault somewhere. I can't take the chance of loosing my data again. I'm returning it and getting another brand.


A Questionable PDA   February 14, 2001
Mark Kosobiecki (Connecticut)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Well, I had originally rated this higher than I have now but, after my daVinci died and, I tried to exchange it, only to be told that, the store I bought it from didn't carry them anymore, I got myself a Palm m100 instead and, the difference was as clear as night and day.
#1-the handwritiing recognition is very poor compared to other products in this class. Although I never felt it was a big deal when I owned the daVinci, now I know better. The ease of input with the Palm is at least 10 times better than with the daVinci.
#2-Syncing wasn't bad but, only with the daVinci software. I never successfully got it to sync with Outlook or Lotus. Not really a problem though if you can handle it.
#3-Third party software and SDK. Let's face it, Third party software makes or breaks these units. As a former owner, I can tell you that I always heard the software was "just around the corner" or, when I contacted Royal, they said a SDK would be out during the first quarter of 2001. Well as I write this, we're moving into the last quarter and, still no SDK or third party software.
Anyhow, I would recomend either, getting the entry level Palm or Visor if you want to add apps and customize your PDA or, if you're pretty happy with the apps that aa noral PDA comes with, I would go the less expensive route and, grab a Sharp organizer. They alway did right by me.
One final note. If you're enticed by the free keyboard, don't be. Mine took about 3 1/2 months to get to me and by then, my daVinci had gasped its last breath.