In the beginning, there was Palm... a very basic handheld organizer with limited functional capabilities. Users of the Palm were happy carrying around their device in a front shirt pocket or perhaps in a case attached to a belt clip. During this period, there wasn't a strong need for vehicle mounting solutions. As time and technology progressed, so too did the capabilities and functions of the handheld computer. Nowadays, PDA manufacturers seem to be including more and more bells and whistles within their handheld organizers such as MP3 music and GPS tracking. It is for this reason that car mounts may now be considered a "necessity" rather than an optional accessory.

Arkon Resources, Inc., a California based company has led the way in developing and marketing a wide variety of Universal mounting solutions for the handheld PDA industry. Their 3rd generation CM220 car mount is by far the most "Universal" in their product lineup. The windshield pedestal allows for easy transference from vehicle to vehicle and provides for ideal placement for GPS users.

Requirements:

The CM220 holder/cradle is very universal in design. It will work with any of the Palm OS Handhelds including the Palm III, Palm V, Palm VII, Handspring Visor, and Sony. A recent modification to the holder now allows it to have both TOP and BOTTOM fully adjustable access for all I/O cards, serial ports, headphone jacks, I/R ports, etc. The new design is definitely geared towards Pocket PC users. It will work with devices such as, Compaq iPAQ H3100, HP Jornada 540, Casio Cassiopeia E-125 & EM500, Handspring Visor and even my trusty Compaq Aero 1550.

As for your car, as long as it has windows, it will suffice. In fact, if it doesn't have windows just mount it to the console with the additional attachment piece included.

Installation:

Once you open-up the box, it is already much put together. It includes: Universal PDA holder/cradle, Ink Pen/Stylus, windshield pedestal mount, optional console mount attachment, alcohol prep pad, screws for optional installation, super-lock adhesive, and of course, the owner's manual & warranty.

The Universal holder/cradle comes fully assembled. The ink pen/stylus is in a slide-in holder attached to the base unit. It's useful because now you don't have to go looking everywhere for your elusive stylus or pen. It's right there! There is a foam slot that sits directly behind the placement of the PDA. When removed, this opening becomes a storage space for spare batteries (up to two "AAA" type batteries) or may even be used to hold a small notepad.

The universal pedestal mount with suction cups can be attaches directly to the car windshield. It extends from 6" to 8" in length with a short extension piece and is designed to rest on the dashboard. The people over at Arkon recommend that the mounting surface be thoroughly prepared with the alcohol prep pack (included) prior to attaching the mounting assembly to the windshield. I would also suggest cleaning the triple suction cups in order to remove and residual oils and dirt. The super-lock base plate is used when performing hard surface mounting.

Optional Installation: The CM220 can also be mounted on hard surfaces, like computer monitors or vehicle consoles. To mount on hard surfaces like those, you will use the super-lock base plate.

Note: When the windshield has been properly prepared (using alcohol pad provided), it is important to note that the mount will be somewhat difficult to remove unless you pull on the small tabs that are on each suction cup. They allow a small amount of air to get in behind the suction cup thereby releasing the holder from the windshield.

Usefulness

As mentioned at the start of this review, the PDA industry is rapidly evolving. Companies such as Pharos and TravRoute, a division of ALK Associates, Inc. are selling popular GPS navigation software utilities. The growth of this new breed of software warrants the use of mounting solutions such as the Arkon CM220.

Other Universal PDA Mounting Solutions:

Arkon Resources, Inc. has a complete lineup of PDA mounting kits. The universal cradle/holder used with these kits remains the same for each. The primary difference between each model is the type of mounting pedestal used to attach to the universal holder. Here are the most popular Arkon models:
CM223 - Universal Cup Holder PDA Kit
CM224 - Dual Function PDA/Phone Kit
CM226 - Deluxe Windshield PDA Kit
CM228 - Universal Multi-Angle PDA Kit
CM229 - Universal Vent Mount PDA Kit

Where to Buy:

The CM220 can be ordered directly from the Arkon Resources web site and from a few other online retailers:
Arkon Resources, Inc.
Mobile Planet
Fry's Electronics - Check listings at their web site for store locations.

In Conclusion:

The Arkon CM220 Universal Windshield/Console Mount is a perfect holder for your PDA either on the go, or at your house. It can conform to meet your needs. The Arkon people really thought ahead here, by adding a stylus/pen, alcohol pads, and an adjustable bottom. For added flexibility, check out their CM224, which combines the flexibility of the CM220 and a cell-phone holder.

PROS
Durable
Easy to Use
Fits all PDA's
Foam battery holder Gives extra value
Comes with all necessary parts
Reasonable price
Strong suction cups

CONS
The Handspring Visorphone headphone is blocked.

SPECS
Name: CM220
Manuf: Arkon Resources, Inc
Colors: Black
Sizes: 9" x 6" x 3"
Weight: 0.62 Lbs

By Daniel Mitler

Affiliate Editor from PDACenter