Hardware

All Palm OS devices, including those by Handspring, Sony, IBM, Kyocera, QUALCOMM, Franklin Covey, TRG and Symbol Technologies, currently use the Motorola DragonBall MC68328-family of microprocessors which are based on the Motorola MC68EC000 core². The DragonBall processors are inherently low-speed, ranging from 16MHz to 33MHz depending on the type (MC68328, 'EZ328, or 'VZ328). ARM Limited's microprocessor architecture, employed in many consumer, wireless, and security products, will be used as the core of future DragonBall processors [2] and is planned to be implemented in Palm OS devices in 2002.

Palm OS and other handheld embedded devices use battery-backed Random Access Memory (RAM) to store application and user data. The operating system and other non-transient components are often stored in Read-Only Memory (ROM). However, newer devices are moving towards Flash memory for static components such as the operating system. Flash memory is non-volatile and the data stored in it will remain intact even with loss of battery power or a hard reset. The Palm OS is restarted from its ROM or Flash storage area upon system reset.