As a result of all these returned units, Tapwave has a surplus of used devices, which are then refurbished and sent back out to the consumer in exchange for their defective devices. In some instances you wouldn't know the difference, but I've read accounts of customers receiving replacement units with blatant and obvious physical defects, such as dents and deep scratches or gouges in the finish.

Although in the fine print of the warranty they're allowed to replace defective devices with refurbished ones, I feel that as long as the device is under warranty, it should look, act, and feel the same as a new device. At the very least some type of adjustment could be made based upon how long you've had your device. Again, in the online communities, I've heard of customers returning a brand new unit and receiving one back that's been through the wringer.

Speaking of the online communities, there are several that are Zodiac-specific, with a core of loyal users. I really believe it's these tight-knit groups of loyal users that have kept the Zodiac afloat. Through all the trials and tribulations, these users stick by the Zodiac, to the point of creating their own software applications. It's through these communities that the Zodiac has picked up a strong following in the emulation field.

What's emulation? Emulation is the ability to run software created for a different platform through the use of a gateway application that "emulates" the original operating environment. Nintendo, Super Nintendo, and Sega Genesis are some of the more popular platforms that are emulated.

What about accessories and platform specific software? Well, for a device that's been out for over a year these are really lacking. Still, after all this time, there's no auto charger for the Zodiac. For a device that's supposed to be a mobile entertainment platform, Tapwave has failed to provide a mobile charger, something this author considers mandatory.

One of the more interesting accessories available for the Zodiac is the CommandPlay game grip. It's designed to give a more ergonomic feel to the Zodiac, similar to a PlayStation or Xbox controller. Although I haven't got my hands on one of these yet, it does seem like it would be just the thing to help alleviate hand cramps while gaming.

Still, after all this time, the availability of Zodiac-specific applications is rather light, and most of those are games. Don't get me wrong, I love games, but even though the Zodiac will run most Palm OS games, there just aren't that many that are specifically designed for the Zodiac. Maybe the developers don't feel it's a profitable market, I don't know. Tapwave does have some interesting titles lined up, such as Tomb Raider, and I've heard rumors of a Neverwinter Nights port, but after over a year, the titles are still rather thin.

The Zodiac was the first handheld to incorporate a dedicated video processor and video memory, but so far developers have failed to take advantage of that, for whatever reason. In addition to being a boon to gaming, this video card opens the device up to so many more possibilities. But it seems to have kind of fallen flat in that department.