# I have a Visor PDA-should I switch to a Palm Pilot? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 8, 2005, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-visor-pda-should-i-switch-to-a-palm-pilot/316050 "2005-08-08T01:18:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lillith\_Fair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@Lillith\_Fair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lillith_Fair)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-visor-pda-should-i-switch-to-a-palm-pilot/316050/1 "2005-08-08T01:18:00Z")
Can I transfer my data to another type of PDA or does it have to be a Visor? If I want to get a program that requires 250K of space how can I tell if I have that much space on the Visor that I already have? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-visor-pda-should-i-switch-to-a-palm-pilot/316050/2 "2005-08-08T02:01:21Z")
The Handspring Visor uses the Palm Operating System, so a switch is simple: hotsync your Visor, then hotsync your new Palm. To check the space, go to the program list, tap the menu icon and select “Info.” It will show free memory, plus you’ll see buttons to display the size of each file. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-visor-pda-should-i-switch-to-a-palm-pilot/316050/3 "2005-08-08T06:54:30Z")
Even if you are crossing operating systems, it still may not be very hard to transfer data. Generally, you can export data in various formats. If you choose one that your new PDA can then import, you’re home free. The comma-separated-value (.cvs) format, for example, is very widely used. The toughest to transfer might be your date schedule. For some reason, many date programs seem to use their own, proprietary file format. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-visor-pda-should-i-switch-to-a-palm-pilot/316050/4 "2005-08-08T12:46:25Z")
Keep in mind that while there are several ways to port the data, that the cradles for the newer palms don’t have the same pin configuration. My point is it will be no prob, just the physical aspect might be a little tricky. ---
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-visor-pda-should-i-switch-to-a-palm-pilot/316050/5 "2005-08-08T13:58:41Z")
As others said, the Visor uses the standard Palm OS. 1. Backup your Visor files somewhere safe. 2. Synch your Visor to your desktop. 3. Put your Visor on a drawer somewhere. 4. Determine which files you want to synch. Don’t try to synch files that are specific to the Handspring - this will cause the other PDA to crash, and will require a hard restart. That’s bad if there is any existing data on the new PDA. The first files to synch are all the native Palm OS files, such as Memos and Datebook. 5 Synch the _other or new_ PDA to your desktop, using whatever hardware the _other or new_ PDA uses. The trick is in using the same user name for the _other or new_ PDA that you use on your Visor. When I transferred my files from a Sony Clie to a Treo, it took some futzing around with file names and directory names. Worked AOK. ---
**Author:** ![Lillith\_Fair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@Lillith\_Fair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lillith_Fair)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-visor-pda-should-i-switch-to-a-palm-pilot/316050/6 "2005-08-08T15:37:04Z")
Okay, it seems I have 7703K of room so I have plenty of space for this program. Now getting it on there…I’m going to have to ask my husband to help me. I hate that! Thanks for the advice to a non-techie. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-visor-pda-should-i-switch-to-a-palm-pilot/316050/7 "2005-08-08T15:43:02Z")
> [@Lillith Fair](#): > > Okay, it seems I have 7703K of room so I have plenty of space for this program. _snerf_. Sorry, but that just sounds quintessentially typical for a non-techie’s PDA. I’m guessing that it’s something like: Total memory: 8000 k Memory used: 297 k hope you enjoy your new program!! 🙂