OK, so I’m trying to decide which PDA to purchase, and I’m hoping somebody out there might have some experience to impart.
The two I’m looking at are PalmPilots and Visors. Both have the same OS, both have the same memory, and Visors are just a wee bit cheaper. Differences are that the Visor seems to be more easily upgradable, but the PalmPilot seems to have a little more support. Also, being a Macintosh owner, I’ve been told that both are Mac-compatible, but Visors are right out of the box, vs. Palms having to purchase extra stuff.
So, any advice? What should I be looking for? Where can I get 'em cheap?
I’ve never used a Visor, but I use a Mac too and I’m very happy with my Palm. For the Palm you do have to specifically purchase the Mac software, but it goes on your computer. You don’t need to install anything special on your PalmPilot.
I think the thing’s great, but if the Visors are a bit cheaper and offer the same quality, I’d go for the cheaper one. Maybe someone who’s used a Visor can be of more help…
“It seemed like a good idea at the time…
…but then again, so did the atomic bomb.” -Charles Sismondo
Most of the people I work with have the Palms, and one carries around one of those Casiopea devices. Didn’t MS just announce a handheld earlier this week? Might merit having a look at.
I have a Palm Vx and my boss has a Visor. He can expand his with all sorts of exotic hardware, but mine fits in my shirt pocket. If you want something easy to carry, the Palm V is correct. If you think you’d like to attach gadgets to it then you need the Visor. If you want to get email all the time you need the Palm VII. And a psychiatrist.
I’m going to look into the new MS hand-helds, but I doubt I’d be interested.
The instant Mac compatibility intrigues me in the Visor. Plus, although it’s only a skunch bigger than the Palm III (the Palm V is the smallest, but also double the price), it has the ability to be a pager, MP3 player, etc., something the Palm can’t do.
The Visor Deluxe is essentially equivalent to the Palm IIIxe, but can still store more addresses and notes and things, and it’s the same price (about $230 or so).
I think I’m leaning towards the Visor, but am willing to have my mind changed.
I purchased a Visor several months ago because of the updrageability of the device. But let me warn you right now: Most of the devices that Handpring advertises are not in production yet!! I purchased the Visor because they said there was a GPS unit with maps and a lot of other bells and whistles available for it. However, only after I purchased the Visor did I discover that the GPS unit is still in the research phase. I have since discovered that it will come out April 30, but I was still a little peeved that they advertised something you could not buy yet. Go here: http://www.handspring.com/products/springboard_news.asp
to find out if the modules you want are in production yet.
As far as which is better, they are both essentually (sp) the same. As you already stated the OS is exactly the same so really, all you are buying is a case that you like and whether you want to be able to upgrade in the future. And yes, the Visor is Mac-ready, where as the Palm requires you to purchase a Mac-Pac in addition to the Palm, further increasing the already inflated cost. I think you can tell which i like better. Anyway, have fun purchasing!
Both my SO (Obfusciatrist) and I own Handspring Visor Deluxe models (I have the blue; he has the green). I have friends with Handspring Visors, and I also have friends that have various Palm models (anywhere from the III to the wireless VII).
One of the things you need to know about the Handpsring is that when people talk about its “upgradability,” they are speaking of its “Springboard Module” slots. They look a LOT like Game Boys – you have a little empty slot in the back, and you can slide your module in. The modules include extra memory, games, modems, and even a digital camera (yeah, really – although the quality leaves something to be desired). As others have pointed out, a lot of the announced third-party Springboard Modules are still in “vaporware” status – announced but not yet released. Some have criticized Handspring for having too ambitious a release schedule, but the modules are starting to trickle into the market.
The single biggest drawback of the Visor is that you cannot upgrade the OS. It’s currently running at Palm OS3.1h (the “h” being the Handspring variant). The OS is burnt right into the ROM, at least for this first-generation model.
Having said that, I LOVE my Visor. The price is great, and I love associating with that touch of rebel (Handspring was founded by the original Palm founders).
You can buy Visors either from Handspring’s Web site, or through various computer retailers like CompUSA.
I LOVE My PalmV(Err…I loved it till it got washed with my pants, AcK!!).
I loved the poor little thing [moment of silence]Poor little PDA…[/moment of silence].
Back to business. The only problem with the Palm V/Palm Vx is un-upgradeability(I don’t know what your requirements are of a PDA Esprix). Nobody besides the busiest outside salesperson needs the modem for it, and then you have to(correct me if I’m wrong), subscribe to 3com’s dial-up service.
Also, I think that unless Palm makes massive strides to their OS it will be dead in a matter of a few years.
Windows CE units like my fav, the Casiopeia,which I’ll be purchasing soon(and I’ll hope to keep it outta the washer this time), have made massive strides in the last few years of it short existance.
They are in color, play MP3’s, make wonderful sound(unlike the beep-beep type sounds that the Palm make). They’e a touch bigger than the Palm 3X, so they’re still relatively small. Also, MS has made windows CE stable! Imagine that
All of my friends and co-workers with the Casiopeia are 120% satisfied with it.
Also Esprix, if you don’t want to spend the money on the high-line Casiopeia, they have entry level color models with like 8 or 16 MB of RAM, and they are reasonably priced AND upgradeably, and also have a PCMCIA-type slot for modems and flash RAM ETc.
Oh, one Caveat…
Baglady Writes…
Baglady, I thought you might be interested in the link below. It is for Palm and windows CE based PDA’s, and is made by DeLorme “Garmin International | Home”
Nope. It only keep sending me to the first page of the SDMB. I guess it’s the apostrophes that did it in. I had to cut and paste and then backspace them out.
Palm V is swanky thin, yesh, but for the money you can’t get a value like that Visor. Plus the expansion slots are a very cool idea and while vaporware-ish they are coming out with lots this year (supposedly).
I was the one who mentioned the GPS unit so thanks for the link to the GPS software page. The only problem with the program you are talking about is that you need to buy a GPS reciever and the program. For $140 I get the GPS reciever and the software for my Visor and that’s all I need to buy. The software does the same stuff that the Solus Pro 1.5 does. Except Solus Pro costs $40 plus I need to buy a GPS reciever to use with CE or any other Palm, and those usually cost about $140. But thanks for the info. For people that use CE this would be a good option for them.
So Esprix, have you bought your PDA yet? So far the votes are:
Palm : 3
Visor: 4
Casiopeia: 1
The DeLorme unit comes with the hardware and software. If you wish to enhance either the accuracy of it, or add extra maps Etc., you must purchase additional software.
I know that there is a standard software package to upgrade their map program, and one to reduce the margin of error in their tracking software down to mere meters.
All companies that hawk a unit like this(including the unit you’re looking to buy), will be selling updated map software, and should also have(hopefully built-in, but not always), accuracy software.
I’ll be purchasing the Laptop unit soon…I think it’s a much more attractive deal than a hand-held.
This has turned into a small talk about GPS units and I thought I would mention that the US military has now adjusted their GPS satelites for full accuarcy. In the past the best you could get with a civi GPS was an area about the size of a football field due to intention tampering by the gov’t for national security reasons. There were methods to enhance this but they were commercial and needed lots of CPU computations. Now, as of 5 PM Monday, all GPS satelites are giving true “military quality” accuracy, which means your location in pin-pointed within an area the size of a tennis ball court.
[/slight hijack]
I am also bumping this thread so that Esprix will see it and respond. I am curious as to what his final decision was. I know i am gonna get yelled at for this but tuff noogies…
I’m just glad to see everyone’s so interested in my PDA purchases!
Well, I’ve decided I’m getting one this week, as my Daytimer is completely stuffed and I’m tired of carrying the damn thing around.
What’s it gonna be?
A Visor Deluxe (not sure what color yet).
Not only did all your input help, but I went to my local Mac guy (who I trust) and without hesitation he said, “Get a Visor.”
My only question is, I saw a software package for the Palm with like 200 games for $10 at Circut City (can you tell what I really want the darn thing for? ;)). Will I be able to download that onto the Visor?
Also, I’m going to get the backup module since my current computer will only support a link-up if I buy a seperate port (I have an old PowerMac running 7.5.3, and it wants me to be running a newer Mac with OS 8, or I have to buy a non-USB cradle, which I’d rather not do).
I’m still looking to find it under $250, as Handspring is selling it for. Any suggestions? The darn thing doesn’t seem to be available widely yet.
Today I hold before me a god among PDA’s, for yesterday I received my brand new Handspring Visor Deluxe! Woo hoo!
Thanks, all, for your input. Having discovered that, although some web sites claim you can buy Visors through retail merchants, it just ain’t so, I bought my Visor online direct from Handspring. I asked them about backing it up, since I’m not running a computer capable of running OS 8.0 (their minimum for the software) and I figured I’d therefore have to buy their backup module, but it turns out you can buy a serial cradle (vs. the USB that comes with it) for older Macs, and that software will run off the comparable OS, namely 7.5.3 or higher (which is what I have). So for an extra $20 I got the serial cradle (the backup module would have been $40, and I’ll still probably get it somewhere down the line as it seems to be pretty darned handy). Alas, I’m having some problems installing the desktop software, so I’ll be calling them today.
But the Visor itself is great! Love it! Woo hoo! 8 meg of memory, lots of updated and/or new Palm OS programs (alas, no games), and I’ve already quickly adapated to the grafitti input. All told, with the Visor, serial cradle and overnight shipping, it ran me $280.
(for real)