VisorCentral.com (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/index.php)
- Visor Prism (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=19)
-- 12 Hours with a Prism (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=8942)

I thought I'd go ahead and write a short review of my first 12 hours with the Visor Prism. I recieved it last night, Tuesday the 24 after ordering on Saturday. I put it in its charger and did the preliminary 2 hour charge.

Let me first say that I am not a power user, I consider myself a casual user. I don't do things requiring heavy speed, I play some games, use AddressPro and the default MemoPad and ToDo list and find them sufficient for my uses. I do have a Stowaway for taking notes. I've used Launcher III the whole time I've had my Deluxe and I have a Rhodiana case that I love. Launcher III is noted to not work, so I went to Launch'EM for a demo, it's a nice program.

Anyway:

THE GOOD: The color is very pretty, but largely unused. It makes it easier to read but, and let me be clear, you CAN SEE THE PIXELs. I'm not a power user or a nitpicker, but you can see them, they are there. The white background makes them very visible. A black background is much nicer and works really well. The rechargeable battery was a qualm, but it's fine really. I've not had it long enough. I got the serial cradle for work and the USB for home and between charging in both places, I think it'll be fine. The size is not an issue mostly. It's thicker, for sure, and heavier, but I don't think the causal user who is fine with the Visor's size will be upset. I'm bummed about the cover not matching the case, that's a shame as the blue case is very nice...

THE UPGRADE. I used my backup module on the Deluxe, and used it to re-install to the Prism. Worked fine, no issues. I haven't mucked with AvantGo much yet, but the default setup works fine, there is some color, no issues.

THE BAD: Does not fit in the Rhodiana case as has been reported. Sure, you can force it in there, but getting it back out and in again caused me much angst. The snaps were very tough to get on. Launch'EM works OK, version 2 works fine with the default colors but if you use Chrome to change the background black, weird things happen. Launch'EM 3 is in beta, it works much better, but Chrome has no effect on the color choices and the program locks up upon trying to change the colors within Launch'EM.

IS IT WORTH IT? I dunno yet, I need to use it for a few days first. The color IS cool, it is a bit easier to read and see, I've never been a big fan of greyscale. If I knew then what I know now, I don't know if I would have bought it...

__________________
...Jim

W5

quote:

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Originally posted by plutnicki

I thought I'd go ahead and write a short review of my first 12 hours with the Visor Prism. I recieved it last night, Tuesday the 24 after ordering on Saturday. I put it in its charger and did the preliminary 2 hour charge.

Let me first say that I am not a power user, I consider myself a casual user. I don't do things requiring heavy speed, I play some games, use AddressPro and the default MemoPad and ToDo list and find them sufficient for my uses. I do have a Stowaway for taking notes. I've used Launcher III the whole time I've had my Deluxe and I have a Rhodiana case that I love. Launcher III is noted to not work, so I went to Launch'EM for a demo, it's a nice program.

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I agree with Yardie, it does seem strange that plutnicki bought the Prism at all.

Yardie, Launch'Em does support color. For some reason, Synergy Solutions does not want the URL of the beta software posted -- even though I found the URL in a public place and was "invited" by Synergy Solutions to download it. I will send you the URL.

Launch'Em has been my preferred launcher for a while but I would strongly recommend that you look at MegaLauncher II which has great color support and a lot more functionality than Launch'Em. I don't know if the version, currently on the Megasoft web-site, has the full color support or not though.

Confused

Plutniki,
Thanks for the review, but I'm confused by it. You say that you can see the pixels, but later that the color makes it easier to read and use. Are you just faithfully reporting or do the visible pixels bother you and/or get in the way? Is it less pixelated (!?)than the Palm IIIC?
And how does it look with photos. For me the main reason for color would be photos and games, otherwise the VDX or a Platinum would be fine.

__________________
-Michael-

I'm trying out MegaLauncher right now and it seems nice but clutters the screen a bit. Does Launch'Em let you customize the screen and work in color?

__________________
James Hromadka
Old Friend

James, If you want to "unclutter" the screen in MegaLauncher, just tap on the small blue arrow bottom right. The view will then be similar to what you used to have with Launcher III.

Michael,
You asked how the Prism displays photos. For me, it's definitely better than I expected. I was always disappointed with the photos on my Deluxe.

quote:

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Originally posted by kalahari
James, If you want to "unclutter" the screen in MegaLauncher, just tap on the small blue arrow bottom right. The view will then be similar to what you used to have with Launcher III.

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__________________
James Hromadka
Old Friend

James,

I do find it restrictive to only have four categories listed too. I used to have 8 or so under Launch'Em and all visible. This may the most important reason that I would stay with Launch'Em.

Regarding the Launch'Em 3.x beta, the Synergy Solutions beta page says "This page is intended for use by Synergy Solutions authorized beta testers only. If you were not emailed the link to this page or Synergy Solutions, Inc. did not post the link to this page in the Synergy Solutions web site, you are not authorized to use this page or download the software contained herein. If a link to this page is posted on a web site other than that of Synergy Solutions, Inc., please inform Synergy Solutions by clicking here and include the location of the link to this page in your email." Those are pretty harsh words!!!

If you look at their home page http://www.synsolutions.com there's a link to the beta page for Launch'Em so that anyone can download it.

Questions asked.

Why did I buy the Prism at all?

Good question, I admit to being a gadget hound and one of the things I've always kinda disliked about the Palms is a lack of Color. If I didn't absolutely refuse to buy additional Microsoft products, I might have gone PocketPC/WinCE. I didn't think a Prism would increase my productivity or anything, I decided to buy (and possibly return) the Prism to see if I found it to be a big value add.

I've never seen a IIIc, so I can't comment. What I meant by "seeing the pixels" is on the light background, there is definitely black in between each pixel. I've changed the colors to be light colors on black backgrounds and I find I can read that better than the greyscale on the Deluxe. I found the pixels distracting when looking at a sea of white, but for text recognition it's fine.

I also haven't looked at pictures yet, probably will download some stuff tonight.

You must check out Zap2016 tho'!!!

...Jim

__________________
...Jim

Keepin it simple

Methink MegaLauncher goes against the Palm mantra of keeping it simple. Launchem fits it nicely -- fully featured without unnecessary clutter.

[Edited by yardie on 10-25-2000 at 05:46 PM]

Launch 'Em

My only problem with Launch 'Em is that if you choose not to have the tabs displayed, there is no way to switch to a different category without losing the ability to scroll through a category with the page up/page down buttons. I would love it if the option to have a popup menu of categories, similar to the built-in launcher, were added. If it was, I would register Launch 'Em in a heartbeat.

Re: Launch 'Em

quote:

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Originally posted by jnaron3
My only problem with Launch 'Em is that if you choose not to have the tabs displayed, there is no way to switch to a different category without losing the ability to scroll through a category with the page up/page down buttons.

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__________________
<ul><li>Dave Kessler<br>President - Kopsis, Inc.</li></ul>

quote:

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Originally posted by plutnicki
Launch'EM works OK, version 2 works fine with the default colors but if you use Chrome to change the background black, weird things happen. Launch'EM 3 is in beta, it works much better, but Chrome has no effect on the color choices and the program locks up upon trying to change the colors within Launch'EM.

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__________________
<ul><li>Dave Kessler<br>President - Kopsis, Inc.</li></ul>

dkessler:

That's what I meant by some weirdness. Actually, fo rme it wasn't just the tabs and battery meter doing black text on a white background, but depending on how you set up chrome, there was green, yellow, etc... Very distracting.

I find Launch'Em 3 to be excellent.

I'm using version 1.0 of Chrome and Launch'Em 3 beta 8

...Jim

__________________
...Jim