VisorCentral.com - just got my dad a visor...

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-- just got my dad a visor... (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=1328)

Posted by r4bid on 05-12-2000 01:40 AM:

I got my dad a visor for his birthday, he has yet to open it (hasn't gotten home yet). I have never owned one before and was wondering what if anything I should warn him to do? I know that reading the manuel would be common sense and I plan to force him to but are there any tips that you guys have? I have read the vc faq so please don't direct me there.

Thanks in advance,
Matthew Margolis

Posted by MarkEagle on 05-12-2000 01:47 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by r4bid:
...what if anything I should warn him to do?...

For starters, tell him not to let his son use it!!! (he may never see it again)

Seriously, though, my first recommendation would be screen protection... if you don't have anything, be extremely careful about using the stylus (especially if it's th "stock" all-plastic one). If you've read through the VC postings, you've seen where that is one of the biggest issues.

Aside from that, reading the online user's manual is good advice, especially if it's his first PDA. Of course, show him the way to VisorCentral! This is one of the best sources of Visor information. Lots of answers can be found here.

Most of all, tell him to enjoy it.

------------------
MarkEagle - Ice is nice!

Posted by r4bid on 05-12-2000 01:56 AM:

yeah, I didn't have a chance to get to the store to buy ww but I plan to asap. Maybe he is one of the lucky few to get one of the dlx styluses that handspring seems to be slipping in?
But anyways... he doesn't have to worry about me taking it, I plan on getting one for myself for my sophmore year of highschool over the summer, hopefully when a new model comes out.
Any recomendations on software for him to use? He is a pharmacist, ceo of a health care company?

Posted by John Nowak on 05-12-2000 10:44 AM:

I'd say "Get a Backup Module Springboard." It's only around $40, it shows off the technology, and it will one day save his data.

Posted by Winchell on 05-12-2000 02:19 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by r4bid:
I have never owned one before and was wondering what if anything I should warn him to do?

<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>Definately get some kind of screen protection. I prefer cutting my own out of vinyl (do a search of VisorCentral for "vinyl", but you really need something.
<LI>Go to the Prefs app, and under General, turn off beam receive. This will dramatically improve battery life.
<LI>While you are in Prefs, go to Button and set the calendar button to Datebook+ instead of Datebook.
<LI>I'd consider a better stylus. The Panache is a favorite (available from the VisorCentral store)
<LI>Wipe the screen with lint free cloth. The Visor sometimes come in the box with gritty dust on the screen. This will cause scratches.
<LI>Don't drop the Visor, the glass screen will break. You can read horror stories here: http://www.palminfocenter.com/graveyard
If you want to protect your investment, get a padded case. I prefer the Rhodiana http://www.rhodiana.com]
<LI>Duracell Ultra AAA batteries are recommended. For rechargables, NiMH are recommended (NOT NiCad!). Use something above 600mA.
<LI>The slot at the top of the Visor is fragile (the one the cover tap slips into). Be gentle when inserting or removing the cover. http://discussion.visorcentral.com/...TML/000968.html
<LI>Do go and drool at the marvelous Springboards available for the Visor. http://www.handspring.com/products/modules.asp http://hs.palmgear.com/ http://www.visorcentral.com/springboardindex.php3 http://www.handspring.com/products/springboard_news.asp
Of particular note are the EyeModule digital camera, the 8meg Flash RAM, and the Stowaway foldable keyboard.
<LI>There is an extensive tutorial on using one's Visor at http://www.learnlots.com/webskins/S...bcategory_ID=60
There is an extensive FAQ for the Palm Pilot at http://www.palmgear.com/faq/
<LI>if you are having trouble with Graffiti check out http://www.antioch.com.sg/edgar/graffiti.html http://www.palmpower.com/issues/iss...rafhelp001.html
<LI>In the calculator, don't miss the advanced features.
Hit the menu silk screen button and select OPTIONS. Hit the CHANGE MODE button. Select ADVANCED and hit OK. Pull down the menu in the mid upper left for a list of different calculators.
<LI>You can use Datebook+ as a diary. Make a new entry and select "Journal" (This doesn't work in Datebook, it must be Datebook+)
<LI>Freeware, shareware, and commercial ware is available at http://www.palmgear.com/ http://www.eurocool.com/palm/apps/s...type/index.html http://palm.eisenbach.com/ http://www.handango.com/Catalog.shtml?catalog=1
<LI>A Document reader is a required item. You can find reviews
on several at http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/docreaders-review.html
The best free one is CSpotRun http://www.palmgear.com/software/sh...amp;prodID=1779
<LI>Software I've found useful:
AvantGo http://www.avantgo.com free
BACKUP BUDDY http://www.backupbuddy.com $30
QUIKBUDGET http://www.quikbudget.com/ $20
MAPOPOPLIS http://www.mapopolis.com/ Freeware
MEMOWARE http://www.memoware.com Freeware
PEANUT PRESS http://www.peanutpress.com $2-$15
FIREVIEWER http://www.firepad.com/products/viewer/index.html
FIRST AID MANUAL http://www.healthypalmpilot.com/review.cgi?ID=122
</UL>

Posted by r4bid on 05-12-2000 07:29 PM:

Winchel, I can not thank you enough. Your post was full of information that I am sure he will put to good use. Are there any other suggestions you guys have?

Posted by Maltair on 05-13-2000 07:41 AM:

Oh sure. Tell him all the good stuff. Don't leave anything for anybody else to say!

------------------
Rose's are Red
My Visor is Blue....

Posted by yucca on 05-13-2000 09:43 AM:

If your dad is the type that clips, dogears, or otherwise trys to collect scraps of info from magazines and books, there is a web equivalent that utilizes the Visor - iSiloWeb, a HTML -> Palm DOC converter that you use with iSilo (the best of the non-freeware DOC readers). With iSiloWeb you can clip just about anything off the web, and have it automatically posted to his Visor with his next HotSync. If you are interested, you can check it out at http://www.isilo.com/

Posted by r4bid on 05-13-2000 01:40 PM:

hmmm isilo sounds interesting... How about advant go? I hear they are similar, should I tell him to use both, or just isilo?

Posted by Winchell on 05-13-2000 11:05 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by r4bid:
hmmm isilo sounds interesting... How about advant go? I hear they are similar, should I tell him to use both, or just isilo?

I use both.
AvantGo is like electronic magazines you can read on your Visor.
ISiloWeb can suck a web site into your Visor, so you can view it whenever you want.

They do overlap a bit.

But if you've got 8 megs of RAM, do both.

Posted by Larry Chester on 05-13-2000 11:53 PM:

You have gotten a lot of good ideas here, but here are my comments.

1. ABSOLUTELY get a screen protector, but there is no reason to purchase writerights. I use 8 ga vinyl, which you can buy at a local fabric store. $.69 buys 1/3 yard. You will never use that much in your life!!

2. I really love Avantgo, but don't have a long train commute, so I don't really use it as much as I could. But it does work very well. You can download website info to the Visor, Wall Street Journal, Fox News, USA Today, the Weather Channel, all kinds of stuff.

3. For backup - You Gotta Have Backup. I use BackupBuddy. It is software based, so you don't need to worry about carrying the backup module around with you. (what happens of your visor and the backup module get stolen?) And it works automatically everytime you hotsync. It has saved my butt several times. And it is cheaper than the backup module.

4. Check out FitalyStamp at http://www.fitaly.com/fitalystamp/fitalystampdesign.htm This is a tap keyboard replacement for Graffitti. I use it to take notes while at meetings. It takes a little time to learn the keyboard, but now I can "type" at about 35 wpm, and can load it up to MS Word and be ready to print in a matter of minutes.

5. Document readers are important. I use SmartDoc, which is not only a reader, but it also allows editing and writing of documents. http://www.cesinc.com/smartdoc/smartdoc.html This in conjunction with FitalyStamp is a great combination.

6. A few utilities that are really nice.

BigClock - a timer, alarmclock, etc
RunTime - Keeps track of your battery life on the visor.
LauncherIII - This is a "screen" organizer. It lets you put your applications in folders with tabs that let you switch back and forth easily and quickly to other apps. Really helpful.
Address+ - This is a really nice add-on to the standard address book. Multiple sorts and searches.

Then there are all kinds of other software and games out there. Depends on if he is a "worker" or a "player". I know that he will enjoy using the VDX. Your only sadness will be that you couldn't buy two of them so that you could be Visor Twins.

Larry

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