VisorCentral.com - Help! Help! Prism v. Edge? Return or not?

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-- Help! Help! Prism v. Edge? Return or not? (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=19908)

Posted by K. Cannon on 11-28-2001 02:33 PM:

Help! Help! Prism v. Edge? Return or not?

After dropping my beloved VDX on Sunday and killing it, I went to Staples and purchased an Edge.

Reasons for:
Small, fits in ALL of my purses (not just the carry-on sized ones)
Metal case with excellent flip cover
Modules not important (I only use the Backup module and the sled seems to work just fine)

Reasons against:
Potential quality control issues

Now, two days later, the Prism price has dropped to what I paid for the Edge. I specifically asked the Staples guy about the Prism price and would have purchased the Prism on Sunday, had it been the same cost.

QUESTION: Should I take the Edge back for the Prism? Now that I have the Edge in my hand, it is sooo cool and the form factor is great. I would like color (to view photos) but also for use with Datebook 4.

What to do? What to do?
Kelley

Posted by MoKoni on 11-28-2001 03:12 PM:

Kelley:

When I recently purchased my Edge, I went through the same thing. The Edge, Prism and Pro were all the same price. As you know, I was unsure about the Edge and was going to return mine, too. My uncertainty stemmed from all of the negative posts and reviews I have read on several message boards.

Before I made my decision I went to CompUSA and tried out the Prism and Pro. I decided against the Prism because it was too big and heavy, and the color wasn't the best. I don't need color and I am perfectly happy with a monochrome screen. I was also concerned about not being able to see the display outside in daylight. I usually use it indoors, but there are many times I need it outside and not being able to see the display would really tick me off. Plus, Handspring is most likely going to be coming out with a new color (but more expensive) model soon.

I decided against the Pro because I thought it was boring. Yes, it has a lot more memory and a newer OS, but 8mb is all I need (and I really don't care about the OS). It seemed like a revved up VDx.

I love the Edge's thin form. Like you said, it fits in all of my purses and I hardly know it's there. I also love the sleek aluminum case - very sexy. I know these reasons sound ridiculous to many, but they aren't to me. Like you, I only use a backup module, so the module sled isn't an issue with me either. I don't use my PDA for anything extravagant. I use all of the main features, plus for my checking account (PQ2), shopping, exercise journal, account/personal information storage, and AvantGo. Obviously, I have a lot more applications than that, but those are my major uses. My Edge is perfect for me and for the reasons I use it. I remember thinking that I should get the Prism, but I just couldn't make myself do it.

For what it's worth, I do not regret keeping my Edge. I still love it just as much as the first time I opened the box. I know the quality control issues are scary, but not everyone has had a bad experience. If I end up with a QC issue (digitizer or fatal exception problem) I will just go from there. Maybe I will get a new PDA; maybe I will get a replacement - who knows.

I wish you the best - I know this is a hard decision to have to make! Let me know what you decide.

Monique

Posted by K. Cannon on 11-28-2001 04:14 PM:

Thanks for the reply--when I purchased the Edge on Sunday it was $299, the Prism was $399 (or am I missing something?).

I am going to look into whether Datebook 4 will (somewhat easily) do the things I need. It would really be helpful to me to be able to categorize my appointments in color.

I didn't have a problem (okay, not a real big one) with the size of the VDX, and I think the Prism is comparable to that. I have been lusting after color for quite some time and would have gotten the Prism Sunday if it had been $299. But now that I have the Edge in hand it is soo darn nice looking!! (And slim, and metal and cool and sexy)

The other thing is that when I went to restore to my Edge from the Backup module, it kept giving me a Fatal Exception. It seemed to have something to do with Afterburner. I finally gave up on the Backup module and manually restored (most) of my 3rd party apps via HotSync. This scares me, however.

I will look into the Datebook 4 thing...[biting fingernails indecisively]

Posted by septimus on 11-28-2001 04:26 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by K. Cannon
Thanks for the reply--when I purchased the Edge on Sunday it was $299, the Prism was $399 (or am I missing something?).

Sounds like Staples is missing something, or was. The prism should have been 299 a long time ago

quote:
I am going to look into whether Datebook 4 will (somewhat easily) do the things I need. It would really be helpful to me to be able to categorize my appointments in color.

db4 is probably the one app that makes me want to hang on to my color prism. It is incredibly convenient. OTOH, db4 makes intelligent and extensive use of icons (provided you do too...), and that is almost as good. If the edge had a stowaway (and mine didn't crap out), I would still have it and be happy.

quote:
I didn't have a problem (okay, not a real big one) with the size of the VDX, and I think the Prism is comparable to that. I have been lusting after color for quite some time and would have gotten the Prism Sunday if it had been $299. But now that I have the Edge in hand it is soo darn nice looking!! (And slim, and metal and cool and sexy)

The edge is the best looking pda out there, hands down (IMO). The Prism is BIGGER than the vdx by a noticable amount. the other thing you'll have to consider is battery life--it's worse by a factor of 10.

quote:
The other thing is that when I went to restore to my Edge from the Backup module, it kept giving me a Fatal Exception. It seemed to have something to do with Afterburner. I finally gave up on the Backup module and manually restored (most) of my 3rd party apps via HotSync. This scares me, however.

I always disable all hacks and extension before I backup, just to be safe, i suggest you do so as well.

i would also rethink your opinion that you don't need other expansion options besides the backup mod. When you start hitting the limit of that 8 megs and realize that if you had purchased say, an m500, you would be able to expand it w/out the nasty sled, you start to feel the pain. I've got a cf card in my prism all the time now, and I'm pretty much hooked to it.

As for the qc thing, if you don't have a warranty from staples, get a new one with a warranty, period. they're just not trustworthy. They're hot, they're tiny, they're fast, but sorry, they ain't reliable (yet, maybe yours will be.. many or most probably are.. but you will see that Toby, dick-richardson, I, and others have been famously burned by the little suckers).

for me, I need expansion too much to go back to the edge, even if it were perfectly reliable. I need my stowaway and extra memory. For you, well, that's between you and you're ability to predict your needs...

good luck!

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Posted by K. Cannon on 11-28-2001 04:29 PM:

dietrichbohn:
quick question, the answer to which I am too lazy to look up, will my VDX Stowaway work with the Prism?

Posted by MoKoni on 11-28-2001 04:30 PM:

Handspring dropped the price of the Prism to $299 about a month ago - Staples must have waited a bit to drop their price.

You obviously want a color device (unlike me), so if you want the Prism, I say go for it. The only other thing you could do is keep the Edge and wait for Handspring's new color device, then sell your Edge on eBay. Seeing that you don't use modules, have you thought about the Palm M505? You would get the form factor and the color. It's $100 more than the Prism, but Christmas is coming - buy yourself a present!

By the way, I also got the fatal error when I tried to use my Backup Module to restore my information to my new Edge. I read somewhere that because you are restoring from a different OS, that you will get the fatal exception. When I got my replacement, I just synced on my desktop and I had no problems.

If you want color that bad, I would get the Prism or the M505, then you wouldn't have to worry about the QC issues anymore.

Posted by K. Cannon on 11-28-2001 04:33 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by dietrichbohn
I always disable all hacks and extension before I backup, just to be safe, i suggest you do so as well.

Every single time you run the backup module?

quote:
i would also rethink your opinion that you don't need other expansion options besides the backup mod.

Not a bad point--of course, I could delete some of the superfluous things on my handheld. (If I could think of some...)

quote:
(yet, maybe yours will be.. many or most probably are.. but you will see that Toby, dick-richardson, I, and others have been famously burned by the little suckers).

Yep, and hence my trepidation.

quote:
good luck!

Thanks!
Kelley

Posted by septimus on 11-28-2001 04:35 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by K. Cannon
dietrichbohn:
quick question, the answer to which I am too lazy to look up, will my VDX Stowaway work with the Prism?

yes... but there is also somebody here who managed to make a vdx-edge adapter that works with the stowaway.. after reporting success he dropped off the face of the earth.. a quick search should find it.. I too am lazy.

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Posted by septimus on 11-28-2001 04:41 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by K. Cannon
Every single time you run the backup module?

yep--except for the handspring extentsion updates--I just disable hacks and VFS and msmount.

MoKoni is probably right, the updates you installed (?) on the vdx may have messed with the edge.

quote:
Not a bad point--of course, I could delete some of the superfluous things on my handheld. (If I could think of some...)

I feel the same way, seems every day I look at my available memory and say "what the heck is taking up all this space, something can go." but when I whip out Z'Catalog and go through the files, it all stays. Damn Avantgo.

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Posted by K. Cannon on 11-28-2001 04:41 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by MoKoni
Handspring dropped the price of the Prism to $299 about a month ago - Staples must have waited a bit to drop their price.

Oh...ahem...[:embarassed:] I thought I saw $399 on the Handspring site on Sunday before I went to Staples, but in my "need a new device" state-of-mind, who knows.

quote:
You obviously want a color device (unlike me), so if you want the Prism, I say go for it.

Yes, I would like a color device. I am leaning towards trading in, while I can still get a color device and think "oh, my VDX is color now." A few more days of the thin Edge and I wouldn't be able to lift my arm with the Prism!!

quote:
Seeing that you don't use modules, have you thought about the Palm M505? You would get the form factor and the color. It's $100 more than the Prism, but Christmas is coming - buy yourself a present!

Going above the $129 to replace my VDX WAS my Christmas present!!

quote:
By the way, I also got the fatal error when I tried to use my Backup Module to restore my information to my new Edge. I read somewhere that because you are restoring from a different OS, that you will get the fatal exception.

I sort of assumed that but thought I could use that as a reason to be more scared of the QC of Edge.

quote:
If you want color that bad, I would get the Prism or the M505, then you wouldn't have to worry about the QC issues anymore.

I would feel bad about leaving you in Edge-land all alone!!

It was just yesterday that we wished ourselves luck with our Edges!!
Kelley

Posted by K. Cannon on 11-28-2001 04:43 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by dietrichbohn
yes... but there is also somebody here who managed to make a vdx-edge adapter that works with the stowaway.. after reporting success he dropped off the face of the earth.. a quick search should find it.. I too am lazy.

Yeah, I saw that yesterday and was not sure about my abilities to do the labor necessary to make it yourself.

Posted by MoKoni on 11-28-2001 04:53 PM:

quote:
I would feel bad about leaving you in Edge-land all alone!! It was just yesterday that we wished ourselves luck with our Edges!!

Yes, but in six months I will probably be cursing myself for staying in Edge-land!

Posted by culo77 on 11-28-2001 05:15 PM:

Every day i wonder why i have the edge?
Then i go to get it to find out why....and i cant find it the dang thing is too small....then i go thats why i bought it...plus its the prettiest thing out there.

I do wish i had color..but i need battery life..The M505 looks good...then i think wow i can do so much with the SB sled...then i say i should just buy the Clie 760? I get an mp3 player and alot of bells and whistles...the i go why in the heck do i need all that....

I would get the prism now...cause i know that i would kick myself when a new color device comes out...

My Edge's 8mb is killing me. butt i still love my advance calculator, datebook plus, plug & Play 8mb flash, metal flip lid, and my tarnished buttons..

so unless palm or handspring comes out with a new color device with a decent battery life

i will stick with my edge!!!!!!!!!!

__________________
Hey baby before we start do you mind if we use my M505?
No not for that!!!!!!!!!!
Use it to reffer to PalmaSutra, silly???????

Posted by mcgowinwt on 11-28-2001 05:38 PM:

For What It's Worth

I bought an Edge six months ago. I loved it initially, then got frustrated with no keyboard, and fooling with that foolish sled to hold my springboards (I use two-the thinmodem and the Memplug), not to mention having to remove the cover. I finally traded it in after 4 months and bought a Prism, and I have no regrets. The Edge is a flawed product and I would never go back to it. The Prism does eat battery life, especially with my springboards, but is a much more sound product.

Posted by dick-richardson on 11-28-2001 08:48 PM:

I'd trade the edge for an m500, not a prism. I have had nothing but good times and 40MB's of RAM since I got it (and if innogear had given me one 64MB MMC card instead of 2 32's, I'd have 72MB's of RAM along with my good times). In my opinion, keeping the edge isn't worth the...concern...about it's potential issues. The keyboard for the m500 is out, it comes bundled with Docs-to-go and whatzup (a very well thought out little program that quickly ended my dependance on DateBook+). OS 4 does have some nice tweaks over 3.5.2H, the vibrating and led alarms are system wide, etc.). I like the leather flap better than the metal flip cover as well. And an insanely strong IR.

I have a problem with the contrast control (it's at the upper-right of the "numbers" area - try hitting that accurately in the dark) and I wish the graffiti area were backlit, a la m505.

__________________
-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Posted by MoKoni on 11-28-2001 08:56 PM:

So, Kelley, are you now more confused about what to do than you were when you first started this thread?

Posted by K. Cannon on 11-29-2001 08:28 PM:

Just saw d-r and MoKoni's last replies....

To Update: I exchanged my Edge for a Prism yesterday and, now that I've updated the latest 4.1 Datebk 4 with color icons (and spent all day messing with the icon editor instead of billing hours), I am happy I made the right choice.

My calendar, which can be pretty hectic, is now wonderfully easy to read and decipher. And that's more important to me than the coolness of the Edge...(which I realize now that darned siren of a handheld is out of sight)

RE the m500, I really wanted to stick with the Handspring format...also, I didn't see Josh's suggestion until today after my exchange.

Anyhoo, MANY thanks for the input and suggestions--Best of luck to those (Monique and culo77!) with Edge's. I love VisorCentral!
Kelley

Posted by dick-richardson on 11-29-2001 10:12 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by K. Cannon
RE the m500, I really wanted to stick with the Handspring format...also, I didn't see Josh's suggestion until today after my exchange.

The prism is definitely a better choice than the edge, IMO. It, at least, has some corporate backing, and color is insidious - I just upgraded to an m505 today, mainly because it takes care of my problems with the m500 - and it was $20 under retail ($50 for an upgrade was too much to resist).

__________________
-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Posted by septimus on 11-30-2001 12:20 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by dick-richardson
I just upgraded to an m505 today

I knew that would happen. I should have laid down odds... I could have raked it in..

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Posted by dick-richardson on 11-30-2001 05:43 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by dietrichbohn
I knew that would happen. I should have laid down odds... I could have raked it in..

Yes...well, the rest of my life isn't nearly so predictable (the possible exception being vague premonitions of chaos).

__________________
-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

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