VisorCentral.com - Is Handspring dying?

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-- Is Handspring dying? (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=24774)

Posted by Toby on 07-17-2002 06:37 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by Limitles
[...] Now as for discontinuing Visors I'm sure that will be possible only according to the public response. IF the public still wants the simple rule of supply and demand will keep the visors on teh market. If the public is no longer interested in the Visors then what's the point of making them. [...]

The public does not usually seek these sorts of things out. The public usually strolls into the big box and asks the salesman what he has in stock or asks a friend who 'knows something about that sort of thing'. What retailer or 'friend in the know', considering that Handspring has functionally given up on a line, is going to recommend it? They've effectively _killed_ demand.

Posted by MIKE STH on 07-17-2002 06:40 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by Limitles
As far as I am aware Handspring's focus on Wireless isn't unwarranted as a lot of people are loving the Treos!

Now as for discontinuing Visors I'm sure that will be possible only according to the public response.

Talk about spewing the corporate line...

Just how many Treos have you actually seen in use? The majority of the geek(I mean that in the nicest way) quotient that was involved with the HS lineup and pushed it's capabilities to the limits (and posted to this board) has run away en mass from the Treo line. Wonder why that is?

As for discontinuing Visors...that was a MANAGEMENT/BOARD decision. The news leaked out many months before the lineup shrunk to what it is today. Now, as stockpiles run out, models are being deleted from the lineup.

HS in no way shape or form can compete with the likes of Sony for innovation on the Palm platform so they simply gave up.

The Treo is an ungainly answer to the consumer request for convergence. It performs neither the phone nor PDA function to the level of competence that other seperate units in the market place offer for a lower combined price. Lack of PDA expansion, and the fact that you need lilliputian thumbs to type will sink the HS ship in a matter of months. Lets start a pot...

Posted by kld1956 on 07-17-2002 09:19 PM:

I became a Visor convert and die-hard back before I got my first Deluxe, even though I had to waith nearly 8 weeks, back when HS had all those problems filling orders. I have recommended the Visor to 10 or more people, who have all bought them.

Demand goes beyond who's waiting in line with cash in their hand. A Visor Prism or Visor Pro has been in demand for me for quite some time. I just couldn't drop my Deluxe, since it still works well.

Now I need more memory and faster processor. I settled on the Pro, but I can't find them in any store locally. I can still order from HS but, with as quickly and as thoroughly as retail stores dumped their stock, what impression does that give me of the future of HS?

I have looked at the Treo 90 and don't appreciate the smaller screen and keyboard. I don't carry a cell phone, so I don't need the communicator series.

HS has, effectively driven off potential buyers.

Posted by Digisane on 07-18-2002 04:55 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by Toby
The public does not usually seek these sorts of things out. The public usually strolls into the big box and asks the salesman what he has in stock or asks a friend who 'knows something about that sort of thing'. What retailer or 'friend in the know', considering that Handspring has functionally given up on a line, is going to recommend it? They've effectively _killed_ demand.

Nicely put.

A salesman would definitely recommend a Treo over a Visor nowadays - and seeing sales of Visors are slowing down - HS will definitely drop it real soon when "demand isn't there".

__________________
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Posted by edgenut on 07-19-2002 05:53 AM:

Re: Re: A letter from HS

quote:
Originally posted by Digisane

Uh, is that a mistake, what he means is Treo, or does it really mean they're really dropping springboards because they're too large to fit into springboard line of products (Visors)??

That was how this person at HS wrote, I decited to see if anybody would notice

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Posted by alight on 07-22-2002 09:59 PM:

Is it time for ...

Is it time for the Society for the Preservation of Battery Operated Handhelds?

Only half kidding. Am really concerned. Especially with the price of new pda's approaching (and some exceeding) desktops. Things are getting a little wierd and lopsided in the pda/notebook/desktop zone!

Let's take care of the old "digital divide" by creating a new one(s).

Here's a review I was quite sincere in writing.

If You Have A Passion For Ebooks - especially the classics, there is no better ebook reader than the Visor Neo or Deluxe. As an avid publisher and reader, over the past years I've tried most handhelds available.

The Handspring Visor Neo and it's still available predecessor, the Deluxe are the handheld hands down winners!

Why?
1. They run on 2 AAA batteries. Experience has shown that, surprisingly, AAA battery power is overall the best way to go over the long term and very simple and hassle free.
2. HotSynching with the USB cradle and Palm software is painless!
3. Sorry PocketPC, but you just cannot beat the efficiency of the Palm Operating System. In the Palm doc format, huge books take up amazingly little space. The Visor Neo and Deluxe offer plenty of room as an ebook reader - especially if you don't care about using the other features (though they take up only a small space also).
4. If you really want to "load it up" with a major library of books, add the Memplug Springboard module and a smartmedia card very inexpensively.
5. Add the best freeware ebook reader, CSpotRun, get the freeware program, MakeDoc, to quickly convert and synch text files to your Visor Neo or Deluxe and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.
6. Good screens. Since the Neo is the new Deluxe it has a newer version of the Palm OS and better screen ... however, they are both excellent values for the money.
---------------------------------

Yes, I sure am concerned. There's a world of us who don't want or need Treo multi-devices. And, I bet there's another world that would get the multi's and still like to have a nice inexpensive etext reader.

Posted by edgenut on 07-23-2002 05:16 AM:

Re: Is it time for ...

quote:
Originally posted by alight

Why?
1. They run on 2 AAA batteries. Experience has shown that, surprisingly, AAA battery power is overall the best way to go over the long term and very simple and hassle free.
2. HotSynching with the USB cradle and Palm software is painless!
3. Sorry PocketPC, but you just cannot beat the efficiency of the Palm Operating System. In the Palm doc format, huge books take up amazingly little space. The Visor Neo and Deluxe offer plenty of room as an ebook reader - especially if you don't care about using the other features (though they take up only a small space also).

I agree, you cant go to the office for an hour without the charger to your pocket pc, besides they only make a shiny paperweight when the batteries are dead.

__________________
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Posted by Digisane on 07-23-2002 10:47 AM:

Re: Re: Is it time for ...

quote:
Originally posted by edgenut

I agree, you cant go to the office for an hour without the charger to your pocket pc, besides they only make a shiny paperweight when the batteries are dead.

Reminds me of using a notebook computer. Just bring the charger whereever you go. I think it' more worth it to spring for a cheap notebook computer than a PocketPC device since those are definitely more powerful, can surf the net, can read ebooks and take up just a bit more space. Well okay, they take up five times the space. But hey, it's worth it.

Another plus - you can't accidentally leave it on the car roof somewhere or drop it into the toilet like so many others who've done with their PDAs.

quote:

1. They run on 2 AAA batteries. Experience has shown that, surprisingly, AAA battery power is overall the best way to go over the long term and very simple and hassle free.

But they sure do eat into your budget if you're a heavy user/heavy ebook reader.

__________________
I'm just a dreamer..

Posted by alight on 07-23-2002 06:21 PM:

Hello,

Three things:

1. RE: But they sure do eat into your budget if you're a heavy user/heavy ebook reader.

I found that was the case with the Deluxe but have been really surprised at the difference in the Neo. In fact, at first I kept checking to see if the battery meter was really working. Not sure, technically, why this is so but I'm not complaining.

2. Yes, the Neos are way too slippery. I had to add a "tasteful" little touch to mine ... a couple of little dots of Velcro on the side. The black on a blue Neo doesn't look too tacky.

3. Don't know how long this is going to last but http://www.OfficeMax.com has Neo's on sale for $99 (one to a customer and free shipping).
Goods News (but maybe bad news if Hspring is beginning to offload them, though they're still full price at the Hspring site).

Wonder if anyone at Hspring ever reads this stuff. Nah, too obvious.

Cheers!

Posted by Toby on 07-23-2002 07:02 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by alight
[...] Don't know how long this is going to last but http://www.OfficeMax.com has Neo's on sale for $99 (one to a customer and free shipping).
Goods News (but maybe bad news if Hspring is beginning to offload them, though they're still full price at the Hspring site). [...]

This was also in the local sales flyer. It also said "While supplies last" which implies that when they're gone, they're _gone_.

Posted by edgenut on 07-24-2002 06:04 AM:

Re: Re: Re: Is it time for ...

quote:
Originally posted by Digisane

But they sure do eat into your budget if you're a heavy user/heavy ebook reader.

Here is what I do:
I buy rechargable NiMH batteries, charge em up ant when the batterys begin to get low on my Visor I charge spare batteries up and replace them, it works very well!

__________________
I'd Rather be Diving.......(with my PDA of course)

Check out my forum @ http://groups.msn.com/PDAPocketPCForum

Posted by Madkins007 on 07-24-2002 03:29 PM:

I also use NiMH batteries- I had two sets and swapped them daily.

(There is debate as to exactly HOW OFTEN to recharge NiMH batteries for maximum life- daily, when 1/2 charged, when nearly dead, etc. So many argue that they are 'healthiest' when kept charged that I tend to go that route. Besides- the other part of that question is 'how much differnece will it make?' With other kinds of batteries I have experimented with, the difference in lifespan is pretty negligible.)

Of course, my Sony T-615 is a pretty sweet eBook reader as well-

- Lit screen, readable under nearly any lighting condition, including pretty bright sun! Perfect for reading in bed!

- High resolution makes smooth fonts and smooth scrolling

- Jog-wheel and back button give me other options for working the screen, so I can hold the device in many ways to suit my whim and position.

- Integrated memory allows me to store megs of books on Memory Stick without touching the RAM- I can even store the readers here!

- Smaller and lighter than the Visor form-factors, including the Edge (except in thickness- and it is only a tad thicker!) Easier to carry in a pocket.

- Li-Ion batteries are a minor negative- except that I have a charging cable that lets me tap into any USB port and an adaptor for plugging it into a cigarette lighter, so I am rarely too far from a recharge.

I have had a Prism and Deluxe, and have a Neo and Solo, so I KNOW the Visors are great machines, but I had to brag up my Sony a little!

__________________
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are at!

Posted by Digisane on 07-24-2002 03:52 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by Madkins007
I have had a Prism and Deluxe, and have a Neo and Solo, so I KNOW the Visors are great machines, but I had to brag up my Sony a little!

I don't mind your little brag. Been thinking of going Sony myself, but I do not currently own any device that uses memsticks (or any other things that use memory card things - yet).

I know someone around these forums mentioned that Sony force memsticks onto us, but I think we decide to CHOOSE the memory sticks ourselves rather than having it forced down our throat, since there are other excellent PDA products that don't use memory sticks.

I don't know, I'm still undecided at the moment since I don't own any Sony products in my house AT ALL believe it or not (aside from my dad's 10 year old Sony video camera). But the Sony PDA devices may be the first device to get me to use Sony memory sticks. I heard that when you plug them in they're regarded as an external hard disk on the PC. Plus, they are available plenty where I live (unlike the Springboards)

Too bad they don't support Macintosh though.

__________________
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Posted by Limitles on 07-24-2002 05:02 PM:

quote:
I buy rechargable NiMH batteries, charge em up ant when the batterys begin to get low on my Visor I charge spare batteries up and replace them, it works very well!

You really shouldn't be using rechargeables. They can potentially damage your visor or cause data loss. Handspring warns against using rechargeables!

Posted by BudPritchard on 07-24-2002 06:22 PM:

Not true

quote:
Originally posted by Limitles

You really shouldn't be using rechargeables. They can potentially damage your visor or cause data loss. Handspring warns against using rechargeables!

I've been using rechargeables for over a year without any problems.

I use the following for my Visor and Digital Camera:

http://www.thomas-distributing.com/...4f-4aa170dc.htm

They also have another charger that will handle all battery charging functions. Expensive but worth it if you have a lot of battery gadgets.

http://www.thomas-distributing.com/mh-c777plus.htm

Posted by javabird on 07-24-2002 06:34 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by Madkins007

I have had a Prism and Deluxe, and have a Neo and Solo, so I KNOW the Visors are great machines, but I had to brag up my Sony a little!

Madkins007, I'm glad you did brag, because I have been thinking of upgrading my deluxe to a T615 (mainly because I like to read ebooks)! It's helpful to hear your review. Although I like my deluxe, I do find the screen is a little hard to read in the dim light on a bus or on a plane.

Posted by Madkins007 on 07-24-2002 10:00 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by javabird
Madkins007, I'm glad you did brag, because I have been thinking of upgrading my deluxe to a T615 (mainly because I like to read ebooks)! It's helpful to hear your review. Although I like my deluxe, I do find the screen is a little hard to read in the dim light on a bus or on a plane.

For anyone thinking of going to a T615, there are a lot of them for sale used at a lot of the marketplace boards across the 'Net as people upgrade to the NR70, T665, and so on. (here and www.cliesource.com, for example)

I'm still trying to sell my N610 (see my add in the marketplace if interested), but there are so many good deals on the T615 out there that it is a buyer's market!

Hey- I forgot to note in my comments... one of the big 'cons' www.the-gadgeteer.com and others have of the T615 (and to a lesser extent, the N610) is the rocker switch for up and down scrolling. For games, it MAY be a little awkward- but for eBooks, etc., it is great- a tip of a fingernail or a little pressure from a thumb and you can scroll up or down easily and comfortably.

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Posted by chesswrangler on 07-24-2002 10:05 PM:

In an effort to bring this thread back to the original topic, I noticed Handspring stock is nearing it's 52 week low. I wonder if there will be any new products to pull it up before it drops below $1.00 and becomes penny-stock.

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Posted by alight on 07-25-2002 02:27 AM:

Seems like this should be back-to-school campaign time ... but then again, if you're solely focusing on the Treo, maybe it's ignore everything else time.

Should be interesting. Wonder what's going on. It would be kind of funny... and sad... if nothing is going on.

Posted by edgenut on 07-25-2002 04:03 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by Limitles

You really shouldn't be using rechargeables. They can potentially damage your visor or cause data loss. Handspring warns against using rechargeables!

Well that's a good point and probably voids your warrenty if somthing were to happen, but you might be getting me wrong here, I don't charge them in my handheld I charge them seperate

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