VisorCentral.com - VPL: Obsolescence on Fast Forward

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-- VPL: Obsolescence on Fast Forward (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=29995)

Posted by Keefer Lucas on 12-01-2002 10:11 PM:

VPL: Obsolescence on Fast Forward

Bad news on the doorstep my friends. I had been optimistic that my VPL would last another year or more, based upon the broad range of programs written for Palm OS 3.5. Well, there was something I hadn't counted on.

In the past month I have invested in two programs that touted their ability to access databases from an expansion card (Secure Digital, CompactFlash), which was of great interest to me. The first was the latest version of IambicMail, an otherwise serviceable $20 Palm email app for remote access through my Kyocera phone. The second is DeLorme's XMap for Handhelds . Both of these programs function well, with the notable exception that they cannot access a CompactFlash card via a Springboard module. This is not an operating system issue, merely one of programming.

Perhaps these "oversights" will be addressed in upcoming patches. But I am not holding my breath. Toby's new TT is looking better all the time...

Posted by Toby on 12-02-2002 11:33 AM:

What CF adapter do you have? There should be VFS software for either of the 'standards' out there (the Kopsis flash adapter derivatives and the Memplug).

Posted by Keefer Lucas on 12-03-2002 12:42 AM:

Memplugged Up

I have a Memplug and an 8MB CompactFlash card. Indeed, I can move files between the card and the handheld using the FileMover application to use on the DeLorme program, but that is somewhat beside the point. The "built in" functionality with the XMap product, which allows movement of maps on and off the handheld as needed does not function.

Similar issue with IambicMail. though without the workaround. The program refuses to "see" that there is an expansion card available in the Memplug slot.

I received this helpful explanation from Iambic:

[b]
Hi,

The attachment sending and recieving capabilities directly from the palm device require a VFS support such as the SD slot on the devices from Palm or the memory stick slot on the devices from Sony. You are not seeing a paperclip icon on your new message screen because the sled and CF card is not a VFS supported storage location. This support is part of Palm OS 4.0 though some older Sony devices with OS 3.5S are compatible as well. [b]

Posted by Keefer Lucas on 12-03-2002 12:47 AM:

Re: Memplugged Up

quote:
[/i]Response to Customer Service at Iambic[/i]

Hi,

The attachment sending and recieving capabilities directly from the palm device require a VFS support such as the SD slot on the devices from Palm or the memory stick slot on the devices from Sony. You are not seeing a paperclip icon on your new message screen because the sled and CF card is not a VFS supported storage location. This support is part of Palm OS 4.0 though some older Sony devices with OS 3.5S are compatible as well.

Posted by Toby on 12-03-2002 01:03 AM:

Re: Memplugged Up

quote:
Originally posted by Keefer Lucas
I have a Memplug and an 8MB CompactFlash card. Indeed, I can move files between the card and the handheld using the FileMover application to use on the DeLorme program, but that is somewhat beside the point. The "built in" functionality with the XMap product, which allows movement of maps on and off the handheld as needed does not function.

OK, perhaps I wasn't clear enough. Do you have PiVFSMgr activated? It's a VFS implementation on the memplug, and should support most VFS-aware applications. If you don't have it on your built-in Memplug software, go to Pitech.com and update your card software to the latest version. All you should need is your serial number. VFS-aware software (like JPGView) worked on my Edge, so I can't see why it wouldn't on your Platinum.

Posted by Yorick on 12-03-2002 01:20 AM:

Re: VPL: Obsolescence on Fast Forward

quote:
Originally posted by Keefer Lucas
Bad news on the doorstep

heh.

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Posted by Keefer Lucas on 12-03-2002 03:35 AM:

Re: Re: Memplugged Up

quote:
Originally posted by Toby
...go to Pitech.com and update your card software to the latest version. All you should need is your serial number. VFS-aware software (like JPGView) worked on my Edge, so I can't see why it wouldn't on your Platinum.

Thank you Toby. Works great. My confidence has been restored. However fleeting and briefly that my be. *S*

Posted by foo fighter on 12-04-2002 06:48 PM:

Go with the TT, you'll love it!

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Posted by Toby on 12-04-2002 06:50 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by foo fighter
Go with the TT, you'll love it!

Tried the Ogg Player beta yet, Foo? It's still a little rough, imo, but for somebody really eager for a music player on the T|T, it's a start.

Posted by foo fighter on 12-04-2002 07:03 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by Toby
Tried the Ogg Player beta yet, Foo? It's still a little rough, imo, but for somebody really eager for a music player on the T|T, it's a start.

No, unfortunately I sent my TT back. I had those dreaded dust specs in my display, and while I really DID love the Tungsten overall, I didn't feel it was worth the $500 price tag...especially considering the lack of applications for OS 5 (still no AvantGo) and missing functionality (MP3 software). So for now I'm back to my old M505 as my primary PDA, and my Dell Axim will arrive in a week. I plan on waiting until next spring for the next wave of OS5 devices to hit the market. Or perhaps the TT will drop in price.

What I really wish for is Sony to replace the T-series with OS5/xScale based devices.

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Posted by Toby on 12-04-2002 07:45 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by foo fighter
No, unfortunately I sent my TT back. I had those dreaded dust specs in my display, and while I really DID love the Tungsten overall, I didn't feel it was worth the $500 price tag...especially considering the lack of applications for OS 5 (still no AvantGo) and missing functionality (MP3 software). So for now I'm back to my old M505 as my primary PDA, and my Dell Axim will arrive in a week. I plan on waiting until next spring for the next wave of OS5 devices to hit the market. Or perhaps the TT will drop in price.

What I really wish for is Sony to replace the T-series with OS5/xScale based devices.

Sorry to hear about the dust thing (I'm still dust free so far...knock on particle board). I expect the Tungsten to drop eventually, but I'm not sure it'll drop in MSRP until at least late Q1 or early Q2 next year. Palm seems less inclined to put the screws to early adopters as fast as Handspring did with the Edge. I'm curious to see if the Dell is going to have the same gotcha that the lowball HPaq and Viewsonic seem to have. The Viewsonic has 64MB of RAM, but only lets the user access ~36MB of that to split between app execution and storage. The HPaq winds up a little better off, IIRC, but it's still not the boon some thought they were going to get.

Posted by foo fighter on 12-04-2002 08:02 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by Toby
Sorry to hear about the dust thing

Yeah, the dust wasn't that bad, but it was just enough to annoy the hell out of me, especially after paying $500. Palm made a mistake with its choice in display technologies, IMO. They should have chosen a transflective LCD just as Sony and the rest of the PDA market has done. Palm is actually one of the last hold-outs still using reflective LCDs.

quote:
I expect the Tungsten to drop eventually, but I'm not sure it'll drop in MSRP until at least late Q1 or early Q2 next year.

Yep, late Q1 is my guess.

quote:
Palm seems less inclined to put the screws to early adopters as fast as Handspring did with the Edge.

Well, it wasn't so much that HS was inclined to screw its early adopters, it's just that they had a dud on their hands and needed to move inventory. Even after several consecutive price cuts, the Edge was still not moving. It was the PDA no one wanted.

quote:
I'm curious to see if the Dell is going to have the same gotcha that the lowball HPaq and Viewsonic seem to have. The Viewsonic has 64MB of RAM, but only lets the user access ~36MB of that to split between app execution and storage. The HPaq winds up a little better off, IIRC, but it's still not the boon some thought they were going to get.

There seems to be quite a few "gothcas" with these new PPCs. Personally, I think Dell's device is going to be a flop. The Zire and Tungsten will be the two hottest selling PDAs this holiday season, and the Pocket PC community will be left scratching its head wondering how that could be possible. "But...but...but....we have $199 PPCs now....why are people still buying Palms?!!"

Dell's presence (and price pressure) will further fragment the PPC market. With PalmOS growing again, and PPC in decline, I see these low-cost PPCs as Microsoft's last stand in the PDA market. If they fail to take the market by storm, its all over. Microsoft will pull the plug and concentrate its resources on TabletPC.

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Posted by Toby on 12-04-2002 08:32 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by foo fighter
[...] There seems to be quite a few "gothcas" with these new PPCs. Personally, I think Dell's device is going to be a flop. The Zire and Tungsten will be the two hottest selling PDAs this holiday season, and the Pocket PC community will be left scratching its head wondering how that could be possible. "But...but...but....we have $199 PPCs now....why are people still buying Palms?!!"

I'm wondering which will appear first, that one or the "But...but...but.... Palm was supposed to be out of business in less than a year?!!"

Posted by Keefer Lucas on 12-08-2002 02:29 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by foo fighter

The Zire and Tungsten will be the two hottest selling PDAs this holiday season....

Would you rather find a clamshell packaged Zire under your Christmas tree, or a refurbed Visor Platinum? The way I see it the refurbed VPL is a hell of a better deal...

Posted by cml on 12-08-2002 01:41 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by Keefer Lucas

Would you rather find a clamshell packaged Zire under your Christmas tree, or a refurbed Visor Platinum? The way I see it the refurbed VPL is a hell of a better deal...

75% of the people getting the Zire won't care that it only has 2 MB because all it will be is a day-timer replacement. Palm isn't marketing the Zire at us (technical people who care) but at people who know next to nothing about technology and think the Zire looks cool.

Yes, anyone who did their homework will figure out that the Plat is the better deal

- cml

Posted by dvranik on 12-11-2002 09:30 PM:

Well they could get the best of both worlds with the refurbished Edge - style and substance.

I can't understand why anyone would want a Platinum. I had one, and it scratched so easily and looked like crap in no time. So I traded up to an Edge and don't have a single knick on it yet.

But you're certainly correct about 75% of the people getting the Zire won't care about its limitations.

Posted by Tom LaPrise on 12-12-2002 12:22 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by dvranik
Well they could get the best of both worlds with the refurbished Edge - style and substance.

I can't understand why anyone would want a Platinum. I had one, and it scratched so easily and looked like crap in no time. So I traded up to an Edge and don't have a single knick on it yet.

Unless they're regular Springboard users. The "sled" does nothing for the Edge's style (or thin-ness advantage). I also like replaceable AAA's because I go camping and don't have to bring a charger that way.

As my eyes age and the little screen on my m125 starts looking smaller, I'm thinking of a Platinum to take my Deluxe's place. Yes, I'd love a Tungsten, but that would be a LOT harder on my wallet, and my wife already thinks I'm nuts for going Visor-m105-m125 in barely a year and a half.

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Posted by EJSHUMAK on 12-12-2002 12:27 PM:

Comment on finish

Just a quick point--All Platinums aren't "Platinum" --

Some are Graphite//charcoal--
Which is a sturdier finish if you need it--

Not that I've ever had trouble with the "silver" tone with several units--

I realize the refurbs now available from HS are the silver ones--but there are lots of dark ones out there-- E-Bay ETC ETC--

Posted by alight on 12-13-2002 12:15 AM:

Plat and Neo = Best Deal

I sure agree about the Plat vs. Zire comments. I personally am a Neo fan but, for the sake of comparison to almost anything else, same difference.

I sort of have to laugh about the Day Timer replacement idea. I've been out of that arena for some years now, but back when the Day Timer "craze" broke out, all those seeking a life organizing miracle spent considerable amounts of money on a system only to discover that you have to be organized enough to set-up, make entries, and keep at it.

I know a lot of people really did (do) benefit, but also, there's a whole bunch out there still looking for a panacea. They'll buy a Zire and feel virtuous for awhile, then slip it in a drawer or "lose" it and wait for the next lifesaver.

What da' ya' mean ya' gotta' feed that thing?

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