VisorCentral.com - Visor Edge more rugged?

Show 20 posts from this thread on one page

VisorCentral.com (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/index.php)
- Visor Edge (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=25)
-- Visor Edge more rugged? (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=13089)

Posted by alanolson on 03-16-2001 03:19 PM:

Hello Everyone -

I purchased a Visor Deluxe back when they first were released. I love my Visor, but the screen has cracked 3 times. The most recent was with a short fall of less than 1 foot onto my desk. Needless to say, i'm quite tired of the screen breaking.

I'm very intriged with the Edge model. I'm wondering if Handspring has made any claims that the new design, the metal housing, the metal cover, etc - will it be any more rugged than the platic-housed models?

Thanks!

Alan

Posted by JHromadka on 03-16-2001 03:28 PM:

I'll be mentioning this in the review, but the VE is very rugged. I keep it in my back pocket at all times and don't worry about breaking the screen. Sitting down isn't a problem.

__________________
James Hromadka
Old Friend

Posted by steelkilt on 03-16-2001 03:38 PM:

sit on it?

wait...you're saying you can keep the VE in your back pocket with cover on, then sit down ON it without worry? That must be an awfully rigid cover.

/Steelkilt

Posted by foo fighter on 03-16-2001 05:19 PM:

WHAT!?!

quote:
Originally posted by JHromadka
I keep it in my back pocket at all times and don't worry about breaking the screen. Sitting down isn't a problem.

HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND???

You are playing with fire, my friend! I always carry my PDA(s) in my front pants pocket. It has always been my policy to keep my gadgets as far away from my.....well, @ss, as possible.

But I do agree with you that the Edge is quite sturdy. Although I don't think it is as durable as the Palm V series. The metal shell reminds me of the HP Jornada.

__________________
My blog: Pocketfactory

Posted by JHromadka on 03-16-2001 07:00 PM:

Re: WHAT!?!

quote:
Originally posted by foo fighter
HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND???

You are playing with fire, my friend! I always carry my PDA(s) in my front pants pocket.

You must have big front pockets.

Works for me in my back pocket for both blue jeans and slacks.

__________________
James Hromadka
Old Friend

Posted by steelkilt on 03-16-2001 07:12 PM:

pls elaborate

James,

Please elaborate on your experience carrying the Edge in back jeans pocket and sitting down.

--Are you actually sitting on the Edge when you sit down?
--Are you actually sitting on a hard surface (wooden chair) with Edge in back jeans pocket?
--Does the Edge flex when you sit on it?

/Steelkilt

Posted by RocketScientist on 03-16-2001 08:08 PM:

Why is it that I can drop my Nokia phone while walking, let it hit the ground, kick it once, then pick it up, and answer the call that has been ringing the whole time... yet a 1 foot drop onto a desk cracks the screen of the Visor? I baby my Prism... while my cell, I toss around everywhere, and it always seems to be dropping out of somewhere. It would be nice to have the Prism as strong as that.

So, how can Handspring make it that way, without a case... my phone doesn't have one. I know that the problem is probably the screen size... and it is inherently weaker due to its size... but maybe a new technology is in order. I know that they (who every they are) are working on new screen technologies all the time, just a gripe I have about needing to baby my Prism.

-Russ

By the way, no phone or PDA was intentionally hurt during the posting of this message, or in the research.

Posted by Ed Gain on 03-16-2001 08:28 PM:

Its not the screen...

It's not the screen that breaks (LCD is fairly flexible) it is the glass used for the digitizer that breaks. Cells phones don't have touch screens so they are by default more rugged.

I understand that Palm introduced one of their models with a plastic backing for the digitizer. Much sturdier, but then the screen didn't look as crisp as the ones with the glass on them.

Posted by Toby on 03-16-2001 08:43 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by RocketScientist
Why is it that I can drop my Nokia phone while walking, let it hit the ground, kick it once, then pick it up, and answer the call that has been ringing the whole time... yet a 1 foot drop onto a desk cracks the screen of the Visor? I baby my Prism... while my cell, I toss around everywhere, and it always seems to be dropping out of somewhere. It would be nice to have the Prism as strong as that.

So, how can Handspring make it that way, without a case... my phone doesn't have one. I know that the problem is probably the screen size... and it is inherently weaker due to its size... but maybe a new technology is in order. I know that they (who every they are) are working on new screen technologies all the time, just a gripe I have about needing to baby my Prism.

Your Prism _is_ as strong as that. It's all about luck of the draw. I've dropped my Visor several times with nary a scratch, but I've broken the LCD on a Nokia phone by dropping it once. It all depends on the way it falls. The big difference is usually up front cost. Most people's cellphones cost them less than $100 (many were _much_ less) with a contract. The Prism was a $450 purchase. Watch somebody who actually paid full price for a Nokia phone like the 8200 or 8800 series drop it and see if they don't cringe.

Posted by mcmach1 on 03-16-2001 11:11 PM:

where did I read about all electrical stuff having to survive a 5 metre drop before the design is released?

And must you all drop these things? Have you guys got babies in the house? Do you drop them and say they should have been designed to be more rugged?

Posted by meitsjustme on 03-16-2001 11:23 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by RocketScientist
Why is it that I can drop my Nokia phone while walking, let it hit the ground, kick it once, then pick it up, and answer the call that has been ringing the whole time...

-Russ

By the way, no phone or PDA was intentionally hurt during the posting of this message, or in the research.

I've been using Nokia phones for the last 4 years, the one thing I absolutly love about them is the toughness. =P I'm not trying to say that they are supposed to be droped...but, it happens (which it does too often). We can't expect PDAs to have the same standard as phones though, not yet anyway. I don't agree with Toby on 'Your Prism _is_ as strong as that', and I'm not taking that chance. =P

__________________
Always have my Visor with me...... =)

Posted by RocketScientist on 03-17-2001 12:11 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by mcmach1
And must you all drop these things? Have you guys got babies in the house? Do you drop them and say they should have been designed to be more rugged?

I don't drop anything intentionally... and a baby is a bit different. I don't have any kids, but I helped look after my brother's triplets... and I didn't have any problem with them dropping. Generally, kids are a bit bigger, and if they do slip out of your hands, you can usually grab them by the leg, or arm, or hair before the hit the ground.

I am kidding ofcourse... but I would hope that surely someone would not think that I treat a child the same way I treat my cell phone. I don't treat my Prism the same way as the cell, and I don't actually carry kids around in my coat pockets, or try to punch the answer button on kids while running for the train.

I didn't think about the touch pad part... but I did figure it was a bit of luck in if it survives a drop, but I am not going to test that anytime soon. I am looking forward to the new soft technologies.
-Russ

Posted by JHromadka on 03-17-2001 04:09 AM:

Re: pls elaborate

quote:
Originally posted by steelkilt
James,

Please elaborate on your experience carrying the Edge in back jeans pocket and sitting down.

--Are you actually sitting on the Edge when you sit down?
--Are you actually sitting on a hard surface (wooden chair) with Edge in back jeans pocket?
--Does the Edge flex when you sit on it?

/Steelkilt

Yes, Yes, No.

__________________
James Hromadka
Old Friend

Posted by Sean Li on 03-21-2001 01:41 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by alanolson
Hello Everyone -

I purchased a Visor Deluxe back when they first were released. I love my Visor, but the screen has cracked 3 times. The most recent was with a short fall of less than 1 foot onto my desk. Needless to say, i'm quite tired of the screen breaking.

I'm very intriged with the Edge model. I'm wondering if Handspring has made any claims that the new design, the metal housing, the metal cover, etc - will it be any more rugged than the platic-housed models?

Thanks!

Alan

I dropped it yesterday from about 1 foot onto a desk, after a bit of juggling (wasn't paying attention while looking up my calendar). It made a lot of noise and the screen protector came off (didn't break - just came off), but it seems fine.

It certainly feels very solid. I'm more concerned about scratches.

Posted by Toby on 03-21-2001 02:09 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by meitsjustme
{...} We can't expect PDAs to have the same standard as phones though, not yet anyway.

Why not? My PDA cost me significantly more than my phone, so I'm more careful with it, but there's not much reason that it should be any less rugged.

quote:
I don't agree with Toby on 'Your Prism _is_ as strong as that',

Why don't you agree? I gave reasons for my thinking that way. I _know_ that a phone can break when dropping only from waist height onto tile. I _know_ that a PDA won't necessarily break when dropping from weight or chest height (one of those on concrete when I was reflooring part of my house). There are no guarantees either way.

quote:
and I'm not taking that chance. =P

Well, neither am I, but I don't take that chance with my phone either after having broken an LCD already. I'm not recommending that people start dropping either their cellphone or their PDA. I'm just saying that there's no reason to feel that dropping a cellphone won't break it, or that dropping a PDA necessarily will.

All times are GMT. The time now is 07:17 PM.

Show 20 posts from this thread on one page