Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Redwood City CA
Posts: 472

Re: Sensors

quote:

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Originally posted by BHansen
I'd bet that something's going to come along soon that gathers patient data like Temperature, Pulse, and O2 Saturation.

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Atop a wandering buffalo hunting aardvaarks
Posts: 148

Don't think I really need one; the Visor Deluxe is enough.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

quote:

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Originally posted by WSGreer
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on one of the zdnet pages about the prismit says there that the prism will be 16 bit and support 65,536 colors. is there any truth to this? if it really does that im buying it

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Yes, this is true. However like the Palm IIIc the resolution is still 160x160

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 34

Hmmmmmmmm...

I don't know, $499 IS a lot. I will wait to see how others like them. My concern is that it may be 64,000 colors but only at the "high res" of 160x160.

I don't know about y'all but my rechargeables have always developed a "memory" and I have not learned enough about their performance in PDAs yet (and what is this I hear about 6 hours continuous run time?). At this point I would feel more comfortable with a Platinum, I think, but my good ole Graphite Dx does just fine.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 1571

No color Yet

I take back what I said earlier in the thread. No color for me! At least not until the resolution increases. I can't read ebooks etc on a grainy screen!

Now the Platinum I got to have

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: NJ
Posts: 517

Can't afford it and wouldn't sacrifice even 2 mm in thickness. I was hoping the Platinum was smaller, but it isn't so I'll stick with my BVDX for now. Also I was a bit dissapointed in the lack of flash memory; for $450 you think they could have added some. If I spend that kind of money on a PDA I want it to last!

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Union City, CA, USA
Posts: 4

Color screens are nice, but I don't think I'll be getting one because the battery is not swappable. I'd have to bring the charging cradle along for my rather trips to the Far East. Not exactly letting me travel light, eh? Kind of defeats the purpose of owning a handheld. And God help me if I run out of battery on those long 13-hour transpacific flights.

Same issues with the Palm V. I'll stick with my VDx until they come up with a better power management solution. A NiMH-based solution would be nice, as many of us have invested significant sum of money on those batteries and chargers. NiMH chargers are also easier to stuff into the luggage than the odd-shaped cradles.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: New York
Posts: 8

Platinum

I just ordered the new Platinum model. I would have puchased a Prism, but I do not like rechargeable batteries for several reasons. First of all, 6 hours is not very long even if you can re-charge quickly. Re-charging means you have to have the re-charger with you. I prefer the convenience and availability of alkeline batteries. It will not be long before a "new and improved" color Visor will be available, hopefully one that uses regular alkeline batteries,

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Burlington, VT, USA
Posts: 127

The funny thing about the ZDnet story is looking at all the other web sites who plagiarized them. ZDnet said 30MHz CPU, rather than 33. Note how many other news sites who posted pre-announcement stories who also quoted that 30MHz speed, without crediting ZDnet as a source of the info.

I've been playing with a prototype for about a month now, and I was sold enough to order a Prism with my own hard-earned cash on Sunday. The speedup is noticeable not only in stuff like games, but also in little things, such as AvantGo page scrolling. It's sweet. And after having ditched my Visor Deluxe for a Palm IIIc a while back (shame on me :-), I'm hooked on the backlit screen. It's SO readable (except in direct sunlight, when it sucks).

One thing about the memory. That six hours is a worst-case scenario, based on having the screen at full brightness. If you turn the brightness down a bit, you should see 10 or more hours of continuous use for stuff like reading ebooks, etc. (Games drain more.)

Also, I'd assume someone will come up with an "emergency charger" that will recharge the battery using standard AAs or 9-volts, as TCL did for the Palm IIIc and V, and Landware did for the V/Vx. With that you get the best of both worlds -- rechargable for normal use, but the ability to use regular batteries in a crisis.

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Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Baltimore MD, USA
Posts: 717

Re: Platinum

quote:

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Originally posted by aldo
I would have puchased a Prism, but I do not like rechargeable batteries for several reasons. First of all, 6 hours is not very long even if you can re-charge quickly. Re-charging means you have to have the re-charger with you. I prefer the convenience and availability of alkeline batteries. It will not be long before a "new and improved" color Visor will be available, hopefully one that uses regular alkeline batteries,

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I fear that you do not quite understand.
If the Prism gets 6 hours with a Lithium-Ion battery, it will get about 15 minutes with regular alkaline batteries.

Handspring and Palm didn't go to the added expense and development costs of adding a lithium ion battery just on a whim, you know. They didn't really have a choice.
Those backlit screens suck batteries like a vampire on steroids.

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Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 219

quote:

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Originally posted by dennya
Also, I'd assume someone will come up with an "emergency charger" that will recharge the battery using standard AAs or 9-volts, as TCL did for the Palm IIIc and V, and Landware did for the V/Vx. With that you get the best of both worlds -- rechargable for normal use, but the ability to use regular batteries in a crisis.

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Probably this is not what you had in mind, but how about this? BTW translation is really bad because it's done by machine, but you get the idea....

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Here
Posts: 213

I don't think I could have 6 hours of use on a device in the course of one day. If I did, there certainly would be some time to top it off in the cradle. I don't expect an issue with the battery life providing you can charge it up at night or during a non-use period. Energy is not free. The reason for greater readability (which is a BIG part of the experience) is many many more lumens of light hitting the retina of your eye from the TFT display. I had a visor deluxe and sold it and ordered a prism. Although I loved the deluxe, I missed color when it came to my eyemodule pictures, web surf, avantgo etc. I'm very excited about the color device. I think it will improve the whole experience thru vibrant color and readability.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: New York
Posts: 8

Re: Re: Platinum

quote:

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Originally posted by Winchell

quote:

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Originally posted by aldo
I would have puchased a Prism, but I do not like rechargeable batteries for several reasons. First of all, 6 hours is not very long even if you can re-charge quickly. Re-charging means you have to have the re-charger with you. I prefer the convenience and availability of alkeline batteries. It will not be long before a "new and improved" color Visor will be available, hopefully one that uses regular alkeline batteries,

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I fear that you do not quite understand.
If the Prism gets 6 hours with a Lithium-Ion battery, it will get about 15 minutes with regular alkaline batteries.

Handspring and Palm didn't go to the added expense and development costs of adding a lithium ion battery just on a whim, you know. They didn't really have a choice.
Those backlit screens suck batteries like a vampire on steroids.

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 14

I just purchased my Platinum Sunday night (right after it went up on the web-site). I would have purchased the visor, except for 2 things: 1) Rechargeables stink, and 2) Low resolution.

I must disagree that alkalines will only last 15 minutes with a backlit color screen. Look at the Gameboy or the Sega handhelds. They take 2 1.5v alkalines and last for 6 to 10 hours of straight gameplay.

The major disadvantage to the Lithium Ion batteries is that they lose 20% capacity per year. I remember when the Palm V's came out and I saw a FAQ on 3com's web-site that units would need to be returned to them for battery replacement. This is the reason I never bought one.

I am very much looking forward to my Platinum. It should hold me over until Palm releases their new and improved (smaller)Palm V with color. I only fear that this also will have rechargeable batteries and the same low resolution.

Motorola and Palm have been working on a new GSM cellular phone which will have a color display and Palm's OS. Should be interesting...

Registered: May 2000
Location: Highland Mills, NY
Posts: 65

I understand your concen. However, most people, especially on this site will not use the same device for more than one year. I actually find myself in this situation. In your previous post you stated that you will wait for the color Palm V/Vx (1st quarter of 2001). If the VDx was Li Ion powered you and you purchase a color Palm V/Vx you would only experience as you say a 20% decrease in power.

I don't buy your argument

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 8

True, the GameBoy machines will go for many hours on a set of batteries but they are not backlit.

Well, I ordered my Prism today. If I like it I guess I'll send back my Deluxe that bought last week (didn't know the Prism was coming out). That's a good point about the batteries losing their life over time. I wonder if replacements will have to be bought through Handspring or if they'll be generic type packs that you can get for other devices.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 14

fmlydoc, I don't understand a word you just said...

Registered: May 2000
Location: Highland Mills, NY
Posts: 65

sorry,

what I am saying is that you will have had your Vdx for at least a year before you will probably upgrade to teh color Palm. If per say the Vdx was with rechargable batteries then it would not make much of a difference that these batteries loose power approx 20% per year because you will probably upgrage before you notice any decrease in battery power.

Sorry for the incoherence in my previous post

Marc

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 107

quote:

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Originally posted by jj_w
I must disagree that alkalines will only last 15 minutes with a backlit color screen. Look at the Gameboy or the Sega handhelds. They take 2 1.5v alkalines and last for 6 to 10 hours of straight gameplay.

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