Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 32

Visor Prism Or Visor Pro?

hello everyone: i currently have a visor deluxe and several springboard modules including a 8mb and 16mb flash modules. even with the flash modules i seem to be outgrowing the 8mb built in memory. was wondering what my options were. the new "pro" model with 16mb internal memory looks good. also the handera with cf and sm slots may be a option or even the sony with the memory stick. i dont want to have to copy the programs over to the internal memory if possible. another thought was to get one of the visors that can be 3rd party upgraded to 16mb. handspring just dropped the "prism" to $299.00 the same price as what the "pro" is selling for. what does everyone think?

brian riffle
[email protected]
[email protected]

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Antigo, WI
Posts: 37

I have a visor DLX and just bought a Pro.
I was going to get the Prism, but i have a Geode GPS and have read on this site that you can't see the color Prism screen very good out side in bright sun lite, and i use my Geode out side in bright sun. also the since geode doesn't have there MMC option runing, i needed more memory for maps so the Pro sounded like a better option for me. And i was not very impressed with the Prism screen resolution. So I the cost of a Prism just went down, my guess that Handspring is going to come out with a new color model real soon. I am very satisfied with the Pro. Mayby my next one will be color, by that time they should have improved the Prism short comings.
good luck on your choice.

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Jim Klapste
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http://www.newnorth.net/~jimmy/

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 1571

Hey

Want color and don't plan to use your Visor much outdoors? -- Get a Visor Prism

Want extra memory? Get a Visor Pro

Want somethign slim and trim that you can fit in your back pocket? Get a Visor Edge.

They are all $299.

Registered: Oct 2001
Location:
Posts: 5

I'm upgrading from the VDX to the VPro myself.

I considered getting instead a 16MB RAM module, but I'm told it isn't the same as having the memory resident in the device. Apparently some programs don't run as well or at all when running them from the 16MB module. Databases come to mind. Sure, I could move them between the
module and the Visor, but it wouldn't be the same. I might just get that module in addition to the 16MB resident memory, but I just don't see the ned for it in the forseeable future.

I decided against getting a Visor Prism, even with the new $299 price, simply because I don't want to get a PDA with a second-rate color screen. I would much prefer to get a color Visor when they come out with 320x320 and a screen that's readable outdoors and indoors. Also, I really value battery life, and the VPro seems to have improved in this department with its revamped recharging battery system. I figure I don't need color that much for my daily tasks and prefer to have a long battery life for trips, or just being outside for the entire day.

I concluded that getting a Visor Pro is a natural progression from a VDX. A natural progression from the VPro is a 16MB, 320x320, less bulky, good-in-most-lighting-situations screen, and a battery that lasts for a decent time with continued use.

-Flood

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 32

thanks for your reply

thanks for all the replys so far, you guys are providing me with some good info.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 28

VDX to VPRo

I too have upgraded to a Pro from the Deluxe. Felt I needed more memory than color. I am glad I have. ebooks are a problem for Springboards as many of the readers don't read from a springboard. Now there is enough RAM for my maps and ebooks and the thing runs noticeably faster even if you dont figure the time to copy files back to the unit from the springboard.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Posts: 406

Re: VDX to VPRo

quote:

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Originally posted by bigredmed
I too have upgraded to a Pro from the Deluxe. Felt I needed more memory than color. I am glad I have. ebooks are a problem for Springboards as many of the readers don't read from a springboard. Now there is enough RAM for my maps and ebooks and the thing runs noticeably faster even if you dont figure the time to copy files back to the unit from the springboard.

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I have a MemPlug SM and a 32MB SM Card on my Prism, and when running PiDirect, this is never a problem (reading ebooks from the card, directly).
That just isn't true about readers not reading from the springboard, some may have problems, but there are quite a few out there that work flawlessly with external memory. Also, same thing with maps. Just load all the maps into PiDirect, never a problem.

If you are looking for more memory, it is EASILY come by. Most people will be much happier with color (if not the color, then the wonderful bright backlit screen).

I have my Prism loaded with lots of apps, and I only use 4MB of memory, I have about 24MB loaded onto my MemPlug. There are a lot of apps that are just 'once-in-a-while' type apps, those can stay stored on the memplug (like all your games, except for the current one you're hooked on , all ebooks, all maps, etc. etc.), because you almost never use them, so there is no reason to leave them sitting in internal memory.

Registered: Oct 2001
Location:
Posts: 6

What about the OS difference?

Lots of good points here but my concern with the Prism is the older version of 3.5. Could anyone offer any comparisons of Prism vs Pro based on the OS.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Posts: 406

Heh, I went to go looking for info on Handspring's site, but Apple's new iPod distracted me..

Prism : OS 3.5.2 H1.5

Pro : OS 3.5.2 H3
Fast Lookup
Silent Alarm

The Prism OS version is from my own Prism, with all the current patches installed, I pulled the Pro info from Handspring's site. The only difference I see (and others have noted) is the fast lookup and the silent alarm. They are basically identical. I'm pretty sure some if not most of the revisions had to do with adding support for extra memory.

Registered: Oct 2001
Location:
Posts: 14

Wow...an iPod reference! I'm impressed. If I hadn't bought a Pro last month, I'd have an iPod right now.

My first PDA is a Pro and I like it quite a bit. I chose memory over color because having extra memory can never be a bad thing. I don't need color for my daily use and I think the Pro's screen resolution is fine.

Registered: May 2001
Location:
Posts: 5

prism or pro for visorphone & eyemodule 2 user

I just recently broke my display on my visor deluxe. I am now faced with a difficult decision. I have wanted a Prism for some time and then recent price drop makes this very attractive at this point, however....

The Visor Pro just seems to complicate matters. I use the visorphone with my deluxe and have alway thought it was a pain to have to disconnect my phone in order to load apps from my fash module. In this instance the extra memory of the Pro seems to be a good thing.

I also like using my Eyemodule 2 and this is what makes the decision most difficult. The eyemodule would benefit from more memory because of all the space that the pictures take up. In fact I currently have to do the following to get around this limitation. I backup my deluxe on a backup module then do a hard reset to wipe the deluxe clean and then I can use the eyemodule with about 7 mb of free space(about 60 pics). Using the eyemodule with my existing configuration would only allow me to take about 10 pictures since I only have around 2 meg free in my normal configuration.

On the other hand I know that the eyemodule works best with the Prism since it allows you to display your pictures in color on your visor display and it also allows you to take color videos.

I am now even contemplating weather or not I should wait for the Treo.

Any advise for this hopelessly confused visor user would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Raul

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Kona, Hawaii ,USA
Posts: 40

Upgrade a Prism to 16MB

Of course this would void your warranty but...

Buy a Visor Prism, send it to Pilot Upgrades and get it upgraded to 16MB. Then hotsync your old Visor, restore your software to the 16MB Prism and voila! You're now happy as a clam with color and 16MB and a 33MHz cpu.

I've been thinking about doing this myself, I own a Visor Platinum and use a MemPlug with 96MB, but the outdoor screen issue with the Prism concerns me. That's the only thing holding me back.

__________________
"Real intelligence is a creative use of knowledge, not merely an accumulation of facts." -- D. Kenneth Winebrenner

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Posts: 406

Re: prism or pro for visorphone & eyemodule 2 user

quote:

---

Originally posted by rroman
I just recently broke my display on my visor deluxe. I am now faced with a difficult decision. I have wanted a Prism for some time and then recent price drop makes this very attractive at this point, however....

The Visor Pro just seems to complicate matters. I use the visorphone with my deluxe and have alway thought it was a pain to have to disconnect my phone in order to load apps from my fash module. In this instance the extra memory of the Pro seems to be a good thing.

I also like using my Eyemodule 2 and this is what makes the decision most difficult. The eyemodule would benefit from more memory because of all the space that the pictures take up. In fact I currently have to do the following to get around this limitation. I backup my deluxe on a backup module then do a hard reset to wipe the deluxe clean and then I can use the eyemodule with about 7 mb of free space(about 60 pics). Using the eyemodule with my existing configuration would only allow me to take about 10 pictures since I only have around 2 meg free in my normal configuration.

On the other hand I know that the eyemodule works best with the Prism since it allows you to display your pictures in color on your visor display and it also allows you to take color videos.

I am now even contemplating weather or not I should wait for the Treo.

Any advise for this hopelessly confused visor user would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Raul

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FYI, the Treo won't have a springboard slot.. (It's a separate product line. springboard-free)

Hmm, don't know what to say. The visorphone is one of those modules that you kind of have to keep in the visor all the time, so you can't have a memplug (etc.) in there as the 'everyday' springboard for memory expansion. The eye2 would benefit from the extra memory, definetly. If only the Eyemodule'3' would come out with a built-in smartmedia memory port, at least one of your problems would be solved .
Or, as M.B. said, get a built-in memory upgrade for the Prism. But that would more than negate the new, low price.

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Jackson, Mississippi
Posts: 51

Prism over Pro

I bought a Pro about a month ago, and just bought a Prism last week to replace it. What I didn't like about the Pro was that it was so slow compared to the Platinum that I owned before-Benchmark clocked the Pro at 162 compared to 204 for the Platinum. The slower speed was driving me nuts. The Prism clocks 205 on Benchmark, about the same as the Platinum. The color on the Prism not only makes maps and Fireviewer images worthwhile, but enhances the entire handheld experience. I don't think that I could ever go back to a black and white unit again. I've got a MemPlug with a 128 CF card so I don't need the extra 8mbs that the Pro provides.

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 85

Re: Re: VDX to VPRo

quote:

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Originally posted by Vertigo


I have a MemPlug SM and a 32MB SM Card on my Prism, and when running PiDirect, this is never a problem (reading ebooks from the card, directly).
That just isn't true about readers not reading from the springboard, some may have problems, but there are quite a few out there that work flawlessly with external memory. Also, same thing with maps. Just load all the maps into PiDirect, never a problem.

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__________________
...the patron saint of the easily amused...

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 17

Re: Visor Prism Or Visor Pro?

Any Handspring product you buy is already obsolete. Get a Sony Clie or better yet a Pocket PC.

quote:

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Originally posted by BRIANR2824
hello everyone: i currently have a visor deluxe and several springboard modules including a 8mb and 16mb flash modules. even with the flash modules i seem to be outgrowing the 8mb built in memory. was wondering what my options were. the new "pro" model with 16mb internal memory looks good. also the handera with cf and sm slots may be a option or even the sony with the memory stick. i dont want to have to copy the programs over to the internal memory if possible. another thought was to get one of the visors that can be 3rd party upgraded to 16mb. handspring just dropped the "prism" to $299.00 the same price as what the "pro" is selling for. what does everyone think?

brian riffle
[email protected]
[email protected]

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