Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 3

SURVEY: PDA life-span / life-cycle

Greetings! I'm conducting a survey regarding the PDA life-cycle. What happens to them? Do people break them, lose them, or simply outgrow them when a newer model comes along? All replies cheerfuly accepted.

Personaly, I am on my second Palm OS device. I bought a Palm Pilot Professional around late 1997, and left it on a train within about 6 months. It was replaced with a VDX in December of 1999. Its been dropped a few million times, and lost and returned once, but I still have it. Come Christmas time, though, it will probably be put out to pasture, to be replaced by either a Prism or a HandEra 330, or possibly something that hasn't been announced yet.

Thanks in advance for all of your input.

Registered: Aug 2001
Location:
Posts: 383

I had a third hand WinCe 2.0 Monochrome device that was broken when I first got it. I used it for 2 months before I got my Vdx which I've had since July and still works faithfully.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Atlantic Rim
Posts: 570

Brutish User

I am on my fourth VDX in 10 months. The connection terminals of VDX #1 became caked with powdered sugar, necessitating a warranty return. The replacement VDX developed a dead area on the touch screen; another warranty return. My third VDX was working fine until it flipped out of my shirt pocket (while trying on a new shirt in a TJ Maxx dressing room), the screen smashing into hundreds of little pieces. Reported it dead at 7PM, paid $80, had a refurb by 10AM the next morning. Refurbed unit #4 is working fine.

I will not upgrade until I can get integrated wireless on a plan that doesn't cost a blessed fortune. My Kyocera phone has a CDME connection which I can access my email, etc. with. It costs me $6 a month on top of my $35 cell phone bill. I don't want to pay more than $10 a month for the same connection speed with my PDA.

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 708

Started out with a Visor Deluxe in July of 2000.

In December I gave that to my Dad, and bought a Prism. Along with it, I purchased the BestBuy 03Year warranty. I replaced the first one because the front was missing some paint. I dropped the second one, like an idiot, and replaced it. The UP button never worked right on the third one, but I lived with it. I also dropped it and the other day the screen went white and all the icons started flashing. A soft reset fixed that, but I exchanged it anyway.

This time, I went with the Sony Clie760. I have now had it for one full day, and so far I love it.

Also, about a month ago, I bought another Visor Deluxe from HandSpring's Website. This one is for my wife.

I just love these things. I am a junkie, I readily admit that.

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In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. JOHN 14:2

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 16

Permanently Attached (to) Prism

Had glorified calculators w/ address books from '92 on...never really committed to any one...
HandSpring annouced pre-orders Sept 14 '99, ordered Sept 15 '99...
Oct 20 '99 (glorious day!) Ice Deluxe arrives, all others forsaken...
Sep '00 HandSpring releases the Prism (hmm...should I upgrade to the Prism?)
>3 foot drop to concrete floor< "I'm sorry, was that yours?"
Yes, I think I'll get the Prism
(Hmm...should I get that VFS Palm?)
>Kopsis releases VFSHelper<
"Hello, MatchBookDrive? I'd like to place an order..."
>Prism w/ 32MB CF< ...oohhh yeeeaaaahhhh....

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Color is on my mind - I dream in color...
You know when you have been around computers for too long...you dream in digital.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Here
Posts: 213

less than 1 year

The life-cycle for me is a little less than 1 year. I find it beneficial to dump (eBay) the device before the bottom falls out and upgrade also securing a new warrenty for the new device.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 100

I am on my second VDX. I was among the flood of people who called in an order the first day they were available at which time I *****ed and ranted for nearly 3 months until Handspring caught up with demand and it came. Ahh those were the days. It still worked perfectly a couple of months ago when I bought a VisorPhone and took the free exchange for a new one.

I suppose when a really cool new color Visor is available I will upgrade and the VDX will get more frequent off road "Bike Brain" duty. It's proven that it can handle the beating of jackhammering down a gnarly trail from its perch on the handlebars, but being my only Visor, I'm afraid of getting water or a knee or elbow in it.

So, I guess to answer the question, My Visor's life span Really depends on two things: 1) how soon Handspring comes out with the next big thing and 2) my Bike handling skills.

Last edited by mnartker on 10-04-2001 at 12:33 AM

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 366

I got my first PDA August of 2000. I don't even remember what it was called but I believe it was made by Sharp, it came out in 1997, it was second hand from my dad, and that it did not run Palm OS or WinCE. My second PDA was second hand from my Dad again, this time it was a VDX, which I got in February 2001 when my Dad got a Visor Platinum. Perhaps the most important and most useful thing my dad has given me since I got a computer for my room. My current PDA is a Visor Platinum that I purchased in early August from Amazon. No problems so far. My next PDA will likely be the Visor Prism or a future Handspring color PDA if it doesn't cost more than $400 come next summer.

Jason

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Littleton, CO
Posts: 17

I think about two years is good. I bought my Palm III about the time the Palm IIIxe came out and replaced it with a HandEra. I don't think there will be any advances earth-shattering enough to require me to buy a new one for about another two years.

Also that is about how long an unprotected digitizer will last. My old one was pretty scrached up in the writing area.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Austin, TX USA
Posts: 178

Got a 2mb Visor in December 2000, and have been using it heavily ever since, with no end in sight. I did add an 8mb flash card after about 3 months.

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ThirdMan

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 29

I order my VDlx a wwek after the were first announced.

Returned for a new unit after it was dropped and would not turn on.

Just recieved my new Edge today and will retire my VDlx to my mother so she can replace here Apple Newton 120.

Just under two full years with my VDlx. I hope that my Edge can be just as dependable!