Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 20

Does upgradeable flash let your PDA stay current? Is there a way around this? I read somewhere that the next operating system will be in colour. What if we could watch tv on our palm in colour?

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Spokane, WA, USA
Posts: 114

FlashROM or upgradable OS stuff only keeps your machine current things that both your hardware and software support.

If the only real major feature of the next OS is color support, but your machine has a monochrome screen, then you probably won't benefit much from that OS. I say probably only because there may be a couple extra little features that might help you a little bit.

Apparently, one thing in PalmOS 3.3 (Visors run 3.1) is supposed to be USB support -- something the Visors already incorporate. So in this instance (using this singular feature as an example for all those waiting to flame me for being too general), if you had a non-FlashROM Visor, the upgrade isn't an option, but also doesn't benefit you. Even though you'd be running OS 3.1, you already have USB. No worries.

If you really need color, I'd wait and see if they've really improved the battery life on color machines before you make the jump. Personally, I just need a light background and clear, dark text so I can see who I'm meeting tomorrow morning at 8:30 am or what Steve Wesson's phone number is, or what the total of A27*0.08586+B27*0.04 is.

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Chazzz Fishburn
[email protected]


[This message has been edited by Chazzz (edited 09-30-1999).]

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 52

Chazz, how do you know Visors run OS 3.1? Where does it say that in Handspring's official description of the Visor?

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Schaumburg, IL
Posts: 151

It's been discussed in a couple of the reviews but you can go straight to the source. The new FAQ on HS' website specifically states as much. You can find the full info here:

http://216.35.16.11/visor_faqs.html

You can also find this detail and much, much more in the Handspring Development Kit which provides full documentation on almost everything you ever wanted to know about the device.

[This message has been edited by Jackal (edited 09-30-1999).]