Registered: Dec 2000
Location: June 10, 2001 San Clemente Pier , CA
Posts: 211

Since I haven't even seen the clie' for myself, I will hold off that purchase for now. After all, the hype surrounding the m505 barely lasted 24hours into the actual delivery before folks were thinking twice about their glowing reviews.
And, I still have my Vdlx, which I can practically make sing and dance with nary a care.

Still, I wonder...has anyone heard a clue of Handsprings intentions in
-price reductions(make me buy a prism, why don't you)
-color/size contender for m505,clie?

Personally, I have read on their site that they have considered developing with a dedicated memory slot. This would of course allow for mo'mem'AND modem, my personal dream app. I take a lot of digicam pics, and am sick and tired of the brick laptop. I don't want to buy another laptop. I'm thinking their time is done. I can do 'almost' all on my visor. But...still need to bring it along to offload and email .jpgs. The mo'mem'/modem combo would do the trick 4me.

Another question for anyone: I notice many are using wordsmith. Is this superior to docs2go? Could you elaborate? I have been very pleased with docs2go prog and especially their timely/practical/free upgrades by email service. And yet, I hear more and more of wordsmith. I believe I still would require docs2go for excel use. Do you still think it's worth the add-on? Has anyone saved a wordsmith doc and then tried to email as attachment over visor modem? Just always thinking of ways to eliminate the laptop except for the most laborious of web/code chores.

thank you,
Gina

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Sacramento, Ca
Posts: 35

Off topic, but if your wanting to loose the PC side of digital picture taking... consider a Canon G1 with 1 gig micro drive. THis is what I use, and did a 3 day vegas trip with 278 pics on 2 battery charges, and I still had room for 452 more images!! (these were 2100x1500 resolution)

I came home and did a sync to the pic of course, but you could run a damn long time with the micro drive and not worry about NEEDING to sync because your out of space.

James

Edited to remove some comment that could be taken wrong.

Last edited by Kintama on 05-06-2001 at 04:06 AM

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: June 10, 2001 San Clemente Pier , CA
Posts: 211

Ok, I went to staples to see the m505 for myself. The salesperson had 1 and offered to take it out of the box for me. He turned it on and asked me where the contrast button was. Of course, WE know there is no contrast button.
NUF SAID.
And really, it was that obvious.

So I bought the Prism and hope it's the Vdlx upgrade I'm longing for. I'll let you know.

It did make my decision easier when I read from dtplink:
The PRISM is an upgrade from the the VDX. As someone who relies on Visors, I can say that the move to the PRISM from the VDX was worthwhile. It's faster, easier to use (because of the color usr interface), and the new color apps are more rewarding to use.

thank you

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Sacramento, Ca
Posts: 35

Gina you mentioned that it's faster... significantly? Is it like putting Quick Bits on a VDx?

I'm about to make the purchase and sell my Vdx (cheap LOL) but obviously it's tough because the only real justification I have is the dim meeting rooms are hard to read the VDx screen while I type notes. And the Prism would allow me to have my best photos (I'm into photography), and for practical reasons I can have some images of projects in progress. Other than that there really is no reason to get it.

Can you see the screen clearly if you sit near the window? (We are moving our office to one of those all glass tall buildings and the meeting rooms will be brighter (not direct sunlight until last 1.5 hours of the day as sun sets). I would guess the brightest conditions I would use it in are similar to using your visor while in the car without tinted windows but yet sitting under the shade of the roof. Could you see it in your car during daytime easier or worse than your Vdx?

So I might not need the backlighting in the most of the new office space, but I still want it and want to justify it :-) I think I can kiss good bye the meetings on the picnic table outside in direct sunlight if I go color based on what I hear. The sony as I read it (I could be wrong) can work in direct sunlight because it's active and reflective screen. So I'll be curious about that one. But I already have a Stowaway so I'm sticking with the Visor line.

James

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: June 10, 2001 San Clemente Pier , CA
Posts: 211

Hello All and special thanks to dtplink for your encouragement,

It's a great day in Prismville.
Yup, yup. When last you saw me, I was in deep consternation over the lack of easy upgrade from my beloved Vdlx to my new Prism. I was using the backup mod to restore, and the Prism kept crashing upon startup.
It took me a while, but I narrowed the problem down to the Launcher III program that I use. Apparently, it was an old (99') version that conflicted with palm os v3.5. But... I couldn't remove it because pressing 'on' would crash the prism.
On the net, I searched for an updated version and FOUND A LAUNCHER III DEACTIVER. This worked perfectly. I also installed the digitizer patch from Handspring. So the graffiti is 'good'(almost as great as Vdlx). Remember, the IIIc totally sucked at graffiti. It had to go.

So yes, yes, yes, the Prism is a definite upgrade from the Vdlx. It's also noticeably faster. I can't comment on the battery life yet. And because I travel, I will have to buy the optional travel charger, $35.

But yes, starting today, I am a 'Prismer of Love'
GIVE ME COLOR!!!!

Gina

ps. any reason anyone can think of for NOT putting quickbits on my new prism. I want it ALLLLL! and I love that backup mod for saving me many,many times.

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Sacramento, Ca
Posts: 35

Well I've had mine a couple days...

If I didn't HAVE to have the backlight I would take it back to the store. This may come as a shocker to some of you ;-) but for me it's not worth the extra money except for that one reason. The pictures look better as far as gradients go, but look far more pixelated. The software doesn't require it be in color... I mean most app for that matter are black and white anyway (blue and white on the Prism). ANd the Deluxe seemed to be much faster.

I threw quickbits but not seeing tremendous speed increase despite it saying it's 3x faster.

But the screen is very easy to read in dim lighting. I will keep it just for that one reason.

Unfortunately I have to buy a new cradle for my PC at work to sync up to serial and charge it while I'm there since I sometimes have to have it on 5 hours a day.

Now that was my practical side talking..

My Techno-Geek side will tell you it's cool to see some of the games like zap, the pictures, and sorta thing. It rates pretty high on the cool scale.

But it comes down to the fact it's simply a tool for me not fashion for nerds. I have my PC for that LOL.

I love the palm os for it's ability to pack alot of tools I need in my day into a small space. this with my stowaway, and I'm unstopable. I love it.

I'm worry I may regret getting it and not waiting for the sony clie because of it's reflective screen... but I need a solution today, and I don't HAVE to do meetings outside... I just like to :-)

James

Registered: Apr 2001
Location:
Posts: 31

Yeah, Gina! Welcome to Prismland! I love mine!

Congratulations,

Barb

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Sacramento, Ca
Posts: 35

Ok it's been some time now to really use this new Prism. Once I tweaked it out with my hacks and apps how I really need to use it, and I put Launcher III on it with Easy LOck and made my own custom start up screen, and started to really use WordSmith and Bonsai heavily on it, I now see that I love it.

Here's what the real clencher was... I fired up the Visor Deluxe to check some files to make sure I had them moved over. Oh god was that screen hard to see. It was like going from a real computer, to a watch or gameboy. I was shocked how hard the LCD was to see. (I knew it was difficult but the FEEL of the unit and just using it felt like it was ancient.) Backlit decent LCD goes along way to making you feel like you have alot of power like a PC even if the apps are the same... it just gives you more certainty, and that is important when your dealing with important information.

Working with this and my Stowaway I feel like it's a practical laptop. (unlike a real one that is not so practical to drag around in most situations). I have a serial cradle on my NT system at work, and USB at home... between both locations it's always over 90% charged... always. It takes a full charge in about 8 minutes if its entirely dead... If I was ever in a long meeting (4+ hours) I could charge it during a break and be good to go.

The screen I can't live without now. I always knew this was my real reason to get it but it's proven quite valuable. I did the 1904 hack to change the contrast and it's now as usable outside as the Deluxe was inside in a dimly lit room. So I'm happy.

So NOW if you ask me what I think... If I had to do it all over again I'd get another Prism !!!

Was worth every penny.

James

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 110

Glad you like it, James. The Prism is addictive. After a day, I knew I could never go back to B&W. As far as the difference between backlit and non-backlit screens, I had exactly the same reaction yesterday when I finally got my hands on a m505. I've been using the Prism for four months, and I had forgotten how you have to hold the B&W/reflective units just right to pick up ambient light without getting glare.

On the other hand, I agree with the folks who say that $449 is way too much to pay. When you can get a VDX for around $150 (through coupons with Amazon, Staples, etc. - there are threads here discussing these deals) I can't see paying $300 more for a Prism. It's beautiful, but 95% of the functionality doesn't require color. (I got my Prism for $249 through the CompUSA rebate/snafu/whatever. And it IS worth $100 more than a VDX - especially when I eBayed my old Palm IIIxe for more than I paid for the Prism! )

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: June 10, 2001 San Clemente Pier , CA
Posts: 211

There are programs that are a must just for you folks upgrading from the Vdx to the PRISM.

May I suggest:
1. SplashPhoto-You can carry pics of the family, waterpolo team, vacation, and 'hidden' ones of Antonio Bandares. I did not recognize this major value of the Prism till I had one.
2. Replace WriteRight(handwriting postit app) with Bug me. Why, because of the the COLOR! Yes, the icon is COLOR. And the app is post-it Yellow.
3. Upgrade the freebie 'Big Clock'. Why, because the upgrade is COLOR! Their site has 4 photo(beach etc) backgrounds to this great clock/alarm app.
4. ......maybe Datebook 4 to replace included datebook+-It does have COLOR for individual appointments etc. I do like that, but it's not the simple(read usable) interface of Datebook+. I'm still new and undecided. I have though, moved the PDF manual for DtBk4 to my Prism to read for enlightment and hopeful addiction. I used 'docs to go.'

Anyone else have must-have apps for P R I S M upgraders???

g.
You know what they say, once you've tasted COLOR, you can never go back.

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

quote:

---

Originally posted by gbgood
There are programs that are a must just for you folks upgrading from the Vdx to the PRISM.
[snip]
Anyone else have must-have apps for P R I S M upgraders???
[snip]

---

RsrcEdit.
Let's you make color icons for all your applications.
I spent the first couple weeks doing this to every single app on my prism.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: June 10, 2001 San Clemente Pier , CA
Posts: 211

Thank you Vertigo, for the Rsrcedit suggestion.

...but I can't do anything until I get that dang*&#$@# memplug. I can't play 3D tennis against Andres Agassi, I can't download SAT hangman and it's free now...no memory left!
Dang *^%$%#!

PalmGear site says they're shipping TODAY, yeah!!! Last time this happened, and while I was dreaming, the site changed the ship date to 2 weeks later. But maybe this time....

I will install rsrcedit the first chance I get, and then have my teenage son walk me thru the programming of it. That's what you have kids for, you know, to help you with the new technology. Still, I rule at....at....at..vocabulary!. Yes! I mean, affirmative.

__________________
"I cannot live without books." Thomas Jefferson

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

Just look for resource 'taib1000', and then make a new 8-bit icon resource from the menu.

I guess I was lucky getting my MemPlug so quickly. I've seen quite a few posts complaining about palmgear. I wasn't even one of the people who pre-ordered/ordered first.