Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 10

I know this board may be a little biased But, I am planning to buy my first PDA, and have read all the reviews on Deja,CNET, amazon, etc. It seems that the Visor Platinum is great, but I am also condsidering the Palm Vx. I plan on entering medical school next year, so I hope that it can help me through medical school as well. I wanted to know if there were any former Vx owners or if anybody seriously considered the Vx before buying the platinum, or god forbid, if anyone is so unhappy with it that they are switching the Vx. Thanks for all your help, i just want some opinions and reasons to consider.

Neel

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 17

I, like you you was torn between the Vx and the platinum. I opted for the platinum because of the Springboard expansion slot; not that I have purchased any yet. One of these days they'll come out with one that I can't live without.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Seattle
Posts: 5

medical school? I'd pick a Handspring

Well, since you said you were starting medical school, I'd have to suggest a Handspring PDA (I couldn't tell for sure if you were lokking at the VDx or the VPl). If for no other reason, the medical springport modules that are out there. Franklin has the PDR plus three others on modules.

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

As someone who just finished residency, and has owned a Vx and VDx. I prefer the deluxe for the reasons stated above. I really like the ability to expand. Regarding the Vx I really did not like the inability to expand, although the form factor was very appealing. For medical uses I would recommend nothing less than 8MB and the ability to expand. Which leaves you with the Deluxe,VPL, VPR and the TRGPro. Trust me, you will regred not getting a Handheld that is not expandable even if the form factor is very appealing. Let me know if I could be of more help regarding handheld use in medicine.

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Marc Chasin, MD

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Houston
Posts: 34

As a doctor myself, you absolutely must have the extra storage and expandability that only Handspring provides. I already have 15 Megabytes of medical stuff stored on my Prism and the Flash module, and will definitely buy the forthcoming Card-Access Thinmodem (with 8 meg flash memory) as soon as it comes out.
Think of a number, double it, and add 50%, - that's how much memory you are going to need.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: I'm not sure, but I see lots of lights everywhere.
Posts: 1287

If you have your heart set on a Palm Vx, I suggest waiting until next February/March. At that time, Palm will be unveiling a completely redesigned V series that will be available with a color display and a MMC expansion slot for extra memory.

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My blog: Pocketfactory

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 20

former vx owner

i had a Vx,.. sold it and bought a plat cuz its faster, and it has springboards.

had no problems. i'm glad i made the "upgrade".


one thing to note, the screen on the Vx is higher quality than any handspring unit (IMHO).

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 10

Thanks so much for all your help. I just ordered the Platinum from Amazon.com, and used the $50 off coupon. I am so excited. on a side note, anyone use the gps spring module yet? any recommendations?

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 4

I would agree with the general consensus on this board, even though I am in law, not med school. (No anti-lawyer comments now.) I had purchased a Vx for about two weeks when I noticed that there was a certain spot on the screen (about the size of a small fingerprint) that appeared smudged or darker than the rest. This was noticeable even when the Vx was off. Since that was already bugging me, it was a no brainer when the Platinum (faster and cheaper) came out; I ordered a Platinum the first day it was available, and returned the Vx. I disagree with jkoc about the qualities of the screens. The Platinum screen seems to travel or indent slightly more when written on, but in terms of display quality it is not worse or better than the Vx, at least from the short time I have been using the Vx.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 16

I am a RN in a Surgical/Trauma ICU. I have used a VDX for several months now and just recently upgraded to a VPR. I have an 8MB Flash Module filled with medical texts including the Merck Manual (it's a whopping 4.6MB of memory), which I think is still available for FREE at Handheldmed.com. Along with ePocrates, a VERY valuable drug book and soon Infectious Disease database, again, FREE! These references have been a great resource for me in my practice as a nurse. And all right at the bedside. Patients, their families, and my coworkers (nurses and doctors, alike) have been appreciative of my access to the answers to some of their questions. And also, as mentioned above, Franklin's medical springboards (none of which I own personally), seem like they would be great resources for any med student. I hope this info is valuable to you even after you purchase a Visor. Good luck. Feel free to write me for any more information. Jim

NOTE: Thanks to another user in this forum, I have come to realize that the Merck Manual is no longer available as a "free" download from Handheldmed.com. A couple of months ago, they offered the Merck Manual as a bonus for registering with their web site. I'm sorry for any inconvience this may have caused anyone. Please, check out their website for other "goodies" they have to offer. Many, many texts and references are offered there that are Valuable resources for medical professionals. Sorry, again, if my information caused any inconviences. Thanks.
Jim

[Edited by JimboRN on 12-07-2000 at 11:31 PM]

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JimboRN
"Life is just a test. It is only a test. Had this had been a real life you would have been instructed where to go and what to do."

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 46

I had the same dark smudge. I had mine replaced, and it was fine after that.

Also, the screen on the V series in indeed the best you can get on a monochrome PalmOS device. It has slightly better contrast and the blacks are just more defined. I've compared my old Vx to two VDX's and although they're quite close, you can see a subtle improvement with the Vx, especially with grayscale images.

b

quote:

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Originally posted by Virtuoso
I would agree with the general consensus on this board, even though I am in law, not med school. (No anti-lawyer comments now.) I had purchased a Vx for about two weeks when I noticed that there was a certain spot on the screen (about the size of a small fingerprint) that appeared smudged or darker than the rest. This was noticeable even when the Vx was off. Since that was already bugging me, it was a no brainer when the Platinum (faster and cheaper) came out; I ordered a Platinum the first day it was available, and returned the Vx. I disagree with jkoc about the qualities of the screens. The Platinum screen seems to travel or indent slightly more when written on, but in terms of display quality it is not worse or better than the Vx, at least from the short time I have been using the Vx.

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bill s.
lead artist, the 3do company
visor prism / casio e-100
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Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 20

there seems to be an inconsistency in the manufacturing of these LCD screens, both by Palm and Handspring...

i had a previous posting regarding my experiences with palmVx and Platinum. if youre interested, do a search on my id hehe.

Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 32

Usefulness in med. school depends...

As a senior medical student, I have a few points that you may find helpful. I think the usefulness of a PDA in med. school really depends on the your school's curriculum.

In a "classical curriculum" in which you spend your first two years in classroom setting learning basic medical science: gross anantomy, biochem, histology, pathology, pharm, etc... Then you spend years 3 and 4 in clincal rotations, going through various specialities: internal med., pediatrics, surgery, etc... On the other hand, some med. schools have adopted a "modern curriculum", in which classroom and clincal learning are intergrated into all 4 years.

In my opinion, a PDA is useful for quick access to medical information, but can never replace book learning. So, in my opinion, a PDA is less useful in a classical curriculum than a modern one. My school is the "classical" and I spend most of my first two years either in class lectures or with my face inside books that I have little time to do anything else. I don't think that a PDA with bundles of medical references will be all that useful considering that most of the information comes from your books and lectures.

However, a PDA (I prefer the visor deluxe w/ 8mb module... can't wait for the 16mb module to come out)is a must in your clincal rotations. I use my Visor to keep patient records and as a quick info. source on treatment plans and drug information. Also extremely helpful during those "pimping" sessions with the attendings .

So my advise is that if you are going to a "classical" med. school, I would wait. When you get to your 3rd and 4th year there should be much better and newer PDA's out there.



[Edited by KennethAaron425 on 12-04-2000 at 04:16 PM]

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KAY

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Houston
Posts: 34

There is a good review of your choices, written by a medic, at this link: http://www.handheldmed.com/newsmore.php?NID=156