Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Plainview, NY
Posts: 116

True or False ?
I called yesterday (Sept 29) Handspring to order a 2nd USB Cradle to hook up to my home computer. 1st one will be used at office. I was advised that the are not being sold seperately. Only serial cradles are available
T or F ?


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Dave B "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Posts: 32

ummmm.....
ummmmmmmm...
true?

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 179

if you called em and thats what they said then its true but what a bummer. they really are aiming these at regular consumers and not business...

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

Wait a second, are we lending credibility to the same CSR's who can't get quote a consistent price for the cradle?

I highly doubt that HS would bypass the opportunity to make further profit by selling a separate USB cradle. They may not be taking pre-orders for them due to lacking supply, but I can virtually guarantee you that they will sell a separate cradle for a reasonable price.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Rio Rancho, NM, USA
Posts: 129

My guess would be 'True'... for now...

Given the price difference between the serial cradle ordered with the Visor vs. without, my guess is the solo USB cradle will run ya about $40 when Handspring realizes the market for it.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Kalamazoo, MI USA
Posts: 27

Good news, I ordered my (blue) Visor two days ago, and ordered a second USB cradle (1 for home, 1 for work) at the same time. Price = $20 (ok, maybe it was $19.95...).

BTW, standard shipping was quoted as UPS 2-3 day, $6.95.

Can't wait!

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

Darn those customer service reps! What did I say?! I knew it wouldn't be long before someone came back and said "Joe Rep took my order for a 2nd cradle...." You should think twice before believing them 100%.

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

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Kalamazoo, MI USA
Posts: 27

Now that you mention it, I HOPE I'm getting what I think I ordered. Love to have a confirmation . . . like everyone else!

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 46

On 9/15 the CSR quoted me $39.95 for the extra "USB" cradle.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Rio Rancho, NM, USA
Posts: 129

$20? Seems to me that you ordered a SERIAL cradle, not USB. Not saying that you didn't ask for a second USB, but the price is right for what they've been quoting for serials.

The $39.95 sounds closer (see above) to what I thought they'd sell the USB for. After all, you want the price for a Visor Solo + USB cradle to close to, if not more then, the price for a straight Visor.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: VA, USA
Posts: 27

Just because USB cradles are "better" doesn't mean they cost more to make.

The serial pins on the Palm, and I assume Visor run at non-standard and wildly varying power levels, as one would expect from a budget designed 2 AAA powered device designed only to talk to it's own cradle. This level has to be converted to the +/- 5V swing that is the PC's worlds standard (25V is the actual RS-232 standard, and I think 3V actually does the trick in the real world, most of the time, and I think the palm is more like about 1V to under 1V).

USB on the other hand provides signaling power, even an "unpowered" USB device still gets enough power from the USB line to drive it's output.

That means the serial cradle needs a few parts, needs them sodered, needs them assembled. The USB cradle could be just wired and a switch (I think the hot sync button shorts two leads on the Visor, if it actually signals stuff on USB then I lose the USB device is more complex).

Of corse how much something costs to make isn't the only factor in how much people get charged to buy it...

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Rio Rancho, NM, USA
Posts: 129

Stripes,

I'm not saying that the USB is more expensive to make, but it makes sense that a seperate USB cradle has to be priced to keep folks from going for a Solo and a cradle vs. buying the standard Visor.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: VA, USA
Posts: 27

Ooof!

I didn't even think of that. Of corse the solo doesn't come with the desktop software.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: VA, USA
Posts: 27

According to the Handspring site http://www.handspring.com/cgi-bin/H...UserTemplate/77 the USB and serial cradles cost the same $29.95, and a USB "travel cable" is $19.95.

The serial cable is cheeper when bought with the Visor.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Kalamazoo, MI USA
Posts: 27

OK - looks like I may be getting a USB travel cable. Assuming the syncing functionality is the same, that's fine with me. In fact, looking at the options and prices, that's what I would probably choose anyway.

Since I'm about to be a first-time PDA owner, I have to ask: what is the advantage of a cradle over just having the cable? I don't envision myself using the Visor when I'm at the PC anyhow.... What is the experience of Palm veterans?

Thanks!

- Rusty

[This message has been edited by Rusty Smith (edited 10-08-1999).]

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Texan in Calgary for a while
Posts: 1361

The main difference between having a cradle vs. a cable is there probably isn't a HotSync button for quick syncing. You would have to bring up the HotSync program and tap the screen to start the sync.

Other than that depending on the length of the cable it could be a pain to sync. I have a Palm cable that is like 3' at home and I have to crawl under the desk to sync (good thing I mostly sync at work).

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James Hromadka
VisorCentral.com
Personal Website: http://www.geocities.com/jehromadka

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 23

Does anyone know whether or not a serial "travel" hotsync cable is available? I seem to recall something like that on their defunct e-commerce site. Or, maybe I was imagining....

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Rio Rancho, NM, USA
Posts: 129

Ed,

I believe that the cable was for the USB. I could be wrong, though.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Anderson, Indiana USA
Posts: 12

Hey Dabirk,

I'll sell you my USB cradle if your interested...e-mail me at: [email protected] I'm using the serial cradle and have no need for the USB.

Regards