Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Moved to Clie Land
Posts: 331

Ok, the decision has been made, I have the money in hand and will get ONE of the new models as soon as I start getting feedback from customers.

It seems all posts have reflected on the positive and negative impacts of the new features. It occured to me that if we were to voice our "wants", the powers that be at HANDSPRING might just incorporate them into the next generation of VISORS. (Which I would naturally have to move up to)

I find that I am leaning toward the PLATNIUM as it has many features I consider critical.

1. I want 3AAA batteries to run my handheld. Swappping between a rechargeable powerpack and AAA's would be grand, but I wnat the peace of mind that comes with KNOWING I can get my unit moving at any corner store.

2. I want the latest OS(upgradeable would be a BIG plus as VDX users will find out when our old units cannot run new software)

3. Speed is not essential at the moment as I personally find my current BVDX quite swift at displaying information. MUCH faster, I might add than a regular PC.

Here are other features I find very important,

4. Compatability with my current VISOR accessories from SpringBoards to cases, keyboards, stylus etc. I don't mind paying $$$ for a new unit, but it must be able to use the hundreds of dollars of accessories I have already purchased.

5. Form factors should get smaller, not larger. This is no reflection on the current release of the Prism, but we would all appreciate that slim aluminum case that we covet so much...and dare I ask for COLOR too?

6. Price matters, but if you make a superior product, price won't be a factor. Palm's price drop of the IIIc will have an impact on the Prism sales though.

That's my wish list. VISORCENTRAL is a great resource for the vendors to monitor for the customers needs, Lets create a wish list within reason that might lead to the next generation.

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"Stupid Handspring."

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 2531

Amen Brother Mike.
I think we all had our hopes up for what Handspring had under their hat. My wish list is as follows
1. Flash ROM-not a necessity now but it will become more so as the Palm OS grows. I'm rather surprised Handspring didn't include flash ROM just incase the Palm OS takes a drastic turn. The current VDx users could be running the 4-bit (16 level) grayscale support the platinum has.
2. Metal case, be it aluminum or titanium or platinum.
3. Lower price on the color visor.

The best would be a new visor (could call it the visor pimp) with a 16 or 24 bit color screen, metal case, and flash ROM, maybe throw in 16mb of memory. Then discontinue all other visor lines and mass produce the hell of the visor pimp to keep the cost around $500 and I'm all over it. Keep it fast, too.

[Edited by dick-richardson on 10-16-2000 at 07:53 PM]

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-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Moved to Clie Land
Posts: 331

$500 and I'm in too...no regrets!

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 434

Flash-memory

I don't know that flash-memory really matters now. Remember, the next major version of the OS is tied to the StrongARM processor, so we won't be able to run it anyway. It is hard to imagine that Palm is going to do much more with OS 3.x - and 3.5 has all the bugs exterminated by now . . . so I think Handspring made the right call by going with the non-flashable ROM.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 5

let me add a few of "what we want..."

Will it be properly shielded for wireless communication?

If so, will current VDX users be able to trade up?

These are a couple of major points that will sway me!

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Posts: 790

quote:

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Originally posted by dick-richardson
2. Metal case, be it aluminum or titanium or platinum.

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emphasis mine

You think people are *****ing now about price, you'd have to buy a platinum-cased Visor at Tiffany's!


Seriously - I'm bummed about the LiIon battery too. One great thing about AAAs is that if you're away from home you can find batteries anywhere. I'd hate to have to travel with a cradle, especially a cradle with an AC power cord!

__________________
Jeff

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 31

quote:

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Seriously - I'm bummed about the LiIon battery too. One great thing about AAAs is that if you're away from home you can find batteries anywhere. I'd hate to have to travel with a cradle, especially a cradle with an AC power cord!

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A TFT color display has a VERY SIGNIFICANT power draw. Using anything but a Lithium Ion battery would result in battery life measured in minutes, not hours. At the very least, the Visor would have to move to 4 AA batteries instead of 2 AAA, like the small Casio and Sony Watchman type TVs. Even then, my experience using 4 AA batteries in a Watchman has been very poor -- batteries are sucked dry very quickly (maybe 2-3 hours using NiMH AA batteries).

Plus, AA batteries would make the Visor HUGE.

In practice, the Lithium ion battery in my Palm V has been wonderful. I had the same concerns as people are having now about the Prism running with Li-ion.

I can definitely run for several days without worrying about my battery. For prolonged trips, I can just as easily top off my battery using this:

http://members.aol.com/gmayhak/tcl/e-charge.htm
(The Palm V emergency charger)

No doubt something like this will show up quickly for the Prism. If you're going away for a week or more at a time, I would suggest carrying the cradle anyway, or some sort of travel charger. If you're not syncing at least once a week, you've got a lot more to worry about than just batteries.

-Al

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 1

I would love to see the following:

1. Metallic Case
2. Smaller Form Factor (similar to Palm V)
3. More memory standard (16 Meg)
4. Flash RAM for OS upgrades
5. Higher quality display (B&W, color optional)
6. Springboard slot (of course)
7. MMC slot (perhaps we can fit it in on the side)
8. AAA batteries, perhaps have an optional LION module that fits in the Battery compartment so people have an option. Or even a LION springboard module.
9. Faster processor

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Posts: 790

quote:

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Originally posted by Albert C. Lee
[QUOTE]
you're going away for a week or more at a time, I would suggest carrying the cradle anyway, or some sort of travel charger. If you're not syncing at least once a week, you've got a lot more to worry about than just batteries.

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Jeff

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Nazareth, PA
Posts: 99

How about a choice between rechargeable Lithium ion batteries or lithuim batteries like the one's used in camera's?

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http://signature.coola.com/[email protected]

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

quote:

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Originally posted by aryaba
I would love to see the following:

More memory standard (16 Meg)

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Not to rain on your parade but I belive that 8mb is the most the current OS can support. But that is the wonders of the springboard isnt it?

Liquid

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 638

Actually, I think that the current regulation limit the memory to 12 mb's as I saw a person who hacked their M100 with a 12 mb chip. Odd number if you ask me, but the more memory, the better.
BEN

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

Ben~
I should have been clearer, I should have said, "The most the standard Palm OS can take is 8mb." Can you send me the link to the hacked m100. I dont have one but I would like to see how they did it.

Liquid

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Indiana
Posts: 84

Crystal clear

I will never buy a rechargable PDA until the technology is advanced to the point that I can know that the battery will recharge perfectly - no rechargable battery memories, etc. I HATE rechargable batteries. Until then, I'll stick with my Energizers.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: wellington, fl. usa
Posts: 19

obviously i don't have the tech. knowledge most of you have.
i received my prism on tues. and after 1 day of use, i gladly gave up my aaa's and my deluxe. i've run photopoint, tealpaint, games, and a normal day(12 hrs) of work. the batteries never dropped below 60% and i recharged at nite.

it would be nice if they had a small charging unit to travel with


tem

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Baltimore MD, USA
Posts: 717

quote:

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Originally posted by Albert C. Lee
In practice, the Lithium ion battery in my Palm V has been wonderful. I had the same concerns as people are having now about the Prism running with Li-ion.

I can definitely run for several days without worrying about my battery. For prolonged trips, I can just as easily top off my battery using this:

http://members.aol.com/gmayhak/tcl/e-charge.htm
(The Palm V emergency charger)

---

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

Rechargeables

I think most people in this thread are over-reacting to the rechargeable battery in the Prism. Rechargeable batteries are much better than AAA's any day of the week. You never have to think about replacing batteries; you really never even need to worry about battery life AT ALL. (I used to own a PalmV, and the rechargeable battery was one of the things I missed when I switched to the VDX)

Re:Traveling
It's just a simple matter of throwing your cradle into your suitcase if your going traveling. Most people seem to have this weird notion that the cradle is this HUGE appliance they have to LUG AROUND. Everyone I know has a 3x3x4 inches of free space in their luggage, and every hotel room I've been in has an electrical outlet . Otherwise you just drop the Prism into its cradle every day after work/school or before going to bed.

However, on LOOONG plane trips one would be out of luck. I think it would have been wise for handspring to make the Li-Ion Bettery in the Prism into a battery pack, so one could swap in a fresh pack if needed. A cradle with a small battery pack charger on the side would be cool to go along with this setup

Morris,
Battery memory is a non-issue with Li-Ion. I believe only Ni-Cad were succeptible (sp?) to this effect.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 18

Re: Rechargeables

quote:

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Originally posted by Vertigo
Battery memory is a non-issue with Li-Ion. I believe only Ni-Cad were succeptible (sp?) to this effect.

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 21

Wish list

- Rechargeable "Platinum" version - this would calm many users fears because if you recharge before a trip, no problems.
- 240x320 resolution (color or BW)- The Prism is pretty, but it can compete with these resolutions. This would most likely require a faster processor though.
- MMC slot. Innogear stinks as a company, but they did show that an MMC slot can be designed in a covert space. Bottom line we need more storage when running some of these fancier springboard options.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 18

Re: Wish list

quote:

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Originally posted by CaptainVisor
- 240x320 resolution (color or BW)- The Prism is pretty, but it can compete with these resolutions. This would most likely require a faster processor though.

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