Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 25

They have released an OS 3.5 full upgrade for all their units except the ancient ones that don't have a flash rom.



One wonders what, if any, Handspring's response will be.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Urbana, Ohio U.S.
Posts: 33

Well, I think we've already gotten H/S's reply . . .

and basically that is:"Sorry, buy a new visor."

Won't be suckered by that again. Next handheld will be a PPC -- for a variety of reasons. Not trying to start a war here.

I've thought briefly on whether or not I'd invest in some S/B modules and given the way that H/S has decided to not support Palm O/S upgrades (either through making devices with FLASH ROM or some sort of other manner), I don't believe it's worth it to continue down this path. Given this behavior, who's to say that they won't change the S/B standard?

Registered: May 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 87

I agree completely. Although I love my VDx I would never recommend that anyone else by one, or a Prism or Platinum.

I have invested quite an amount in software and hardware for the Visor, so I am willing to stick with my VDx. I'm spending even more buying a ThinModem.

It's a shame 'cause the only feature I want is the increased greyscale (IR synching I have via IrLink), and this is available in Palm 3.3, which was the de facto OS when HandSpring brough out the Visor.

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Jim Nurcombe
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Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 1571

No Need

All the major features (except for PQA) can be added to the Visor with third party hacks or software. I don't see what the big deal is about upgrading. I am sure Handspring made the units without flash rom for a reason... and I am sure that reason is a good one. Most people I know with PDAs either don't know or don't care that they can add programs to their unit much less upgrade.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Paris
Posts: 66

handspring has to change that

if Handsping stay with that policy with no flash memory or no upgrade available for Visor ,it's gonna sucks

in fact i am feeling that they are playing a little bit with the consumers: each time Palm create a new rom Handspring is going to make new product in order we buy it ?! and believe i will buy

so they will have to finda means to make their products more upgradeable via a flash module or somekind
(if anyone has info about that tell me !)

for example with the new palmV in color i think it is Vc palm give a new OS 4.0 !
so prism and Platinum ...

there is the only with protect case that i dislike in Visors
but i will definitely stay faihful to Handspring
excuse my french i am french !

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All about PDAs but especially for the Visor in french for the moment
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Registered: May 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 87

Re: No Need

quote:

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Originally posted by yardie
All the major features (except for PQA) can be added to the Visor with third party hacks or software.

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Jim Nurcombe
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Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 216

OS 3.3 is what you want

quote:

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Originally posted by nurcombe

quote:

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Originally posted by yardie
All the major features (except for PQA) can be added to the Visor with third party hacks or software.

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Great, how do I implement full 16-bit grey scale then? Everything I have read says that most applications use the OS revision to check whether the device is capable of displaying the higher definition graphics, as they use OS calls to display the graphics.

Applications like fire-viewer access the Dragonball chip directly, by-passing the OS graphics controls.

If somebody can tell me how to do this FOR ALL APPLICATIONS on my VDx I will be a very, very happy bunny.

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Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Urbana, Ohio U.S.
Posts: 33

Handspring and their OS game . . .

I guess my point is that while "Yes" many of the benefits of an upgraded OS ARE available via 3rd party providers in the form of hacks, etc. -- why should we have to do it that way? First, it's exceptionally inconvenient (and yes, that's part of what I'm buying when I buy a product). Second, hacks and 3rd party solutions are likely not as stable as a "real" OEM OS upgrade. And lastly, I guess I'm disappointed in H/S knowing they know this (the above two points) and that they're STILL issuing products that are NOT upgradeable.

It just doesn't sit well with the "consumer" in me. Say what you'd like about PPC -- but one thing most of the PPCs seem to have is continuity (although admitedly, they haven't been around as long as Palm).

[Edited by dhodory on 11-17-2000 at 08:53 AM]

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 117

but one shouldn't go backwards

Yes, PPC hasn't been around as long as Palm, but Handspring took a step backwards when they chose to use non-Flashable ROM. Logically, you should move forward or not at all--not backwards. Even if it was originally for keeping costs down as they have always claimed, it has now turned into a cash cow for them.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: vancouver, bc, canada
Posts: 22

Updates cost $$

I'd have to agree with yardie. All the major improvements can be make with 3rd partie hacks or applications. Also, palm is soon implimenting a fee for upgrades. If i am not mistake i think that it is about $30 bux, correct me if im wrong on this. I don't wanna pay 30 bux to upgrade my os. Patches are fine with me. Its just like windows, you want to have the ability, however, when it comes down to it, its not worth it. Also, I think that Hanspring didn't include Flash Rom in da first place to make the product cheaper. It was one of the hardest decisions to make before i bought a visor, whether i wanted flash rom or not. I personally don't wanna pay extra for flash rom. Oh yeah, they also didn't include Flash rom because they found out that only like 10% of the people actually changed their Palm OS.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 107

I love my VDx too and it never bothered me when I bought it about the non-upgradable OS. However now that there are benefits with the new OS's that have come out since then, of course, I'm starting to change my mind. I can easily live without 16-bit greyscale and PQAs etc but I'm thinking about what may come with Palm OS4. If it comes with things like formatable text in editors etc then I'll ditch my VDx in a hurry. Colour is of no importance to me nor is a higher resolution but if actual practical features arrive with the new OS I'll be getting it for sure. And if H/S still has no products with flash then I'll be moving on to Palm and considering it a lesson learned. I should have known that I'd want the latest and greatest all the time.... Silly me.

Cheers,
Ark.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Dallas-area, Texas
Posts: 82

I don't know why everyone wants a hack to use an app in grayscale mode. If the app only thinks it's doing 4-shade, it'll only compute data for 4-shade. This is the third thread in a month that mentioned a 16-shade grayscale hack...

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Tim
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Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

Re: No Need

quote:

---

Originally posted by yardie
All the major features (except for PQA) can be added to the Visor with third party hacks or software. I don't see what the big deal is about upgrading. I am sure Handspring made the units without flash rom for a reason... and I am sure that reason is a good one. Most people I know with PDAs either don't know or don't care that they can add programs to their unit much less upgrade.

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Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 638

Re: Re: No Need

quote:

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Originally posted by Gameboy70

the same reason the M100 replaced the IIIx

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Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 1571

Hardware upgrade

quote:

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Originally posted by Arker
I love my VDx too and it never bothered me when I bought it about the non-upgradable OS. However now that there are benefits with the new OS's that have come out since then, of course, I'm starting to change my mind. I can easily live without 16-bit greyscale and PQAs etc but I'm thinking about what may come with Palm OS4. If it comes with things like formatable text in editors etc then I'll ditch my VDx in a hurry. Colour is of no importance to me nor is a higher resolution but if actual practical features arrive with the new OS I'll be getting it for sure. And if H/S still has no products with flash then I'll be moving on to Palm and considering it a lesson learned. I should have known that I'd want the latest and greatest all the time.... Silly me.

Cheers,
Ark.

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Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 1571

Re: Re: Re: No Need

[/B][/QUOTE]

I belive that the M100 replaced the IIIe, not the IIIx.

BEN

-I know that I have not posted in a long time, school really sucks, it takes all of my time. [/B][/QUOTE]

Think of how much much Visors and modules you can buy when you graduate and making your 100K+/year School is good.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 431

Of course, I would prefer to have flashable ROM but I don't understand the big deal that some people are making about the lack of flashable ROM in the Visor range.

I replaced my Deluxe with a Prism but the fact that the Prism had the latest Palm OS was hardly of interest to me. I was far more interested in the 16MM colors and the 33MHz processor. The Deluxe is a happy little camper with Palm OS 3.3.

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 9

Does the Palm IIIxe support 16bit resolution? with or without upgrades?

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 109

Why we want gray-scale

quote:

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Originally posted by thatch
I don't know why everyone wants a hack to use an app in grayscale mode. If the app only thinks it's doing 4-shade, it'll only compute data for 4-shade. This is the third thread in a month that mentioned a 16-shade grayscale hack...

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Trinition ([email protected])

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 9

Well is it possible to have the OS3.5 patch in ram and use it just like its part of the standard OS without it slowing down or causing errors?