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New Visors and Cell Phone Mod


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PDAENVY
Member

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

quote:
Originally posted by MIKE STH
[BWould also be nice if us old "war horses" that have spread the VISOR word the last year got first dibbs on the new units...[/B]

First dibs?? How about a loyalty discount?

That'd make me happy.

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Jeff

09-19-2000 08:28 PM

Usonian
Member

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 165

And will the Platinum/Prism still work with my Stowaway? (I know the Springboard platform is designed to be universal, but the Stowaway could be another matter.)

I'm more or less sold on the color, 160x160 or no. I've been playing with the Palm IIIc emulator and ogling a coworker's PocketPC color display these last few weeks.. when I got my VDx I didn't think color was a big deal, but now it's gotten under my skin. I wonder how long the 90 minute charge on the Li-Ion battery lasts...

I hope Handspring isn't long in releasing more details...

I'm all aflutter. Now I need to set about figuring out where I'm going to get the money from...

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09-19-2000 08:47 PM

codymc
Member

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 1

can i surf with the visorphone?

I know this is all rumor and speculation -- but do you think we'll be able to use the cell phone to get email and sync with apps like avantgo??

[Edited by codymc on 09-19-2000 at 03:58 PM]

09-19-2000 08:48 PM

Hoser_back_home
VisorCentral Staff

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: bright side of the moon.
Posts: 996

Being from a Metallurgical background and making the very difficult association i wonder if the extra 50 dollars on the Platinum will not only include the new chip and OS but also a polished Aluminum casing to go with the name?

Imagine and polished aluminum visor with the name 'Platinum'!!!

If it has a metal case i'm buying. Otherwise, i think i'll hold back on these announcements until after christmas...(still curious about Palm's contribution)

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09-19-2000 08:50 PM

Charo
Member

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
Posts: 181

we now know why the price of Handspring's stock went up a few days ago.

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Charo

09-19-2000 08:58 PM

foo fighter
Member

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

quote:
Originally posted by Hoser_in_USA
Imagine and polished aluminum visor with the name 'Platinum'!!!

If it has a metal case i'm buying.

Count me in! I'll take brushed aluminum over translucent plastic ANY day!

Final thought; With the higher price tag, I'm inclined to think that Handspring is building SOME type of additional functionality not offered on current Palm/Handspring offerings. Probably MP3 playback...thank god! At least, that's what I'm hoping is the case. If this is just another Palm clone with a higher price tag, I'm going to be really...REALLY PISSED!!!

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09-19-2000 09:00 PM

Toby
Member

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

hmmm...I've got no desire for a color visor, so that really doesn't make much difference to me. This raises several questions, though, ultimately. With the comments made about the current Visors not supporting the Glenayre module, is it really likely that they'll support the $300 phone module? I'm ambivalent about that one since it's a GSM phone and that service isn't widely deployed in my area yet, but it does give me pause about the general concept of the Springboard. Why did they push the concept if the current ones won't be supported by future releases? What (if anything) are they going to do for current owners?

09-19-2000 09:01 PM

Gameboy70
Member

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

Re: My thoughts

quote:
Originally posted by Trinition I agree that while the 64k colors will be nice, the resolution leaves something to be desired. That's another thread. If I could get that color screen for cheap, I would. But to pay $200 more simply for color? NO WAY! OK, ok, it has a rechargable battery ($40 from FullCharge when its available). But it's also BIGGER!

The resolution does leave something to be desired. I'm curious to see what the effect of the increased color depth will be on the current resolution. Unfortunately, the only color PDAs with a higher resolution are PPCs. The OS is still too kludgy for me to make the tradeoff for higher resolution.

$200 extra is pretty steep simply for color. I felt the same way when the Palm V came out. I couldn't imagine anyone willing to pay $500 for an ultra-slim form factor with no additional functionality. Well, we all know what happened on that one.

I look at it like this: it's $50 more than the monochrome Cli�, it runs the Palm OS (and not WinCE), has a much faster processor, has a better color display than the equally priced Palm IIIc, and has a Springboard slot. It's steep, but the market may be able to bear it like it did with the Palm V.

quote:
Same goes to the cell-phone module. Great. Maybe it'll have an integrated dialer. But, for $299, I can get a new cell phone with voice-activated dialing for A LOT LESS!

Having a cell phone integrated into the Visor eliminates the need to carry around a cell phone. I don't think that's much of an argument for a toy like an MP3 player, but a cell phone is something that many of us are obliged to carry everywhere. While it's hardly a bargain, I would gladly pay $299 to eliminate that extra burden.

The one thing I'm still waiting to find out is what carriers we'll be able to use. If I can transfer my Sprint PCS account with a Wireless Web subscription, then I should have a complete wireless handheld solution.

quote:
I think HandSpring might get burnt on these. I just hope those prices are off, or they fall quickly. Those were both my most-wanted features, but I've been turned off.

Yep, we sure do have to pay to be first on the block.

09-19-2000 09:08 PM

dequardo
Member

Registered: Nov 1999
Location:
Posts: 341

From what I've read so far I'm not really excited. Too costly for what's known (so far)

Mike

09-19-2000 09:14 PM

foo fighter
Member

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

Well, I was excited until I just read CNET's article.

Here are a few troubling quotes:

quote:
"The color technology they're using is like an entry-level version of Palm's product," said Thor, who noted that Handspring may be inhibited by the limitations of the Palm operating system. "They're constrained because they can only do what Palm has engineered the operating system to do."

Doh! I smell a passive matrix display coming....No thanks.

quote:
Sources familiar with the product say it is basically a lower-end version of the Palm IIIc, Palm's color device

Looks like I won't be getting my MP3 music after all with this device.

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09-19-2000 09:21 PM

VTL
Member

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

I'll be interested in buying one, as long as they support prior Springboards and the Stowaway. I've dropped like $450 on modules and accessories (Innopak 2v, Stowaway, eyemodule, and Springport modem), and I'll be major league po'd if the new units don't work with any or all of the above. It sounds the the Springboard should be OK, if the author of the article has his/her facts straight. I hope they didn't change the interface on the bottom, I won't drop another $99 on a new keyboard.

09-19-2000 09:24 PM

Gameboy70
Member

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

With a faster processor and greater color depth, I'd be interested to know what makes the Prism a "low-end" version of the IIIc.

09-19-2000 09:33 PM

Winchell
Member

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

However, I plan on keeping this news a deep, dark secret from all those people that I recently convinced to purchase a Visor.

I just know that they will give me an angry, smoldering "whaddya mean it's already obsolete" look.

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09-19-2000 09:33 PM

Usonian
Member

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 165

I just read the CNet article, too. I want to know what exactly "lower end" means. What makes the unit "entry level" compared to the IIIc if it's 16-bit, 8 Megs of RAM & a 30Mhz processor? Passive matrix, maybe... I'm going to sit tight and wait for Handspring to deliver the poop. Interesting dichotomy between the articles... didn't ZDNet buy C-Net a while back, or was it the other way around?

-Andy

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09-19-2000 09:35 PM

foo fighter
Member

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

quote:
Originally posted by Gameboy70
With a faster processor and greater color depth, I'd be interested to know what makes the Prism a "low-end" version of the IIIc.

That was my initial thought as well. In my opinion, the Palm IIIc is about as "low-end" as you can possibly go. In fact, it's really quite pathetic in terms of its design and functionality. Also, how can it be low-end if its selling for $50 more than the IIIc? That's like pricing the Apple PowerBooks lower than the iBooks.

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09-19-2000 09:37 PM

foo fighter
Member

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

quote:
Originally posted by Usonian
...didn't ZDNet buy C-Net a while back, or was it the other way around?

-Andy

Other way around.

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09-19-2000 09:39 PM

foo fighter
Member

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

If there are no significant features added to the color Prism, I won't be paying $450 for it. But if the $299 model comes in a metal case with a few improvements, and built-in Mac support...I'll take it!

According to CNET, Handspring will be announcing these new products on Monday. Hopefully they'll show us some nice pics or demo some units for us to see.

Can't wait!

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09-19-2000 10:05 PM

Charo
Member

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
Posts: 181

How will having the earpiece in the phone module on the back of the Visor work using the microphone as the receiver which is on the front of the Visor?

09-19-2000 10:09 PM

Hoser_back_home
VisorCentral Staff

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: bright side of the moon.
Posts: 996

quote:
Originally posted by Charo
How will having the earpiece in the phone module on the back of the Visor work using the microphone as the receiver which is on the front of the Visor?

my guess is that the earpiece will be above the screen....

http://www.telamarkt.com/english/telae.htm

good example (and possibly the ACTUAL unit??)

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09-19-2000 10:12 PM

foo fighter
Member

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

Charo:

My guess is that the Speaker will flip over the top of the Visor for easy access.

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09-19-2000 10:13 PM

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