Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Posts: 73

What Would You Do?

Here's what I have.

Handspring Prism w/Vaja Case
Xircom Modem
Magellan GPS (used occassionally)
Innogear Minijam
Memplug (Smartmedia)

I have squirreled away about $400 that could be used to replace my Prism but can't figure out what to do. I really would like to see Handspring come out with a newer PDA but I would also like to win the lottery. Both possibilities seem unlikely.

I like the Prism but it's old, larger than other Palm units, and I fear that Springboard module development is running dry. I like the Sony Color units but the peripherals are expensive. I need a modem and would like MP3 capabilities. The GPS is a nice extra to have when traveling but not a "must have" item.

I use the Prism for entertainment and to keep track of contacts, appointments, etc. I do use Documents to Go with regularity and the Prism is a convienant way to check email while traveling.

So, if you had what I had and $400, what would you do? Sell and buy new? Hang on to what I've got and buy lottery tickets with the $400? Open for suggestions.

Registered: Jan 2002
Location:
Posts: 19

I would certainly keep the Prism.
It's still an awesome PDA, and since you have quite a lot of peripherals it shouldn't be worth it to switch to the Clie. The Prism can do (almost) everything that the Clie can, and the funtional differences are minimal. I think that switching PDAs would probably be usefula after OS 5 Palm/Handsprings/Sonys come out.
Hey, and if you decide to sell your Prism stuff, how much would you want for the MiniJam? ;-)

tobeast

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 31

i am in the same boat....i have decided to wait until os5 comes out and see what shakes then....

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Posts: 73

Well... Here's what I did.

After wieghing the options heavily I narrowed everything down to three alternatives; keep what I have, go with a CLIE or go with a Audiovox Maestro.

I looked at the Maestro heavily but too much was being written about how bad the batteries were and I just don't like Pocket PC.

I have given up all hope for Handspring. The company showed so much promise with their innovations (springboard slot) but seemed to have stalled. Sony is cranking out new models left and right, Palm is trying to keep pace and companies once thought of producing only gimmicky organizers (i.e. Sharp Wizard) are releasing state of the art PDA's (Sharp Zaurus). Handspring has introduced the TREO but, I don't need a cell phone (got one) plus my cell carrier doesn't support the TREO. They have all but abandoned the Visor line.

This left me with the Sony. I had two in mind (the 760 and the new flip screen w/o the camera). The new CLIE looks impressive but I have some reservations about the flip screen. Call it a hunch but I think there will be bugs in the first production. I tinkered with a 760 at the store and really liked it. I know Sony has stopped producing them but it met all the needs I have for a PDA and I liked it. The screen isn't as sharp as the Prism's but it can be seen in daylight.

So, I have my Prism on ebay and a new Sony in the cradle. Got it for $379 from Outpost.com and will only have to find a modem for it to make things complete.

One side note on the Sharp Zaurus. I finally got to put my hands on one today and it's impressive. The processor seems slower than the Pocket PC or Palm OS devices but it feels like a solid device. Nice screen, accepts CF and MMD cards, and I like the thumb board. I started to regret my choice but the Linux based OS makes me hesitate. I have a good bit of Palm OS software that would be lost if I went with the Sharp. For someone looking to get thier first PDA, the Sharp is worth a look.

Now that I've "jumped ship" watch Handspring come out with a color Edge with a MMD expansion slot as well as the springboard slot and 16mb memory. If they do, I reckon the Sony would make a nice anniversary gift for the wife.