Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 12

All the reviews so far have concentrated on the benefits of the Visor's potential expandability through the Springboard. But if one is just using it for date entries, contacts, small excel sheets and basic things, what's the diff btw the Palm IIIx and the Visor? Same price, shorter wait. Same color too (for the Visor).

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Modesto, CA USA
Posts: 599

Newbie2000,

Flash memory capabilities in the PalmIII is an alleged advantage over the Visor. The Springboard tech is the advantage the Visor has over the Palm.

As a long time Palm user I strongly suggest that you review the Springboard technology before deciding wether or not to wait for the Visor.

Ask yourself several other questions:
Will I ever what to consolidate devices such as a pager, GPS device, Voice Recorder and other such devices.

If you are certain that all you want is a PDA that you can add some additional software too then the Palm might be the way to go. If you just want a PDA then buy a Sharp BOSS unit.

But, here is a reason to reconsider....Visor has been over-run with orders not because they have such a broad appeal to a new consumer product that is appealing to a whole new market segement, but because they already have or are capturing many Palm users to convert to their product...for the Springboard technology that Palm has not yet endorsed.

------------------
Richard

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Pittsford,NY,USA
Posts: 223

For the "same" price you get:
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>8 meg of Ram with the Visor Deluxe versus 4 with IIIx
<LI>Visor uses the same display technology as the Palm V (Better than the IIIx)
<LI>USB and Serial syncing (USB is an order of magnitude faster than serial) Note: The Palm USB cradle still talks to the Pilot via a serial connection so it isn't any faster than just plain serial.
<LI>Narrower form factor
<LI>Choice of case color (if you care about that sort of thing ... I don't)
<LI>Springboards ... even if you don't want one of the gee-whiz gadgets, the Flash springboard and the backup springboard are both great options.
</UL>

-Eric

[This message has been edited by emeyer (edited 10-13-1999).]

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 200

There is a voice recorder for the Palm III series from Landware.

There are low cost GPS system on the market already. Why do you want to combine it and pay more for a springboard then a stand alone GPS? Same for MP3 players etc.

The fact is, that the two systems are almost identical to 98% of the users. But the IIIx now dropping, dropping and dropping and available right now the choice is not very hard.

The Visor has even not a confirmed shipping date yet.

I bought a IIIx with 8Mb just because I don't want to wait for whoever knows how long.

To me IIIx has the functions I need and use.

Lets see what REAL new product comes on the market next.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: San Francisco, USA
Posts: 75

To add to emeyer's list of advantages that the Visor has:

- Built-in advanced datebook, calculator, and world time apps. To get the same programs on a III/IIIx you would need to install them yourself, and consume valuable memory.

- Visor is faster (According to the benchmark tests at Gadgeteer.com, Visor tested at 158% relative to 100% for a Palm III).

[This message has been edited by mportuesi (edited 10-13-1999).]