Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 8

I've be considering buying a visor deluze for about 2 weeks now. I have yet to make a final decision, however, and would like to know others opinions on the matter. Basically, My choices are between the Visor Deluxe and the new Palm IIIxe when it comes out. I don't know alot about the palm IIIxe other than it will be about the same price as the visor and have 8 Mb memory. I'd appreciate any input anyone has. Thanks

[This message has been edited by mallen (edited 02-05-2000).]

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Enumclaw, Wa
Posts: 268

But the Visor. Think about it, the palm has ALMOST no pros againt the VISOR but there is plenty of cons.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA
Posts: 126

mallen,

Since you placed this question on "VisorCentral", I expect you anticipate a very large "pro-visor" response. Allow me to prove you (or at least my hypothesis of your expectations) correct.

I've had my Visor Deluxe for about 3.5 months now, and I absolutely love it. All other minor arguments aside (and there a lot of them), the real issue (to me) is expandability.

Right now, as I write this, there are only 3 springboard modules available. I've got two of them. The backup module and the 8MB flash module.

Stand me in the middle of a crowded airport, next to the proud owner of ANY palmpilot, and ask each of us to do a full backup of our PDA's, and he will simply stare at me as I whip out my backup module and complete the backup in minutes without moving one inch.

Ask him to show you his 50 favorite games and he will explain to you that even though his palm IIIxe has 8MB of memory, he still can't carry ALL of his favorite games, whereas I'll say hold on a minute while I move some apps onto my flash module, to free up space to move all those cool games onto the Visor. Of course, that may not be necessary, many apps can run straight from the flash module.

Even if no other modules ever come available, these two (backup & flash) make the choice of a Visor a "no brainer" in my opinion.

Of course, it's just my opinion.

Dave

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 74

A few months ago I picked the Palm IIIx over the Visor. If I had to choose again today, I'd pick the Palm again. Why?

Probably the biggest thing Visor has in it's favor for most people is the Springboard. But as if yet I have no interest in any of the released or proposed modules. If you think you may want a springboard then add that to the list of Visor advantages, otherwise disregard it.

The Visor also has more RAM than the IIIx. So far after 2 months I've used less than 2meg. I have loaded everything I need and more. I do not play games on my Palm. I don't see needing more in the near future. I know only 4 people that own Palm PDA's, so this next comment is not statistically significant, but....1 has a IIIx, 2 have III and 1 has a IIIe and they are all using < 2 meg. One that has the III is using only 128K! If you think your needs include lots of RAM, the deluxe Visor may be for you.

As far as the backup module, this could be important if you travel. I don't travel much, but when I do I need to carry my notebook with me anyway (still no way to VPN into my company with the Palm OS)

Flash OS. Who knows, but there may be some benefit with 3.5 due out soon. Too early to tell but could be advantage for Palm.

Screen Scratches. I've heard the argument go both ways, that Palm and Visor scratch just as easily, and that Visor is more prone to scratches. I used my Palm for over a month without screen protection without the trace of a scatch. I started using vinyl anyway just for insurance. Having seen one visor with a scatched screen, I'm of the opinion that Visor scratches easier.

Cracking cases. Seems like only an issue for color cases so you may discount this if you don't want a color case.

USB - Faster is better...but I sync 2 times a day using TrueSync (Outlook98, Palm, Palm Desktop and Yahoo at the same time) and it takes <1 minute. I load about 6 Avantgo channels. If you are constantly loading ebooks or other large programs, USB will have an advantage. It didn't for me.

Visor has more advanced applications. This could be an advantage if you like these programs, but they can be purchased for the Palm also.

Cost - Right now, the Palm IIIx can be purchased for $199 with free shipping. The Visor is $249.

But I think that most of the people on this forum are not like me. They like to load lots of programs and will jump when the first springboards are released. If you are like them, the Visor has real advantages.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 10

I have to say that I have been very happy with the visor. I bought the Visor about a month and half ago and every person that has seen my visor have been very impressed with it. Most of them Palm users. The unit feels more solid and is actually smaller and lighter than the Palm. My screen is so hard to scratch and I have tried a number of times to see if I can scratch the screen. Apps run much faster on the Visor and the screen resolution is better on the Visor then the Palm IIIe. My Visor has only 2Mb of Memory and thats more than enough for me right now. I sync my Visor with Outlook 2000 from home and work and load about 6 Avantgo channels plus have other games and apps loaded. I thought that I should mention this to show people that the Visor (2Mb) version is a pretty good deal vs. the Palm IIIe & IIIx. The other consideration is the dynamic heap for each unit. The amount of dynamic heap in my Visor is 256k while the Palm IIIe has 64k and the IIIx has 128k. The bigger the dynamic heap the faster apps run as there is more reserved memory for a app. USB is great because it's faster to hotsync whether it's 2 times a day or 5 times a day. Faster Hotsync times gives more options. I currently do not have any springboard modules but I feel better that I have options to upgrade my Visor in the near future. In terms of apps and software the Visor packs way more for your money. The datebook+ is a lot better than the original datebook in terms of features an options. I use all the feature everyday and it's a real bonus in the workplace. I also realised that the Palm IIIe does not have the conduit software that is needed to sync Outlook 2000 with the Palm device. I would have had to purchase that piece of software separately. I have to admit though the service for the visor has been pretty bad but put that aside it's because of the great product that made up for the bad service.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 36

What some people forget is that you can get a visor with 2 megs of memory for 179 (plus shipping) with a USB cradle. Even if you can get the PalmIIIx for 199 without shipping, you still don't get a usb cradle or springboard slot. If you don't care about springboards or time it takes to hot sync go ahead and get a palm. Yes, you can upgrade the OS on the palm...where you cannot do that on a visor, but you can also upgrade the OS on a 486, 500 meg HD, 8 meg memory machine. Will it run better? I think not (from personal, expirience).
-Ann

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 74

Unfortunately some of us prefer to run NT, which also happens to be our company standard. A USB cradle doesn't do a thing for us.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Kuala Lumpur
Posts: 247

In the arguments for and against the Palm IIIxe or the Visor, everybody seems to have forgotten about a couple of advanages of the Visor:
1. The Visor comes built in with Datebook+, and a much bettter calculator (with a whole bunch of very useful conversion functions)
2. The OS has beenn tweaked to be so much faster - accordng to tests, it's 58% faster than a Palm IIIx and Palm V

That in itself is worth it. Datebook3 takes up about 300K of space if you download it from the Net whereas Dateook+ (which is actually a slighly pared down version of Datebook3) is loaded into the Viso's ROM.
As for the lack off Springboards, well... big compnies like Xircom and Innogear have already announced actual products which are going to be released withing these couple of months.


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Tan Kit Hoong,
Star Publications (M) Ltd

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 29

I started with a Palm Professional, bought the 2MB/beaming upgrade, then moved to the IIIx...and finally a Visor Deluxe. Why? Memory. I was running out of room on my IIIx. I use my PDA to synch with 10 AvantGo channels; I sync with Lotus Notes to carry around my personal and professional address books, schedules, class notes and meeting notes going back several years...I carry around reference documents, shopping lists, my checkbook, a Bible, and tons of other goodies that have simplified my life.

My husband has been the recipient of each "hand me down" and is now very happy with my old IIIx. He uses less than half of the available memory, and I imagine that he will be happy with that for a long, long time. He is using about 2.5 MB now.

I like to try new apps every day; with the expanded memory, I can do that�and I haven't even mentioned Springboards yet! The possibilities are endless.

If the IIIx had come out with 8MB of memory initially, I may never have bought the Visor Deluxe�but I'm glad I did.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 106

All the tech stuff aside let us not forget that:

quote:

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ALL PDA'S ARE **NOT** GREY AFTER MIDNIGHT!!!

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