Registered: Aug 2001
Location:
Posts: 383

Using your Visor at school!

For those of you who use your Visor at school (especially high school) I'm interested in a few things:

1. What reactions do you get from your teachers?
2. What reactions do you get from your fellow students?
3. How many other students have Visors or other PDAs?
4. What do you use it for, and what programs?

For me:
1. The teachers generally don't acknowledge it, or think its cool. Some teachers haven't figured out its purpose yet so writing down homework can be strange sometimes (I was once asked to put it away by my English teacher, I think she thought I was playing a game.)
2. In general the students think it's really cool, and view it as a glorified gameboy wanting to use it to play games at lunch and flex.
3. AFAIK one other student has one but he doesn't use it as much as I use mine. Even when he takes it to school it rarely will leave his pocket. I still haven't found a chance to "enlighten" him with all the cool things the PDA can do.
4. Well I use the built in Contact list to keep contact information on the school, such as different departments. I use the schedule to put in information on when school club meetings are, and special events. I entered my entire school calender into the schedule program. I use the Wordsmith (registered) Memopad to write down my homework and schedule. The word smith document editor is used to edit/write homework essays on the way home from school on the bus. AvantGo has the NYT so I can read the news when I got some free time.

Registered: May 2001
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 101

Hey there.

I don't use mine in school too much for fear of being thought of as a nerd. But I do pull mine out during Chem Lab and such for quick conversions, the periodic table, and for plotting graphs. I always get reactions of "OOOOH! Look at that!" While I'm waiting for lectures to begin I use AvantGo to read the New York Times or CNET or something. Usuallly people think I'm playing games. Guys always ask me (when I reading the NYT or something) "Oh, playin' games, huh?", and I'm like "No, just readin' the news." That kind of shocks people. Sometime I'll pull out my Stowaway and start responding to email.

I thought a whole lot more people would have PDAs. Especially college students, you know, with the price of some going so low lately. But not as many students have one as I would have thought.

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P.S. I feel at home with geeks like you.

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Spring Lake Park, MN (45min from minneapolis)
Posts: 313

1. well most of my teachers still havent found out i have one even though i use it class, in pride(homeroom) before school starts i will usually play a few games and the teacher notces it(i can tell) but doesnt say anything. and during lunch i like to play on it sometimes with my friend, and dean of students just came op to me and picked it up and started looking at at (very happily, he likes electronice) and asks how much it cost, i said 160 for the handheld and 145 for the modual even even stated "what you have on this, games?" and smiled. he did this with my friends palm and with other peoples graphing calcs,. although i never saw him with a visor or palm many students say he has one.

2. they will always look at me and say what im playing (much like you) and ask to play and bug me almost everday to play on it, some times i let them and i often try not to have a huddle of kids by me because of what the teacher would think. but i heard a few kids say things like, im going to get one for christmas, oh ya i want one of those.

3. so far i know of only one person with a palm or visor(im in the 8th grade)and we like to beam messages to eachother, and i found this neat virus that puts softresets on 100 apps when you run it.

4.i have about 206 programs on my visor, most are games, but i have many educational, utilities, and system apps,
i use these programs for school,add time, chem table, cityzen, converter, see spot run, ear trainer, easy calc(want apcalc),gradepoint, medcalc, metrodome, moon phase, morse pilot, noah pro, ohm, pgeo, prime, pte, quiz me, roman, weather, and wordsmith.

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Registered: Mar 2000
Location: NC, Indiana
Posts: 465

1. Teachers either don't care or they gaggle at it for a minute. No negatives responses to it
2. Other students ask tons of questions about it--mostly asking for a copy of what I'm typing. It happens enough that I don't bother using it with my stowaway really. It causes too much of a scene.
3. I know of 3 others at my school. My chem teacher has a ppc that he likes.
4. games, science apps

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-Vincent

Registered: May 2001
Location: Chicago
Posts: 236

well i am a college student and i use my Visor Edge mainly for school. i guess it might be odd to use it high school. given the harsh judements and ignorant youngins. might be called nerds or geeks or loser geeks.

1. Well my proffesors dont even care that i have one. when they ask a question to the class and i know it all the time cause avantgo, give me soo much info. my teachers jus think i am smart. hahahahaah fooled them

2. fellow students alway want to try to write text by using graffitti but end up spelling "lkfggofvl".

3. well i am the only one that has one i have seen so far in my school.

4. as for this question go to discussion, software and then, 10 best apllications.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 441

My proffesors don't seem to care, in fact one of my professors from last year used a Palm V and a GoType keyboard to lecture off of. My Prism is extremely helpful for notetaking and quick reference to stuff. I have only seen a few other people with palms/visors. One guy in my Computer Science class last quarter had a Prism and few others had Palm V's. I see a lot of people with m100's walking around campus doodling or jotting notes as they walk along. Kinda high tech school down here if you ask me.

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 32

I started using a PDA my junior year in college, and the change that it made was wonderful. I was finally organized.

1. One of my teachers went out and bought a Palm III after I showed him what all you could do with a PDA. He will see me in the halls and ask me a question about how to do something with it every once in a while.

2. People at the college level generally don't even notice it. They are all to busy either writing down assignments in their own PDA or their Day Planner.

3. Well, I know probably a minimum of 30 people who use PDA's on a regular basis. It is really nice to have other people around who understand.(and it is nice to get the new games and cool programs from other people and be able to give them the cool stuff that you find too)

4. I use Datebook+ for Calendar, Wordsmith for notes in class, built in mail app for replying to email, Address Book for Contacts, Datebook+ for ToDo lists and floating events, Occasional games, beaming my business card to others with PDA's, BudgetIt, AvantGo, and not to forget the most important use, and alarm clock to wake me up to get to school on time.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 832

I will be attending a correspondence course this fall so 1-3 do not apply, I will however use a calculator program if the built in one isn't sufficient, I have also looked into the calculator modules, but don't know if I need graphing (hope not) or if I would be better off with the old scientific calc I had in high school, anybody used the calculator module? Seems kinda pricey.
Sterling

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Elkins Park, Pa
Posts: 577

Re: Using your Visor at school!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Techie2000
1. What reactions do you get from your teachers?
2. What reactions do you get from your fellow students?
3. How many other students have Visors or other PDAs?
4. What do you use it for, and what programs?

---

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-Bernie

"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice president, and that one word is 'to be prepared'.
-Dan Quayle

Registered: Aug 2001
Location: TX
Posts: 80

college use

1) I am taking 2 internet courses so I don't get the instructor's perspective.

2) ditto

3) clueless (I only go to campus for tests at which times they only issue me a $2 calculator for use on the test, drats!)


4) The instructors post their notes on the class websites and I copy and paste them into word (transfer them to Wordsmith) and take them with me where ever I go so I can study during my breaks or when my supervisor isn't looking (sometimes when she is, she thinks I am doing "real" work ). One of the instructors posts answers to study questions in PDF format so I can copy them also and read them with Acrobat Reader for Palm. I use Due Yesterday to keep up with all the test, homework, and program due dates. I am so organized it is pathetic! Of course, class work can lead to stress which is why Vexed, Bejeweled and Battle Ship where invented....

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 366

1. All of my teachers want one because of the many ways they see me use it for. For example, I type out my Comp papers on my Visor with a Stowaway and print rough drafts using InStep Print and my Comp teacher's new IR printer. That teacher is quite happy I have one because it is one less student who has to use the computer. The American Government teacher I had last year (and for whom I am now a teacher helper) got a Palm Vx over the summer because of seeing me use my Visor. Often times while the other students are taking tests and I don't have to grade anything, we are playing ExtraTime, a fooseball, IR game. My Calc teacher wants one because she sees me using BugMe! messenger to draw the graphs she puts up on the board. Most of the other teachers thinks the Visor is pretty neat.

2. Everything from some thinking that my Visor is way to much technology for one person to have to one kid wanting to sit next to me every AP Physics class to play Dope Wars.

3. I know of at least one student who has a Visor Deluxe, but that is a biased data point becuase I sold it to him. However, while walking through the hallway last week, I could have swore someone talking to their friend saying that they "wanted to get that in their Visor." There was a senior last year who had a Visor and a Stowaway.

4. Avantgo, 4.0Student, WordSmith, Planetarium, Congugator, Ultralingua, Datebk4, eyemodule2, gMovie, cSpotRun, iSilo, TomeRaider, JPGView, ThinkDB 2.5, YAUC (unit converter), Noah Pro, TrueTerm (thesaurus)

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Not so sunny, San Diego, CA
Posts: 51

Me? A geek?!

I've been using my VDx with a Stowaway for about 1.5 years now at San Diego State University. Even though Palms are sold on campus, I've only seen a handful of other PDA users.. one Palm V, two Visor Solos.. on a campus of 40,000.. of course I'm mostly in politics/economics classes, so most of the technophiles aren't in my classes..
So far as I've noticed, most of my professors are too busy lecturing to even notice what the students are doing, if anything. I've played solitaire through a few classes when the prof was screwing around.. As long as the noise is turned off, no probs..
Some of the students give me looks when I come into class with nothing but my RhinoSkin2000 on my hip, and proceed to unfold my stowaway and plug in the VDx. Still, I've only had maybe 5 people ask me about the thing in the past 1.5 years.. like I said, no technophiles.. For the most part, I don't think most students know these things exist, or what they can actually do.. Almost everyone I run into that sees it asks what games I have.. It's seen as either a glorified DayRunner or a brainy GameBoy.. It's when I'm staying ahead of the prof on notetaking, instead of madly scribbling cryptic notes to keep up with them, that it gets noticed..
I've tried using WordSmith for taking notes (PoliSci & Econ = lots of lecture classes), but it didn't really have the kind of structured tools I needed for how I take notes. Finally stumbled on ThoughtManager, an outlining program by HandsHigh. Coupled with the Stowaway, it allows me to neatly outline and 'layer' my notes on the fly, while adding notes and drawings to each thought. I just wish ThoughtManager could synch with MS Word as easily as WordSmith, but then I don't do a lot of reviewing my class notes at the PC, so it's not much of an issue. I also highly reccomend their MemoPlus and ToDoPlus ROM replacements..
Before I picked up the Stowaway, I found a Griffiti replacement called TealScript.. allows you to personalize letter recognition for your own script, improved my basic entry by a grunch once I'd spent the time to show it how I wanted to write things.. (and now other palm users write "llksddnc" when they use it

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"It's hard to find my guiding light with this lantern in the way..." Diogenes

Registered: Sep 2001
Location:
Posts: 35

I've seen Palms around but haven't paid much attention, except one guy who was writing on a keyboard in a lecture class, he only did that once because I think he knew everyone thought he was a dork =(

I don't see many the same way I don't see many laptops in school. Both are easy to lug around, and many more people have laptops.

I wouldn't recommend using a pda at HS much if you want to lose your virginity before graduation =(

Registered: Sep 2001
Location:
Posts: 13

Haha, these replies are funny and true. I use my Visor Edge at school, everyone who see's it thinks I'm either cocky or a dork. I don't give a **** though, I've still got hella friends. Everyone knows me and thinks of me as a business man, that's my rep, and having the Edge it only fulfills my rep. I love my toys! And although some people think I'm cocky, they way I look at it is I'm just professional. Do whatever is best for yourself, if the PDA keeps you organized, use the damn thing, what do you think the makers created it for? It's a pimp little product. FYI I'm a sophomore in high school. The programs that I use are mainly apps, I only have one game (dopewars) because I don't want to turn it into a distraction. I use Gradepoint, which in my opinion is way better than 4.0Student because 4.0Student does not give the accurate grade because no bin functionabilities.

Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Singapore
Posts: 174

Re: Using your Visor at school!

1. a few of my teachers don't allow it in their classes. Luckily, I've gotten myself a leather case and I am able to use it discreetly during their classes ;p

One of my teachers once tried to confiscate mine the other time. Pissed me off...

2. My fellow classmates THINK that it's a gameboy and I hate that. I send some of my good friends some mobilephone logos once in a while via IR. They think it's the coolest feature of a PDA. Heh. They've not seen what a Visor can do yet though :P

3. I'm the only student with a PDA in school. I've mainly seen a few of them using laptops in class. But as far as PDAs are concerned, I'm the only student with one.

I've seen one Maths teacher walk into another class carrying a leather case that looked like it was for a Palm V/Vx. I'm sure it was one!

4.
-I use DateBook+ VERY VERY often on my Deluxe
-I use QuickWord to store my notes/docs
-Avantgo whenever I travel to/from school on the train
-NoahPro during English class
-ChemTable and ChemicalC during Chemistry class
-MonkeyLogo for my friends ;p
-HandyShopper is my "to-do" list and shopping list (2-in-1)
-DiddleBug for doodling when I'm bored
-FAFileMover (with my FlashPlus) to access my notes stored in CF
-and the rest are mostly games!!!

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my little webby
I still love my Visor Prism

Registered: Sep 2001
Location:
Posts: 27

I use min all the time

If I did not have my PDA in school and would forget to do homework, but they are illegal in my school so when i write down my homework I have to keep it hidden under my desk!!
-One thing about using a Visor in school is that it brings attention to you.

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Sincerely,
Jeffdewber

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Littleton, CO
Posts: 17

College is more tolerant

I go to Metro State in Denver. I have mostly internet based classes but my one classrom instructor doesn't have a problem.

It is an all-day Saturday class and I used my HandEra and Keyboard to take notes for two 5 hour classes without him noticing. When I showed him what it did he was impressed and may buy a PalmOS handheld.

The other students think it is cool because if they miss class I can e-mail them my notes.

I haven't seen any other students in my class using them, but it is a Political Science 103 class. Core requirement, non technical crowd mostly.

I take notes with Quickword and keep track of assignment due dates with ToDo.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 1571

Re: I use min all the time

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jeffdewber
If I did not have my PDA in school and would forget to do homework, but they are illegal in my school so when i write down my homework I have to keep it hidden under my desk!!
-One thing about using a Visor in school is that it brings attention to you.

---

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Them Twin Cities
Posts: 1758

I'm too chicken to whip out the stowaway for notes in class, although I may overcome that.. problem is that all the desks are those little guys, so there's no room (anybody want to give me a halfkeyboard?)

What burns me up is the absolute lack of tech support at school. I'm not expecting much, just SOME way to access the printers at school. They don't have any IR printers, won't by the adapter, don't have cradles, and won't even spring for a goddman CF card reader! I got Nothing! Which means that my portability solutions aren't, because I have to go home to print, and my profs are not and will never be the kind of folk who take papers via IR!!

Oh yeah, it's the U of MN. Punks, I say.

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location: New Lebanon, OH
Posts: 58

Visors in school considered illegal

I can see the school's point in making them illegal - it would be very much like writing your notes on a note card, or on your arm, or taped to the inside of your glasses...

You have access to stored info that isn't stored in your head. That's probably where the problem is.

But I also totally agree that they SHOULD let students use them. I know I need mine (I'm not in school; I gradjeeated already) on a daily basis; my wife, who's in Nursing scool, uses hers every day for both school and work. And hell, 2 of the 3 kids of mine that are in school brought home assignment planners. AND THIS IS 8th AND 4th GRADES! I would have NO PROBLEM getting a Visor for my 8th grader if the school would allow it.

The intended purpose of these planners is so that the parent can see what was assigned (based, of course, on what the student actually bothered to write down) and to put their signature in there to prove they've seen the assignments or have seen the work (assuming, again, that the teacher can tell if the parent's signature or initials have been forged). That system is NO MORE INFALLIBLE than anything that could be used on a PDA. In fact, it screams out for an app: The teacher beams the assignment to the students, to an app that locks the assignment preventing it from being edited or deleted, and the parent can then check it off securely using a password or what have you.

I'm all for giving them such a tool.