JEBaldwin
Member
Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 26 |
quote:
Originally posted by drgandy:
actually, i was specifically speaking of the color IIIc. handspring has made no announcements about a color unit forthcoming. that makes them behind in technology, in my opinion. you may not have that opinion. see, thats ok.
By that rationale, Palm has been "behind" in technology ever since the first color Windows CE machines came out, and that's a helluva lot longer than three months.
I can find fault in Handspring not making an upgrade-able device, as that goes against the very nature of modern computing. There's a reason the Palm OS is version (now) 3.5 and not version 1.0 (or that there are even versions at all). In fact, that's the whole concept with "versions" of software. There's the consumer that says, "Hey, this is pretty neat, but you know what would be really cool? If this Palm/toaster/car/cheesetwiddler could also do this..." The OS programmers incorporate wishlists with their own ideas and improve upon a product.
Were I designing Visor 2.0 (and I have no idea how the Palm OS is modified or if this would be possible), I'd use the Palm Flash ROM model with a software add-on or patch that incorporates the other features of the Visor, such as Springboard access and USB support. The reason the OS was modified may be that these commands/routines run at such a level that it was necessary to modify the code to the point that such a patch/whatever wouldn't be possible. I can't fault Handspring for that.
Personally, I have no need for color on a handheld device like the Visor. With a screen that small, color confuses the eye. If anything, I wish the powers that be would come up with a higher-contrast screen. I'd like to see sharp black-on-white. My eyesight has already deteriorated in the three months I've had a PDA due to reading so much on it. The contrast of the screen is rather dismal, and a whiter screen with a better backlight would do me more good than a color display any day of the week. (I can distinguish the suits on the faces of cards - I don't need a color screen to tell me which card is a heart and which is a spade).
I don't sync with the USB much, but when I do, I appreciate the difference in speed. I like the idea of Springboards, and when one finally comes out that I want/need (other than the 8MB memory SB; i.e. Innogear SixPak, and, well, just that for now), I'm sure I'll buy it. I was toying with the idea of buying a laptop, but it's gotten to the point that I can fit a device *in my pants pocket* that allows me to use a Web browser, an e-mail client, a telnet client, and a newsreader, (and to bring this discussion back to its original point) with a keyboard that folds up to the size of the device to boot. I don't need to spend $2500 on a laptop when the only reason I want one is to read stuff on the Web and keep in touch with people. That's worth more than the price of the laptop for me, and it only costs about $500 (Visor Deluxe + Stowaway + Sixpak). That's a miracle of modern technology.
And I don't need a color screen for that.
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03-15-2000 12:22 AM
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