Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 117

Let's start a thread of the reasoning behind the decision we made when we decided to buy a Palm over a Visor or a Visor over a Palm. Also would like to hear from people that looked at the Palm/Visor and decided on the Win-CE platform.

No discussion, No questions but a list of the top three or four reasons and a brief comment or two.

All I ask is no flaming and no insults and please do not post if you have not yet made the decision. You can certainly post if you have placed your order but not yet received your handheld, be it Palm, Visor, or Win-CE.

I am hopeful that this information will be of value to some others trying to decide where to put their money.

Thanks
My top three reasons I bought a BVD:
1) More memory than the IIIx
2) Less money than the Vx
3) New and Unique

The colors and the springboard were the answer to any tie-breaking questions.

I think I made the right decision for me.


[This message has been edited by SpiceUmUp (edited 01-15-2000).]

[This message has been edited by SpiceUmUp (edited 01-15-2000).]

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 12

I bought an IVDx.
1. meg per dollar ratio
2. Springboard, Springboard, Springboard
3. battery life compared to WinCE

Now if they would just release some more springboards!!


[This message has been edited by JWads (edited 01-15-2000).]

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 97

Upgraded from Palm III to an IVDx.
1. meg per dollar ratio
2. colour cases
3. Springboard
4. TONS of share/freeware available (compared to WinCE)

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 105

1. Price
2. More memory
3. USB Cradle (I'm a USB nut, I MUST fill all those little ports! Now!)

------------------
-Matthew Nichols
[email protected]
http://www.extremebleem.cjb.net

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Vicksburg, MI
Posts: 50

Upgraded from a Velo WinCE machine to OVDx.

1. Loved the uniquness of the Visor
2. Better portability [than my previous WinCE]
3. Price
4. "Everyone" else has a Palm Pilot - I like to be differnt (note - that's why I chose Orange!)
5. Springboards!!!! Can't wait for the six-pack!

After using the Visor for over two months I much prefer it over my old Velo.

------------------
Rick Bailey
eFizz.com

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Maryland
Posts: 13

I bought a IIIx from Outpost.com the 1st wk of December (reasons in order of importance)

1. Availability (needed more memory NOW)
2. Established supplier
3. Want to see what else this yr. will bring in terms of new products
4. Can upgrade memory if needed (probably will!)

Luanne

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: California
Posts: 108

My reasons:
1) Heavy USB nut, need to fill all of the ports, while randomly unpluging and plugging in things for no apparent reason (oops, now I need a USB hub, out of ports . This also lets me use it with my iMac once I get one (I have a PC now, and want to network the two).
2) Color case (BVD) - I go to a high school, it needs to be FUN!
3) Batteries last longer (if I used WinCE, I would run out of batteries before the end of the day, especially since my "2 month" batteries run out once a week (very heavy user).
4)Lots of freeware/cheap shareware. The thing that makes it unique, unlike the cheap 99.00 immitation palm from casio that is sold at K-Mart (really! It uses *hehe*...Casio OS! Now tell me this isn't a immitation palm, it even looks like a plam, has the silk screen and all! However, it can't have any extra software loaded on, the cradle is too big/slow, and it is junk!)

[This message has been edited by CompuPika (edited 01-15-2000).]

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Kuala Lumpur
Posts: 247

Ordered a BVD cuz:

1) Ease of use over any WinCE device
2) Great utilisation of infrared - can just beam whole apps via infrared - no WinCE device can do that
3) Visor looks great

Gadget Reviewer for InTech, http://intech.thestar.com.my/

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 21

I am also QL2, Bought 2 Graphite VDX

Why in order of value too me.

1. Wanted to see what Hawkins had to offer.
2. More RAM
3. Price.
4. Springboard (the backup module is great)
5. USB.

As of having my units since November 15th, I am happy with my decision and would reccommend the visor to anyone.

[This message has been edited by QL21 (edited 01-16-2000).]

[This message has been edited by QL21 (edited 01-17-2000).]

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 95

I bought a VDx (Graphite Visor Deluxe) for the following reasons:

1) Much more memory than any other PalmOS device available when I ordered (mid September).

2) Much less expensive than the PalmVx when I ordered (still slightly less expensive when I recieved it).

3) I was never really that fond of the Palm grey.

4) WinCE machines are too damned expensive & have hideous battery life. That on top of the unusability of 'desktop' metaphor on a screen that size pushed me toward the Palm platform.

5) Playing with my friend's PalmIII convinced me the Palm was the way to go.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 74

Bought Palm IIIx over Visor:
1) Price
2) Visor quality problems

over Win CE:
1) Price
2) Weight and dimensions
3) ease of use
4) battery life

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 15

Palm IIIx at end of November b/c:
1) Better availability
2) Price $187 on buy.com w/ coupon
3) Established company - already own a III and when I had a problem, I had a new Palm the next morning
4) Don't have USB so not an issue
5) Never filled the 2 megs on my III, so didn't need 8 megs
6) Don't believe the Springboard modules are worth it (except for 8 meg)
7) Waiting to see what 2000 brings

That said, would have purchased a Visor if I hadn't read about all the HS problems detailed on this site. Would strongly consider a Visor based on what I read now, but would rather wait to see what Palm puts out in Q2.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 8

I bought the Visor Deluxe for several reasons

1. It doesn't run a Microsoft OS
2. Price
3. It doesn't run a Microsoft OS
4. 8MB RAM
5. It doesn't run a Microsoft OS
6. Ease of Use
7. It doesn't run a Microsoft OS
8. Portablity
9. It doesn't run a Microsoft OS
10. The springboard should allow for future add ons
11. It doesn't run a Microsoft OS
12. It doesn't run a Microsoft OS
and finally
13. It doesn't run a Microsoft OS

Things I don't like about it:
1. The fact that the Visor is not sold in store
2. The crummy pre-sales support
3. Lots of little "odds and ends" that make the unit appear cheaper than a Palm

Tom

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal
Posts: 115

Graphite VDX

Pros
1. Palm OS
2. 8Mg
3. Price

Cons
1. Miss the flip cover of the PIII
2. Soft Screen scratches too easily.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 103

Bought BVD

1. Palm OS
2. Price
3. Memory
4. Springboard
5. USB

------------------
Thanks,
Jay

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: "Children are a gift from God, they are a reward"
Posts: 1049

I had been toying with getting a Handheld for awhile- The Visor pushed me over for these reasons:
1) open springboard platform w/ eastablished OS(I believe in the ingenuity of the individual)gives me a chance to work on some ideas w/ my dad who has a background in computer product development.
2) price/feature ratio
3) buying into a "cutting edge" concept- I know technologically the Visor isn't that much different from other Palm Os products, but it was the idea and philosophy the Jeff, Donna, et al brought into fruition that excited me. I see a whole second wave of usages for the Visors when Handspring upgrades to the next level. Low cost portable computers used for all kinds of monitoring usages, etc.
4) Groovy colors (I chose Green)

Michael

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: New York, New York, USA
Posts: 27

I upgraded from a Palm V to a Vx.

I was as curious as everyone else about the Visor, but when I finally saw it I was more than a little disappointed. I'm a bit of a design freak, and I believe that when I drop some hard earned coin on a product, I should enjoy looking at it as much as I enjoy using it (believe me - I know this is higly subjective). The form factor is also very important to me - a PDA must fit comfortably in my pocket (ANY pocket). The Vx does this, even with a hard case protecting it. That said, both the size and the GameBoy design of the Visor left me cold - and I have a GameBoy. Add that to the lack of tangible "cool" Springboards (memory packs and backup modules don't count), a comment from HawikinsDubinsky stating that they would concentrate on industrial design in the next generation of Visors, and that Palm came out with the Vx, and my decision was made. Oh, and the small ruckus concerning distribution and quality control didn't help either. Another glaring omission on Handspring's part was to omit flash upgrades to the OS. It may seem trivial to most users, but I'm just that type of idiot who might upgrade his mother's V to OS 3.3 just for the heck of it. I like having the option. And I'll be able to upgrade to OS 3.5 as well (just in case I can't afford a color Palm, at least I can run the software).

A co-worker recently purchased a BVDx, and I have to admit that it is an impressive piece of kit. It's just that by the time she starts getting the cool Springboards (she already has the backup module), the next generation of PalmOS PDAs will be out. By then, we'll all be looking to upgrade. Perhaps that is when I'll step into the Visor fold. In the meantime, I will be enjoying my Vx, and the pleasant rivalry that has developed between me and my Visor-addled co-worker (hi Jane!).

-Adam

PS - If I got one, it would have been Ice.