Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Norway
Posts: 26

I'm completely new to the world of PDAs. I haven't held a PDA (Palm or Visor or anything similar).. I don't even know someone around who have one (and I live in Lillehammer here in Norway.. 25000 people and no PDA users).

Anyway, let's get to the question: What is the first thing that shows up on the screen when starting the Visor?
I guess there are no need of checking the memory like the PC does. And I also guess there are no need for checking any new components that are plugged in since it's similar to the PnP (but much more better) combined with the USB. When you put the Springboard into the Visor, it will automaticly start whatsoever on it.

So, I've seen some pictures of the Palm-logo (some spheres with Palm in front of it). Would that be the same as what you see while Windows loads? And.. are there any login-dialogs that requires the user to input a PIN or a password, or is this a patch/hack you must download? Since I'm a student and I'm going to use it at school, work and at my sparetime I would guess some privacy and security wouldn't hurt. You could of course always put all the important and private texts and datas into a database which is secured with some kind of a password, or just encrypt it with some program. I'd guess it would take too much time to flip around the text and write everything backwords, and most people would see that I written.

So, any other questions? Yes.. how big are those grayscaled pictures that you can hotsync over to your Visor? They should be 160x160, but what would the filesize of a fairly detailed picture be?

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Ronny Salomonsen, [email protected]
Feline Medias

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

The great thing about a Palm ( I assume a Visor since the OS is the same) is that once you've configured the unit your apps immediately start. There is no lag time. You push the address book button and there is your address book. You push the calendar button and there is your calendar. This occurs after the initial one time set up screen where you tell the Visor who you are and what time it is where you are. Similar to what MS Windows does the first time it loads.

However, that's it. After that you have instantaeous access to your applications. I'm not certain what the initial start up logo will look like on the Visor..it should be similar to the Palm but there are only a handfull of units out there and I don't have one yet.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Streamwood, IL USA
Posts: 118

There is a spash screen when you turn it on after a reset. It does by VERY quickly. After that the device is "instant on" There is a built-in security application that works pretty well. You can configure a quick keystroke to turn off and lock the device, but if you let it time out or turn it off with the power switch it will not be locked. There are several third party applications that will lock the device everytime you turn it off, no matter how it turns off. The one I use even allows you to map the hardware buttons to different letters so you can "type" in your password. It makes it secure, without being a hinderance.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Birmingham, AL
Posts: 103

ruexp67, what is the name of the software that lets you map the buttons? Thanks

BC

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Norway
Posts: 26

RSGMOOSE:
No lagging? Cool! I hate waiting for the computing to show even the simplest programs. Like calc in Windoze. And programs written in Visual Basic takes forever to load. So, I'll really be looking forward to have a no-wait-to-load-system =) Of course some applications would have to have some quarter of a second or even some seconds to show up, but who cares about that. What I'm interested in, is a computer which doesn't make me wait all day to start up whats'o'ever it was that I wanted to start.

ruexp67:

quote:

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There is a spash screen when you turn it on after a reset. It does by VERY quickly

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

Yu,

Splash screens or backgrounds can be added and customized. Go to www.palmgear.com and search for backgrounds and then security stuff mentioned by another poster.

This is really where you'll find a lot of good software. I'd recommend the Visor site as well but since their web site is experiencing difficulties etc then....anyway the link from their site is back to palmgear.

This will give you a lot of specific information regarding the size of these programs and how much the "bitmaps" will take up.

You'll find very few of the core apps with a Palm/Visor take even 3/4 second to load. Heck, you can't even get ready to input before they're done loading.

WPM? big question depending upon your own skill level. You'll never get to 70 on a Palm without changing the Graffite to some other type of input screen which by the way are plenty of them at palmgear. Also, www.the-gadgeteer.com has done several reviews on the various input methods available you might want to check it out as well for some additional threads besides here.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Norway
Posts: 26

quote:

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Visor (2meg): 6000 addresses, 3000 appointments, 1500 to do items, 1500 memos, and 200 emails.

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Registered: Sep 1999
Location: ME, USA
Posts: 46

That's a good question...I imagine it would be addresses AND memos AND e-mails...but don't quote me on that!

But seriously, I had always assumed that those #'s were inclusive (i.e., 6000+3000+1500+1500+600), but if someone knows otherwise please let me/us know.

Chuck

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

This will get some arguements but here goes....How many people have actually maxed out memory in the core applications? My guess is none. Who could possibly need 6,000 addresses and have 1,500 to do's and then keep 200 emails etc. Why? If that's the case then someone needs a full time data assistant to operate the Palm or Visor for you because you're too busy doing other things....such as dying from stress.

It's possible some business/corporate clients of Palm might max the memory using core applications but if that were the case then the memory expansion would have to be greater than 8Mb.


Yu, to answer your question...I believe that you can cross core apps entries for memory usage but I'd send a note to Palm Tech support to verify.

However, if you need 6,000 addresses ask yourself this question, How do you trim the invitation list when you have a party at your house?

Seriously, the benefit to a Palm/Visor is added user specific beneficial software. This will burn up memory faster than worrying about how many entries you can get into the core applications.

However, when you do decide to have that party send me an email, I'll be there if you get 5,999 other people to RSVP. Just be certain to hold the party during the summer....the nights are longer up there then!
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Richard


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

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

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Las Pinas, Manila, Philippines
Posts: 35

Quote:
I've seen some PALMs having a keyboard on the display so that you just give the "button" on the display a little push so that you will not need to use the grafitti area.. do you find anything like that in the text-editor or whatever it is?

Yu,
In order to display the keyboard on your Palm screen, you only need to tap the alphabet icon on the lower left corner of the Grafitti area. But trust me, you won't find much use for it. The keys are sooo small you'dhave to stick your unit right under your nose to see the letters. Plus, I find that using the keyboard drastically cuts my input speed.

It is pretty easy to master Grafitti. After spending just 30 minutes fiddling with my Palm, I was already off and running, scribbling memos, composing email and filing contacts.

The Palm's so easy to use you'd wonder why they don't build PC's this way.
In fact the Palm is so intuitive it could ship without a manual and nobody would give a f***.