Registered: Oct 1999
Location: I'm not sure, but I see lots of lights everywhere.
Posts: 1287

Well, here it is. The first review I have seen for the new Prism. Check it out:


http://www.pencomputing.com/palm/Pe...smplatinum.html

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My blog: Pocketfactory

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 219

Thanks, foo! It was a really informative review. Now I know why they demonstrated Prism only with SoundGood and not MiniJam. Also I have to think about a new case, too since it doesn't take snap-on cover. I doubt it will fit in Innogear case that came with MiniJam, either.... An excuse to look for a new case

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Taki
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Registered: Oct 1999
Location: I'm not sure, but I see lots of lights everywhere.
Posts: 1287

Here is CNET's review:

http://computers.cnet.com/hardware/...085-404-2319333

Not so good.

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My blog: Pocketfactory

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Berkeley, CA
Posts: 25

Yeah, but C|Net actually likes windoze-powered (or whatever the hell they're calling them now) handhelds, so I don't really trust they're opinion at all when it comes to PDAs. Also remember they gave the Visor a rather low review for no real reason when it came out. The Pen Computing review is about 100x more in depth, so I'm mure more likely to trust it.

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Leshrac
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Registered: May 2000
Location: Highland Mills, NY
Posts: 65

I don't think they like handspring in general. The VDx only rates 7. I think it has proven to be more than that with the new modules released. I don't feel that the review is slightly skewed. just my opinion.

Marc

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: I'm not sure, but I see lots of lights everywhere.
Posts: 1287

quote:

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Originally posted by Leshrac
Yeah, but C|Net actually likes windoze-powered handhelds

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My blog: Pocketfactory

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: cambridge, MA USA
Posts: 27

quote:

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Originally posted by fmlydoc
I don't think they like handspring in general. The VDx only rates 7. I think it has proven to be more than that with the new modules released. I don't feel that the review is slightly skewed. just my opinion.

Marc

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Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 1571

Ouch!!

Ouch! That C|Net Prism review is harsh! I can't trust C|net's reviews anyways because they are too bias.

Registered: Apr 2000
Location:
Posts: 266

Well, I think C|net's review was on the mark. As for the Prism, I don't think I need the color....I would if it weren't for the fact that the pixels are 160 x 160. I know this is a limitation of the PalmOS....but it matters to me.

Like many others, I also don't want to deal with rechargeable batteries. My Visor spends plenty of time in it's cradle, but for the few times when I away from home, I want to be able to grab a set of batteries at teh closet store and keep running.

Finally, the OS upgrade and the speed are what interest me, and I think the Platinum is what I will buy. I'd like to be able to play Gameboy games without the slow down.

Once they release a high resolution screen in color, they have my money, but until then.....I'm greyscaling it.

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Ryan Clayton
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Registered: Apr 2000
Location: St Petersburg Fla
Posts: 224

For my purposes in selecting a color PDA, I would select the Compaq IPAQ over the Prism mainly because I use Microsoft Office at home and work. I wouldn't need additional Palm software to keep information I work with stored in the PDA. With that in mind, they both cost the same.
That basically is the bottom line for me and I'm sure others that use the Office platform.
However for greyscale platforms, the Visor wins because of the Springboard slot. That is what sold me on the Visor compared to other Palm based PDA's. I also reasoned that it would take close to a year for Springboard modules to appear because of the R&D costs and whether or not the Visor would sell well enough to support these costs.
I cannot see the reasoning for faulting Handspring because of the lack of modules. From the start they had the Backup Module, 8 meg module, Golf game, and Modem. The door was left open for anybody to create a Springboard without having to pay royalties (anybody remember the TI-99 and game modules?).

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 2531

I think we're forgetting one type of user here. I will never use anything but palm OS because of its proven reliability and the ability to get software to fit any need. For people like me you're looking at the best color device with the Palm OS. Granted the price is high, but it'll drop in time. Putting color in the visor leads to some complications, but I think Handspring worked around them beautifully. The prism is for people like me who refuse to have anything to do with ween-dows CE devices and like color.
Of course my opinion could change after my trial period. Who knows, I may stick with my vDx, but for Palm OS color it's prism or IIIc and I've got my money on prism.

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-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Baltimore MD, USA
Posts: 717

quote:

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Originally posted by dick-richardson
I think we're forgetting one type of user here. I will never use anything but palm OS because of its proven reliability and the ability to get software to fit any need.

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Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Berkeley, CA
Posts: 25

Also agreed. The only reasoned I'd ever buy a PocketPC device *shudder* would be to overwrite the OS with Linux.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

You thought CNet was negative?

I didn't think the CNet review was all that bad considering that it was written by a PPC fan. iPaq advocates are starting to remind me of Mac zealots circa 1997 (flame shield). Check out the acerbic "Prism sux/iPaq rulez" posts on PDABuzz on the Prism announcement, which put the CNet reviewer's opinion into perspective.

I personally don't compare Palm OS products with CE products. The Visor Prism is the best color PDA for someone in the market for a Palm OS unit, and the iPaq is the best PPC. When MS eliminates heirarchical menu and file navigation from the WinCE UI, I'll switch to an iPaq, but right now the desktop metaphor is the once thing that puts me off of getting an iPaq -- regardless of better resolution, MP3, etc. I'm going for the Prism.

[Edited by Gameboy70 on 10-17-2000 at 08:46 PM]

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 231

"Get the much cheaper Nintendo Game Boy Color instead"

I am on the verge of losing all respect for c|net. Their Prism review recommended that if you're most interested in playing games you should get the Game Boy Color! WHAT?! Nobody buys a PDA to play games. The prism is no more gaming hardware than the Game Boy is a PDA.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 1571

I agree

quote:

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Originally posted by swendor
I am on the verge of losing all respect for c|net. Their Prism review recommended that if you're most interested in playing games you should get the Game Boy Color! WHAT?! Nobody buys a PDA to play games. The prism is no more gaming hardware than the Game Boy is a PDA.

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