Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 9

I forked out the $299, reasonable considering this is new technology. For those early adopters like myself, anyone receive your VisorPhone yet? I ordered my yesterday and wondering when they actually ship - and how well it works.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: at work...
Posts: 736

I ordered mine on Sunday. The price of the service plans concerned me more than the price of the module, but I'm one of those lucky bastards who can expense that kind of thing at work.

The biggest advantage of the visorphone for me, other than avoiding carrying around two seperate devices, is that I can now dial-in to my corporate network to use my company e-mail and access corporate web applications. I would have gotten a Novatel Minstrel S, but with my company's firewall, there would be no way to access any of that internal information (plus every other person who's gotten one seems to be complaining about hard resets or poor signal strength).

Anyway, that's why *I* got one; I'll definitely post my impressions when it arrives.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: at work...
Posts: 736

quote:

---

Originally posted by SG
I ordered my yesterday and wondering when they actually ship

---

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 33

I ordered mine sunday night, received confirmation monday morning, and today received e mail, that it has been shipped, according to them, I should receive it next day after been shipped, so it should be tomorrow. will see!.
Now let talk about price, expensive , no doubt, so it is the nokia 8890, $499 with activation $ 600 without, what about, new nokia communicator 9210, or the motorola communicator AccompliTM sub-brand ,in the 1000-1500 $$. Ericsson r 380 $800 and not available yet,consider qualcomm pdq about 1.5 years old $600-800, dollars, and even the new sprintpcs tp 3000 is $400 dollars with sevice and $800 without . after all new technology is not cheap. Expensive it is, but no more than the rest of the pack, whether it will be a competitor will have to see.
The only thing I am slightly upset it's that it took so long to release, and they did not even have the major cities covered, for that, they could have released it months ago for the $499.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Here
Posts: 213

For sure let us know your first impressions! I downloaded the usermanual from the handspring product support web site. The software looks very user friendly, and the interface nice.

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 33

Well, It finally has arrived, the same way it was once anounced, it showed up today at my front door, not even expecting it for today.
opened the box; charger, module, earphone set, manual .Installed, charged, transfer sims card and voila, worked like a charm, so far... still going thru the set up, etc speed dial locations, good sound, not heavy, much much lighter than the minstrel, less bulky much nicer looking. overall seems far better than the minstrel. when the visorphone app start is in color but the dialing pads and the rest of pages are not.
back to play with it. santa is been good to me
after all I am been a very good boy this year

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

kmendez:

How's the speed of the web connection compared to the Minstrel?

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 33

I just went browsing with it using blazer and eudora and is as fast as the minstrel, much faster with blazer than eudora, using my bellsouth ISP

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Here
Posts: 213

How is the "feel" of the unit when holding the PDA as a phone? And how are the ring-tone samples? It would be nice if someone could write an alarm hack to use the visorphone built in vibrator as a silent appointment alarm.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: at work...
Posts: 736

quote:

---

Originally posted by george_vc
It would be nice if someone could write an alarm hack to use the visorphone built in vibrator as a silent appointment alarm.

---

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 33

Well after a full day of visorphone I am not disappointed at all, it works excellent no problems, no errors no resets, no hard resets,. I could use any of the applications with no problems.
reception was good, as good as my previous phones, startac by sprint. signal strength good, no significant drops
excellent earpiece,good sound,loud enough almost to be used as a speakerphone.
Holding it to the ear is slightly awkward at the beginning, but soon you get use, as I said before it is not as heavy as the minstrel prism combo.
ring tones not as good as the phone 12 different tones most of them not very pleasant at least to me. vibration is adequate but could be stronger sometimes I did not feel it.
Best of all, I can go from calling somebody from the address book, to surfing the net using blazer, and or send e- mails, or short messages with no effort.
I also received messages, pages and sms from the web page of voicestream with no problems and almost instantly . battery life fair enough use it all day calling surfing e mailing etc plus my regular applications and at the end of the day indicator is above 50%
two complaints. one no color application so numbers and pages are B&W and no holster to hold it .
also the included headset, is fancy gold plated connector and gold plated ear piece with nice logo, but it seems to pick up a lot of background notice when I tried to use it in the car to the point people could not hear me well, once I stopped using it the person in the other end had no more trouble listening to me.
over all very satisfied with the visor

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 120

No one has answered this so, here goes AGAIN. (Maybe it's a silly question?) But, will the Visor, with phone inserted, work with the Stowaway keyboard? I'm most interested in knowing if I can wear the headset, be engaged in a phone call AND simultaneously access, say, type notes in the memo pad, or type a name in the address book, etc. Appreciate a response. MAN, would I appreciate a response!

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 33

I don't know with the keyboard in place, but I know that while engaged in a conversation today I opened several of my applications , including a handbase app and input all the info into the handbase as I received. it was great one step opperation, then I added some additional phone numbers in the address book as I was on the phone, to do things and additional appointments in datebk4. so I dont see reason why it sould not work

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: at work...
Posts: 736

quote:

---

Originally posted by sanchan
No one has answered this so, here goes AGAIN. (Maybe it's a silly question?) But, will the Visor, with phone inserted, work with the Stowaway keyboard?

---

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Posts: 790

Based on Rob's post:

quote:

---

Q: While talking on VisorPhone, can I view my date book? Can I input data to other applications?

A: Yes, you have complete access to all of your other apps (except those which use the serial port) during a call.

---

__________________
Jeff

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

---

Originally posted by PDAENVY
Based on Rob's post:

quote:

---

Q: While talking on VisorPhone, can I view my date book? Can I input data to other applications?

A: Yes, you have complete access to all of your other apps (except those which use the serial port) during a call.

---

I'd guess, *NO*, you can't use a keyboard. Don't keyboards connect via the serial port?

---

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: at work...
Posts: 736

I just got shipping confirmation last night. I guess I will receive the VisorPhone later today, with the free express shipping. Since I ordered it on Sunday night, four days turnaround isn't so bad, especially since they had to contact me Tuesday to get additional information for the credit check, etc. (I don't understand why they don't just ask for all the necessary info. on the order pages...)

[Edited by Rob on 12-21-2000 at 11:02 AM]

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Posts: 790

quote:

---

Originally posted by Toby

quote:

---

Originally posted by PDAENVY
... Don't keyboards connect via the serial port?

---

The Stowaway doesn't (connect by serial?) AFAIK. Otherwise, it would seem that you couldn't use it with a modem, which I know to be possible. [/B]

---

__________________
Jeff

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 33

has anybody else received the visorphone yet, I feel like I am by myself here, awaiting for others reactions etc.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: San Jose, CA USA
Posts: 6

VisorPhone arrived today

Yes, I took the big plunge and ordered the VisorPhone on late Thursday afternoon via the website.

The FedEx guy arrived this afternoon (Sat) with the package. Along with the phone, I also ordered the leather holster for it. Makes it much nicer to carry along, but not as slim as my Nokia 6190.

How long did it take to setup and get running? About 10 minutes to get it all figured out, after transferring my SIM chip from my Nokia to the VisorPhone. Yes, I paid the $499 price since I already have service from PacBell.

Interesting little perk of it, you can also reference the phone numbers you may have in your SIM directory too, if you have a pre-existing GSM phone.

Reception wise, it seems to get a better signal than my Nokia, especially considering I live in a "black hole" for reception.

Next to check out will be the Arkon car mounts to see if it works with the VisorPhone attachment. I'll be going to CES in Vegas in a couple of weeks and give it real work-out there.



Randy

[Edited by Randy_Dugger on 12-24-2000 at 05:09 PM]