Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 268

Will Handspring improve on the Plat?

The trend has been to make smaller Visors (Edge) or to make color Visors (Prism) or both (color Edge). Will Handspring make a better grayscale Visor that's the same size as the Visor/VDx/VPl? Better as in faster CPU, more memory, more features ...

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

I don't think we'll see a better Visor in a VDx/VPl form factor. New models will most likely be based on the Edge form-factor. The real issue when it comes to the size of any Visor is the Springboard slot.

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Registered: May 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1429

The current Visor form factor is dead. I don't think that we are goign to see ANYTHING in that form factor anymore.

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-miradu

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 268

quote:

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Originally posted by MarkEagle
The real issue when it comes to the size of any Visor is the Springboard slot.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: New Palestine, Indiana
Posts: 70

That's an interesting Question. As a current Plat. owner, I plan on uprgrading very soon but to what. with the current price reductions I find myself chomping at the bit wanting to go out and buy, buy, buy. But, at what cost? I know as soon as I purchase a Prism HS will com out with something new. Let me peer into my crystal ball. Here is what I think is going to shake out in the next couple of months. As mentioned earlier, the current Visor Form factor will disappear. The edge will become the entry level unit selling for around $200. Two newer units will appear. Both high res models, with more memory (16 MB units). One or both color and one with built in connectivity ala Visor phone. These will come in relatively cheaper than the competition. Springboards will change in size as well but will be backward compatible somehow. Sorry, crystal ball is fading. I'll just have to keep waiting until then.

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<b>Clark Fralick</b>

Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 26

quote:

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Originally posted by miradu2000
The current Visor form factor is dead. I don't think that we are goign to see ANYTHING in that form factor anymore.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 415

he didn't say the spring board was dead, he said the VDX/VPL shape was dead. It could look different and still use a springboard. Of course you are right that they will not abandon the springboard. that would be nuts.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Midwest
Posts: 232

What I expect to see next in a Platinum form factor is a color platinum. It should have more resolution too (480x640 would be nice), More memory, and reflective color so it'll read well in bright light and outdoors. They might "tweak" the case design a bit, perhaps softening/rounding the corners and eliminating any paint rub problems with a powder coat, Epoxy, or perhaps solid color plastic that ISN'T painted. They could learn a few lessons from remote control producers. There's a Radio Shack model 1994 remote control out there with an amazing texture/feel case on it, for example.

Then they should make it with a rechargeable LIon battery, or better yet design it so it will recharge any NiMH, NiCAD, and rechargeable alkaline batteries we might put in it WHILE IT'S IN THE CRADLE!

While they're at it, they can build in 802.11 network access, A USB port (so we can use any PC-based USB accessory), and a strong enough infra red port so we can use it as a universal remote control.

The snap cover can stay, but they should integrate a tacktile keyboard to the underside of it. It would use it's own flat watch batteries, and communicate to the Visor via short range infrared. There might be a second infrared port on the base of the visor case specifically for speaking with keyboards. If this is too hard, then a small USB cable will connect the two. That cable should retract into the Visor, though!

I'd but one.

Dave ;-)

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Spring Lake Park, MN (45min from minneapolis)
Posts: 313

what about turning the inra-red port into a radio sygnal tramsmitter/reciever like the remotes for cars or the cybiko pda. this would let people play with eachother but in different rooms, and you wouldnt need to sit together in an awkward position so the connection isnt lost(ex. palm and visor's infrared are on different sides) they could integrate software that would convert infrared sygnals into radio sygnals so exsiting software does not need to be modified to work with it. this i would like. and if the sygnal was strong enough there could be software that let you search for other people with pda's(ex. in an apartment)

robert

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