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Is Handspring dying?

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Topic: Is Handspring dying?    Pages (4): « 1 2 [3] 4 »
javabird
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Registered: May 2001
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Posts: 48

quote:
Originally posted by Madkins007


Of course, my Sony T-615 is a pretty sweet eBook reader as well-

- Lit screen, readable under nearly any lighting condition, including pretty bright sun! Perfect for reading in bed!

- High resolution makes smooth fonts and smooth scrolling



After reading this, I went to the store and looked at the T615. The fonts looked so thin and fine, they were hard to read. Is there any way to set the system to use thicker fonts (not just in an ebook reader, but universally on the Clie?

javabird is offline Old Post 07-25-2002 06:58 AM
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Keefer Lucas
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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Atlantic Rim
Posts: 570

Brief Pause

I briefly found myself in the market for a new device, and went to Staples to check out a Treo 90. The thing felt too small in my hand...almost flimsy. I had to chuckle because people write about how bulky and akward the form factor is for a phone.

Call me what you will, but I think despite the industries drive toward miniaturization, that the Visor form factor is just about right. Fits nicely in the hand, the pocket, is weighted enough to have some substance to it...

I think that Palm and Handspring will be making a big mistake if they transition into the cell phone market. I want email access, like with the Palm 705, but could care less about a phone/pda hybrid.

Keefer Lucas is offline Old Post 07-25-2002 08:20 AM
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Digisane
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Registered: Jun 2002
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Posts: 174

Post Re: Brief Pause

quote:
Originally posted by Keefer Lucas
I briefly found myself in the market for a new device, and went to Staples to check out a Treo 90. The thing felt too small in my hand...almost flimsy. I had to chuckle because people write about how bulky and akward the form factor is for a phone.

Call me what you will, but I think despite the industries drive toward miniaturization, that the Visor form factor is just about right. Fits nicely in the hand, the pocket, is weighted enough to have some substance to it...



I agree with you. Try a Sony device. There's bound to be at least one Sony that's suited to your hands. The Treo 90 form just seemed too small. ( And I'm not even going into the keyboard).

I would prefer Visor width + Edge thinness + low weight. A Sony seems to be in that catergory.

quote:
I think that Palm and Handspring will be making a big mistake if they transition into the cell phone market. I want email access, like with the Palm 705, but could care less about a phone/pda hybrid.


I'd have gotten the Palm i705 - because I really NEED it, but the thing's not supported where I live.

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Digisane is offline Old Post 07-25-2002 09:06 AM
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Madkins007
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Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Nebraska- the Good life
Posts: 695

quote:
Originally posted by javabird


After reading this, I went to the store and looked at the T615. The fonts looked so thin and fine, they were hard to read. Is there any way to set the system to use thicker fonts (not just in an ebook reader, but universally on the Clie?



Yes- a freeware program called ThinFontFix. You can pick it up on almost any Clie-based site. As far as I can tell, it works perfectly without interferring with anything. It basically turns the thin fonts to 'bold'.

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Madkins007 is offline Old Post 07-25-2002 03:23 PM
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javabird
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quote:
Originally posted by Madkins007


Yes- a freeware program called ThinFontFix. You can pick it up on almost any Clie-based site. As far as I can tell, it works perfectly without interferring with anything. It basically turns the thin fonts to 'bold'.



Thanks for this info!

javabird is offline Old Post 07-25-2002 07:15 PM
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Limitles
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Registered: Jul 2002
Location: Toronto, CANADA
Posts: 21

quote:
Well that's a good point and probably voids your warrenty if somthing were to happen, but you might be getting me wrong here, I don't charge them in my handheld I charge them seperate


Oh no... I do understand... All I'm saying is that Handspring, highly recommends AGAINST the use of nickel cadmium rechargeable batteries as apposed to the standard alcaline AAAs

Limitles is offline Old Post 07-25-2002 07:46 PM
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Keefer Lucas
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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Atlantic Rim
Posts: 570

quote:
Originally posted by Limitles


...Handspring, highly recommends AGAINST the use of nickel cadmium rechargeable batteries...



Where did you get that from? NiCad support is built into the OS. Granted, NiCad aren't nearly as good as NiMh, but I have used both in my VDX and VPL for over two years with no ill effects (and saved a bundle too).

Keefer Lucas is offline Old Post 07-26-2002 04:00 AM
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edgenut
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Registered: Jul 2002
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Batterys

quote:
Originally posted by Limitles


Oh no... I do understand... All I'm saying is that Handspring, highly recommends AGAINST the use of nickel cadmium rechargeable batteries as apposed to the standard alcaline AAAs



I use NiMH

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edgenut is offline Old Post 07-26-2002 05:56 AM
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Madkins007
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If you read the entire bit about Handspring and their battery warning, it appears that their main concern is that people don't know how to use the rechargeable batteries correctly to avoid power and data losses.

Rather than teaching people about the 'command dot dot 7' trick and about the importance of proper battery care, they choose the 'stick to Alkalines' route. Considering how many calls they probably get from idiots using rechargeables incorrectly, I can't say as I blame them!

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Madkins007 is offline Old Post 07-26-2002 04:07 PM
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Limitles
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Look I'm not going to argue with you about the batteries... I was just being helpful and letting you know Handspring's position on the use of rechargeable batteries, whether they're NiCd or NiMh, they don't want people using them, whether or not you do the dot dot 7 thing... That's all I'm stating... it is a fact they strongly recommend against it, and absolutely will not support it.

Limitles is offline Old Post 07-26-2002 07:50 PM
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EJSHUMAK
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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: ILLINOIS
Posts: 227

Arrow What's at stake here--

The problem isn't rechargable v Alkaline -- It's removable v stuck with -- if and when the Li-ion(s) go the unit is probably trash and you lose your entire investment --

Planned obsolesence and people embrace it -- frightening.

At least with the arguement of Nicad v Alkaline -- one has a choice. The Li-ion you're stuck with--

EJSHUMAK is offline Old Post 07-26-2002 09:09 PM
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Keefer Lucas
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quote:
Originally posted by Limitles
Look I'm not going to argue with you about the batteries... ... it is a fact they strongly recommend against it, and absolutely will not support it.


I can't find any basis for the statement that they strongly recommend against it.

Keefer Lucas is offline Old Post 07-27-2002 12:24 AM
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EJSHUMAK
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Registered: Aug 2001
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Arrow FWIW --- Don't kill the messenger--me

For what it's worth -- looks like "strongly object" may be a bit too strong-- They seem to want to protect themselves from data loss situations--

From the HS site--

" Why doesn't Handspring support the use of third-party rechargeable batteries in replaceable alkaline AAA powered handhelds?

The power management system of Palm OS is designed to work with the discharge cycle of certain battery types. Data integrity is always our primary motivation. As your batteries discharge, you get two warnings. The first indicates that your batteries are low and that you should consider changing them. The second is a critical warning letting you know that you should change your batteries very soon or risk data loss. Palm OS monitors the voltage level in your batteries constantly. Alkaline powered handhelds have these warning levels set at certain voltage levels which work for most good quality alkaline batteries.

Nickel Metal Hydride batteries, Nickel Cadmium and rechargeable alkaline batteries all have very different discharge curves than alkaline batteries. They tend to emit consistently high voltage until they're nearly drained, and then discharge very rapidly. When the Palm OS detects you're low on battery power, it automatically shuts down subsystems like the backlight, IR beaming and even the LCD screen to save your data. But if you're using third-party rechargeable batteries, those measures are likely to come too late to save your data.

While we realize the environmental advantages of rechargeable batteries, you need to be aware that you risk data loss when using them. We cannot support you if you lose data through use of rechargeable batteries in alkaline powered handhelds. Some rechargeable batteries (namely Nickel Cadmium 'NiCad' batteries) suffer from 'memory effect' which encourages you to discharge the batteries fully to prevent loss of capacity. This runs counter to your needs in relation to data protection unless you have two sets of batteries which you can cycle in and out. More advanced users may choose to alter the preset battery warning settings of their handheld using a variety of readily available Palm OS utilities. This would enable you to receive much earlier warnings. You should obtain the battery discharge curves from the manufacturer to help determine the voltage levels which would be appropriate. You are on your own if you choose to do this. "



http://support.handspring.com/esupp...&ResType=il

EJSHUMAK is offline Old Post 07-27-2002 12:32 AM
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edgenut
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Registered: Jul 2002
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Batterys

WOW! I never knew that, oh well, not a big deal to buy alkaline For me

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edgenut is offline Old Post 07-27-2002 05:39 AM
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Keefer Lucas
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Registered: Feb 2001
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Re: FWIW --- Don't kill the messenger--me

quote:
Originally posted by EJSHUMAK
For what it's worth -- looks like "strongly object" may be a bit too strong-- They seem to want to protect themselves from data loss situations--



Correctomundo. It is key to have two or more sets of NiMh batteries on hand so that one set is always fully charged and ready to go. There is virtually no risk whatsoever to the device in using NiMh or NiCad batteries. Incidently, aim for a 700 mAh AAA NiMh for maximum performance. NiCads aren't worth the effort...they only last me 1/3 the rate of NiMhs, which for me are pretty close to high performance alkalines.

Keefer Lucas is offline Old Post 07-27-2002 05:32 PM
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edgenut
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Re: Re: FWIW --- Don't kill the messenger--me

quote:
Originally posted by Keefer Lucas


Correctomundo. It is key to have two or more sets of NiMh batteries on hand so that one set is always fully charged and ready to go. There is virtually no risk whatsoever to the device in using NiMh or NiCad batteries. Incidently, aim for a 700 mAh AAA NiMh for maximum performance. NiCads aren't worth the effort...they only last me 1/3 the rate of NiMhs, which for me are pretty close to high performance alkalines.



Exactly what I use Energizer Accu Rechargable AAA 700mAh
I have had no problems

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edgenut is offline Old Post 07-30-2002 04:22 AM
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mojo_yugen
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Registered: Dec 2001
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I like the line:
"We cannot support you if you lose data through use of rechargeable batteries in alkaline powered handhelds"

Does this meant they DO support me if I lose data while using alkaline batteries??? What are they going to do to support me???

mojo_yugen is offline Old Post 07-31-2002 02:49 PM
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HindeR
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Talking Whaaaaaaa!

Give you a shoulder to cry on?

HindeR is offline Old Post 07-31-2002 06:22 PM
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pusfarm
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Registered: Oct 2000
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Red face Hmmmm... could be!

quote:
Originally posted by edgenut
Two words:
SONY CLIE


Amen, Brother Edgenut! Had my Clie for about 6 weeks and can only say this in reply to the topic: I hope so. I looked at my Prism the other day for the first time since my awakening and felt sorry for myself at having lived with that for a year and a half.

But seriously folks, HS just ain't cutting it, and this new Treo backlight issue makes it worse. I s-o-o-o wanted a Treo when they were announced, but since then I've lost all confidence in them as a company. Even their support group - VisorCentral, for example - is weakening. The last news item is from 7/18?!?!? Geez, it's less than an hour from 8/1 right now.

Ohhhh, NOW I remember why I've stayed away so long...

pusfarm is offline Old Post 08-01-2002 07:25 AM
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pusfarm
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quote:
Originally posted by Digisane

I heard that when you plug them in they're regarded as an external hard disk on the PC. Plus, they are available plenty where I live (unlike the Springboards).



It's twue! That was a serendipitous discovery after I got my T615 [and now T665]: by activating MSImport with the Clie in its cradle your PC will detect it as a removable drive, allowing you to move files to and from the memory stick. That's how I load MP3s, work files, background images for the YiShow launcher, etc. It's a sweet setup.

pusfarm is offline Old Post 08-01-2002 07:53 AM
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