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

I don't think the biggest shock is going to come from the color visor at all. Has anyone else noticed that there are leaks all over for the color visor but everyone seems to be silent about the visor platinum. I think the color visor is being released (in part) to keep the attention off the platinum. Does anyone know what's going to make the platinum different from the deluxe? It's only 4 days away from the unveiling and even handspring's own employees don't know what the differences are (aside from a blisteringly fast processor that's to be in the prism as well). Let's think about this for a minute. The exec team at Handspring have seen the dismal sales of the Palm IIIc. What's the point of making something that drains batteries, bulks up, slows down, and otherwise diminishes the Palm OS (which is so hot because it's small, fast, and stingy with batteries). Granted they're putting a rechargable lith-ion battery in it, but that takes away from the mobility. I can buy a pair of AAA batteries in any gas station in any town in America. No cables. Handspring knows this. I can hardly wait until the 19th to see what Hawkins has cooked up this time.

P.S. If you have info about the platinum let us all know!

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

I'll be getting the Prism myself, but I agree that it's the Platinum that's going to be the mass market winner the holiday season. I've never thought the form factor of the Visor was anything special, but the metal case is clearly a vast improvement.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Atop a wandering buffalo hunting aardvaarks
Posts: 148

The li'l blue beastie I have now is fast enough. After all, I can only scribble Graffiti so fast...

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Nazareth, PA
Posts: 99

I'll be buying the Visor Prism when it comes out. Not because I need color but because when I took my Green VDX apart to spray paint it my screwdriver slipped and hit the lcd cable. Now there is a 1/4 cm of my screen that doesn't show anything.

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 Gameboy70
...but the metal case is clearly a vast improvement.

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

I changed my mind. The Prism is GORGEOUS!!!!! I've seen the error of my ways. I feel sorry for my credit card!

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-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 63

Yeah, I was more looking foward to the Platinum than anything else. If it was a more Palm V'ish version of the Deluxe then I'd be all over it. But its the SAME size as my deluxe. Hmmm. Dissapointing indeed. I don't need the color really, but if I did, I have to admit, its a pretty cool device.

But how about price. $449?!?!?!
That ain't too shabby when the Palm IIIc was $399 but now its $329 starting Monday. Thats a price diff of $120!!! The one reason I bought my Visor is because the its was the same price as a Palm IIIxe but had the SB slot. But $120 more. Thats just seems like a lot to ask Joe consumer to pay, when all he has to do is lose the slot and save the bucks. But I'm no marketing expert, maybe people are willing to pay for the extras.

Oh well, I guess now I just have to wait and see what Palm produces. I was really counting on selling my Visor and turning around and buying a smaller and sleeker Platinum. Now I'm waiting around to see if Palm's new smaller and sleeker palm V is all its cracked up to be.

Oh well, on the plus side, the Visor is in top shape, should last for a good while longer. And with Handspring poor offering with the Platinum, it looks like I get to save the bucks a little bit longer.

Come on Handspring, you painted my Visor metal, made it faster(50%, we'll see), and thats it. Not even rechargable batteries! Why didn't you just get a supermodel to paint it metallic blue and re-issue it, even thats more innovative than what you've announced today.

-VisorHolic

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 Visorholic
...Come on Handspring, you painted my Visor metal...

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Yah, and lets see how long it takes for that paint to start chipping off!

quote:

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Not even rechargable batteries! Why didn't you just get a supermodel to paint it metallic blue and re-issue it, even thats more innovative than what you've announced today.

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Way to go! Now you've hurt Claudia's feelings!

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Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

quote:

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Originally posted by Visorholic
Come on Handspring, you painted my Visor metal, made it faster(50%, we'll see), and thats it. Not even rechargable batteries! Why didn't you just get a supermodel to paint it metallic blue and re-issue it, even thats more innovative than what you've announced today.

-VisorHolic

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I guess they didn't like the 'pink visor'
To me it was a bit of a dissapointment the case was still plastic too... not a lot of difference with the deluxe (except for speed) OK Ok it has the 3.5.2.H PalmOS as well, but is that worth the money?

Not really a reason to upgrade IMHO.... If you are a new buyer I would go for it ($50 for 50% more speed is not a bad deal).

The Prism is very promising but WAY TOO EXPENSIVE... it should be simular prized as the Palm IIIc since they are very simular...

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 63

Yeah, I was just looking at the Visor Prism. Thats color screen looks awesome. 65,000 colors beats the pants off the Palm IIIc. Hopefully the price will get lowered though, I think they can reasonably get away with charging more than the PalmIIIc, cause its a better device, but when I say more I mean like $379, 50 bucks more, not 120 more.

The other things stumps me is why they didn't do more with the Platinum. I mean the Palm IIIc is not selling that well, but look at the Palm V. its fetching high dollar and is a top seller. You would think Handspring would see this and make a device to compete with the Palm V. I wouldn't mind if it had to be bigger to fit the SB slot in, but still smaller than my Deluxe, and a real metal case. Oh and rechargable batteries. Now I'd be in the store tommorow buying that. And I think that alot of other Handspring owners would upgrade too. This Platinum just doesn't cut it.

As for the Prism, its cool, real cool. And its got some serious potential, especially for games like the Gameboy emulator. If I was looking at going color, Prism would be on the top of my list.

-Visorholic

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

quote:

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Originally posted by Visorholic
Yeah, I was just looking at the Visor Prism. Thats color screen looks awesome. 65,000 colors beats the pants off the Palm IIIc.

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too bad it still only has a 160x160 resolution, but I guess that is a PalmOS restriction ....

quote:

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The other things stumps me is why they didn't do more with the Platinum. I mean the Palm IIIc is not selling that well, but look at the Palm V. its fetching high dollar and is a top seller. You would think Handspring would see this and make a device to compete with the Palm V. I wouldn't mind if it had to be bigger to fit the SB slot in, but still smaller than my Deluxe, and a real metal case. Oh and rechargable batteries. Now I'd be in the store tommorow buying that. And I think that alot of other Handspring owners would upgrade too. This Platinum just doesn't cut it.

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I think they did a smart enginering trick... they reused the Prism board in the platinum... that way they could have 2 products for the development price of 1.x
But I agree, they would have a better selling point if it would have more of a Vx/CLIE look....

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 1

deluxe or platinum

I bought a blue visor deluxe two weeks ago. I still have my 30 return period from Best Buy. Should I take it back and pay 50 bucks more to get the platinum?

Originally I was going to buy the m100 but it was going to run be 180 bills cuz I have a mac and needed the usb adaptor. Therefore a premium of 70 dollars got me 8 megs and cool looking visor to go with my imac.

Again, would it be worth it to shell out an additional 50 dollars to go ahead and buy the platinum?

If I do purchase the platinum it will take me way over my budget. But I must admit the extra speed and upgraded os make the upgrade seem worth it?

suggestions?

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

The Platinum is definitely a let-down. I was hoping for something big and it turns out to be the price tag on the prism that's larger than life. Oh well, I got it so I guess that's more overtime at work. And right after I ordered my case from Vaja too. I'll be cancelling that order in the morning and waiting for a case for my bass-ackwards prism. I'm still excited though. Handspring, why do you have to play with my emotions?

[Edited by dick-richardson on 10-16-2000 at 01:16 AM]

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-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

Re: deluxe or platinum

quote:

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Originally posted by tuamigo
I bought a blue visor deluxe two weeks ago. I still have my 30 return period from Best Buy. Should I take it back and pay 50 bucks more to get the platinum?

Originally I was going to buy the m100 but it was going to run be 180 bills cuz I have a mac and needed the usb adaptor. Therefore a premium of 70 dollars got me 8 megs and cool looking visor to go with my imac.

Again, would it be worth it to shell out an additional 50 dollars to go ahead and buy the platinum?

If I do purchase the platinum it will take me way over my budget. But I must admit the extra speed and upgraded os make the upgrade seem worth it?

suggestions?

---

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 63

Wow, thats a tough call on upgrading to the Platinum. You were only going to spend 150, then you needed a usb adapter for your mac, so then you spent 250 and got a Visor, and now your comtemplating buying the Platinum for $300. So know your twice what you originally thought you'd have to pay. Aren't gadgets great. They suck the money right out of your wallet.

Its a hard call, depends what it means when you go way over budget. I'm pretty budget conscious and usually won't go way over. But if you can do it, then by all means, get the Platinum. I don't want to talk you into keeping the Visor to find 2 months down the road that you need the extra speed or better OS. Myself, well I'd have a hard time deciding too.
But, if your just gonna use it as an everyday PDA, like datebook, memopad, and the telephone book, then I think you could probably stick to the Deluxe.

But don't be real concerned with the speed, I mean its faster, but that doesn't really matter unless you really use some hog apps. For instance the Gameboy emulator Liberty would kick on the Platinum. As for the OS upgrade, its definitely a plus, but again, depending on how you use your Visor, I don't know that you need it.

If it were me, I'd strictly let my wallet decide on this one. And I'm one cheap b*st*rd, so I'd stick with the Deluxe if I was that over budget. But thats just me.

-Visorholic

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

quote:

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Originally posted by Visorholic
If it were me, I'd strictly let my wallet decide on this one. And I'm one cheap b*st*rd, so I'd stick with the Deluxe if I was that over budget. But thats just me.

-Visorholic

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Good point, normally I'm a cheap b*st*rd too (hey, I'm dutch, what else do you expect ) but when it comes to gadgets I tend to loose my religion...

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Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 219

quote:

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Originally posted by dick-richardson
I changed my mind. The Prism is GORGEOUS!!!!!

---

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 34

Man oh Man is the Platinum a let down. On one hand I understand that they retained the same shape case because dies for injection molders are expensive and they want to keep costs down for now. I guess they figure it still has something of a cool retro look (that's why Mazda didn't have a design change in the Miata for 9 years -- saved money big time not having to retool for a new body).

But I think the market was ready for some innovative new design to reflect what is supposed to be an innovative new product. Not having a new form is one thing, not having the much hoped for (at least by me) metal case is quite another. I think they needed the platinum to be the "flagship" of the line in performance (I think that the prism is too close to PPC territory, without enough oomph behind it) and style in order to gain general public's perception of being ahead of the curve on Palm. To be frank, it really seems like they took the cheap way out. THey wanted to stay under the psychological $300 price tag, but I think if it had a metal case people would pay up to $319 ("and its under $320!!!!").

I am so disappointed, I think I will get my machine shop to make me a metal case. And then I;ll have it anodized purple or red or something. Hmmmmmm... now there's an idea!! Hello handspring give me a call.....

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 1571

Looks Good

Folks the Platinum looks good and definitely worth the upgrade for all the nifty new features incorporated into OS 3.5 to make our lives a little easier...not to mention the 50% extra speed. I will be selling my Deluxe and get the Platinum. Not too impress with the Prism...rez is too low.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 58

I agree that the Platinum is a disappointment. I thought since I can't afford the Prism, I can get the Platinum and still feel content for a new toy. But a painted plastic case? Come on.. I bet you can dye a Ice Visor Silver. It's a lot to pay for faster speed since the speed never bothers me. I might as well put my money on the minijam!

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