Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 57

Holy stopgap measures, Batman!

At first glance, it seems HS has served up some pretty thin gruel with the Edge. Why did they dispose of the wonderful concave buttons? What's with the extendo-stylus holder on the right side? Suddenly, my VDX is looking rather attractive again.

I'm hoping my initial discomfort with the new design will vanish when I get a chance to hold one of these babies, but I'm not encouraged today.

I feel strongly that HS may have rushed the Edge to market in order to stem the considerable bleeding likely to be caused by the introduction of Palm m505, which, as the days go by, seems more and more like the new King of the PDAs.

If Palm can deliver a hi-quality color display in the Palm V form (so highly valued for its SLIMNESS) along with expandability via SD slot, HS may be playing catch-up with the Platinum-in-Sheep's-Clothing that is the "new"...Visor Edge.

/Steelkilt

Last edited by steelkilt on 03-09-2001 at 07:53 PM

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 27

Ditto,
Not only a "Platinum-in-Sheep's-Clothing", but if they dont't have an upgradeble OS and more memory, why buy it. I like the metal case, the size, but am not to keen on the "outdoor stylus", but all in all a step in the right direction. Never the less, we are all speculating here. Lets wait till Monday.

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handspringer

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 17

I agree all too much, i think the edge looks ugly and that the externa; springboard module was a bad idea.. think how bad the visorphone will look attached to it. Carrying cases will have a hard time w/the form factor too =(

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 165

Some of the people, some of the time

I like how everyone (myself included) keeps saying "Let's wait until Monday" and then going ahead and putting in their $0.02 anyway.

I have to wonder what the people complaining about liking the slim form factor but disliking the external springboard slot were expecting; there's not really any way it could be made internal while keeping the PalmV/Clie-esque form factor, unless they designed a big bulge into the thing at the top. If Handspring rolled out a new model with different design, metal case, but thick enough to accomodate the interal slot, everyone would ***** & moan about it being too thick. If HS came out with an Edge-only springboard spec, they would piss the current user base off (and rightly so!).

I'll probably head on over to CompUSA to check it out next week... I'm far too spoiled by my Prism (not to mention broke) to consider going back to monochrome, but if a HS eventually rolls out a color Edge with reflective screen a-la Ipaq they may have me drooling. I dunno, I have to hold one in my hand. The external stylus doesn't appeal to me all that much, and since I usually have my eyemodule/matchbook plugged in it might not be worth the extra $$.

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<br>"Form follows function - that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union" -Frank Lloyd Wright

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Midwest
Posts: 232

I saw a report about the creators of Handspring. It told how Jeff carved the prototype out of wood, working to create something holdable and pocketable.

Before I got a Visor, I was using a Casio Digital Diary SF-4300. It was certainly no match in usefulness as a Palm computer is, but did help me organize my life. It also was about the size that the EDGE is supposed to be. I carried the Casio in my shirt pocket and often forgot it was there. The weight and thinness was perfect. There were times when people looking at me didn't realize I had anything in my pocket until I pulled the Casio out. The Casio had the form factor I wished for in a Visor, but I settled for a Platinum.

The Platinum weighs me down. It is an obvious bulge in my shirt pocket, and makes most shirts hang lower on the pocket side.

I'll bet the Edge is closer to Jeff's prototype in form factor than any of the oiginal Visors are. I too believe that handheld computers should be as comfortable to carry around as our watches or glasses are. Something that becomes an enhancement of ourselves, not an appendage.

I won't buy the Edge though. Not at $400, anyway. If all it is is a thinner platinum, then they've priced it too high. If they'd swap me an Edge even-steven for my Platinum I might consider it, but only if my eyemodule looks good on it. I'm curious just how many carefully designed springboard modules will need physical tweaking to look as good on an Edge as they do on an original Visor?

That's my 3 cents.

Dave

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There is nothing yet made by man that cannot be improved upon.