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Edge appreciation


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dick-richardson
Member

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

Got my edge. It's seems Handspring made this thing just for me.
1.Rugged. James wasn't kidding when he said you could sit on it!
2. Visible outside.
3. Very portable (thin and light).
4. Stylus is locked into place (I've lost a couple of them).
5. Rapid recharge. And it's monochrome so it spends less time in the cradle than my prism ever did.
6. It's stylish. I didn't ask for it, but there is no denying it!

This thing has taken a couple of impressive spills already with nary a scratch. My response to disadvantages mentioned.
1. Stylus rattles. Only if I shake it w/o holding onto the stylus, and then only barely. It's in my pocket a lot (because it fits � Thank God!), and the stylus is usually in my hands when it's not.
2. Springboard adapter. I only have the backup module. It just stays in the adapter, so I effectively have a slightly larger backup module. No big deal.
3. Stylus itself. I like it. It's nicely wieghted. I do miss the reset pin, though.
4. Silent Alarm only in DB+. I only use alarms from DB+, and infrequently at that.
5. Cheap construction. Is this a serious complaint? This thing is built like an ox!

All in all, it's a visor that I can keep on me all the time, and use it any time. Your results may vary.

I got silver. I felt more comfortable getting it from a retail outlet (not to mention I was able to walk home with it), so my options were silver and blue. I chose silver because blue sucks (right Mike?).

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-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

04-22-2001 09:14 PM

Visor Guy2
Member

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Mountain View, CA
Posts: 211

Do you miss color at all? Also Is there anything you don't like about the edge? I am curious because I am thinking of ditching my Visor Prism so I can get a Visor Edge. I have noticed that I don't really use color. It's just a really nice feature, Not enough of a feature to make up for the size and Non-outdoor visibility though. Thanks!

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04-24-2001 12:57 AM

dick-richardson
Member

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

quote:
Originally posted by Visor Guy2
Do you miss color at all? Also Is there anything you don't like about the edge? I am curious because I am thinking of ditching my Visor Prism so I can get a Visor Edge. I have noticed that I don't really use color. It's just a really nice feature, Not enough of a feature to make up for the size and Non-outdoor visibility though. Thanks!

Yeah, I miss the color, but I don't miss the poor visibility. I guess from what I've read I must be one of a very few that found the prism's poor [outdoor] visibility crippling.

Things I don't like? I miss the security blanket of having a built-in springboard slot. I've effectively removed myself from the springboard market, just because I don't want to give up the cover to use an mp3 player, etc. It's not a big practical loss (as I've only purchased the backup module in the 2+ years I've owned a visor), but it is a perceived loss. Initial cost was rather high, as well (although I justified that to myself with the hopes I won't have to drop $85 for a new screen every other month). Those are the things I'd change, if I had a better solution than what Handspring seems to have implemented.

Obviously if any of the disadvantages in the first post would affect you, that should be taken into consideration as well.

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-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Last edited by dick-richardson on 04-24-2001 at 02:11 AM

04-24-2001 02:00 AM

dick-richardson
Member

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

I also wish the up and down buttons weren't on a rocker. There's a couple of easter eggs I can't access now (even though they're still there).

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-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

04-24-2001 02:40 AM

hendon
Member

Registered: Apr 2001
Location:
Posts: 5

My Palm III had a bad run in with my coffee and forced me to begin looking for a new PDA (I swear it was an accident). It was easier three years ago to choose one PDA over another. Not so easy anymore. I finally picked the Visor Edge. Why? You've said it for me. The VE is small, well built, fast, easy to read, etc., etc. IMHO, with pros and cons considered, the VE is the best PDA on the market (as of 4/24/01).

The only (minor) problem I have had with my VE is the location of the stylus. As a lefty, it took me awhile to get comfortable with holding the VE in my right hand. I'm not complaining, I held one before buying it and decided I could get use to it. It might/might not be an issue for some left handers.

Other than that, I plan to keep my VE for a very long time...or until a lefty VE is produced.

04-24-2001 03:56 PM

Gameboy70
Member

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

quote:
Originally posted by dick-richardson
5. Cheap construction. Is this a serious complaint? This thing is built like an ox!

It wouldn't be a serious complaint at $249. At $399, yes.

But that's just me. Enjoy.

05-14-2001 09:57 PM

dick-richardson
Member

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

quote:
Originally posted by Gameboy70

It wouldn't be a serious complaint at $249. At $399, yes.

But that's just me. Enjoy.

What would you expect for your $399?

__________________
-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

05-14-2001 10:50 PM

Gameboy70
Member

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

A stylus silo (I don't like the external stylus clip), no plastic rim (tres tacky compared to the Palm V series), and a less blocky design -- i.e. the Palm m500. Also, a flip cover that actually flips a full 180 degrees and clips to the back, like the one for Visor from Flipcover.com. The Edge is the one handheld I can honestly say that I find less attractive seeing it in person than in pictures. Not terrible, just not worth $399 IMO. When the Edge first came out, I thought I wanted one. When I saw one at Staples, I couldn't justify the price tag. At $299, I'd feel differently about the Edge.

05-14-2001 11:44 PM

svenopeter
Member

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 22

The new Palm m50x is a quality product. Solid case, worth its money. I hope HS will improve the look and feel of their new color unit (it will come soon, I am sure). They have the technology. Steve J. taught the us how important design is. A top of the line car would never sell if it was manufactured as cheap as the EDGE.

05-15-2001 04:39 AM

dick-richardson
Member

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

quote:
Originally posted by Gameboy70
A stylus silo (I don't like the external stylus clip),

Personal preference, not indicitive of poor construction. Poor design at most. Personally doesn't make a difference to me. I'm happy as a puppy with two peckers that it locks into place.

quote:
no plastic rim (tres tacky compared to the Palm V series),

I think that was a design feature to mimic the powerbook. I personally like it, and appreciate the way it's utilized as a silent alarm. HS really should've made that a system wide feature. Either way, that's another design issue and deals with personal preference. It has nothing to do with shoddy construction.

quote:
and a less blocky design -- i.e. the Palm m500. Also, a flip cover that actually flips a full 180 degrees and clips to the back, like the one for Visor from Flipcover.com.

More personal preferences, and not to be confused with construction quality.

quote:
The Edge is the one handheld I can honestly say that I find less attractive seeing it in person than in pictures. Not terrible, just not worth $399 IMO. When the Edge first came out, I thought I wanted one. When I saw one at Staples, I couldn't justify the price tag. At $299, I'd feel differently about the Edge.

Cheap construction denotes poor quality components and/or assembly. Annodized aluminum is the same as Palm used for the V. The plastic is industrial grade crap (we're not talking Saran Wrap here, folks), and the way it's implemented WRT the silent alarm/charging LED is impressive. Would you rather it were glass in order to get the same functionality? Assembly of the device is 2nd to none in my experience (kaeru may disagree). I've never seen a pda one could sit on, and I've never had a pda that's taken the abuse my edge has and pull through w/o a cracked screen or even a reset. Design is a personal preference (and quite a few people apparently agree with yours), but has nothing to do with construction quality.

__________________
-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

05-15-2001 06:02 AM

Gameboy70
Member

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

It's nice to know that the Edge is so sturdy. That tips the balance a little. Since you've clearly had more interaction with the Edge that I have, let me amend the "cheap construction" issue to reflect my first and lasting impression: it looked cheap. Yes, the anodized aluminum is the same found on the V/m50x series, which is the part I like about the Edge. But that plastic rim with the rivets -- ugh. No sale. I'd compare it with the orginal Cli�'s plastic "guide rails," which, as I said yesterday on another thread, killed whatever enthusiam I might have had for the device.

I think the Edge is priced high enough to make it seem a bit less than a must-have. But that seems to be the pattern with Handspring products when they're introduced, except for the VDX. But hey, the Prism's not exactly a beauty queen either, and I'll be the first to admit that the price is questionably high.

05-15-2001 08:00 AM

dick-richardson
Member

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

quote:
Originally posted by Gameboy70
...I think the Edge is priced high enough to make it seem a bit less than a must-have. But that seems to be the pattern with Handspring products when they're introduced, except for the VDX. But hey, the Prism's not exactly a beauty queen either, and I'll be the first to admit that the price is questionably high.

The price question about the edge depends on whether you compare it to the Palm V or the m500. Compared to the V it has mac compatibility out of the box, USB sync, expansion, fast lookup, silent alarm, much clearer screen. Compared to the m500 it has the fast-lookup feature and proven expansion technology, but the m500 has a vibrating alarm, better(?) battery technology, and expansion within the bounds of its form factor. The edge also has a better base datebook and calclulator while the m500 has flash RAM.

As for the prism, I think it's priced unquestionably high. It's a good device, though.

__________________
-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

05-15-2001 05:17 PM

svenopeter
Member

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 22

quote:
Originally posted by dick-richardson

I've never seen a pda one could sit on.

This is not true, I did it with the solo and I am doing it with the VPL.
I fully agree with Gameboy, the unit is technically ok, but it looks cheap. Go sit in a Cavalier and in a Mercedes, both use the same materials...
I had two VEs and both had problems with the buttons, one with the power button, the other with the calendar button.

05-15-2001 10:48 PM

dshorter
Member

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 72

dick-rich,

It doesn't sound like you use the springboard sled that much. When you do, is the form factor back up to Vdx dimensions, or the Prism?

05-16-2001 01:32 AM

kaeru
Member

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Kuala Lumpur
Posts: 65

Don't sit on it!

It is really sturdy, but pressure on the corners can crack the screen. I learnt it the hard way. I think the Edge would survive hard knocks well, but not pressure. I think it's because it is so thin. So I think the Edge is fine to chuck in your backpack and not worry about parts breaking off. Pressing on it hard is something I would advice against.

I must have cracked my screen this way, because, except for the screen, no other part of my Edge was damaged.

Other than that.. I would recommend the Edge, the screen has got to be the clearest b/w screen out of all the Palm PDAs that I've seen (one reason why I chose it). It is sturdy enough for you to know worry about a few hard knocks on it too.

05-16-2001 03:10 AM

dick-richardson
Member

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

quote:
Originally posted by dshorter
dick-rich,

It doesn't sound like you use the springboard sled that much. When you do, is the form factor back up to Vdx dimensions, or the Prism?

Back up to the prism. Maybe a mm thinner.

__________________
-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

05-16-2001 04:41 AM

Visor Guy2
Member

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Mountain View, CA
Posts: 211

quote:
Originally posted by dick-richardson

Back up to the prism. Maybe a mm thinner.

I'd say about Halfway but this can be minimized by doing what I did! Remove the Plastic casing around the connector! Check it out Here And Here

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05-16-2001 05:06 AM

dshorter
Member

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 72

quote:
Originally posted by kaeru
Other than that.. I would recommend the Edge, the screen has got to be the clearest b/w screen out of all the Palm PDAs that I've seen (one reason why I chose it).

You found the screen to be better than the Platinum? I thought the Plat had a little more contrast when I compared the two.

05-16-2001 11:09 AM

kaeru
Member

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Kuala Lumpur
Posts: 65

quote:
Originally posted by dshorter

You found the screen to be better than the Platinum? I thought the Plat had a little more contrast when I compared the two.

I was comparing screens mostly under a bright light because I needed to use it outdoors quite often. And the Edge was clearest under these conditions. I didn't do much comparison in normal lighting conditions though. It could likely be that your observation is correct. I haven't seen the new m500 screens yet also.

05-16-2001 02:24 PM

dshorter
Member

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 72

I think HS should come out with two color models. The color Edge with the reflective screen for those who rarely use SB modules and want to travel slim and light. Then, a Prism 2 when the technology allows them to squeeze an active matrix display in a VDx or slightly smaller form factor, but allow for SB modules without an adapter. Oh and a separate SD slot a la Handera.

Good idea? Or too splintered of a strategy?

05-17-2001 12:36 AM

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