Registered: Jul 2001
Location:
Posts: 12

Prism Outdoor Visibility

I want to get a color PDA in the very near future and I was considering the Prism. I know the CLIE 610s are coming and are a better product for the same amount of money, but I do have allot of money tied up in Springboard modules, that is why I am thinking of the Prism.

Now, my actual question is: I hear that Prism displays are unreadable in direct sunlight, is this true? Also, now that Handspring has the contrast patch, does that improve it any? I don't really use my PDA outdoors much, but I like to have the ability to do so (In the car, or at a pay phone).

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Miami
Posts: 14

I'll say it's almost unreadable to unreadable in direct sunlight. Inside a car, no problem so far. I haven't tried it in a pay phone would depend in how much light you receive with it. As far as the contrast utility, it doesn't makes a lot of diference in this case, but the brightness setting do help a lot.

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 99

Visorphoneman is right, in full sunlight the Prism turns almost completely black, IMO I would consider it unreadable. Unfortunately, the Palm 505 has the opposite problem, according to what I've heard it's beautiful in full sunlight but looks very dim in lesser light. When I did an impromptu comparison in CompUSA it was equal to my Prism set at the 25% brightness level, very dim in other words. Read the reviews and try real hard to get a good look at whatever screen you plan on buying to see if it meets your needs.

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garinballbarin

Registered: Jul 2001
Location:
Posts: 12

I wonder if the Tactilis Flip Clip would provide enough shade to make the Prism useable outdoors (GPS, visorphone etc.)

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Texas
Posts: 47

I don't have the Tactillis FlipClip, but I do have the FlipCover and it could give some relief with the sun, but not enough to use it outside all the time IMO. Actually, I have been using my eyemodule2 taking pics of bonsai so I can't use the FlipCover either. I just turn up the brightness and squint to see the screen to take the shots.

If you don't use your current PDA outdoors much, then I'd get the Prism and keep those Springboard modules.

Last edited by snippet on 08-06-2001 at 07:09 AM

Registered: Jul 2001
Location:
Posts: 12

Tactilis does claim that you are able to use all standard Springboard modules and most over-sized ones with their Flip Clip, so it might be a good idea (tilt the cover slightly to shade the Display). If I do happen to get a Prism, I will let everyone know how this works.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 120

FAR TOO DIM

In fact, "dim" seems to imply readability when, actually, in bright sun, the Prism if just, flat, unreadable. Except under one very interesting condition. With the sun directly behind you: then, the Prism's screen is quite readable and appears monochrome.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 110

I would describe my Prism as "very difficult to use" in direct sunlight. I find that reading it is not too hard, as long as you're getting something short, like a phone number - I can always tilt it in a way that I can get something short out of it. Reading a long doc is out of the question. But with any shade - like a car or phone booth - I don't have much trouble. I wouldn't want to read an ebook or admire SplashPhoto images there, but a short AvantGo page is not too difficult. To me the hardest thing is graffiti input in direct sunlight - I've done it, but it is very hard.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Bear DE
Posts: 22

For my 2 cents worth I solved the sunlight problem (at least partially) by getting the Vaja flip case for prism/omnisky. The way this case is designed, the entire top of the case is open in order to fit the omnisky modem. This top cover is "hinged" at the top/front of the prism so it doesn't interfere with ANY springboard and I can shade the screen depending on how far I open it. It's still tough to read in direct sunlight but it has made a world of difference. The other plus about this case is that the prism stays secure in it whether I have the very large omnisky modem in the slot or not.