Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Finland
Posts: 1

I am most certantly buying a new handheld, this time Hanspring rather than palm for expandability but still familiar os.
It has come down to be the final battle between Platinum and Prism.
They both have their advantages and disadvantages, Prism has built in rechargeable battery and color disply but peeling color and flickering display, Platinum has 16 grayscale(non flickering, and good enoug) but the eternal changing of AAA batterys(i burn thrugh a set in a week and a half or so with my non overclocked palm m100).

I need some finishing points to decide the buy, I will also consider the price tag over my finacial situation when the time comes.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Midwest
Posts: 232

The platinum in it's slipcase fits fine in a man's shirt pocket. The Prism is thicker. It's also harder to find cases and other common-to-Visor items that will fit the Prism.

I have a nice universal battery recharger that has easily paid for itself many times by recharging regular alkalines (5-10 times each), rechargeable alkalines (up to 25 times), NiMH and NiCad batteries. The battery cover comes off easily enough, and the batteries are simple to get out if you have any fingernails. I use a trick I stole from the battery compartment of a men's shaver I have... A short length of thin ribbon has a loop in one end that one battery slips thru. That battery goes in first, and 1" or so of ribbon is layed under the next battery that goes in, with a little ribbon folding over the top. To take batteries out, you pull the end of that ribbon. Easy.

Much of the Prism's extra processor power is used to deal with color graphics. On the Platinum that power makes more of an impact on application speed. I raced my platinum against a friend's Prism. I won every contest.

If you want color, you've no choice. The Platinum supports only 16 shades of gray. If you want a great PDA, I suggest getting a Platinum. I love mine.

Dave

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

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Seattle, Washington
Posts: 293

if money is not a problem, go with prism. it's look great for playing game(zap 2016!) or viewing pictures. I like the rechargeable li-ion battery too. before i got my prism, i bought the platinum but i exchange it with prism because I love color.I never regret with my decision. I love my prism.

[Edited by akur on 01-28-2001 at 05:26 PM]

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I Love My Prism!

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 4

I was in exactly the same spot a couple weeks ago. I got an IOU for a PDA for christmas and so I started researching like mad to decide between the two, since I knew I wanted a visor from friends and associates experiences with both Palms/Visors.

I am not a power user and may never be, so what I really looked at was the battery situation vs how much I wanted color. I decided that with the moderate use I'd give it, a Prism would never really discharge anywhere near completely and would be getting "topped off" all the time. I don't care what anyone says, doing that constantly is not good for the battery and I considered it a negative. Along with that, I knew I wouldn't buy any of the travel chargers or the like, because I wouldn't use them enough to justify it, so on the few long trips I do take, I would have had to cart my cradle or something.

I did really love the color screen, but after looking into apps that REALLY use this, not just color menus and icons, I decided that a color PDA is a little too much too soon. I also thought that the $ jump from a Plat. to a Prism was just too much.

I went with the platinum and I am really happy with it thus far. Remember, this is just my opinion!

bigwalton

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Visor Platinum owner

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Mineola, NY USA
Posts: 161

I bought the Platinum and returned it 'cause it was just not enought of a jump from my VDX. When the $200 rebate (or rebate possibility) came up for the Prism, I got it. Now, rebate or not, there is no way I would part with this baby. I didn't think color meant much to me at all, it's value really doesn't reveal itself just looking at the screen in a store. But once you have it, it's incredible how much the color adds to the enjoyment of the Palm OS in games and the functionality in productivity programs. As for photos and such, there is no comparison. I had removed Album to Go and even Firepad from my old Visor. After exhausting the "wow" factor, they just didn't have any real function for me. But in color and with the greater resolution, they are really useful.

If price isn't an insurmountable criteria, go for the Prism, you won't be going back and forth anymore

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-Michael-

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Streamwood, IL USA
Posts: 118

Color?

I am a PalmOS user from WAY back. I am on my 4th Palm device and I was someone who said a year ago that color didn't matter. I said who needs color, just to look up an address? The answer is simple. The prism is more than just color it is TRUE black and white. It makes a HUGE difference when reading anything onscreen. I sold my old VDx to my sister's B/F and he asked me a question about it. I looked at it and said, "How can you read this thing!?" It was MY PDA for over a year! The color screen is a monstrous improvement over the Green Mono screens. The cost is high. I cannot argue that point, but I know I can NEVER go back to a non-color device.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 89

Prism all the way!

I have to agree with ruexp67. I didn't think color was that big of a deal until I started reading ebooks on the black and white screen of my Prism. This is the only way to go. My wife is thrilled to have my old VDX, but the screen seems barely functional to me compared to the Prism. Just my .02.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Phoenix Arizona
Posts: 74

I also agree w/ ruex67 re the color screen. Two things to consider:
1. The black on white text is sooo much easier to read, edit and deal with.
2. There are usefull apps out there that are color and not games -- Such as Datebook 4. I purchased this app and can now manage my many ToDo's and appointments by assigning colors based on priority and catagory - I've found it really helpfull.

But - one more thing to consider: If you do a lot of work with your PDA in bright sunlight -- and depend on reading the screen outside in sunlight - don't go with the Prism as the screen is almost unreadable. I really like my Prism -- but do 95%+ of my work with it indoors.
dave