Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 248

New Standalone VisorPhone Add-On!!

Guys - Just noticed this...just what I've been looking for!


Visor Phone - Standalone

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 137

Has anyone tried this yet? I'm curious to see a review on it.

Thanks.

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Them Twin Cities
Posts: 1758

this was announced a *long* time ago... it's staring to smell a little.... vaporous.

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Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Posts: 790

quote:

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Originally posted by dietrichbohn
...it's staring to smell a little.... vaporous.

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Jeff

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK
Posts: 92

quote:

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Originally posted by chungmike
Has anyone tried this yet? I'm curious to see a review on it.

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Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Pembroke,MA
Posts: 307

I'll let you know. I just ordered one, and had it shipped second day. When (or IF) I recieve it, knowing my past PalmGear history, I'll post impressions.

I was psyched to see this. I've been thinking about a Prism replacement PDA, but I'm roped into a 1 year contract with my Visorphone, and it doesn't look like HS is going to offer a Prism replacement at all. So, even though I still have mucho modules, I was most concerned about the Phone w/contract. I'm certainly not shelling out $600 for the color Treo, if they are abandoning the SB slot for color pda support.

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 248

LarryN - I'm with you. I'm roped into a VoiceStream contract for the next 9 mos. and wanted a different unit than my Edge, so I got a Jornada 567, and was really only holding onto my Edge so I could still use my phone...this takes care of that.

Please post your impressions once you receive it!

BTW...I'm still using my Edge, I still need it for PocketQuicken.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 443

$70? forget that nonsene.

mc

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 248

I serious here...if you can find a VoiceStream (GSM) compatable phone for under $70.00, that DOES NOT require me to sign up for phone service (just the phone please)...let me know...b/c I'd love one. So far, all the prices I've seen are always quoted for new contracts only.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 443

quote:

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Originally posted by dorelse
I serious here...if you can find a VoiceStream (GSM) compatable phone for under $70.00, that DOES NOT require me to sign up for phone service (just the phone please)...let me know...b/c I'd love one. So far, all the prices I've seen are always quoted for new contracts only.

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 248

I do use VoiceStream, its my only option. And I'm not talking about e-bay where it's caveat emptor. I'm looking for a new cellphone, from a store, on-line or physical.

Plus, I'm just frankly already comfortable with the VisorPhone, so that's what I'd prefer to stick with. I don't know, I didn't think $70.00 was too terrible...its one of the cheaper expansion options for the Visor out there.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 443

quote:

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Originally posted by dorelse
I do use VoiceStream, its my only option. And I'm not talking about e-bay where it's caveat emptor. I'm looking for a new cellphone, from a store, on-line or physical.

Plus, I'm just frankly already comfortable with the VisorPhone, so that's what I'd prefer to stick with. I don't know, I didn't think $70.00 was too terrible...its one of the cheaper expansion options for the Visor out there.

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 248

I absolutely agree with you. I wish it was able to load in my address book into RAM somehow...

Ebay, yeah, I've had 99% good luck, and just recently a bad one. I'm just not all together comfortable buying something like that off of there...chalk it up to my recent bad experience...nuf said.

I do totally agree with you in that $70.00 is a lot for what it actually is, I'm just looking at what I get from it...a functioning cellphone, which when I need my edge to be thin, which is most of the time...I don't have that. Sort of fills the bill.

We're actually not that far apart on this one, just that I'll probably buy it, and you won't.

I was hoping you knew a place where I could buy a real cellphone for less! (I guess you found one, but you know...)

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 248

LarryN -

Any news, did it arrive from PalmGear yet? Thanks!

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Pembroke,MA
Posts: 307

Mini Review

I finally got it last night. Palmgear gave me the delay email shortly after placing the order. Anyway�

Device: Kensington Phone Keypad

Size: (2 3/8� wide, 3 �� long, ��deep) The handset is relatively small, although the Visorphone battery does protrude from the back, just like it does on my Prism. It�s a little bit bigger in the hand than the newer Motorola flip phones.

Features: Generally nothing compared to regular phones nowadays. I have the basics. Signal strength, battery power, last number redial, sidelit display, and not much else.

Display: sidelit LCD 10 digit (at a time) display. The sidelight is blue, and shows numbers up quite well at night, but its visibility is only Ok to see during the day.

My impressions are that it�s only OK, at best. I love not smudging the Prism screen with my cheek while talking on it. I�ve compared the clarity of the voice on it (one of the downfalls of the Visorphone, because it uses the tiny microphone on the Prism). I hate that it doesn�t store any numbers in it. It charges via the standard visor connector located on the bottom of it, but you must use the travel charger that comes with the Visorphone, because there�s no way to lock it down (short of an elastic band) on the charging hotsync base. It does charge if you hold it down on the base, but I�m not staying here pushing down on it until it�s charged.

I could have used this a LOT in Europe when I was using the Prism primarily for a GPS, but still wanted to be able to be contacted.

I guess the question is: �Is this a better value than buying a standalone GSM phone that I can then swap the SIM card out to?�. Jury�s still out. I don�t like having to win the auction on eBay to get one, but buying one at Palmgear (and actually receiving it), is like winning an auction as well, with my past history getting hardware items from them. I�m keeping it, but I may have been happier with a GSM phone from eBay.

I'll post a pic if you want me to, I can now use my EM2 to take a pic of my Visorphone (another plus??? )

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 248

LarryN - Hey, thanks for the update. I actually decided to bite the bullet and bought a Nokia 3390. I am thinking about still getting the add-on for my wife, b/c she doesn't need or want anything special...but I'd need to see some sort of cheaper family plan from VoiceStream to make it work my while.

thanks for the minireview & update!

Dorelse

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Overland Park, USA
Posts: 15

CallerID?

Larry - thanks for the review.

Question: does the Kensington unit display caller ID info?

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Pembroke,MA
Posts: 307

Re: CallerID?

quote:

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Originally posted by DGLewis
Larry - thanks for the review.

Question: does the Kensington unit display caller ID info?

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Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Boston MA
Posts: 16

I got mine about a week ago. It is nice to pop out the VP and pop in the eyemodule, or just make the Visor fit back into the trifold case for a meeting where I want the stuff I carry in that.

But otherwise it's a really brain-dead device. I would have thought that the Kensington "Keypad" would have at least been able to access any numbers stored on the SIM. But it can't. Caller ID, backlight, and last number redial seem to be the sum total of its features. I can't even figure out if there is a way to control the VP volume while it's in the Keypad.

I guess the name is "truth in advertising" - a keypad is pretty much all it is. My 1994 Motorola "brick" had more functionality than this thing.

I do feel more comfortable about popping the VP itself in and out of the Visor and the Keypad, than I would about constantly swapping the very small SIM. Sooner or later I'd break or drop and lose the SIM, if I were swapping it out a few times per day.

But if the VP were my primary voice phone (it's not), and I was planning to use that account for extended periods while not having the VP in the Visor, I'd probably go for a separate cheap GSM phone. Maybe use the Keypad for swapping in another module a couple of hours during a workday. But use a real GSM phone and swap in the SIM for going off on a weekend trip where I didn't plan to take the Visor.

Registered: Dec 2001
Location:
Posts: 16

The keypad works well for just making and getting calls; it helps free up my SB slot when needed, which isn't that often. It works perfectly for that. No need for it to have the storage of numbers or any of that other gobbledygook.

Because think about it like this, most of the numbers in your list you could easily dial by heart, you just don't want to. I know most of the numbers in my phone and could dial them fairly easily without the phone storing them. But it is easier the other way . . .