Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Alabama, USA
Posts: 92

Need A Backup Prism?

Maybe it's just me, but I'm not compelled to purchase a TREO 270 for myself until the unit supports some form of expandability. I've grown accustom to my library of Springboard modules. Most of which I use on a regular basis (Especially my VisorPhone, Xircom 802.11b and daily my SoundsGood MP3 Player while jogging).

So, what's in the TREO that I don't already have with my VisorPrism? Smaller form factor and more RAM (and a reportedly better screen that I've yet to see for myself). The form factor I can care less about, I've lived with the belt clip for over a year now. The expandability of the Prism is something I don't want to give up. As for the Memory, I really could use some more. What's a techie to do?

Well, I wound up buying a backup VisorPrism from CompUSA (http://www.compusa.com/products/pro...uct_code=278176) *REFURBISHED* for $149. I'm going to send this unit off for a 16MB RAM upgrade ($99).

For about $249 I'll have a roomy configuration at a pretty good price. It will be everything the TREO is (including the OS Version) though a bit larger. But it offers something the current TREO models don't, expandability (excluding the TREO 90 that has "VERY LIMITED" expandability).

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My little girl is 3. She can already navigate my VisorPrism and knows where to tap! She has mastered TealPaint (including changing colors, tools, etc.), not to mention several games. In the Avatar, she is playing some tunes on the SoundsGood MP3 player. It's amazing how fast kids can learn if you give them a chance. Now if I could just keep her from making those long distance calls on my VisorPhone...

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
Posts: 29

I've been thinking about the same thing. I just don't really see the huge advantage of upgrading to a newer PDA when the Prism still works fine. I don't have a "huge" investment in spring-boards, but its enough to stay with the "beautiful brick" for a while longer.
Too bad Handspring never got into a 16MB Prism version, 'cause I got to admit, even with the flashplus, I'm running out of space. I'm just worried about upgrading my old Prism to 16 meg's and have the thing die on me a couple of weeks down the road.

Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Silicon Valley
Posts: 66

How do you upgrade the OS?

Does Tony do that?

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Alabama, USA
Posts: 92

They don't upgrade the OS

I'm fairly certain they do not upgrade the OS, only the Memory Chips (RAM - Random Access Memory). Essentially, it's the same exact device that you send them only instead of 8MB it will have 16MB. More room for your apps, pictures, videos, etc.

I placed the RAM upgrade order from http://www.stnecorp.com and will be boxing/shipping it today.

There are others though.

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My little girl is 3. She can already navigate my VisorPrism and knows where to tap! She has mastered TealPaint (including changing colors, tools, etc.), not to mention several games. In the Avatar, she is playing some tunes on the SoundsGood MP3 player. It's amazing how fast kids can learn if you give them a chance. Now if I could just keep her from making those long distance calls on my VisorPhone...

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Denver
Posts: 46

I had my Edge upgraded to 16Mb two weeks ago by STNE. I'm really happy with the job they did. The communication was minimal- only word I got was when they sent it back. But their work was extremely quick (~2 days) and the Edge works flawlessly. They were $20 cheaper than palmpilotupgrade.com , the other outfit I considered. I'd use them again in the future.

Mike

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research.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Petersburg, AK
Posts: 131

I agree with sticking with the Prism. And I guess now is a good time to stock up on them. I can't think of too many things I need to do that my prism and modules can't do right now. If Handspring did offer a Treo with a springboard slot I'd buy. But since that doesn't look likely I think I'll have to just buy another Prism for the day the current one dies.

Registered: Jun 2002
Location: 3rd planet, Solar System
Posts: 112

$149 Prism is no more at Comp

Well - the $149 Prism deal was either a typo or a limited time offer - price is back up to $249 (after $50 instant rebate)... Oh well - I paid $170 for mine (used) so I felt a little irked to see comp having it for less - but by the time I added tax and everything it was about the same price...

Can the PRism truly be upgraded to OS 4.0 (like Treo)? I saw the web page for the memory upgrade and I'm seriously considering it (3 years ago that's how much it cost to upgrade a 1mb Palm Pro to 2mb :-O ) but I would like to know if the OS itself can be upgraded.

Registered: Jun 2002
Location: 3rd planet, Solar System
Posts: 112

Well??? Can the OS on the Visor Prism be upgraded to OS 4.x??? Anybody?

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: New York, New York
Posts: 560

quote:

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Originally posted by Gambit
Well??? Can the OS on the Visor Prism be upgraded to OS 4.x??? Anybody?

---

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Felipe Garcia
Happy Treo 600 user, so far. Thanx Cingular for having an unlocked phone.

My Treo 600 is my phone, my PDA, my watch, and my MP3 player. Oh yeah, I take a picture once in a while with it. Convergence is such a great thing.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Alabama, USA
Posts: 92

Re: $149 Prism is no more at Comp

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gambit
Well - the $149 Prism deal was either a typo or a limited time offer - price is back up to $249 (after $50 instant rebate)...

---

Must have been one of the two. Luckily, I ordered one and received it at $149 Works great and had it upgraded to 16MB. I now have infinite Expandability (springboard) and plenty of on-board RAM for now. Picked up a SnapNType from PalmGear, downloaded the 1.40 driver for it and now can use the VisorPrism, VisorPhone and SnapNType for E-mail/SMS while on the road. While bulkier than a TREO, it can do everything the TREO Can today.

__________________
My little girl is 3. She can already navigate my VisorPrism and knows where to tap! She has mastered TealPaint (including changing colors, tools, etc.), not to mention several games. In the Avatar, she is playing some tunes on the SoundsGood MP3 player. It's amazing how fast kids can learn if you give them a chance. Now if I could just keep her from making those long distance calls on my VisorPhone...

Last edited by jonecool on 06-23-2002 at 06:35 PM

Registered: Jun 2002
Location:
Posts: 1

$169 for a NEW Prism

CompUSA has the refurbished Prisms available online again for $149. But OfficeMax.com has NEW Prisms for $199 with free shipping. Plus, with a promo code for new customers, they'll knock another $30 off the price. My new $169 Prism will arrive here Monday!

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: ???, Asia
Posts: 69

So I'm thinking about hanging onto my prism until at least 2nd generation OS5 devices are available; hope it holds on! My question is this: should I hold off on buying software because it might or might not work on OS5? What are you guys doing with that side of it?

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 46

Deal at officemax.com no more

To late.

I tried to order the new $199 Prism with the $30 off order over $150 from Officemax. They are "out of stok" and will not be replentishing stock. Orders get through on the website but several hours later, after processing, they get canceled for this reason.

Stores still have it for $249

Just an FYI.

Registered: Apr 2002
Location:
Posts: 24

I got my $150 CompUSA refurb Prism yesterday, and it was dead out of the box. The power switch did nothing. No charging LED when on the cradle (but I did measure 6.1VDC on the charging pins). Even soft, up-button, & hard resets (on or off the cradle) did nothing useful. Sometimes a reset would produce a solid white screen, and sometimes just a black screen.

I think this was a defective store return, not a refurb, as the serial number sticker on the bubble wrap did not match the S/N on the Prism & the box. Also some of the box contents looked a bit scruffy around the edges.

Rather disappointing to say the least, but after about 12 minutes on the phone with Handspring tech support, they've advance shipped a replacement unit which should arrive in two days. Then I just send back my dead unit in the same box.

So thumbs down to CompUSA (except for the low price), and thumbs up to Handspring tech support.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: New York, New York
Posts: 560

another place for refurbs:

http://stores.hsprofessional.com/re...l=6&no=1637

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Felipe Garcia
Happy Treo 600 user, so far. Thanx Cingular for having an unlocked phone.

My Treo 600 is my phone, my PDA, my watch, and my MP3 player. Oh yeah, I take a picture once in a while with it. Convergence is such a great thing.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 91

quote:

---

Originally posted by Felipe


no.

---

Actualy Dave @ Dave.com . And I had a long discusion about this.

And it would take some extra work.
But with an Upgrade Theoreticly a OS upgrade IS Possible




So you May want to go over to Dave.com tell him xavier sent you and ask for the "Guini Pig Special

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Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

quote:

---

Originally posted by Xzaver



Actualy Dave @ Dave.com . And I had a long discusion about this.

And it would take some extra work.
But with an Upgrade Theoreticly a OS upgrade IS Possible

So you May want to go over to Dave.com tell him xavier sent you and ask for the "Guini Pig Special

---

Appart from replacing the ROM chip or placing the whole OS in RAM like they do patches I don't see a way... show me the light

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Do files get embarrassed when they get unzipped?

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 91

You answered it yourself.

quote:

---

Originally posted by ToolkiT


Appart from replacing the ROM chip or placing the whole OS in RAM like they do patches I don't see a way... show me the light

---

You just answered your own question.





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Registered: Apr 2002
Location:
Posts: 24

Just an update on my Prism replacement from Handspring. It was about 4pm on Monday when I called them. They said that I would have the replacement by Thursday. It actually arrived by 10am on TUESDAY! That's less than 18 hours from the time I called them.

I'm VERY impressed with Handspring support!

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

Re: You answered it yourself.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Xzaver
You just answered your own question.
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---

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Do files get embarrassed when they get unzipped?