Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 2

I'm a long time Pilot user (I have an original Pilot 1000 with the Professional upgrade).

My Pilot just died and I'm shopping around for a new one. I'm able to get a Palm Vx at the same price as a Visor Deluxe. Any comments?

I've read many, many reviews and discussion board posts about the Visors. I still have nagging concerns about Handspring's quality control, as well as the fact that the Visor doesn't have any flash ROM.

I'd love to hear from people who have good and bad things to say about either product.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 117

If you can indeed get the Palm Vx for the same cost as the Visor Deluxe, and your palm 1000 has gone to the great beyond, get the Vx.

Reasoning:
� Vx Os is upgradeable with the flash memory
� Built in rechargeable batteries
� The Palm Vx is Available NOW, not 4 to 6 weeks from now.
� The Palm Vx may well be more rugged than the Visor because of the aluminum case of the Vx vs. the plastic case of the visor.

A buddy has the Vx and is enthralled with it. That being said, the first one he came home with had a defective screen and had to go back that very same day. The second one has been flawless.

I am waiting for a BVD because I don�t need the PDA right away (the one I have is working fine) and I like the Springboard concept.

But this is just my humble opinion.


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Life is to short for boring food

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Marietta, Ohio USA
Posts: 92

Palm Vx ! Do It !... I love mine. Add an Omnisky (www.omnisky.com) modem and you have a Palm VII on big time steroids ! ... It will take a pretty damn good PDA in the future to pry my PalmVx away from me.

[This message has been edited by MicroMan (edited 12-23-1999).]

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 2

Thanks for the feedback. I, too, am intrigued by the Springboard technology. I spoke with the VP of Marketing at a business forum in October and got to play around with a Visor.

I believe the Visor will be a successful product. I'm just not sure the quality is there (yet). I also believe it'll be 6 mo. to a year before we see many of the Springboard modules.

I must say I am surprised that the Visor doesn't include flash ROM. When I upgraded my Pilot 1000 with the Professional upgrade that was one of the selling points for me. Why would they take a step backwards? Would it have added that much to the cost of the unit?

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 231

Is flash ROM really that big a deal? The next OS upgrade will probably be color and I don't believe the current processor can handle it. As for the built in rechargeable batteries, I'd hate to be on the road without my charger and my batteries are about to die--you've just lost all your data! If I had to choose, I take the Visor,more peripherals and an extra set of batteries.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Modesto, CA USA
Posts: 599

Obrien,
Being a Palm beta testor and both a V owner and a Visor owner.....I'd have to say that the Vx would be the way to go.

Vx Pluses
1. Size
2. OS stability (less resets with than Visor)
3. Rechargeable
4. Flashable

Visor Pluses
1. Springboard
2. Built in micro phone
3. USB speed on synching (but I'll tell you based upon personal experience and monitoring the posts here) I have to soft reset about 3 times a week in order for it to recognize the sync tray.

I was totaly in awe of the Visor and Springboard tech that I switched in anticipation of using the Springboard stuff but there isn't enough modules yet available for this technology to be more productive then a Palm unit....at this moment.

And, I hate to say...I have been lucky in the course of this holday season and have acquired a Palm Vx. It's been synched and is now causing me to consider departing my Visor Graphite to the "For Sale or Trade" board.

It's been very irritating having to softreset and not having a voice recorder module has taken it's toll. Besides the springboard modules, most that I've seen, won't work in the custom cases that the Visor has available because of the mounting method.

This will necessitate yet another case that uses Velcro.....yuck!

Want to buy my Visor Graphite?



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Moose Man

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 1

obrien,
Where can you get that deal (Palm Vx for the same prices as the VDx)??

I'm currently considering the purchase (IIIx or Vx versus the VDx). Up until I saw your note, I was leaning towards the VDx. I haven't seen the Vx anywhere under $400. However, given the two being equal in price, I would go with the Vx (as others have mentioned)! As a current Palm owner (personal), I'm happy with the product. However, in considering a purchase, I want to get the most bang for my buck as of today's technology and use it to gain more productivity than I can with my current device.

Thanks for your help!

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Dallas, TX, USA
Posts: 26

RSGMOOSE -
I don't think the Visor is unstable. I've had my BVD for 5 weeks, and only had to reset it once. I use it very heavily (my wife thinks I never set it down), but don't have any 'hacks' on it. It has 5391K free, so I do have quite a few apps loaded. The one that caused the lockup was "Mandel".

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 39

I too had to choose between the Vx and Visor. What ended up convincing me was price of the Visor Deluxe over the Vx. $250 plus Springboard tech versus $400 ... I couldn't see what the Vx had that the Visor didn't for $150 extra. The rechargeable batteries didn't do it for me, I can buy a lot of batteries for $150. Size didn't do it either, I mean, these things are *small* to begin with...

If you can tell me where to get a Vx for $250, I'd probably have gone with that...

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...Jim

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Gardena, Ca 90247
Posts: 3

obrien,

Please share with us where we can get a Palm Vx for the same price as a VDX. I am considering the VDX and the Palm IIIx but would buy the Vx in a heartbeat at the same price.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Modesto, CA USA
Posts: 599

demiller9,

I'm happy for you that you've only had to reset once in 5 weeks. I am serious though in my comment about having to reset at least 3 times a week just to hot sync. Look at some of the other posts regarding this issue you'll see that I'm not unique.

Also, I had my Palm V for nearly 6 months and never had to reset. And the Visor that I have is the 2nd one I've owned...the first died due to an error that tech support couldn't figure out nor has seen been able to explain.

I believe that Handspring will definitely be a major presence in the PDA market but they lack some of quality control at the moment due to such high demand that Palm enjoys.

I can't afford to be out in the field and have a unit require a reset. The software loaded on both machines has been identical. Documents to Go on the Visor "hangs" causing a soft reset every once in a while and on the Palm V ...never misses a beat.

The Palm Vx came my way and I decided to snag it and return to the realm of Palm rather than Visor.

My luck has not been as good as yours...I think two units is enough to try.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 1

A Vx for the same price as a Visor Delux... please, for the love of god reveal where we can get that great of a deal. I'd buy a Vx over a Visor Delux any day just for the battery recharging capability (I'm really not going to need springboard functionality so the Visor Delux really doesn't have any advantages over a Vx for me if they're the same price).

Please email me or post something here if you feel like sharing your source for a Vx.

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Geoff Gasior

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 295

You can get a Palm Vx for $50 @ Best Buy stores right now. However, you have to sign a three year contract with MSN to get a instant $400 rebate for that price. Someone might be interested. As for me, I can't stomach the idea of $22/mnth for 36 months with MSN.

FYI
MB <><

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Somewhere in the wilds of New England
Posts: 65

Man, what a bogus deal! You pay $792 over three years to save $400 now? Man, I thought the similar Compuserve for 2 years at $19.95 was bad...

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Proud owner of a GVD...

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 295

Regarding the Best Buy offer. You can stop the MSN service at any time, but you will be charged $400 to your credit card if you stop before your 36 month term is up. However, there is an exception to this rule! You CA and OR residents take notice of this excerpt from Best Buys Fine Print: "provided that if you are a resident of California or Oregon you will not be required to repay the credit amount." That means that you can discontinue the MSN service at anytime and NOT repay the $400 rebate! However, Best Buy probably won't even offer this in CA nor OR.

FYI
MB <><

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 295

Natescape,

Let me clarify that I am not associated with Best Buy, or MSN. But I thought this offer through. When all the factors are accounted, this offer may not be so lame for some people. The MSN 36 month contract @ $22/mnth = $792. This sounds like a lot of money until you factor several things together.

Take this into account. For the most part, the least expensive ISP access is averaging around $10/mnth. $10 x 36mnths = $360. You receive a $400 instant rebate from Best Buy, bringing the price of you Palm Vx down to $50. Take the MSN rate and subtract $400. $792 - $400 = $392. This brings it more in line with the cost of the average ISP. Now factor the interest savings on your credit for $400 over just a year at 15% and you�ve saved another $60 in interest. This starts to make the Best Buy/MSN deal look cost effective. This may be the fastest way for some people to get into a Palm Vx.

MB <><

[This message has been edited by LanMan (edited 12-29-1999).]

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 10

Why pay for your dialup ISP when you can get it for free. I have had NetZero for 6 months and have had no problems. I don't even notice the add portal anymore. When it becomes available in my area I plan on upgrading to DSL or cable modem.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Columbus, Ohio USA
Posts: 255

Bou96:

With Netzero have you played any online games yet? I was just wondering if you were able to do things like that without any interruptions or if the ping was pretty good (compared to say Earthlink, which I gladly pay for because I get an awesome connection and low ping times).

I may try out Netzero.. Do you have to sign any marketing crap which will flood your email, home, and phone?

Also, to the guy who can get the Vx for the same price... Get both. Go to Ebay and sell off the Vx and with the profit you will pretty much be buying the VisDx for only about 70 bucks.. Not too bad.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 10

My connection is limited due to the poor tele lines to my place. Although I can tell by watching the send and recieve bytes there is no constant information passing for the adds.

When you sign up you give them demographic information so they can tailor the adds that appear. I have not received any extra junk communications since signing up.

Why not give it a shot to see how fast it is for you, it will only cost you a little time.

PS I don't work for NetZero, I just feel a free ISP is a great idea