Registered: Sep 1999
Location: silverspring, MD, 20902
Posts: 3

Hi,
i am in the process of ordering a visor.
my dad wants me to get the $180 visor cause its cheaper. is it like SO much better to get the deluxe? i plan to maybe have aol and modem and maye other stuff one it, so should i get a palm pilot instead?
thats been there and knows what its doin
will the price go down on the visor? does it pay to wait?
WBS
jOSH

[This message has been edited by Josh103081 (edited 09-27-1999).]

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Endicott, NY USA
Posts: 60

Well, to answer your question, the Visor Deluxe is definitely more bang for the buck... you get 8 megs of memory, as opposed to the 2 megs that the Visor comes with, for only a (relatively) small amount more. However, in your situation, a few more factors should come into play here.

First of all, since your dad is fronting the cash for this, I think the old maxim of "Beggars can't be choosers." comes into play here. A PDA is quite simply a convenience...
I can get along fine at work without one (and have for the past year or so that I've been waiting to replace my stolen Palm III), and I certainly got along fine without one in high school and college (which was fairly recent in the grand scheme of things). If someone ever offered to buy me such a device, I'd be pretty happy with whatever it is they're willing to spend, and not push the issue too much.

Since the cost seems to be a factor with your father, you are aware that the Springboard modem (which you will need if you're going to do ANYTHING online with it) costs an additional $129, right? In that case, it might make more economical sense to buy the standard version of the Visor.

But I'm not here to lecture (yeah right... I know you want to tell me to go to hell right now ) I guess what it boils down to is: do you really NEED the Deluxe? I only had 2 megs of memory on the old Palm III, and I had plenty of space for a web browser, e-mail program, several applications (and the data that went along with those apps), and quite a few games. Since it sounds like e-mail is your "killer app" for a Palm device, I think that 8 megs might be overkill.

Speaking of the applications you mentioned, you DO realize that there's no such thing as an AOL client for Palm, right? About the best you can hope for (and somebody, correct me if I'm wrong on any of this) is an AOL e-mail client.

At any rate, you asked for an opinion, and you got it. Good luck in getting your father to go for the extras, and hope you have fun with it!

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Rio Rancho, NM, USA
Posts: 129

I've been of two minds about palms in college...

I like the idea of carrying a PDA and one of the new folding keyboards to lectures...

At the same time, I have a Crosspad and find that to be better in some ways, since it's fairly transparent and works well for doing diagrams, etc.

Now... THERE's a springboard we need!!!! Crosspad to Visor!

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Schaumburg, IL
Posts: 151

WHY?

The two devices accomplish pretty much the same function just in a different format. I'm all for technical innovation, but it seems to me that what you're asking for is better served with a tablet type screen terminal that is 8 1/2 X 11 and connects to the cross pad. And this is not very far off from what I've seen in the tablet world.

Bottom line: the Palm screen would be too small to effectively display the info from your writing and drawings.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Rio Rancho, NM, USA
Posts: 129

Jackal, I'm assuming your 'Why?' was directed at me... so, why a PDA and a Crosspad...

1) Cost! Even with a $249 Visor Deluxe and a $150 Crosspad (Cross is offering a $150 rebate on the pad until 2000), I'm nowhere close to the price of the new tablet laptops.

2) Convienience. There are times when I want to carry just one of the devices. The wonderful thing about the CP (Crosspad) is that once you get yourself trained using it, it becomes transparent for note taking. No matter how fast a PDA is, ink will ALWAYS be faster.

3) Size / Weight.

In fact, I could see a nice market for a CP portfolio that features a spot for your PDA (and maybe a Star Tac sized phone). Add in a slot for one of the new wand-style printers and you've got a great portable office!

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Schaumburg, IL
Posts: 151

Okay, reason understood. But I still have to ask, have you seriously thought about the screen size here? Your diagrams--unless you used a magnifying process--would be illegible due to the screen size. I guess it's possible. And beaming your notes to someone else would be a cool idea.

All right, if structured right, it could be a pretty killer set-up.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Rio Rancho, NM, USA
Posts: 129

Jackal, I agree that the PDA isn't a perfect storage device for Crosspad data, but it would serve as a great temporary storage area until I can get it transferred to my PC.

Of course, I might just be a geek who wants ALL the toys

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Schaumburg, IL
Posts: 151

Ohhh, now I get where you're coming from.

You want a place where you can temporarily dump your data should you fill up the memory on your CrossPad. I mean, as I recall the memory is something like 50 pages worth or 1 MB of flash ROM, so you could feasibly max out your Pad at a conference or something and not be able to transfer the data over to the PC. Since you've got your trusty Visor with you, it has memory and you could push the data over temporarily into a springboard.

Hmmm, probably would be better if Cross just made it possible to swap out memory cards like digital cameras do. But I see where you're going!

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: silverspring, MD, 20902
Posts: 3

no!! forget about the cross pad lol JUST discuss the VISOR and anything

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Rio Rancho, NM, USA
Posts: 129

Josh, you know, they make some mighty fine tasting DE-caffienated coffees these days...

Back to the topic,

If you can get your father to give you the extra bucks for the additional megs of ram, I would recommend the Deluxe for the additional space.

The average user isn't going to run out of space with 2 megs THAT quickly. I've survived for 3 years with a 2 meg Zaurus that's served the usual PDA functions, as well as being a nifty hand-held VT100 terminal with an actual, albeit tiny, keyboard.

As long as Dad is springing for a PC in which to load notes to and from, you shouldn't be too bad off with the Visor. Besides, you can always invest in a 8 meg springboard for each of your courses...

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Schaumburg, IL
Posts: 151

Okay Josh, sorry for running off on a tangent there, the Crosspad thoughts just got my curiosity going. Anyway.....

Should you buy the Visor Deluxe? Well, you certainly can always use the extra memory permanently on board since you never know what you'll need in the future. Flexibility is nice, especially with so many great springboards and software inevitably coming out over the next year. So if you can talk Dad into it, then you certainly want the extra megs of RAM.

That said, I personally own a Palm III with the stock 2 MB of RAM. I've used it for a year now and still carry about 500 K free. I use it for email, scheduling, contacts, note taking, sketching out small diagrams, carrying small texts (technical texts as well as classical literature), and amusing myself with the games (most of the best are on board).

The 2 MB has served me well, but only because I've removed the lesser used apps over time, maintain the bulk of my email on the workstation, and swap out texts as they're needed.

I personally will upgrade in the next year for a couple of reasons.

1. For a more readable screen. The difference between the Palm III and the IIIx, V, VII (and obviously the HS devices) is remarkable. But I wouldn't buy it just for the screen.

2. For more memory. I've reached a point where it's not just RAM envy anymore. I REALLY need the flexibility of more space so that I don't have to keep swapping stuff out.

3. Wireless capability. This is becoming a must have for me. I've held off buying a cellular modem for my III because I know that I'll be upgrading soon. As a result, I still haven't decided whether it will be a HS device or a Palm Vx with modem. The VII is a no-go due to the limited space.

4. Color: I know, everyone says WHY?! and my response is that I see a number of applications that would be greatly improved by color. This is a major reason for why I've held off so far on upgrading my device. I REALLY thought that Palm would have brought out a color device this year, but then with Hawkins & Dubinsky's departure late in 98, that threw it out the door. I think we can safely say that a color device from both Palm and HS will be coming out next year. That's what I REALLY want.

So, do you wait? That depends on what you need your device for. Something better is always going to come out every couple of months so unless you've got $$$ to burn, you'll never be able to ALWAYS have the BIGGEST and BEST nor do you need to. From the sounds of what you want to do with your device, go for the Deluxe and you should be happy for at least the next 2 years.

As for the price, you won't see the HS device prices drop until Spring next year when they actually start selling them through other resellers like Palm Gear, Office Depot, Buy.com, etc. Palm devices have historically shown an initial spike in price that gradually drops over the next 8 months (always cheaper by $50-100 at the reseller) and then plummets when a new device is introduced. Hope this helps!

[This message has been edited by Jackal (edited 09-30-1999).]

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: silverspring, MD, 20902
Posts: 3

lol thanks spent quites some free time huh

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