Registered: Oct 1999
Location: PEI, CANADA
Posts: 33

I was going to buy a Bic pen the other day but noticed some little kids drawing pictures with an identical one. I guess I'll have to buy something else. Should I cancel my Visor too? NOT!

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

I'm curious, who is acting like a 14 year old? The person who is succuming to peer pressure by an article in a magazine that is probably only read by 14 year olds?

The Frasier Crane in me says that he's jumping ship because of some "hidden" reason. It's probably due to an attack, by a Visor, on him as a child.

Now on a kinder note: Everyone has a right to choose whatever type of PDA that person wants to have. If it were really going to be marketed to the High School sect, wouldn't you think that Nintendo or Sony Playstation would have been one of the first Springboards announced?

This whole hype/propaganda is caused by ignorant people who are trying to do one thing....sell their magazine.

Is there a full moon? In the immortal words on Don Hensley and the Eagles, "Get over it".

[This message has been edited by RSGMOOSE (edited 10-18-1999).]

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Urbana IL
Posts: 144

I think this kind of attitude is a natural outgrowth of the reasons certain people here want a PDA. I think most people want something functional, but there are a significant number who want a PDA as a status symbol of some kind. This seems faintly ludicrous, but there is definitely a market for it. I think Palm (as in 3com) is banking on this market for some of its sales...the Vx is great as a status symbol b/c it is so friggin' expensive....and b/c of its 'sexy' look people will be sure to notice the difference. [not to say that it doesn't possess actual advantages as well]

You see this same kind of logic in the Dan Briody column as well as elsewhere: if it can appeal to a younger market, then obviously it is less professional. I think the real point is that the Visor is more functional, and thus has wider appeal.

Just b/c a device can function as a game player doesn't mean it is any less applicable in the workplace. With the addition of voice recorders, wireless modems, additional memory, GPS, etc. the Visor has the potential to be even more valuable than a Palm.

Also, the statement that 'the majority of Springboards will be games' seems rather pedantic. While this statement will likely prove true (games being 'disposable', whereas that is not true for pager, gps) you must ask yourself how many 'professional' springboards need to some out before the vast majority of needs are met. If there are 50 non-game springboards on the market by 4Q 2000, then I bet most people's needs will be met by useful modules. Even if there are 500 games, this would clearly be strong market for functional addons.

I hope that you don't consider this a personal attack...it is an assault in some ways, but it is intended to be focused on your logic, which I really cannot fathom. There are good reasons for choosing Palm or TRG or maybe even CE over a Visor. I don't see them in your post, though, or in many of the other anti-Visor posts.

~Tiroth

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Texan in Calgary for a while
Posts: 1361

Excellent post Tiroth. For the others please refrain from resorting to personal attacks in your postings or else the topic will be closed.

Remember, there is a difference between calling someone an idiot and discussing the issues.

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James Hromadka
VisorCentral.com
Personal Website: http://www.geocities.com/jehromadka

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Montgomery, AL, USA
Posts: 17

I am 13 years old. I bought visor for all the games and because it looks so kewl. I am talking all my friends into forking over the $250 to buy it. Those of you who don't like the fact that the VDx is going to overtake the Sega should go on and cancel your order so that we can move up the shipping queue and start our Tiger Woods tournaments earlier.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Urbana IL
Posts: 144

lol!

btw, thanks JH!

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Bel Air, MD
Posts: 41

diogenes,
I'm confused you say your 13, your profile says your an Attorney from Montgomery, AL. Which is it?

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Montgomery, AL, USA
Posts: 17

You got me! Sarcasm rarely translates well in a printed forum, but I thought I would give it a shot. As one of the thousands who comes here to pass the time while waiting on shipment, I have been reduced to impersonating a teenager. So sue me.....lol.

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

I agree JHromadka. There is no need for personal attacks within these postings! It just makes everyone uncomfortable.

MB <><

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 38

I hope that Handspring's user base does include a lot of 14-20 year olds. This represents an age group with the interest and time to create some potentially great applications. The rest of us will benefit.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location:
Posts: 82

Actually, It's a brilliant move on Handspring's part to seak the widest possible user base. And as JT pointed out, We will all benefit...if the company thrives.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: New York, NY USA
Posts: 25

Wow, people get so bent out of shape in these forums!! I am a female turning 32 in a week and I am thrilled that I still retain enough of my childlike nature to be silly sometimes instead of deadly dull and serious 24 hours a day.

I feel badly for the staunch anti-game contingency here. Have some fun! Lighten up!

I'm sure I'll have a few games on my Visor, in addition to the organizers, date planners, to-do-lists, subway maps, etc. How sad if I didn't! Life is supposed to be fun, remember?

Personally, I think it's great that 14- and 94-year-olds of all stripes, income levels, education, etc. will potentially be using Visors. They'll have that much more in common, which as I see it, is a great thing.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Burlington, VT, USA
Posts: 127

Not to mention that the average computer gamer (as opposed to console gamer) is between 20 and 40. So there's a prime demographic for Handspring.

Games aren't just a kid thing.

Denny Atkin, editor, Computer Games magazine
:-)

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Reston, Va, USA
Posts: 41

CitiJen,

I'm with you! I ordered a blue visor and I'm anxiously awaiting it. I'm a 38 year old female and BTW I play video games! (including half-life and quake.)

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Lewisburg, PA
Posts: 56

I feel somewhat insulted by this thread.

I am not a high school student; but rather a 19 yr old college sophmore. On the topic; I started a fairly active thread in the "off topic" section entitled "Students with PDA's - Sleek Geeks". We have had a mature and intelligent discussion of the merits of using palm based devices, (and other electronic organizers) as a student.

Anyone who doesn't see how insane the lives of young people are becoming should look around. Between being shuttled from school to sports, and a few extracurricular activities I never knew what was going on. Kids need some organization, if all it means is a way to find out what's going on without asking mom.

On the topic of games; sure, we all love them, but it really isn't going to be the drawing factor for people. It's organizing their lives. By combining a toy with a true organizational tool; you merely make it more likely and reasonable to expect people to carry around all the time.

If Palm/3com can bring there hotsync server down to scale I can see it as a way to keep families in sync too. How cool would it be to be subscribed to "Activity groups" all over the web; like "junior's baseball team" and "miss smiths 3rd grade math class" If 5th graders can't be taught how to use a palmpilot; how are average adults.

Can't we all just get along? I am dead serious here. these are real tools for everyone; give it up.

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Tom Alphin III - [email protected] - www.students.bucknell.edu/alphin/

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: PEI, CANADA
Posts: 33

I am a 39 yr old and am like a kid waiting for a toy. I finally have something light to think about. I hope it will be useful as well.

My only question is - are there really 14 yr olds that can fork out the money for a visor?

[This message has been edited by redmud (edited 10-18-1999).]

Registered: Not Yet
Location:
Posts: N/A

Sorry about the name.. I'm stuck with it now.
Good job JHormadka.

[This message has been edited by karahari (edited 10-19-1999).]

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: New Mexico, USA
Posts: 112

The deceptively-named kaRahari states:

[TJHromadka,
If you are a TRUE moderator doing your job,
why have you not deleted or modified the name callers? If someone had called a visor lover a D*****S, you would have deleted that person's post. But for a visor lover to call this eyesore guy the same thing, he gets away with it.
...

Truth is absolute defense against libel.

------------------

john

[This message has been edited by john (edited 10-19-1999).]

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Texan in Calgary for a while
Posts: 1361

I apologize for missing that comment. It has been edited. It makes no difference to me whether someone likes a Visor or a Palm device, both can (and will) treate each other with respect. Please remember that moderators sometimes miss a message, as moderators are human also. If you find a message that is a personal attack on someone, please email one of the moderators for the forum.

I also find it ironic that someone that poses as another user would complain.

------------------
James Hromadka
VisorCentral.com
Personal Website: http://www.geocities.com/jehromadka

[This message has been edited by JHromadka (edited 10-19-1999).]

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 20

Hey Denny Atkin!

Are you still using your Amiga? Calling the Visor a game machine sounds awefully familar now, doesn't it?

Hey, I wonder if it'd be possible to make a Amiga emulator springboard since the DragonBall CPU is similar to the 68000-series processors on the Amiga.

Cheers,
-Tears in Rain