Registered: Aug 2001
Location: ILLINOIS
Posts: 227

Anyone have one of these? (Neo/Pro) Tell us about it--

Anybody have one of these new Handsprings yet?

How about the screen -- Grey or "green" scale?


ETC ETC -- Let us know!

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Sayre, PA
Posts: 39

neo arrives today

I just returned a platinum I purchased last week for a smoke neo. According to UPS tracking it will arrive today. I've been a visor deluxe user for two years. The deluxe quickly got snatched up by wife the physcian. She uses epocrates every day and has created a database using list to help her diagnose her patients The platinum was definetly a speedier unit I'm sure the Neo should please me. I use my visor for taking notes in college, all the organizer features, grocery shopping and reading newspapers and ebooks. I'll post a review and will answer as many questions as I can when it arrives

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: ILLINOIS
Posts: 227

Thanks

I am looking forward to "man in the street" observations on these new units--- Thanks a bunch--

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Sayre, PA
Posts: 39

Neo arrives

My Neo came last night. My initial review is the unit is not just similar to a Platinum, it is a Platinum. I still have my Platinum that I bought last week so I have been comparing them side by side. The only differences I see are a new color case. Which is nice I got a smoke one and it is a semiclear black color. And yes it does easily smudge and show all your fingerprints. The Neo has the neat clear cradle. It also includes the fastlookup feature in the address book. James Hromadka in his review said "The hardware buttons have been slightly redesigned so that they are not so concave, making it easier to play games on the Neo." I have to check my wife's deluxe but the buttons are exactly like the Platinum's so I am not sure what he saw I don't. The Neo finally comes with Palm desktop version 4.0.1, my platinum shipped with the older software. Other then that every other thing about the Neo is exactly like a Platinum.

Handspring no longer gives you the free slip case with this unit, as they did with the deluxe and the platinum. It was a waste of money anyway, my deluxe free case is still sitting in the box it came in, so no lost. My Neo came with Panasonic batteries as opposed to the eveready the platinum came with. Again another way for Handspring to save some cash. My original deluxe came with a graffiti sticker. Handspring no longer includes that in the Platinum or Neo. It was handy and nice. I would rather have it then the two logo stickers Handspring does include.

Other threads have mentioned hairline cracks in the unit by the up down buttons. My eyes see mold lines not cracks. These are noticeable because the new Neo case is partially clear.

The screen color and backlight are exactly like the platinum. Visor calls it 4 bit grayscale. To my eyes it has always had a green tinge to it. The green is especially noticeable when you use the backlight in total darkness.

The unit is definitely an improvement to a Deluxe. It has the newest Palm software, a faster processor and some the nice lookup feature. Compared to a Platinum at $199.00 versus a $199.00 Neo buy a Neo. If you find a Platinum at a lower price save your money and buy the Platinum. Then buy a good case so that when you drop it you don't break it.

__________________
Facts all come with points of view
Facts don't do what I want them to
Facts just twist the truth around
Facts are living turned inside out
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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: ILLINOIS
Posts: 227

THANKS

Thanks much for your time and effort -- I appreciate it.

Registered: Sep 2001
Location:
Posts: 35

Can anyone with a pro describe the pro's case? Is it nice? My Neo case "squeeks" and feels greasy and smudges like nuts, and it looks kinda cheap up close

I'm thinking of upgrading from my Neo to a Pro

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 415

mmm. pro... I played with one at futureshop, and thought it was the most pleasent, cool shade of light silver EVER. looks sooo classy. with an eyemodule, i could really appreciate the extra memory...

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Registered: Oct 1999
Location: I'm not sure, but I see lots of lights everywhere.
Posts: 1287

Yuck!

Haven't seen the Pro yet, but I did get to handle a Neo last night. To sum up in one word = CRAP! This is the cheapest looking PDA I have ever seen. The plastic case feels terrible in your hands, and reminds me of translucent candy..red especially. Its slimy and smudges all too easily. Overall the Neo looks like a cheap toy. I can't even recommend this device to new users on a budget. For $199 your much better off with a Sony Clie 320.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Sayre, PA
Posts: 39

are you ever happy foo?

I remember the first post I ever saw from Foo

foo fighter
Member



Registered: Oct 1999
Location: I'm not sure, but I see a drunk passed out on the street corner!
Posts: 1022
posted: 10-28-1999 01:35 PM


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


I've had my Visor for over a week now, and I must admit I'm more than a little disappointed with it's poor assembly.

First off, the LCD screen is crooked on my unit. The screen image is tilted to the left from the top. And the stylus! for god sake don't get me started on that piece of crap thing! I've already ordered the stylus pack from Handspring's web site.

I am debating my options at this point. I can't stand looking at the crooked screen. Yet, I know that if I call tech support they will say ship it back and we will replace it. But it will be Christmas 2002 before I ever see the replacement.

When my group and I launch our site next month(TheVisor.com) We will point out the Visor's flaws in our review.

This was Oct 1999 and now it is 2001 and you still have the same complaints. I'm not totally thrilled with my Neo either but I think Handspring has done well in two years. I've heard Cleo's called cheap looking too by many people in this forum. The Neo was not made for you Foo,it was made for first time high school and college users, but it may help Handsprings stock come out of the toilet and that is good for all of us. Then maybe you'll get the Visor you want. I think the one you want works like a Star Fleet Pad. The good news is we probably won't have to wait for the 24th century to get it. Just picking at you Foo. I enjoy reading your rants. I've been here since 1999 too.

__________________
Facts all come with points of view
Facts don't do what I want them to
Facts just twist the truth around
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Last edited by rnunnink on 09-28-2001 at 07:29 PM

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Richmond, VA, USA
Posts: 151

TheVisor.com

So whatever happened to TheVisor.com?

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 61

My Visor broke lastweek, it won't trun on no more ;( Good thing I have Best Buy's Protection Plan. Took it back to best buy, tech verify that it is bad, they handed me a Smoked Neo for replacement.

This thing is fast!!! Especially for the web application and games. With my old Visor it crash a lot when I go online with VisorPhone. With this I can browser until battery run out or my money run out which ever come first. hehe

Quality of plastic is much better too. Its so smooth.. I keep getting finger prints all over it thought.

Now I just need to find me a good visor phone case.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: I'm not sure, but I see lots of lights everywhere.
Posts: 1287

Re: are you ever happy foo?

quote:

---

Originally posted by rnunnink
I remember the first post I ever saw from Foo

foo fighter
Member



Registered: Oct 1999
Location: I'm not sure, but I see a drunk passed out on the street corner!
Posts: 1022
posted: 10-28-1999 01:35 PM

---

Wow! You remembered that, word for word, all the way back from 99? That's some memory!

quote:

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...But it will be Christmas 2002 before I ever see the replacement.

---

Perfect timing. I should be getting my original Visor back in the mail any day now.

quote:

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This was Oct 1999 and now it is 2001 and you still have the same complaints.

---

Same complaints? These are all neo...I mean new complaints.

quote:

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I'm not totally thrilled with my Neo either but I think Handspring has done well in two years.

---

Glad you like your Neo, but I don't agree that Handspring has done well in 2 years. Its more accurate to say that they rode a wave of popularity that carried these low end PalmOS devices along...and now they are running out of steam. Springboard is slowly dying, and many module makers have gone belly up, or found it impossible to sell them, and Handspring and Palm are losing marketshare to Sony and the PocketPC camp. I'm confident things haven't turned out the way Hawkins and Dubinsky had planned. But there still may be a few tricks left up Jeff's sleeve. Hopefully the Neo/Pro wasn't one of them.

quote:

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The Neo was not made for you Foo,it was made for first time high school and college users,

---

That's true, I'll grant you. But I think the M100 will grab more of the ultra budget conscious market than the neo. You can get one for less than $90.

quote:

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but it may help Handsprings stock come out of the toilet

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Not likely. These are consumer devices, and right now consumers aren't buying ANY PDAs. HS seems to be on a tardiness streak. First they released to Edge too late, and now this. What they need now is a corporate wireless solution like the Treo. They had better launch that product line and soon!

quote:

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The good news is we probably won't have to wait for the 24th century to get it.

---

I'm dying to know what the new Palm/BeOS will look like. Palm is under serious pressure, but I have a feeling they are going to surprise everyone..especially Micro$oft! Bring it on!

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Last edited by foo fighter on 09-29-2001 at 12:41 AM

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Sayre, PA
Posts: 39

you didn't answer his question

Some whatever did happen to the thevisor.com?

And is it me or do you too also hear the word pumpy ass when you read Palm/BeOS

__________________
Facts all come with points of view
Facts don't do what I want them to
Facts just twist the truth around
Facts are living turned inside out
- David Byrne

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: I'm not sure, but I see lots of lights everywhere.
Posts: 1287

Re: you didn't answer his question

quote:

---

Originally posted by rnunnink
Some whatever did happen to the thevisor.com?

---

Myself and a group of friends entertained the notion of starting a Visor fan site, mainly as a pet project. I registered the domain and began doing preliminary work on site design. We mapped out our strategy....and Then, at the last minute, everyone bailed! Once they found out how much work is involved in owning and maintaining a well run enthusiast site, they ran away like rats. They are dead to me now.

Someone from Handspring e-mailed me last year wanting to know if I would sell them the domain name. I offered to give it to them in exchange for a Prism. I never heard from them since. Cheap bastards!

quote:

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And is it me or do you too also hear the word pumpy ass when you read Palm/BeOS

---

[Homer Simpson voice] Mmmmm...Palm/BeOS..Grawllllll.[/Homer Simpson voice]

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Registered: Sep 2001
Location:
Posts: 3

College student + Neo

Run and Foo-
I'm the demographic ya'll (yes, I'm from Texas -- how'd ya guess?) are talking about. I'm a college student getting ready for midterms and was a little overwhelmed with my paper calendar and three different to-do lists (well, 2 to-dos and 1 grocery, but I digress) sitting on my counter. So, earlier this week I bought a Visor Neo.

It's not my first handheld, but it is my first Palm device. My first handheld, which I still have, was an HP OmniGo. Manufactured in 1995, runs GEOS, and has 1MB RAM. The OmniGo uses the same Graffiti as Palm, but it allows the user to write directly on top of the entry field. It also comes with builtin database, "Notepad" with wordprocessor features, spreadsheet apps (and a nifty solitaire game) -- they'd be nice to have in a Palm ROM. My OGO was just a toy: it's slow, has abysmal battery life, a screen that causes eye strain, and is difficult to sync with a desktop.

Okay, I'm way off topic now. I do that.
Back to my new Neo:
The speed: it's zippy! I like the case. It's the right size and feels VERY sturdy. Mine is blue. The color is a little too subdued and purplish; maybe I should have gotten the "smoke". You're right, Foo, the case does feel a little "slimy" and smudge easily, but that doesn't bother me. I love the clip on cover. It feels like it protects the screen well, and gives the Neo a sleeker look vs. conservative leather cases or geeky belt-clips.

The only other handheld I really considered was the low-end Sony Clie PEG-<insert random numbers and letters here> that's $199. That Clie has the 16MHz Dragonball -- 50% slower. I like the speed of the Neo. My old OGO took 10 seconds to launch the Database; I'm not putting up with that any longer. Also, I like the Neo's plastic body better than the Clie's metal skin. The Clie is too "executive" ... and besides, I don't necessarily want to be carrying easy to swipe around campus that looks expensive. The final nail in the coffin for the Clie was the fact that Sony doesn't officially support Macs, though Clie's do sync with Palm Desktop for Mac OS. I'm just worried about the future versions.

Palm's offerings seem underpowered and overpriced when compared to Handspring's.

Even if PocketPC-based handhelds didn't cost an exorbitant amount, ditched the multimedia crap that I don't need (my OGO was a toy, my mew palmtop is a tool...I repeat this mantra as I download games... ), and played well with my Mac, I still wouldn't consider them. No excuses here: I'm a bigot.

I admit it. The Handspring somersault guy is really what really finalized my purchasing decision. It's a logo that works on multiple levels. I mean, he's a "H" -- no, wait he's a guy doing a somersault. On the box he does a complete one, or are those a lot of little Handspringies (Handspringers? Hangspringfolk? No, my parents never took my Disneyland, that's why I'm this way) all somersaulting together happily?

I set a $200 price limit for myself and I feel the Neo is the best value in that bracket. (Actually, I picked it up retail at Target, opened a charge account, and got 10% off on the spot: a better deal than I could spot anywhere online PLUS instant gratification!)

My Visor has already become a very useful tool. Today I used AvantGo's Yahoo channel to find a movie while I was out. Neato. I've got all my to-do's consolidated, my appointment book has all my test dates and a few alarms to remind myself of various little things. Oh, and don't forget Tetris

Last edited by is0b on 09-29-2001 at 07:19 AM

Registered: Sep 2001
Location:
Posts: 3

Sony Clie

I saw the low-end Sony Clie P-<random alphanumerics> at Fry's today. All I could say was "s**t". It's pretty. The pics of the Clie on Sony's website don't look like that.
I kept reminding myself why I paid just a little less for my Neo...faster CPU, official Mac support, and uh...what else...Fast Lookup and DateBook+ ...right.... The Sony is pretty.