Registered: Sep 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 19

I've had a number of emails asking me for a rundown on the Visor, so here it is._ I got my visor last Wednesday, but I didn't really start using it until Sunday (I only have NT4 at work, so I had to wait until I'd be home with my Windows 98 machine to install software and hotsync my data).

Starting with the physical construction, the Visor is very well made (mine is Graphite, as I think are all of the press/analyst units)._ The case is clean and tight, although I'm still getting used to the IR port on the left side.

I don't have a Palm V, so I can't compare the two, but I do have a III and a and a VII.

The screen on the VD (Visor Deluxe) is wonderful, the same one as on the
V._ It also seems a lot faster than the III or the VII._ Could be due to the use of the Dragonball EZ, or it could be optimized code._ Speaking of faster, hotsyncing via the USB is amazingly fast._ I use AvantGo, and subscribe to a lot of channels, so I really appreciate the speed difference.

The speakers seem to be the same, in that the alarms sound exactly identical.

I still haven't gotten used to the backlighting._ The shortcut .8 toggles
between [normal backlight] and [inverting backlight] (in Memo Pad) but I don't see any differnce, even after resetting the unit.

Speaking of resetting the unit, there is no reset pin on the stylus!_ I can't believe that I'm back to carrying a bent paper clip in the battery compartment._ The stylus silo is smaller than the III or VII, so I can't use any of my other styluses._ I want to try a Palm V stylus in it, see how it fits._ The VD stylus doesn't 'click' into the silo, but it holds very nicely.

Another great thing about the VD is that the buttons (except the Page Up/Page Down) are concave._ This means you can push them with the stylus._ A small thing, but one I really wished again and again was on the III._ The buttons also have a much more tactile feel to them, with very satisfying clicks.

The other two parts to the physical construction are the Springboard port and
the cover._ The unit comes with a plastic cover where the Springboards will go._ It's very much like a cover for the battery compartment on a remote control._ Kinda cool, inside the port there's the handspring guy doing a handpring (you've probably seen this, it's the logo in 4 positions with dotted
lines connecting them).

The cover is more annoying than cool._ It fits quite nicely, but every time I hand the VD to someone, they always have a bit of difficulty figuring out how to take it off and put it back on._ My biggest complaint is that it takes 2 hands to remove and put back._ If you don't have a Springboard in place, you can put the cover on the back of the unit, where it snaps on securely._ I
prefer the Palm III cover that I could flip up with one hand._ We'll have to see what cases come out for the VD._ The VD is a bit narrower than the III series, so I don't think the standard III cases will work well for it._ It's slimness does feel very good in the hand, though.

It also comes with a leather case._ This is very similar to the VII's leather case, basically a slip case for the VD to slip into, open on the top side, and covering the bottom, front, back, and sides._ I haven't used it much, because it adds too much thickness to the unit, making it harder to put in my pocket, but the construction seemed fine.

I haven't used any of the Springboards, as I haven't been able to get any of them!_ I hope to get the modem before Comdex, as I'd like to use it to check email while on the road.

As for the software, it's fairly standard Palm software._ Just to keep things unique, I installed the software in a different directory than my Palm software, but it appears to be exactly the same._ I exported my contacts, datebook info, and memos from my Palm software and it imported perfectly into
the VD desktop (which says "Palm Desktop").

The datebook looks like the standard one, but when you go to Options, you can choose to use Datebook+._ I did so, and it looks (and I later confirmed it is) licensed from DateBk3._ I'm a dedicated user of DateBk3, so was very happy about this, except that Datebook+ leaves out my favorite feature, the
icons._ I thus had to re-install DateBk3, which works flawlessly._ According to C. E.
Steuart Dewar, the brilliant developer responsible for DateBk3, "Yes - I think
omitting the icons may have been an oversight - that was one item that IS used by a large number of users (and not necessarily "power-users")."

As I've said, I came over from a Palm III, and I've had some software that didn't work._ I'm thinking that if an app works on the V, it'll work on the VD, as they both use the DragonballEZ processor._ I had to upgrade to a later version of Switch Hack, for example._ I still can't seem to make OmniRemote work._ I want to use it to test if the IR is stronger on the VD than on the III.

I do miss the flash on the III, though._ I had a special TRG developer's board in my III that gave me 4 Megs of flash, and I had a lot of stuff in there, including DateBk3, the GoType! driver, TealDoc, and some apps and docs that I use every day._ I've had my III crash entirely, and lose everything._ It was
very nice to have some stuff protected in the Flash.

My overall view of the VD is very favorable._ I can't wait to see what Springboards will come out, and how much they'll cost._ I'm also looking forward to the Palm Vx, to see if they've added any features in addition to
the larger amount of memory._ The Palm vs. Visor discussion is available on Visorcentral.com, so I won't re-hash it here, but I really like my VD - it's become my daily-use machine._ I'm still very much looking forward to the modem and keyboard becoming available._

-Mic
President, SFPUG


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The San Francisco Palm/Pilot User Group!
http://www.sfpug.org

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Austin, Tx USA
Posts: 16

WOW!

A few questions left open:

1.) Stylii. I can't stand the cheap plastic ones. I would much prefer to use the V's or a custom from another vendor. And the lack of a pin really bothers me as well.

2.) Any word on the calculator in use? I believe that could be an enhanecment well overlooked.

3.) Did you experience any lockups with the device using the standard apps? I have heard too many reports of issues to ignore this.

All-in-all, I await patiently my Ice Visor.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Valparaiso, IN
Posts: 146

Thanks! It's nice to hear a review from someone who is a PDA user and developer, rather than a writer who thinks they're neat, but won't use one.

The only drawbacks that I see from what you say is the cover and the stylus. I think most people can get over that, given that they are outweighed by the other cool features. Well, be sure to let us know when you can get your hands on a springboard or two.

Thanks again! :-)

Hawk

[This message has been edited by Hawkeye (edited 09-22-1999).]

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 19

I forgot to mention the calculator! Doh! When you first start it, it appears to be the standard Palm calculator. However, you can click Menu, Options, Change Mode, and select Advanced. You get a rather nice scientific calculator. It's programmable, in that you can add 'views' to it. Just under the number display is a drop down menu, where you can choose what kind of calculator it is. It comes with these as standard:

Math
Trig
Finance
Logic
Statistics
Weight/Tmp
Length
Area
Volume

At least one of these (Weight/Tmp) seems to come from a new Memo Pad category that automatically gets installed called 'Calculator'. There's probably documentation about this on the CD, but of course I haven't yet read the documentation.

-Mic



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The San Francisco Palm/Pilot User Group!
http://www.sfpug.org

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Tucson, AZ, USA
Posts: 13

Thanks, I needed a decent review until I get my hands on mine!

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Dan

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

Sweet review Mic! Thanks for the input and please post more if find other items of interest as you familiarize yourself with it.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Colorado Springs, Co
Posts: 23

Thanks for the review. Sounds like it's going to be a good machine.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 106

Yes...Thanks for the info.

If anyone comes across the answer to the ALL IMPORTANT question: Can a PALM V sylus be interchanged with a VISOR stylus?...Would you be kind enough to post the answer. Thx

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Midland, TX USA
Posts: 95

Excellent review. Finally, someone with true hands on experience (and it answers my question in another post - it really exists).
Your review should be moved from the Discussion board to the Review section, as it is the best review I've read yet, primarily because it comes from an experience Palm user.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Midland, TX USA
Posts: 95

Excellent review. Finally, someone with true hands on experience (and it answers my question in another post - it really exists).
Your review should be moved from the Discussion board to the Review section, as it is the best review I've read yet, primarily because it comes from an experience Palm user.

Registered: Aug 1999
Location: Inverness, FL
Posts: 428

I added Mic's review to the review section - I hope he approves.

Our interactive review section - very much like deja.com, will soon go online.

Marcus

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 4

Excellent Review !! Thanks.

I was told Visor Delux has no Flash RAM, and thus OS upgrade will not be possible or easy. Any comments on that ?

Also for those of us with no USB port, how do we sync Visor wih our PC ? Is it a matter of adding a card to our PC or there is an easier solution

Registered: Aug 1999
Location: Inverness, FL
Posts: 428

Check out Visor Central's article section, we have a story "USB Dilemma" that answers your questions.
http://www.visorcentral.com/visor/a.../usbdilemma.asp

[This message has been edited by marcus (edited 09-23-1999).]