Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 27

Am I weird?

I've had my blue VDX since 10/99, and I still haven't bought any Springboards. The closest I came was a SoundsGood, but I ended up buying a stand alone. I may go for the MemPlug for storing Mapopolis maps or a GPS, but I really use the VDX for the basic functions. I wouldn't mind using the Eyemodule 2, but there's not much memory left after the maps and AvantGo, and the screen isn't color. The reason that I chose the Visor in the first place was for the expandability, but I'm surprised that I haven't felt the need to buy any Springboards.

Is there anyone else who owns a Visor and no Springboards?

p

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 278

I did for a while until Matchbook drives was liquidating and then I got one for $11 including shipping. Even though I have it now I rarely use it.

--David

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Arizona
Posts: 43

I am in the same boat. I have had my Visor for almost 2 years, and I don't have any Springboards. I wish I would have got the Backup module when I first bought my Visor, but now I don't think I will be staying with the Visor.

I originally bought the Visor for many reason, and the promise of expandability was just one of them. It is hard to remember now, but the Visor was a revolutionary product for a lot of reasons (memory, colors, price, etc). I have been very disappointed in the Springboard makers. The modules have been too expensive, and with a few exceptions, have been more about the Wow factor than real usability. No matter how much we want to believe otherwise, MP3 players are nitch products. The Soundsgood was a great product, and I think that company is a good company. They obviously have the skills to produce good modules. I think they just chose a stupid module to make. In my opinion CF expansion should have been the first module after the backup module, followed closely by modems and ethernet modules.

Back to why I am not buying modules now. After using my Visor everyday, I really want something smaller, and I just don't think any PDA with a Springboard slot can get much smaller. I hope Handspring comes out with the product I am looking for, cause I like their products.

Having said all that (and going on for some time), the Prism with Documents to Go and a VisorPhone for $300 is tempting me. I think it is too big though.

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Utz -- (Pronounced 'ootz', it means good, happy, etc. in the Mayan language of Cakchiquel)

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Elkins Park, Pa
Posts: 577

I have no modules. I want modules. Here's the modules I want:

Backup module,
Stepkeeper Pedometer module,
Massage module (did you see that???),
Wireless Ethernet module.

But I'm probably not getting anything, because I'm to cheap to pay for any of it. Got better things to pay for (like styli).

P.S. I found out in Latin class today that ancient Romans used styli to write on wax paper. Stylus is actually the Roman word for pencil.

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-Bernie

"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice president, and that one word is 'to be prepared'.
-Dan Quayle

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 1571

R U serious?

quote:

---

Originally posted by ernieba1
I have no modules. I want modules. Here's the modules I want:

Backup module,
Stepkeeper Pedometer module,
Massage module (did you see that???),
Wireless Ethernet module.


P.S. I found out in Latin class today that ancient Romans used styli to write on wax paper. Stylus is actually the Roman word for pencil.

---

Registered: May 2000
Location: Chicago
Posts: 15

The three problems with springboards:
1. Cost
2. Cost
3. Cost

There's some fine springboards available, but peripherals that are priced at such a large ratio to the base product are limited in perceived value.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 347

ernieba1...

It wasn't wax paper. It was a clay tablet with a wax top. They could write on it, then smooth it out when they needed it again. Pretty cool eh?

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 284

quote:

---

Originally posted by chitown
The three problems with springboards:
1. Cost
2. Cost
3. Cost

There's some fine springboards available, but peripherals that are priced at such a large ratio to the base product are limited in perceived value.

---

Well, the company does have to make up it's R&D costs some how, and there are really two ways to do that:

1) Sell volume at a low price, or
2) Sell small volume at a high price.

Given that HS is, what, 40% of the market (I think that's generous, but I don't have the figures handy), and that not all Visor owners need or want Springboards, the companies that develop Springboards are stuck in a catch-22. In order to recoup costs, companies need to sell at a reasonably high price, given that Springboards are a niche market. However, pricing Springboards that high means that consumers aren't likely to buy them due to the high price relative to similar solutions.

Not an Rx for a winning business plan, IMHO.

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It's gotta be weather balloons. It's always weather balloons. Big, fiery, exploding weather balloons.
-- ComaVN (from Slashdot)

Registered: May 2001
Location: Chicago
Posts: 236

Well i dont own any springboards modules for one reason only. i dont know if i am going to stay with handspring. I had a VDX then went to the edge cause its so small. butt the damn edge gets no support from handspring or third-party suppliers. i Would buy the
Eyemodule2
some kind of memory expansion
presenter to go
and
visorphone
but like i said if i cant even get a keyboard for the dang thing i am going to find another company that has PDA's this small with accessories.

Registered: Apr 2000
Location:
Posts: 22

If you must know-

The answer to your question is YES.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 100

Good news...

quote:

---

Originally posted by chitown
The three problems with springboards:
1. Cost
2. Cost
3. Cost

There's some fine springboards available, but peripherals that are priced at such a large ratio to the base product are limited in perceived value.

---

I think somewhere there's a VisorPhone with your name on it.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Elkins Park, Pa
Posts: 577

Ummmm, service can be expensive, especially if you already HAVE a cell phone a a non-GSM plan.

__________________
-Bernie

"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice president, and that one word is 'to be prepared'.
-Dan Quayle

Registered: May 2001
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 101

Me too!

One of the main reasons I bought a VPL was because of the Springboard slot. I thought I'd be using Springboards left and right. Not! I haven't even used up the 8 megs yet. Although the SoundsGood sounds good, I think it's a little pricey for what it is.

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www.studio1809.com
P.S. I feel at home with geeks like you.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 1683

Pastagirl:

Congrats on getting out of the design industry.

Thinking of heading that way myself...

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We're all naked if you turn us inside out.
-David Byrne

Registered: May 2001
Location: GA, USA
Posts: 76

Matchbook drive

The only module I felt compelled to buy was the Matchbook Drive and a 16 MB CF card. Since I was too cheap to get a Deluxe, the Visor's 2 MB got filled real quick . The Matchbook and Silver Screen and Kopsis VFSHelper and I have about 8 MB of apps - although I always keep about 500k free to move the apps in and out.

Other than that, price has kept me from investing too much, I tend to upgrade my toys way too often to invest too much $$.