Registered: Oct 2001
Location:
Posts: 203

Visor is NOT dead

VisorCentral talks things over about Donna's comment and more.

http://www.visorcentral.com/content/Stories/1375-1.htm

Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 58

Visor IS dead

I hate to be pessimistic, but Mr. Jaquet hasn't really said anything more specific than Donna Dubinsky's original statement; in the long run, their focus will be on "communicator" devices... although the Visor may not be dead in the short term, it certainly sounds as though the Visor is, well... dead.

It also sounds as though they're not planning much in the way of improvements to the existing Visors; Palm is slated to introduce StrongARM-based OS5 devices later this year... Handspring devices aren't even running OS4. Since Brian Jaquet's only real statement about the fate of the Visor line is that they're consolidating it down to the Neo, Pro, and Edge models, it doesn't seem likely that there will be any new Visor models, ever.

I love my Prism.... specifically, I love the 16-bit color. There's no way I'll ever go back to a monochrome PDA, and I know most other Prism users feel the same way. With the confirmation that HS is dropping their only color Visor with no plans to create a new one, the Visor is already dead as far as Prism users are concerned.

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 41

Visor is dead

Unfortunately I have to agree with this evaluation. I too am a Prism owner and was looking forward to the Prism II. After owning a color PDA, there is now way to go back to a monochrome version. I guess I am one of the few looking for a laptop replacement and not a "always on" connection to the net. Oh well, maybe I can pick up a second Prism when they go on sale so all my springboard modules don't go to waste.

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Conway SC USA
Posts: 92

I guess when our family of 3 visors die I'll go BACK to SONY!! I don't plan on getting anymore HS gear.

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LARRY

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Registered: Aug 2001
Location:
Posts: 383

If they don't produce any new ones anymore then essentially its dead. In the computer industry your either a 1 or 0, alive or dead. If you do not innovate then your a 0 because other companies will innovate something better than what you have.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Silicon Valley, California
Posts: 173

Once you go color...you NEVER go back!

Those of us who have used the Prism will now be forced to go to Handspring's competitors when our Prisms die.

Too bad...I LOVE my Prism and would have stuck with Handspring since I have Springboard modules.

Oh well...those Clie T615s ARE kinda cool looking...they even come in blue....

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: charleston,sc
Posts: 14

Damage Control

sounds like they are trying to control the sales damaging statement "she" made. I went by Office Depot yesterday and got a few choice items to make the sale of my visor a little better. perhaps i am a little premature in getting rid of my visor but i am iching to go color. I had concidered the prisim but now with out a clear future in development i hesitate. I hope HS sees the error of their ways before many of us become visor salesman.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Misplaced Canuck in Charleston SC
Posts: 257

I for one remain optimistic about handspring and think perhaps a line of wireless (non-cellphone) Palm VII-ish visors are coming in the future.

In any case, if I get a tax refund this year, i'm tempted to get myself a visor pro and keep it handy for when my platinum kicks the bucket. i happen to like the springboard and am looking forward to picking up a few more this year.

Everyone seems to be bemoaning the springboard and its 'proprietary' nature. Personally I don't see how it's any more proprietary than Sony's Memory Stick. Sure, MS is more widespread among Sony devices, but for the most part it's still only a memory device. Springboard on the other hand is more of a CFish interface.

And, while all the other handhelds are still waiting for cool expansion toys for SD, most of those cool expansion toys already exist for the Visor. Ok, so they're a little pricey...but they already exist!

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

I've made my last HS/Palm purchase. I am firmly convinced the Palm OS is dead and will not innovate over the next several years. I hate to say it, my next purchase will probably be a PocketPC based organizer or maybe a Linux based device (depending how stable it is).

I really like the idea of the Treo, but I'm really finding it hard to dump $500 for a Prism with a decent net connection.

If I'm going to dump tons of cash into a 3G ready network phone, it's going to be something that I can plug my laptop into and use for access on the road. It's easier for me to turn on my laptop for "real work" and use my palmpilot to answer quick questions.

B

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

"Bring out your dead . . ."

Shades of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. "But I'm not dead yet."

Since they obviously do not plan on coming up with a "Prism II," my days with the Visor line are over once my beloved Prism dies - may that day be long delayed. I'll give the Treo a hard look, but I'm not optimistic. Sony (or maybe Pocket PC) here I come.

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Nashville, TN USA
Posts: 125

One of the major things that's kept me from jumping to Sony - modules. I don't have as many as some of you but I use the ones I have. But I only have 4 so I'm not out too much if I change.

I was about to get the memory stick memplug to go with all my other Sony products - pc, camera etc. But now I think I'll hold off. As my prism continues to loose little pieces from bumps, drops, etc. I'll just have to see how long it last.

But like many of you I'll be going to a Sony once my prism dies or my wife says "What would you like for your birthday?"

It won't be a Treo. I'm not going back to black & white, and the color Treo will just be way too much money for what it does.

Just me 39 cents.

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Registered: Dec 2001
Location: WoodStock,GA
Posts: 7

The full text of Jeff Hawkins email follows:

Dear Handspring Developer,
There has been some confusion over Handspring's commitment to the organizer business as a result of comments we made in our recent conference call with financial analysts. We are sorry for any confusion we may have caused. I am writing to clarify our position.

Handspring remains committed to producing and supporting our organizer products. We believe that there will be a market for organizers for some time to come. What we intended in our earnings call is that because of our strong belief in the value of wireless communications, we are putting more and more of our development resources into our communicator products. This is true. We are very excited about the Treo communicator and are investing heavily in future communicator products.

The Visor product line has been an incredible success and the Springboard expansion slot supports many great solutions thanks to you. As the Visor product line matures we are consolidating the line into a few key products, Visor Pro, Visor Neo and Visor Edge. Going forward we will continue to support Springboard developers. We will continue to manufacture and sell Visor products as long as there is sufficient demand and we are able to build them. It is natural that as demand dictates we may reduce the number of SKUs and the geographies and channels in which they are available.

Again, I hope this clarifies any confusion we may have caused. Thank you for your support of Handspring in the past and I look forward to continuing to work with you in the future.

Jeff Hawkins

a email i found on another site...Steve

Registered: May 2001
Location:
Posts: 6

I am personally hoping that HandEra will release a color model. They seem to me to be the next best option.
-Scott