Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Philadelphia, MS, USA
Posts: 12

Does anybody know anything about it? Like an expected price? expected features? or expected release date?

Should I wait? Is color really that important on a handheld? I mean when I want color I look at a PC.

Thanks,

Patrick
CEO/CFO
Patrick's Stock Market Services http://psms.cjb.net

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: New York, New York, USA
Posts: 27

Palm has just released a preview of the the new 3.5 PalmOS to developers (check out the Developer Zone section of their website). It is supposed to support 256 colors on a reflective TFT LCD screen. Not sure what battery life projections they're making, or what the size of the new units is going to be. I have no idea what the pricing is going to be, but I would be surprised if they went over $450. The OS is not expected to arrive in shipping units until April 2000.

So, if you can wait that long to get a PDA, go for it. I couldn't, so I went and traded my Palm V in for a Vx (after I cancelled my Ice Vdx order). I figure when 3.5 comes out, if I'm not sufficiently impressed with the new units, I can simply upgrade the OS of my Vx from v3.3 to v3.5 (I wouldn't be able to do that with a Visor - then again I can't add an Mp3 player to the Vx).

[This message has been edited by AdamC (edited 11-03-1999).]

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

It's nice to see that Palm is choosing a Reflective TFT screen for their color models. That is currently the only color screen type that can be viewed outdoors. All WinCE color units(except the Compaq Aero) are completely unreadable if you take them anywhere near sunlight. This illustrates the fact that Microsoft and it's developers simply don't understand this form factor.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Seattle, Wa, USA
Posts: 6

I wouldn't think using reflective TFT color LCD screens would kill the battery life. I am pretty sure this is the same technology that the color game boy uses, and that has great battery life. Of course, the resolutions of those screens are different, but it shouldn't impact price that much either. If they add some sort of back light for nighttime viewing, it could kill both battery life and cost though.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 12

The reflective colour screens, are very difficult to read *indoors* even with the backlight all the way up! The Palm V's screen is *much* easier to read indoors than the screen of the colour Compaq. So far we haven't seen any colour screens which can perform adequately both outdoors *and* indoors. (Except for specially coated screens like the ones on some Panasonic Laptops) The Casio E-100 and HP 420/30's screens are bright and beautiful indoors but nearly impossible to read outdoors, the Compaq's reflective screen is just the opposite. If Palm and Handspring don't use something that is bright and easy to read indoors and out, I'll be sticking with a monochrome unit and the $100+ in savings. Colour is great, but not if I can't see it.

[This message has been edited by David Lir (edited 11-03-1999).]

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

I agree David, I field tested the Compaq Aero and was genuinely impressed with the fact that it was the only color WinCE device that could be viewed in sunlight(even though it was like carrying a brick around). The Casio E-100 is more hype than substance. I don't care what features a Palm-Size device has, if I can't take it everywhere I go, It's completely useless to me.

[This message has been edited by foo fighter (edited 11-03-1999).]

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 200

I've seen a Casio (105?) a few weeks ago running a little video. I was quite impressed.

On the Casio homepage I remember reading something like: "....battery live up to 6 hours, but maybe limited by....."

With a Palm (or Visor) you can do a loooong business trip without recharging or changing batteries. But a color notebook will even not last for the flight duration...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the problem is the constant backlight of TFT screens.

I can't see the use of color right now!

(I guess I said the same 10 years ago about monitors)

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 12

Hey foo fighter,

It's nice to have someone agreeing with me! It seems Jeff agrees with both of us. Here's a quote from a recent article:

"As for color displays, they "use more power and are more expensive, but they're gorgeous," he said. "The biggest downside to them, though, is there is no technology that works well inside and outside."


Here's the link:
http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/stories...1017979,00.html

I guess we won't be seeing a colour Visor for quite a while!

-David.
(My Visor articles can be found here: http://www.foxpop.ndirect.co.uk/visorcover.htm

[This message has been edited by David Lir (edited 11-04-1999).]

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 12

Hey HipHop,

The main problem is that TFT screens look great indoors but are unreadable outdoors. There are exceptions (my Laptop has a coated screen which makes it readable indoors and outdoors) but this technology is not being used at the PDA level. True reflective colour screens are nigh impossible to read indoors where most of us work, most of the time. So they've come up with a type of reflective screen that will allow a backlight. This is the type (called Transflective) that Compaq is using. But as I mentioned before it is still very dim indoors even with the backlight on. If the article I quoted above is anything to go by, we won't be seeing colour Visors anytime soon.

-David.

P.S. some laptops can last through a plane trip. Mine goes for 4hrs with no power saving, screen at full brightness and the CD and HD in use the entire time. (It took me this long to install SW and configure it when I got it---yes on battery power.) It can go 6 hours when utilizing power saving, and turning down the brightness. It has a 12.1" TFT)

[This message has been edited by David Lir (edited 11-04-1999).]

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 200

Hi David,

thanks for the LCD explaination. On batterie live, a flight for me to the L.A. takes 12 hours non stop.

Any way, when you travel with a laptop you HAVE TO bring the power supply too.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location:
Posts: 12

Hi HipHop,

Of course it does depend on how long the flight is! I hope you don't have to take 12hr flights too often But really would you be using your laptop the *entire* 12 hours? Anyway your right, one does have to bring the darn power supply along too.

Regards...

-David.