Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 594

EM2 sure is great w/a Prism

I doubt I'm enlightening anyone who already has this set-up -- and I know everyone's now looking at every color screen out there, wondering what to do (incl. wait for a ThinPrism) -- so I'm not sure I'll exactly be helping HS sell more of them just now, but ...
... but why haven't you guys (& gals) spelled it out for the rest of us?

I love EM2 like crazy, but still felt there was ... more.
It's called the Prism. (Duh!)
I borrowed a buddy's for a day. (Long story.)

1st thing I did was turn the brightness down to ZERO. (To see if I could tolerate it that way & still save batt. pwr.) And it was *STILL* very bright -- esp. at night. I could STILL "use it as a flashlight" in a taxi! It was so bright at ZERO at night (pitch black), it started to hurt my eyes! (not badly). I KNOW reading w/my VDX in a cab, the driver hardly ever noticed. But I could tell he could tell white light was bouncing off my face.

The 34k Palm-Sized photos are finally worth-a-crap! (And when you stick them into the 1/4-screen format of EyeContact, they're only 8k!)
EyeContact KILLS w/color photos!
The unbeliveable & undeniable utility of small color photos on a Prism is ... well ... unbeliveable & undeniable! You can make everyone's face out! Clearly! You can tell EVERYTHING about them in that tiny 1/4 screen photo! Age, height (? nah!), skin tone, hair, location, what they're wearing, etc.
You just have to kinda GUESS at these details when you're looking at the photos of the VDX. But what a diff. vivid color makes! (I know, I know: "Elementary, my dear bkbk, eh?" But you really just have to see it to believe it. The loons in the stores are CRAZY not to have an EM2 jammed into EVERY Prism on display to sell it like crazy.)

I thought the pixilezation would be really noticeable, but it's only if you look for it (which we all know, can and do, but you can really choose just not to), and seems totally moot w/the re-definition of everything that's created w/the 64k of colors.

SAME w/the mini-movies, which I thought were not EVEN worth shooting in b&w. But color, it's a whole 'nother story. Even 5 sec! To coin a cliche: "Rich color informs every image"!

So, does this mean I'll be getting a Prism & a MemPlug or something? Probably. Can't give you an ETA on them, though. Mucho other stuff going on right now.

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Non-pix stuff:
You really notice the SW picks up speed, too -- it boots up MUCH faster. (And you realize for the 1st time the cute little sparkling "2" in "EM2" is really a tiny little color demo.)
And that annonying "4-sec.-black-screen-wait" of EM2 (WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?) is cut to more like 2 sec.
OTOH, the "high-speed-screen-pan" seems LOST w/the 64k of colors -- a heavy-duty re-draw problem?
Sooooooooooooooo severe? Even w/a 33Mhz chip? The HSVD just blows it away in this area? Really? 'Cause I'm hoping my buddy just has a bum Prism on this point, really.

Anyway, just hadda share.

__________________
"Great Spirits Have Always Encountered Violent Opposition From Mediocre Minds." -- Albert Einstein

Last edited by bkbk on 06-05-2001 at 04:02 AM

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: June 10, 2001 San Clemente Pier , CA
Posts: 211

bkbk,

I'm just soooo excited after reading your post.

Do you think the em v1 is worth anything at all? They have it on sale at OfficeMax for $59. and I was considering getting it.

I have the Prism.

Whatta ya think?

__________________
"I cannot live without books." Thomas Jefferson

Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 594

I wasn't too happy w/the EM1.
But I didn't have a Prism. If I did, maybe Id've found more value in the small color shots. (EM1 does allow b&w Visors to do small color shots, right? I'm not 100% sure now....)
Still, the resolution's like 1/2 that of EM2.
Of course, I know EM2's like 4x the price right now.
Maybe you could try EM1, and if you don't like it (it doesn't do the little movies, I'm sure you know -- but they're like 1mb / 5 sec., you should know, too), you can return it.
Still, it might have much more value on a Prism than it did for me on my HSVD.
Anyone out there have a Prism & an EM1?

__________________
"Great Spirits Have Always Encountered Violent Opposition From Mediocre Minds." -- Albert Einstein

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: June 10, 2001 San Clemente Pier , CA
Posts: 211

Thanks for the input bkbk.

I see on www.pricewatch.com, that the em2 is $185 plus $8 shipping.

hmmmmmmm

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"I cannot live without books." Thomas Jefferson

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 708

I have a Prism and an EM1. While it was cool at first, the novelty has worn off quite a bit. In fact, I hardly find myself using it at all. Simply put, the EM1 did its best work in BRIGHT light environments, like outside. And as we all know, that is NOT the best place to use a Prism. I was trying to take pictures outdoors and no matter what I did they all came out flawed because I could not see the screen well. I think I would enjoy the EM2 much more, but I am unwilling to buy another camera module. I have decided that if I want digital photographs I will purchase a realy digital camera and then use my EM1 just for fun. That is really all it is good for. You can get some really funny shots just because no one knows you are taking pictures.

And yes, you can take color photos with the EM1 on a Visor Deluxe.

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In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. JOHN 14:2

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: The Matrix
Posts: 718

I have one problem with the EM. It needs a memory card slot. Taking photos on my prism kills all the internal ram. maybe its needs an SD/MMC slot or something.

__________________
-Mikedemo
It's all about how you spend the money.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

quote:

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Originally posted by GSR13
I have a Prism and an EM1. While it was cool at first, the novelty has worn off quite a bit. In fact, I hardly find myself using it at all. Simply put, the EM1 did its best work in BRIGHT light environments, like outside. And as we all know, that is NOT the best place to use a Prism. I was trying to take pictures outdoors and no matter what I did they all came out flawed because I could not see the screen well. I think I would enjoy the EM2 much more, but I am unwilling to buy another camera module. I have decided that if I want digital photographs I will purchase a realy digital camera and then use my EM1 just for fun. That is really all it is good for. You can get some really funny shots just because no one knows you are taking pictures.

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Texas
Posts: 47

quote:

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I have one problem with the EM. It needs a memory card slot. Taking photos on my prism kills all the internal ram. maybe its needs an SD/MMC slot or something.

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Registered: May 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 98

quote:

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Originally posted by Gameboy70


I've never used an EM1, but judging from the gallery photos I've seen on Eyemodule.com and elsewhere, the only positive thing I can say about it is that $60 is probably exactly what it's worth. I can't help but notice the speckling in EM1 photos, and would be mortified if I had to contend with that. Moreover, a 320 x 240 maximum resolution is pretty weak. Shooting at VGA resolution and reducing the image size by half yields quite acceptable image quality, IMO, in a great many cases.

That's not to say that the EM2's 640 x 480 resolution is anything to brag about, but I do find it to be the minimum for useful snapshots (see my avatars). You can get a standalone digicam with the same resolution for under $70 these days, but I love always having a camera on me -- I leave the EM2 in the Prism all the time.

Aside from the improved image quality of the EM2, my favorite improvement is the angled lens, so you can hold the Prism at a 45-degree angle. The EM1, with its straight-on lens, requires you to hold it parallel to the ground.

While I still plan to get a 2+ megapixel digicam, I don't feel the absolute need to get one right away, thanks to the EM2.

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GB,

I've gotta say that I love the view from your EM2!! Was she part of the mail-in rebate?

*calming back down*

__________________
"That IS a Palm III form-factor in my pocket, AND I'm happy to see you...."

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

quote:

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Originally posted by snippet
I was wondering the same thing... I've got most of my 8M used. A memory card slot would be smart.

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Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 594

Yeah, as most of the posters have suggested, I guess EM1's time has now more or less passed. That's prob. why it's so heavily discounted. It's strong suit back then was that it really had no competition.

And now I remem. the speckling driving me nuts, esp. in dark shots. (In very dark shots, EM2 images degrade in an even ratio w/the darkness, but it's more of a banding -- absolutely NO speckling, I don't know how they managed it.)

AND, OH YEAH, ONE OF THE GREAT NEW SW FEATURES OF EM2 IS IT ALLOWS YOU TO "LIGHTEN" OR "DARKEN" THE IMAGE BEFORE YOU SHOOT! It works very well, I can attest. (And my digicams certainly can't do it!)

As I've noted before, EM2, IMHO is def. one of the SBs that's worth every penny of its price. Tho I guess EM1 is, too, at the price it is now.

Yeah, on-board mem. would be KILLER -- I think we all asked for it even back at EM1, but I guess they figured they already had enough of an upgrade, and if they wanted to sell an EM3 and couldn't think of too many more features -- EXTRA MEM. WILL MOVE THESE BABIES!
But, yeah, I'd suggest a MemPlug or something meanwhile.
(This is another plus to EM2; EM1's "large" color shots were 187k on-board; EM2's [which are really TWICE the size] are about 100k. A good trick I use, often, is to just delete AvantGo and Vindigo [like 1.5Mb and .5Mb on my HSVD, presently] -- then just re-install them when I get home. To me, it's worth the tiny extra hassle.)

And I know you can get cheaper digicams -- I have 2; and I esp. bought ones that are as small as $99 will allow. BUT, ESP. NOW THAT SUMMER'S HERE, I CAN ***NEVER*** CARRY THEM W/ME (conveniently) W/OUT AT LEAST A WINDBREAKER.
Like the Visor itself, tho, EM2 is *ALWAYS* w/me.
To me that's worth the price, easily.

(BTW, of course I remem. that EM1 does large color photos from a b&w unit -- but does it do Palm-sized ones from a b&w unit, too?)

__________________
"Great Spirits Have Always Encountered Violent Opposition From Mediocre Minds." -- Albert Einstein

Last edited by bkbk on 06-05-2001 at 11:56 PM

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

quote:

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Originally posted by Slot_Machine
GB,

I've gotta say that I love the view from your EM2!! Was she part of the mail-in rebate?

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Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 594

Prism can prob. give you "TWICE AS MANY PALM-SIZED COLOR PHOTOS," too!
(I guess an HSVD does this, too, tho the Palm-sized color photos in b&w aren't too much to write home about....)
How? Glad you asked.
Due to the delay between the "captured image" (that you see on your Visor) and the "desktop image" you end up with (which is like 1/4 sec. or something AFTER what you "thought" you shot), you're really getting 2 DIFF. SHOTS.
But once you sync, you only get the 2nd, "delayed" image.
To save the 1st image, use "ScreenShot Hack" or a similar app to capture it while it's still on your Prism.
Then you can have 2 sets of the Palm-sized color photos -- and you can choose "which was the best 1/4 sec. exposure," and just delete the other -- or keep it, if it's just as good or better!

__________________
"Great Spirits Have Always Encountered Violent Opposition From Mediocre Minds." -- Albert Einstein

Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 594

quote:

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Originally posted by Slot_Machine
GB,I've gotta say that I love the view from your EM2!!

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__________________
"Great Spirits Have Always Encountered Violent Opposition From Mediocre Minds." -- Albert Einstein

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Texas
Posts: 47

$179 for an EM2

I got a Handspring Catalog in the mail today... there is a card announcing a $20 mail-in coupon for the purchase of an EM2. Offer ends Fathers Day... go to http://www.eyemodule.com/rebate for the coupon

Last edited by snippet on 06-06-2001 at 06:16 PM

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: The Matrix
Posts: 718

Re: $179 for an EM@

quote:

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Originally posted by snippet
I got a Handspring Catalog in the mail today... there is a card announcing a $20 mail-in coupon for the purchase of an EM2. Offer ends Fathers Day... go to http://www.eyemodule.com/rebate for the coupon

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__________________
-Mikedemo
It's all about how you spend the money.

Registered: Jun 2001
Location: Jeffersonville, IN
Posts: 18

Yeah, that deal sounds pretty good.
I might have to get one.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

quote:

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Originally posted by bkbk
I was just gonna ask if you find the perpetual avatars thing difficult to do, daily -- or does it just take an extra second? Also, do you have to <sigh> fill in a form <sigh> on a pic hosting site, or can you just upload it from your HD

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Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 594

Smooth. I'll prob. start tonight, and keep it up as long as I can muster....
Must you re-size the photo, or will it just auto-crop if you don't?

Hey, gotta love that Prism price drop, eh? Bet a lot more people will experience the P/EM2 combo now!

__________________
"Great Spirits Have Always Encountered Violent Opposition From Mediocre Minds." -- Albert Einstein

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Oakland, CA USA
Posts: 61

quote:

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Originally posted by bkbk
...But once you sync, you only get the 2nd, "delayed" image.
To save the 1st image, use "ScreenShot Hack" or a similar app to capture it while it's still on your Prism.
Then you can have 2 sets of the Palm-sized color photos -- and you can choose "which was the best 1/4 sec. exposure," and just delete the other -- or keep it, if it's just as good or better! [/B]

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