Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 6

To all current and potential Visor owners:

what is more important to you, the price of a springboard module or the features it includes?

For example, would you buy a springboard CF adapter (as we all know, a real possibility, and why hasn't any company made one yet?), if it were priced under about $40 or so. Or what if there were an MP3 player module which had nothing but a headphone jack, no internal memory and an expansion slot (CF, MMC, Smartmedia, whatever) if it were priced at a fraction of other modules' prices?

There are so many possibilties for modules out there, but the truth is that for students like me they are far too expensive, no matter how good they are.

A modem modue could be made extremely cheaply according to James' article about Lucent's tiny new modem chip that would cost less than $15 and would offer all the functionality of a full springboard modem.

What do you think is the "magic price" below which people won't think about the cost of the module and more about which one to buy?

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Moved to Clie Land
Posts: 331

Well, I can't name a bottom price for any module, but I look for VALUE. If it is something I want to do, the price isn't really a factor, but I can offer some reasoning as to why I did or didn't buy a specific module.

1. BACKUP SB - No brainer, I'd have bought one at any price.

2. Any GPS SB- My E-TREX was $119 and is tiny...why would I pay $169+ just to plug it into my VISOR? BTW- The E-TREX CAN be added on via cable.

3. Modem, I got the THINCOM because the formfactor was smaller than the Handspring model. Think the price was a bit high, but I wanted access.

4. I'd NEVER pay $299 or $499 for a phone to plug into any PDA. The selling point is that you can dial from your address book. My phone has an phone book which can be imported in 5 min...

5. Minijam/MP3 player etc...no reason NOT to buy a standalone unless you just want to show off your VISOR. With the different compression formats that are hitting the market, I'd like the flexability of a stand-alone.

6. EYEMODULE...Please, get a real camera. The pictures aren't that good and it is yet ANOTHER thing to carry around...

7. STOWAWAY - Another no-brainer for me...just had to have and proved to be a great asset.

These are just my opinions, I respect anyone elses opinions on the matter, but I also point out that I have $500 invested in my VISOR and like it's abilities very much. Just a matter of pick-and-choose which is the whole point of springboards anyway...Wouldn't hurt my feelings if the SB prices came down though! If I had to pick a "magic price" I's say somewhere below $40...that seems reasonable compaired to the VDX price. I'd probably swing for one just to try it out at that price...

Ought to be interesting to see other's reactions

__________________
"Stupid Handspring."

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: NYC
Posts: 287

Combos are the best Solution..

The price of an springboard module could be lowered if the developer decides to include many features into one module like the sixpack. Therefore, I justify the price of an $150 module if it contains at least 3 or 4 killer features. Ex: MP3, Modem, 32MB memory and voice recording.

I believe there are companies developing this right now and they might pop up by the end of this year.

Al

__________________
It all started way back in February 2000 with a Blue VDX.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 80

I would pay $40...

For a CF adapter.
A CF Adapter would own me.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Plant City, FL
Posts: 385

quote:

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Originally posted by skilly
A modem modue could be made extremely cheaply according to James' article about Lucent's tiny new modem chip that would cost less than $15 and would offer all the functionality of a full springboard modem.

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__________________
<ul><li>Dave Kessler<br>President - Kopsis, Inc.</li></ul>

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Inglewood, CA, USA
Posts: 390

I'll be honest... If a module was really cheap (price, not hardware), and I though I would use it for a while, I might buy it "just because." I'd probably end up with a several cheap modules that did different things - whatever struck my fancy at the time. Basically for the WOW factor - "lookie at what my Visor can do..." ("Cheap" to me would be ~$25 - I know, fantasy price...)

But since that is not the case , I'm picky when it comes down to buying a module.

- Backup Module (like stated B4, no brainer)
- modem (I'm borrowing someone else's since they don't use it)
- (2) 8mb Flash Modules
- MiniJam (on order - mostly for storage, much cheaper in the long run vs. buying any more 8mbFM's )

I think I have spent enough money on my "inexpensive" PDA. At this point, I don't see myself buying any more modules - for now... (Except maybe my own modem.)

quote:

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Originally posted by skilly"[/i]
what is more important to you, the price of a springboard module or the features it includes?

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__________________
"Attitudes are contagious... Is YOURS worth catching?"

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

As MIKE STH pointed out, the whole point of the Springboard concept is being able to pick and choose what you want in a PDA -- and more importantly, what you don't want.

I look for value (which I don't necessarily equate with the number of features) in a module. So far, the only ones that seem appropriately priced for the value they offer are the backup module, the modem modules, the HandyGPS, some of the e-books, and arguably the OmniRemote.

The other modules are harder to justify, except on a more subjective basis. I can't see myself paying $259 for an MP3 module, since I'm too impatient to deal with the transfer times involved with MP3 players. I like being able to switch my music selection instantly by popping in different CD. At $259, I'd feel like I was just paying for a buzzword rather than additional convenience.

But I will pay $299 for the VisorPhone, a price that many find outrageous. The value for me isn't dialing from the address book, or even the "cool" factor. Those are bonuses. I just can't stand carrying my Visor and phone around all the time, and if I have to carry one device on me, it's usually the cell phone. With the module, I'll be able to carry the Visor on me at all times.

I'd consider getting the eyemodule for fun if the price were in the double digit range. Hopefully we'll see something more competitive from Kodak this year in terms of price or image quality.

Unfortunately it's a seller's market right now. Once we have a few vendors sell modules in each category, we'll start seeing more competitive prices and features.