Registered: Jul 2002
Location:
Posts: 3

Is Handspring dying?

I am starting to hear lots of rumors that Handspring is on its last legs. I am worried since I am in need of a new PDA and I can't find Handspring (except for Treo models) in very many stores.

I love my Visor Deluxe but, after more than two years, I want color, more memory, and an updated OS. The Treo 90's mini-keyboard doesn't do it for me. What I really want is a Prism, with 16MB, and OS 4.1. Palm doesn't do it for me and Pocket PC's carry more features than I need.

So, is Handspring gasping its last breath?

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 832

Who knows, depends on what guy you ask, Palm could be dying as well, or was that Sony was going to buy them out, or were Palm and Handspring going to merge, or <insert PDA manufacturer here> sucks, I can't keep up.
Visor's are available online, and probably will be for a long time, as will the modules. Heck, you can still get a IIIc. I would wait for the OS 5 devices to come out later this year or so if your Vdx can hold out that long.

Registered: Jun 2002
Location: over there
Posts: 35

Handspring the company is doing just fine; the Visor Neo and Pro will probably be the last of the Visors though

__________________
the TREO'S are comming!!! Protect the Visors!!!

Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 5

quote:

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Originally posted by biohazard
Handspring the company is doing just fine; the Visor Neo and Pro will probably be the last of the Visors though

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__________________
PEBKAC Error! Bang Head on Keyboard to continue.

A.K.A Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair

Registered: Jul 2002
Location: In a van down by the river
Posts: 89

Two words:
SONY CLIE

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I'd Rather be Diving.......(with my PDA of course)

Check out my forum @ http://groups.msn.com/PDAPocketPCForum

Registered: Jun 2002
Location: By the toilet.
Posts: 174

quote:

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Originally posted by biohazard
Handspring the company is doing just fine; the Visor Neo and Pro will probably be the last of the Visors though

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Last edited by Digisane on 07-14-2002 at 07:45 AM

Registered: Aug 2001
Location:
Posts: 383

Two words:

Sharp Zaurus

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 832

quote:

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Originally posted by Techie2000
Two words:

Sharp Zaurus

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Registered: Jun 2002
Location: over there
Posts: 35

quote:

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Originally posted by Digisane


Handspring is alienating a large number of their original customer base - which have started running towards Big S Japanese Company, I don't think they'd be doing fine in the long run unless they come up with something that's new and inexpensive and practical but cool like back when they started. That's quite a lot to achieve.

Just take a look at the company's newest products: Treo 180/270. Is it a PDA? Or a phone? Or both? Or neither? Answer: All of the above.

Try to make a quick call with your thumb on one hand, like, 911 or something. Nope, won't happen, because you need to 2 hands on that thing to press the keys, plus going thru the menus. Phone? Nope. As a phone, dailpads are still needed.

Now, try to make a quick data entry. Okay this should go a little faster, but at the cost of lots of spelking misrakrs. Plus the screen and keyboard is smaller, anybody who doesnt have perfect vision will be immediately put off.

Now this: Hold it up against your ear as if you're using a phone. Big. Heavy. Bulky. And you might easily drop the thing if you're not careful enough. Oh, alright just use the hands free earphone then.

I'm not saying that the Treo Communicators are badly designed, it is practical in usage but it could've been more polished with its design and ergonomics.


Then there's the Treo 90.........

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__________________
the TREO'S are comming!!! Protect the Visors!!!

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

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Originally posted by dampeoples
Not flaming you, but do they have a word processor,

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Yes, it comes with Hancom Office, IIRC.

quote:

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Macintosh support,

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Dunno.

quote:

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Pocket Quicken

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No. Pocket Quicken is currently PalmOS only. It's usually the one thing that gives me pause about changing platforms. There's a program called TKCKapital (or something like that) which interfaces with a Linux desktop program similar to Quicken, but unless you already use it...

quote:

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and RPG's?

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Dunno, but I hear that bazookas might be in the works.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 832

Apple OS X support and Pocket Quicken are paramount....guess I'll stay with Palm OS

Registered: Jul 2002
Location: In a van down by the river
Posts: 89

!v

quote:

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Originally posted by Techie2000
Two words:

Sharp Zaurus

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The only thing I think is cool about the Zaurus is the chicklet keyboard

__________________
I'd Rather be Diving.......(with my PDA of course)

Check out my forum @ http://groups.msn.com/PDAPocketPCForum

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: New York, New York
Posts: 560

quote:

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Originally posted by Techie2000
Two words:

Sharp Zaurus

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__________________
Felipe Garcia
Happy Treo 600 user, so far. Thanx Cingular for having an unlocked phone.

My Treo 600 is my phone, my PDA, my watch, and my MP3 player. Oh yeah, I take a picture once in a while with it. Convergence is such a great thing.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

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Originally posted by Felipe


http://news.com.com/2100-1040-943163.html

Btw, how do they have com.com. in their url?

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Registered: Jul 2002
Location:
Posts: 3

FWIW:

I sent a message to Handspring, asking about the future of the company and of the Visor. I received this response from Handspring Customer Care:

"Handspring has no plan today for discontinuing Visor. It is clear though that over time, communicators will represent the majority of the market, and this is where we see the greatest opportunity for Handspring. This is a long-term vision for the company, not an immediate plan of action."

That first line reminds of all of the times I have heard a V.P. or company president say, "At this time, we have no plans for layoffs..." That usually translated to, "We're meeting tomorrow to plan the layoffs."

Registered: Jul 2002
Location: In a van down by the river
Posts: 89

A letter from HS

I also have contacted HS and heres what they said:

Hi Frank,

I am sorry that you are so upset. We are continuing to make and sell Visors.
You can still purchase a Visor Edge from our web site. We will continue to sell
Visor as long as consumer demand warrants. As products evolve, some are
discontinued over time.

We are very happy with Springboard. With Treo, keeping the product to a very
compact size was one of the top priorities. The Springboard expansion slot
physically is too large to fit into our Springboard line.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Best Regards,
Holly


Holly McDermott
Corporate Communications Manager
Handspring
189 Bernardo Ave.
Mountain View, CA 94043
650-230-5427
650-230-5372 fax

__________________
I'd Rather be Diving.......(with my PDA of course)

Check out my forum @ http://groups.msn.com/PDAPocketPCForum

Registered: Jun 2002
Location: By the toilet.
Posts: 174

Re: A letter from HS

quote:

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Originally posted by edgenut
"The Springboard expansion slot physically is too large to fit into our Springboard line."

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Uh, is that a mistake, what he means is Treo, or does it really mean they're really dropping springboards because they're too large to fit into springboard line of products (Visors)??

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

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Originally posted by kld1956
[...] That first line reminds of all of the times I have heard a V.P. or company president say, "At this time, we have no plans for layoffs..." That usually translated to, "We're meeting tomorrow to plan the layoffs."

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

Re: A letter from HS

Translations and clarifications:

quote:

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Originally posted by edgenut
I am sorry that you are so upset. We are continuing to make and sell Visors.

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Registered: Jul 2002
Location: Toronto, CANADA
Posts: 21

As far as I am aware Handspring's focus on Wireless isn't unwarranted as a lot of people are loving the Treos!
Think of the space in your purse or pckets to carry a cell phone, your visor, and the module for it to get on the internet! All that does NOT fit into the tiny thing I call my purse. So I can see why people would be interested in the Treos aside from their functionality

Now as for discontinuing Visors I'm sure that will be possible only according to the public response. IF the public still wants the simple rule of supply and demand will keep the visors on teh market. If the public is no longer interested in the Visors then what's the point of making them.

Any questions?