Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 11

I am a Grade 11 Student that would like to have a digtial organization device. I am having a hardtime deciding about which one to buy. (Cybiko $99US or Visor standard/basic $149US) Money is kind of an issue but if I have to put out $149 Amercian than I might do so. I created a comparsion chart to clear things up but I'm still deciding.

Any advice?

Cybiko http://www.cybiko.com

$99 USD
512kb built-in Flash
Wireless communications:
-150 feet to 300 feet or through Cy web gates (free service due to the network design - client depended)
- Optional Wireless module not available yet
Serial to PC 115kb
Rechargable (2 weeks)
Input: Keyboard
11Mhz Hitachi 6 MHz Co
LCD160x100 dots
59x40 mm
4 level grayscale

Expansion port (must shutdown to swap)
- 1 Meg memory card
- MP3 Player (Jan 31 2001)
- Current no other companies are making modules for Cybiko

Software:
- Software current no available at any other websites but Cybiko
- all software is free
- SDK is available for free
Software included:Wireless Communicator, E-mail Machine, Gaming Machine, Scientific Calculator, Spell Checker, Spanish-English Dictionary, Multilingual Phrasebook, Organizer / Address Book / Alarm Clock, MP3 Player
OS:Cybiko OS v1.2OS is located in the 512kb of Flash memory meaning it is upgradeable

Visor http://www.handspring.com

$149 USD
2mb built-in Flash
Wireless communications:
- Infrared port
- Optional Wireless Modem Module
- Phone line modem Module
- Mobile Phone Module
USB to PC 1.3 MB
2 AAA (2 Months)
Pen
16 MHz Motorola
LCD with backlight
-High-R es B & W
-Backlit-160x160 pixels
- 16 level grayscale
Expansion (Hot swap)
- Camera- Universal Remote Control
- 8 Meg module
- Tiger Woods Game
- Backup Module
- Phone line modem
- Mobile phone
- Maybe other stuff made by other companies?

Software:
- Downloadable at sites like Download.com and Visor village.com
- some software can be brought
- SDK is available (for free???)
Software Included:
-Standard Palm Apps
-Enhanced Calculator-Enhanced Calendar
-World Clock

OS:
Palm 3.1 Currently Palm Pilots are at 3.5. Visor�s OS is not located in Flash memory meaning that it is upgradable but patches for OS may be available.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: austin, texas
Posts: 61

visor
visor
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visor
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visor

sorry, but you are at visorcentral

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 11

How about a on a non bais view point...

How about an advice with a non bais view point... a from people other than the people from Handspring

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: austin, texas
Posts: 61

i was just kidding around. i know nothing about your cybiko option, but i've had a visor for a year and it's been extremely useful and reliable. and the basically infinite amount of palm os third party software out there should be a major factor in a decision like this. and the springboard potential. and very expandable memory, too, esp with the compact flash project found on this forum somewhere else, you can go big.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 11

Thats better...

Does anybody know if Palm IIIe and Palm m100 have a expansion slot? (ie: for modules etc)

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: austin, texas
Posts: 61

no they don't. there are a few accessories that use the serial port, like the folding keyboards and the clip on modems, but no, nothing at all comparable to the springboards. and you're probly thinking that the 150 price is your upper limit, but if you do get a visor, everyone i've talked to who gets the 2 meg wants an 8 meg within a week! so it's probly a jump in your brain to absorb the higher cost of the visor deluxe at this point, but consider that. you can't make use of many of the useful apps out there effectively without more than 2 megs. good luck.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 107

Palms right now have no expansion options other than the serial (Hotsync) connector. Only Handspring, Sony, and TRG have any sort of additional expansion ability (for Palm based PDAs) at the moment.

Now, I had a Cybiko for a while. It's a cool toy, but that's about all it is -- a toy. The wireless capabilities are utterly useless unless other people within your range have Cybikos (and they're nowhere near that abundant yet). Plus, the memory limitations are too restrictive (that 512k goes fast, as most is taken up by the OS, leaving you only around 256k usable). The same goes for that internet connection. CyGates, last I checked, were still nowhere to be seen (still being developed) unless you had a whole other Cybiko linked to a connected PC (again, within your 150 foot range). Now, I know they've promised more CyGate capabilities, so this may not be as bad of a 'con' a short while from now.

But you also need to realize that the keyboard is NOT as easy to use for input as the Palm Grafitti is. Those keys are VERY small, and have poor responsiveness (you're never sure if the keypress you just made was accepted, so you have to constantly double check yourself). This even includes the navigation pad. With the keys being the only input method (the screen is not touch-sensitive), this makes data input a pain.

As I said, I did own a Cybiko (I paid $130 for it). It's a cool gadget to have for fun, but for the price does not have the versatility of a Handspring Visor. A Cybiko, as I saw it, was a 21st century text-only walkie-talkie.

In fact, that's why I got rid of my Cybiko. I realized that for only $20 more (at the time), I could get a REAL PDA with 2 meg of memory, a widely supported OS, a better expansion slot, and a smaller size. In fact, I saved up a little more (auctioned off some rare video games) and went for the Deluxe (8 meg) unit instead. I have not regretted that decision.

__________________
-Richard Powell

"Nice guys may finish last, but you know, the company's much better back here."

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 11

Thanks, for the informative information!! What are the differences in Palm 3.5OS and 3.1.1? And yea thanks to raptors advice I think I will most likely get a REal PDA

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Richmond, VA, USA
Posts: 64

The Visor should pretty much be a no-brainer here,...

The Cybiko seems to be mostly a child's toy, and not particularly useful since it is not a PalmOS device and all software is proprietary. The Handspring Visor uses a standard operating system and has the Springboard option for expansion, including wireless expansion.

Maybe if you were in middle school, then maybe go for a Cybiko. But a a junior in high school, you should be considering a more realistic PDA and not a child's toy,...

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 11

Thanks for the informative information !!! By the way does anyone know the differences between Palm OS 3.5 and 3.1.1 ? Thanks to Raptors advice I will most likely buy Handspring's Visor instead of the Cybiko

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 11

OOOOOOOpppppps !!! I did a double post. Sorry! I was wondering about it. becuase I knew I had already type the message in but for some reason when I refreshed my Internet Explorer it did show my message. So I just decided to type it in again. then I found out after I submited the message and refreshed again.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 50

I've had experience with both...

I currently have the Visor Deluxe, and my son has a Cybiko. I would say go with a Visor. The Cybiko, while a lot of fun, is basically a toy. It won't allow you to actually work on it, as you can with a Visor and the right applications. But if at all possible, get the 8 mg model at a minimum.

Helen

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 434

What OS 3.5 gets you

While there may be one or more bug fixes in OS v3.5, they would have to be in the obscure category. So I'm going to limit my response to just the new features.

• Better support for a variety of network and IR connectivity and sync solutions. For example, OS v3.1 can not do IR->Ethernet (via a IR ethernet receiver); and OS v3.1 will not run some networking clients. If your school ever gets to the point where is supports handheld networking, IR->Ethernet connectivity will be one of three potential means of getting the job done; and it has the advantage of doing so at the lowest cost (since IR ports are built into most every PDA).
  
  
• Native OS support for 4-bit grayscale graphics (and color , but that is not applicable to you). This is important because most developers are not going to take the time to by-pass the OS to support whatever the hardware actually supports. For example, while the Visor is capable of displaying 4-bit grayscale images; applications like AvantGo will only support 2-bit grayscale because that is all that OS 3.1 supports.
  
  
• Support for Palm's PQA web clipping. Turns out that this is a very useful feature for wireless Internet users (see the threads regarding OmniSky not supporting the Visor and VDX - for an instance where lack of support for this feature prevents you from using the product at all).