Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 57

I'm a former Palm IIIx user with a good amount of experience with the Palm OS. I'm going to buy a Visor Deluxe, but had the following questions/concerns:

1. GRAFFITI. I've read on various boards that some Visor users have had trouble with Graffiti. Specifically, the don't get the same accuracy as with the Palm devices. This would be a deal-breaker for me as Graffiti is the most important part of the OS in my case.

In one case I read that a Visor user had to download and install a patch to help clear up a Graffiti problem (which it didn't). My question: is this a real problem? Are Visor users regularly having to download patches to make Graffiti work or is Graffiti just as good (or maybe better?!) on the Visor?

2. Any major issues with Visor Deluxe and specific third-party programs that WILL NOT WORK? DateBk4 is a big need for me, as is the Noah dictionary.

3. I can't decide on color! It's either ice or orange. My question, is ice completely see through? Does it actually look the same as the pix displayed on Amazon.com? Where can I see a pic of the Ice Visor Deluxe that represents its true color?


Thanks in advance for your help with these questions. This is a great board. I've learned a lot already.

/Steelkilt

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

Graffiti's been a problem with the Visor Prism, not the Visor Deluxe. The VDX is fine, but the couple of times I tried a Prism in stores, there were certain letters that I couldn't get the digitizer to recognize, no matter how many times I tried. I keep reading conflicting posts on whether the downloadable patches will fix the problem. Apparently, they must, or there'd be some serious outrage on these boards. I'll let a Prism owner fill you in.

There are supposed to be some programs that don't work on a Visor, but I haven't had any problems. About a year ago VisorCentral maintained an incompatibility list of software that had problems running on the Visor. I found the link doing a search, but it doesn't work anymore; it only routes to the home page.

The Ice Visor is frosted, i.e. translucent, not completely transparent -- but you can see the electronics underneath. Handspring's site has a pretty decent picture. If you're having trouble deciding between colors, you really should go to a store and physically see them. I don't think the orange and green VDXs look quite the same as the pictures I've seen.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

The Prism graffiti problem has been fixed, new Prisms ship with an updated OS in rom, older Prisms can use a software patch available at Handspring.

In my 1 year of Handspring experience, first a blue Visor deluxe, then a Prism, I have only found a few (really old) programs that won't work, (the ones you mention will, I use Datebook4 and have fiddled with Noah)..

The only programs that have issues now are, ones that try to write to flash memory or don't handle the unique hardware in the Handspring line correctly. (the Handsprings don't have flash memory, {even though some units are shipped with flash chips,it's not user accessible, so for all arguments it ROM} so the OS can not be upgraded. , the other category of programs are ones that don't handle the Prism's 16-bit display correctly.. (I have only found 2 so far {from the same company}, the author is working to update the software to run on a Prism)

Also bear in mind the Handspring units have a TRUE USB hotsync connector, not a serial one like all the Palm units, so any gizmo that connects to the "serial" hotsync connector on a real Palm will not work on a Handspring without some kind of serial converter/adaptor..

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

Hold on

You can certainly buy the Visor now if you want. But I would hold off if I were you. In the next couple weeks, many new devices are going to hit the market, including the M300 which will replace that old IIIx you have now.

In my opinion, you will regret any purchase you make right now.

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My blog: Pocketfactory

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Straubing, Germany
Posts: 71

Yes, that's right. Maybe there will be Palm or Visor handhelds with Dragonball processor and reflective color screen at the price of a Visor Deluxe this year.

Does anyone know if Handspring is going to develop new Visor versions with the new SD slot built in, additional to the Springboard slot?

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 4

jam6pale

quote:

---

Originally posted by steelkilt

My question: is this a real problem? Are Visor users regularly having to download patches to make Graffiti work or is Graffiti just as good (or maybe better?!) on the Visor?

2. Any major issues with Visor Deluxe and specific third-party programs that WILL NOT WORK? DateBk4 is a big need for me, as is the Noah dictionary.
/Steelkilt

---

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 57

shink0154

to all,

Thanks for the quality answers.

to foo fighter,

I had heard about a color Palm Vx, but not about an M300 line to replace the III line. IF the M300 line gives me springboard-like additional storage AND alkaline batteries, along with flash-upgradeable OS, I'll go with it (the non-flash-upgradeable OS is the only thing I don't like about the Visor). Do you know of any specs? any URLs to visit? I'll steer clear of the new Palm line if it's all color displays and rechargable batteries due to my nightmare recent experience with a Compaq IPAQ, which had zero-accuracy character recognition and batteries that needed charging every night!

/Steelkilt

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

Re: jam6pale

quote:

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Originally posted by SchedulingMaster

I have used a Visor Deluxe (in Blue) for almost a year and have never had to download any extra patches in conjunction with graffiti problems.

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"One of the most important things you learn from the internet is that there is no �them� out there. It�s just an awful lot of �us�." -- Douglas Adams