Rating: 
Summary: Worth the money ...
Review: This was my first PDA since my old Casio Boss SF5300. I must say that I have been very impressed with Handspring. I have had my Visor since November 2000 and take it everywhere. The best investment has been 4 Energizer ACCU echargeable batteries and a charger. I don't like the paint job or the ROM based OS but the speed and memory is nice. The 16 shades of grey are great for photos of my boy. The size and shape can not compair to the Palm V's but the speed almost makes up for that. Be sure to download AcidSolitaire, AvantGo, Fireviewer, Hackmaster, TechSounds, and Zap!2000 and you will be set for a while. I wish Handspring made a Color Edge but until then I will stick with the old Platinum.
Rating:
Summary: Great handheld - Not perfect, but still a joy to use
Review: While no longer the highest-end or the hottest model in the Handspring line, I have to say that the Platinum is a beautiful little machine. I've been using mine for 8 months now, and I have never had a problem with it. Here are the brief important points: The Good: * Battery life is good, and while most people would prefer a rechargable pack, I like using regular batteries. I can go on long trips with a 12 pack of batteries, and not worry about where/if I can plug in to charge.
* The display is crisp, and excellent for a greyscale display. I regularly surf the web with AvantGo, work with graphics and documents, play games, etc. My only gripe is with PalmOS and not the Visor itself, and that's that the display contrast setting can't be saved at different levels for different apps. Some games need light contrast, some apps need darker, etc. It's a pain to keep changing it.
* Springboard modules are pretty sweet. Okay, they're pricey, but you can do some really neat stuff with them, software and hardware wise.
* PalmOS itself rocks. Okay, this is very subjective, but I really dislike Windows CE and its interface. It's very non-intuitive, and very non-Windows. While Palm has fallen behind in multimedia areas, I still think it's an awesome OS for a handheld, especially because of all the fantastic PalmOS software out there.
* Linux connectivity is a snap. ;) Nuff said. But, there's some bad, too... * Sound is virtually non-existent.
* The Visor screen is very, very, VERY prone to scratching just from regular stylus use. After the first two days of using my Platinum, I found a nice 'w' scratch in my graffiti area, and I was not amused. Fortunately, the "WriteRight" screen protectors take care of that problem. They reduce screen clarity, but overall I'm very happy with them, and they let me use this great machine without fear of damaging the display.
* One thing that ticked me off was I had to buy a second cradle after I got my Visor. Why? Because they FORCE you to buy the handheld with a USB cradle. There is absolutely no way to swap it for a serial one, which is what I needed, as my main computer doesn't have USB. This lead to me dropping an extra $30 just to make the system work out-of-box with my computer. C'mon Handspring, at least give people the choice if they want it. Overall? I love my Platinum. I've also got a Diamond Mako, which is nice, but not nearly as capable in many regards. If you don't want to shell out for color, and just want a speedy handheld that can run any PalmOS app you throw at it, go for this baby. It's a steal.
Rating:
Summary: Wait for the price cuts, or buy a Neo..
Review: While this model is eminently capable, it is essentially going to be replaced by the nearly identical Visor Neo. Maybe there will be some last-minute price cuts to clear inventory. As for the product itself, the Visors are very capable Palm OS handhelds, highlighted by a full-size screen and an expansion slot (which I have yet to use, but you can add everything from a cell phone to GPS). This model and the Neo have faster processors compared to the Visor Deluxe, but that's not that big a deal because the Palm OS is so efficient. Batteries last a long time, usually at least two weeks. One issue with the Visors are that they are bulky compared to most other Palm devices (although smaller than Pocket PCs), although they still fit in your shirt pocket. The pricy Visor Edge doesn't seem worth the money on the high end. Someone wanting a full-featured Palm without needing expansion options should get the Palm Vx, which sports a lithium rechargeable battery, an extremely small and svelte shape, and fits into your hand in an ergonomically perfect manner. But that would add a good deal to the cost, so it's your call.
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