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Handspring Visor Deluxe (Graphite)

Handspring Visor Deluxe (Graphite)

List Price: $129.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Intuitive and efficient
Review: My initial purpose in buying the Handspring was to have a quickly accessible way to get client contact information and schedule meetings. I was therefore quite interested in the ease of use of the Visor. I have been pleased to find that installation was simple and that the device is easily navigable. The user interface and the buttons on the front make it virtually idiot-proof. Particularly pleasant for a first-time PDA user is the fact that this syncs very easily with Outlook on my home PC, literally with the push of a button. The entire process takes under a minute. I can't stress how wonderful this function is as opposed to transferring written appointment notes. I have not had a single problem and like the fact that the Visor has expansion ports so that I can add functionality as needed down the road.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Made a believer out of me!
Review: This product is awesome! I've always kept my notes, datebook, etc. by hand, in a daily planner. Friends and co-workers constantly have told me to "get with the times" and buy a handheld. I compared the Handspring Visor Deluxe to similar products on the market. The Visor Deluxe, in my opinion, had a superior advantage over other products based on the pro's and con's. The Visor Deluxe is easy to use, has a fantastic user's guide, and syncronizes with my Desktop PC with ease (through its USB connection - cradle). I would recommend this product to anyone in the market for a handheld, whether for a first-time purchase or simply upgrading from another version or product. The Visor Deluxe has its competion beat, hands down! Simply the best product of its kind.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Have to Have It
Review: Received one as a gift two months ago, returned it before traveling to a tradeshow, missed it terribly. Bought another one the day I came home. Ability to sync Outlook Express to the Visor, work computer, home computer, and laptop is GREAT. And, I have something to read on the road.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Visors
Review: (I have a visor deluxe graphite, but I will post it up under all visors, because the comments apply to all of them unless otherwise noted)

I finally decided to get a handheld, so after dropping a few hints, I got a Visor Deluxe for my 15th birthday (OK, OK, I totally walked my dad through the purchase process, but who cares?)

9 days (and based on battery use, over 2 months of normal use) later, here is my review. The Visor is pretty small, I don't know what people saying it was bulky were talking about. It is really easy to use, it took no getting used to, except for the graphiti. That's still a little wierd. It has a backlit screen, but I never figured out how to turn it on, my friend did. You hold down the power button. Hotsyncing couldn't be easier, you press the hotsync button on the cradle or on the visor's screen and it goes. The 2 MB visor will probably be good enough for you if you only download Freeware Apps and use it as an organizer, but if you are like me, you will need the 8MB of the deluxe, platinum, prism and edge. The screen is very clear of most things (digital photo albums can look pretty bad, but I think it is the App and not the Visor) It has been very reliable so far, I have installed nearly every App I could find, and no freezes, even soft ones. The stylus has a built in screwdriver and reset tool.

The downside- The OS is not upgradible, maybe someone will make a springboard module someday, but I doubt it, and it will cost alot and not allow you to use the springboard for anything else, killing it's main selling point over the Palm. And also, I am careful with it so I have put no scratches on it, but I let some people borrow it, and I am seeing some. I am mad now (no, that does not read mad cow, mad now) Screen covers cost about $2, but they take all the un out of even owning one. they are that terrible. If worst comes to worst, you can replace the screen down the road for $50. even if you have to replace it once a year (which you shouldn't, but just for the sake of argument) it is worth it. A screen cover ruins everything. Being the careful user you will be, you shouldn't scratch it too badly too quickly.

Comparing to a Palm- this is Much better than a Palm. My friend has a Palm. I hate it. OK, I don't hate it, but it is a mere shadow of mine. the screen quality of the Visor is much better for moving things such as games, and the buttons on the visor are 10 times easier to push, the difference between winning and losing in many cases. The Springboard port is the final factor that puts the Visor way ahead of the Palm. You can get modems, cameras, more space, GPS, cell phones, voice recording, Games, Mp3 players (tisk tisk, stealing music, eh? Kids these days!) You name it, they got it. (look under springboard modules here at Amazon for things I missed) But one thing that annoys me about the Visor and not about the Palm is the infrared port. The visors is in an Akward location, and the Palm's is not (see pictures) And the Visor does not have an upgradible OS, but that doesn't matter too much, so far they have been little more than a minor update. All in all, definitly buy the Visor.

Choosing the right Visor- REGULAR- This has OS 3.1 and 2MB of ram. this is enough only for people who plan to use it for it's designed purpose. If it's not enough, you can upgrade later via Springboard cards. 4 shades of grey DELUXE-Cool colors (which I opted against to avoid too much attention), 3.1, and 8MB of Ram. 4 shades of grey too. PLATINUM-Faster processor, but it's not necessary. However, if you can cough up the cash, it is worth it, because it displays 16 shades of grey and OS 3.5. EDGE-Just like the Platinum, only much thinner. However, putting on a springboard card makes it about as thick as the regular ones. PRISM-Just like the Platinum, only it is in color. Definitly worth it if you got the cash.

PS-to avoid scratches, DON'T LET PEOPLE BORROW IT!!!!!!! I can't stress that enough. People are stupid. Kids these days!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good but not great
Review: The sync w/Outlook is seamless. The basic Pocket Mirror software sync's up your Inbox, Outbox, Deleted, Draft, and Filed (didn't investigate Filed yet). Unless you keep all the mail you need in your Inbox folder you will be disappointed. The upgrade to Pocket Mirror promises more, and- who knows?- maybe the Filed folder on the basic version holds the answer.

I will say that the unit is a bit slow at times, which probably also explains the difficulty in convincing alarms to stop. I've found that moving the stylus over a broad area of the screen button seems to help, but often that only serves to get the application's attention, and you are still left to tap the button again to actually modify the alarm time.

Speaking of alarms, the unit's tiny speaker is a bit weak, especially when compared to my mobile phone. A bigger, more powerful speaker and/or perhaps a larger speaker opening would work wonders. I have ALL alarms set to high and struggle to hear the alarm at times. I keep the unit clipped to my belt but facing me, though the unit sits 1/2" to 1" away from my body, and the speaker is NOT obstructed by the belt clipped storage unit.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Don't Even Bother
Review: This thing is a joke. I don't have the Palm, but wish I did--this little item sucked up all my important data and held it for two months during which I oohed and ahhh'd and was terribly impressed at the technology. Then it crashed. Gave me an error message out of the blue, and the only way to get it going again was to re-boot--not the "soft" reboot, but the way that caused it to delete all, and I do mean ALL-- of the information. The handspring support folks seemed quite unconcerned; it happens frequently. My advice: Forewarned is forearmed. This is an expensive toy, but not to be trusted with any of your important data.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Lose that bulky DayRunner!
Review: I am soooo glad to have my cool new blue HandSpring Deluxe. It is probably one of the best gifts I've ever been given. A perfect first PDA for the technologically (not to mention organizationally) challenged! The HandSpring Deluxe has truly exceeded our expectations.

I was able to set this up myself right out of the box, and in minutes was downloading and syncing extreeemly important free stuff such as Crickometer, which tells you the temperature based on how many times a cricket chirps per minute, and FlashBoom, which tells you how far away a thunderstorm is based on the interval between the flash and the boom. I also downloaded PeanutReader from PeanutPress.com and got a free two-week trial subscription to The Wall Street Journal, and ordered some great books to read peanutly, including three Tom Swift adventures, and a quirky history of the world-changing codfish. There are innumerable neat little programs all over the internet you can download for free, but most important, the unit itself contains all the basic programs you need to get started. These features couldn't be easier to use. One of these days I may even read the little manual that came with the thing.

Technically speaking, one of the neatest features of a handheld device is that you can use it to write e-mail when you're away from your desktop computer, then sync it up and send it when you get back. I was horrified to discover that AOL does not exactly support this function, but quickly recovered when I realized I could just write the text for any e-mail in the HandSprings's Memo Pad, upload it to my computer (the software takes care of all this automatically everytime you HotSync anyway)then copy-and-paste the text into AOL's Write Mail form. Unless you have a wireless connection, the e-mails you write on your PDA aren't going anywhere until you HotSync anyway, so this extra little step is no big deal.

I have never enjoyed lugging a bulky DayRunner around with me. Now I have all the information I need in one place without all the bulk. Everything you write in your HandSpring is automatically backed up and updated in the Palm Desktop program every time you HotSync, and can easily be printed out if necessary. I think a lot of trees are going to be saved now that I'm not using up reams of paper writing notes to myself.

I have experienced only one problem since acquiring this device. I cannot pry it away from my sixth-grade son. He seems to find it essential to his existence for recording his grades in minute detail, mastering algebra, memorizing the Periodic Table of the Elements, accompanying Tom Swift on improbable adventures, and of course, blasting aliens to kingdom come. He has also used the budgeting function to record the slow process of saving his meager income over a period of several months to accumulate enough money to buy his own HandSpring. Today's the day, and he's buying it with our blessing. More than any pricey toy, the HandSpring Deluxe is a flexible, expandable tool that can grow and change with him. And it's SO much fun.

If you have been thinking about getting one for yourself or as a gift, don't waste another day before you order it. (Amazon has the lowest price and free shipping.) You won't be disappointed. Life is too short to go another day without a HandSpring.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Very Disappointed
Review: I bought the Visor after placing my faith in a new company, and for the facts that they use the PALM OS, and the price is reasonable. What a mistake. After owning the VISOR for 2 months, the system crashed, and will no longer function. So, I lost my faith in a company and my investment. So now what? Now I'm going to do what I should have done in the first place. Buy a PALM. I suggest the same to everyone. One of my co-workers bought a VISOR as well, and he too has trashed his VISOR, and is going to buy a PALM.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Visor is Cool
Review: I really like my Handspring visor. It has allowed me to become much more organized. I take it with me everywhere I go. I especially like the fact that it is so expandable. I can see new and exciting things in the future for the visor that should keep it from becoming obsolete. It's so compact and stylish, everyone comments on it. If you're tired of lugging around a huge binder, consider the Visor.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Synching!
Review: This is probably the best thing that has happened to my schedule. I can do anything from play games while waiting in the ferry line to typing a quick memo. However, when my Visor synchs in with my computer the problems begin. I lose the ability to start programs or even shut the computer down properly. I cant load programs unto my visor using its desktop utility either, because when i do my computer freezes up. However it is nice to just put it on the cradle, press the button and be able to read all my e-mail while whisking out the door on my way back to the rat race, even if it means restarting my computer every once in a while. A great deal even with the sync problems.


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