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Summary: The Visor presents an exelent alternative to Palm V
Review: I recently purchased a Handspring Visor Delux and I have been VERY happy with it. The Visor presents a compermise between several of the existing Palm products that is a very exelent product. The Visor has a slim build like most of the palm PDAs but not as small as the Palm V, dissapointingly. The memory and processor in the Visor is superrior to most of the palms including the Palm VII and the Palm III series. The visor has a few added bonuses asside from being priced much less than the Palm V with comperable features. It has out of the box Macintosh compatability with USB sync-ing (several times faster than the seriel sync-ing of palm devices). The visor also has increaced expandability via the Handspring port. The port allows for a great deal of excessories to be installed including 3rd party hardware such as a digital camera, mp3 player, dictionary, radio, extra memory or modems. The advantages of the Visor over the Palm V are simple and convincing enough for me to make the purchace of a Visor. The Visor is less expencive, more widly avalable, compatable with all PalmOS apps, plug and play with Macs and PCs, and expandable.
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Summary: The Last PDA you'll buy for a few years...
Review: I ordered the Handspring Visor in October 1999, and received it the first part of December. I have not had a day since then that I wasn't totally appreciative! This is a great value at $249, even without the springboard modules, compared to the Palm Computing brand. The springboard modules add a flexibility and versatility that no one else has. As a CPA, I keep all my client contacts in Outlook, which works just perfectly for me. All I do is hot-sync once or twice a day, and I have my entire client database, including appointments, with me at all times. I use a tiny Excel-like spreadsheet program to do what-if calculations. Since only a few rows and columns are visible, I limit my input and results fields to that visible area. (You can design your spreadsheets on your PC, and download to Visor.) Since the Visor was designed by the original founders of Palm Computing, the cutting-edge design and features are no surprise. I can't say enough about the Visor, and am looking forward to utilizing the springboard modules in the future (maybe a wireless communicator, or a full-featured tax program?). Since it uses the Palm OS, the number of programs available is mind-boggling. Two thumbs up for the Handspring Visor.
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Summary: The Best In Performance and Originality
Review: I purchased the deluxe "Ice" model, and have been extremely happy with its performance. It utilizes the Palm OS, so you have more reliability than Windows CE. Furthermore, the colors add some originality to the product. Plenty of memory allows for an adundance of extra applications, both for business and leisure. Lastly, you can purchase carrying cases that DO NOT use velcro stips! Rather, the Visor SNAPS into the case. A big plus!
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Summary: Great handheld, but very flimsy
Review: Don't get my wrong I love my visor, but it is very flimsy and the plastic chips away and the power button sometimes doesn't work. I got a new one for no cost from Handspring, but it did the exact same thing, so I got the slim case.
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Summary: Doing handsprings for Handspring
Review: I have had my Handspring Visor Deluxe for several months now and must say it is a wonderful machine. If you're looking for a Palm OS machine, this is the one.
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Summary: So you want to know how a Visor differs from a Palm?
Review: So you want to know how a Visor differs from a Palm? The short answer is not too much, but enough to make the Visor Deluxe a better purchase than the Palm IIIxe (3Com's competing unit). The major differentiators are the following: 1) The Visor's form factor is a touch more ergonomic, I feel. 2) The Visor comes preloaded (in ROM) with a niftier address book application. 3) The Visor's OS (although the same as the current Palm, I believe) is non-upgradable. 4) The Visor comes equiped with the "Springboard" expansion slot which allows for the addition of everything from modems to GPS units to MP3 players with little to no change in form factor (the Palm, on the other hand, generally expands via larger units that snap on the back and connect to the cradle contact). I've been incredibly satisfied with the performance and durability of my Visor having upgraded from an old Palm Personal. Either way you go, these handhelds are potentially the most useful thing you can spend $ on.
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Summary: A very nice surprise
Review: I've been surprised at how useful this little thing is - especially because I don't really need it for the scheduling. The lists, addresses and memo functionality alone make it worthwhile for me right now, and I use it several times a day. It's particularly valuable for all of the traveling I do - I can store all kinds of account numbers and handle everything long distance. One of my concerns was being able to learn the graffiti characters needed for inputting directly into the device and I've found it extremely easy. I'm known for having horrendous handwriting, but it's still quite accurate and fast. With the backlight you can use it in the dark, which is great for night flights, hotels at night when you can't find the lightswitch, etc. It's also significantly cheaper than comparable devices, expandable, and the colors are a nice change from all the bland office equipment out there.
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Summary: MUCH Better than the Palm V
Review: Waiting months to find a Palm V for a resonable price, I came across the Handspring Delux. All the functionality of the Palm with much more memory and a lower price. If you are at all interested in the Palm V, go for the Handspring......all the Palm users I know wish that they had!
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Summary: Great device for many...but do you need a pocket pc instead?
Review: I was so happy when Handspring released these puppies. They are a nice competitor to the 3Com Palm systems. The price is reasonable also. Many people will find these useful devices and easy to use (which they are) and everyone will love how organized they will become with them (and how easy it is to do). However, make sure you are getting the right device. Many people were thrown off of Microsofts Windows CE devices in the past because of size, etc. The new generation is called Pocket PC and had a major Research and Development into how people use these devices (everything from layout of the redesigned start button to programs). The best one on the market is still yet to be released (they are taking there time to make sure it comes out right) is by Compaq (the 'iPaq') which does everything from play movies on it, MP3 music, GPS maps, REAL handwriting recognition (this is great, it LEARNS how you write not you having to learn some proprietary handwriting system like on Palm OS), and WAY much more. They are really the thing to get. You can review my article on them on amazon (visit the Compaq iPaq). Best yet, it only roughly costs just a bit more than this unit (Handspring) and you get tons more features. Hope that helps! Once again, take your time and look at everything out there. If you need just 'basics' this is fine, but if you're like most people and want to enjoy your handheld for a LONG time and get 'ooohs and ahhhs' from people, lay down the extra dough and get an iPaq.
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Summary: Completely satisfied
Review: I have little experience with "real" Palms; however, I find the Handspring to be what was promised and more. What I particularly like is are the software plug ins available such as AvantGo to download and surf the internet offline and another applications (can't remember the name) which allows the download of HTML and DOC files. I calculated that the Handspring can store about 20 copies of a normal sized book (I have downloaded several). (This may be true of the Palm IIIeX as well.) I wish the case which occumpanies the Handspring was more convenient.
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