Rating: 
Summary: O/S Not upgradable
Review: I got a Handspring because it was cool. It has the card-slot (springboard), which is a little limited in what has actually come out for it, but it's a good design. The deluxe model has 8MB, and this was a good price for an 8mb palm-pilot with an upgrade slot, plus, cool colors.Then I realized the problem. The O/S is in ROM, not FLASH. The O/S on these are Palm v3.1, which is about a year old. THERE IS NO UPGRADE PATH TO PALM O/S 3.5! To upgrade, you have to buy a whole new one. Even if you could, you'd have to wait for handspring's version. I recommend the Palm-IIIxe, it's the same thing, minus the springboard module (only REALLY useful for a few things, which are easily worked around). Palm 3xe has 8mb, and FLASH ROM, plus it comes with Palm O/S 3.5 and is upgradable. If you NEED the cellphone or wireless option, there are sleeves that fit over the pilot that do this.
Rating: 
Summary: Watch out with Handspring Visor Deluxe
Review: Cool colors, cool price (compared to Palm products), but WATCH OUT with the Handspring Visor deluxe... I bought two of them plus a phone modem... the Modem and one of the Visors was totally defective (they replaced them fast after months of tech support calls). But WORST OF ALL was the non functionalality of wireless modems with the Deluxe models (you have to buy the new Platinum or Prism models). The main reason I bought two of these was to use the PROMISED springboard wireless modules... but NO CIGAR on that one... now I'm "dead ended" with these "DONKEYS"
Rating:
Summary: No rechargeable batteries = major negative
Review: I often wondered how Handspring could pack the same value into their cases as Palm and still have a huge slot left over to add all sorts of cool stuff, like a wireless modem, a digital camera, GPS etc. Then I realized. There are no rechargeable batteries. My AAA batteries ran down very quickly ( a couple of weeks)and I had to switch in some new ones - since I didn't do this quickly enough, it seems, the Handspring froze with the words Palm Operating System on the front and I was unable to use any of the keys. After trying a soft reset I finally got it to work with a hard reset, wiping out all my data. Luckily I had the data backed up on my computer and re-sync'ed it and all is fine for now until my AAA batteries run down in another 2 weeks. My wife has a Palm V and whenever she puts it in the cradle the batteries recharge. No messing with switching out batteries and doing re-sets. Why Handspring couldn't have done this I don't know and it is the majr negative compared to the Palm models. This point seems to be under-emphasized by most reviewers. Otherwise this is a good product.
Rating: 
Summary: A very satisfied customer
Review: There was never any doubt in my mind that an electronic organizer would be a much better bet than a pen and paper one. So when I decided to buy a PDA, the question was not "if" but "which one?" For me, I decided on the Visor Deluxe because of its 8MB of memory and its big screen. Its cool color case was an added bonus (I got a blue). The Palm 100m had fewer MB of memory and a smaller screen, but I didn't think it was too bad. The OS is very easy to use and easy to master if you are willing to spend a few hours setting it up. Phone numbers, address, and other important information could be easily retrived and easily backed up on your PC. Also, although the Visor comes with a pouch, you might also want to consider a case or a PDA wallet depending on how you use it. One last word: If you're going to buy a Visor, don't buy it mainly for its "upgradable" features (i.e. more memory, etc.) Many people claim that their Visors will save them money in the long run because they won't have to replace their PDAs any time soon. While I believe that this is a good point, my personal view is that many of add-ons for the Visor are currently too expensive and too crude. It would be much, much better to save your money and buy a new PDA within 2 years when the technology is light-years better. Like the PCs, PDAs are bound to get better and cheaper.
Rating: 
Summary: Handspring Visor Deluxe
Review: I have just purchase this item, compare to the PC handheld I feel that it is quit easy to use. (+) small a light, able to inter face with outlook. work well not mush of a problem. (-) backlight is not useful, uuable to have word doc. save on palm, maybe someone can able to help.
Rating: 
Summary: Practically Incompatible
Review: I got a handheld so that I could do one thing, to conveniently update all my address book and contact info from my work & home computers in one place. The Visor Deluxe performs that task marginally at best. The product's marketers and reviewers will tell of a "seamless interface" with the popular email program Outlook Express, compatibility with all versions of Windows, the convenience of the included USB cable and connecting cradle, and insistences from all sources of its "flexibility" with managing data. Like many people, my work computer is a laptop, networked on Windows NT. It has USB ports. Great, I thought, I can use my handheld's fast USB connector to zip data to and from my laptop. Not so. The USB connector does you no good in Windows NT. So I have to either buy a separate (and slow) serial connector or wait until my work upgrades everyone to Windows 2000. Some compatibility! But, I thought, at least my (W98) home computer's data can be accessed and updated easily. Wrong again. Various documents from Handspring as well as their web site refernce their compatibility with Outlook Express, but it is very well hidden that you can't use OE to update the Handspring's Address Book. There are separate "Mail" and "Address Book" applications, and only the "Mail" application supports OE. (So I can download messages but NOT email addresses?) It took both an email and long distance telephone call to Handspring to get that straightened out; the documentation on it is poor. Now I have to save my address book, import it to Microsoft Outlook, change Outlook to the default emailer, THEN interface with the Visor, then change the default back to Outlook Express. It would be more convenient to print out the address book now and then, and carry around a piece of paper. Feb. 15, 2002 update - new compatibility problems. My home machine is now Windows XP, and the USB cradle apparently is incompatible with the computer's USB controller. Oddly enough, my printer and digicam have no problems at all. Also, my work machine is Windows 2000, and it's mysteriously not synching with the handheld either. THE VISOR IS NOT A FLEXIBLE, VERSATILE PRODUCT as marketed. The Handspring folks will also insist that their products are customizable, "store anything your heart desires." Well, I would like to store multiple email addresses or phone numbers with some people in my address book. With the Handspring, you can only store one automatically. It's possible to create a new field manually and enter the second address manually, but that takes a lot of time, and is unsupported by common email programs. It would probably be easy to inadvertently delete new phone numbers when synching your PC and Visor. Again, paper and pencil's more convenient. The Visor Deluxe can do a good many things, I'm sure, but it ceratinly has been a disappointment to me. I advise reading all compatibility info carefully before buying one, because for many people the Visor won't work out of the box.
Rating:
Summary: A little disappointed, but overall delighted
Review: I took my Visor Deluxe to Hawaii with me and was able to type up my personal statement using Wordsmith software and Stowaway keyboard. I am very satisfied with the product, but after contacting the customer service I am disappointed in their inability to solve my synching problem. Still, the product is awesome not only for organizing, but also for its wordprocessing potential.
Rating:
Summary: Weak Screen Design
Review: The screen design is weak. I know you are not supposed to drop these things but twice now it has fallen out of my lap while in its protective case onto a carpeted floor from about 2.5 feet up and the screen has shattered. It ought to be a little more rugged than that. I also owned it before they found the 8meg hw bug and that was a nightmare. Sorry Visor, but first impressions stick and I am not impressed.
Rating:
Summary: Great Buy!
Review: I bought my husband the regular Visor for Christmas. He'd only had it three hours when he came to the conclusion that he was going to have to arm wrestle me for it. So, he went online and ordered a deluxe for himself. We love our visors. I have read a few complaints about the machine (inferior case, operating sysstem crashes, etc.) Then I went to the Palm reviews and saw the exact same complaints there. I am not an advocate of either brand. Buy what you like-keeping in mind that you can expand the Handspring. If the expansion slot doesn't mean anything to you, go with what's on sale. There are a few things to keep in mind. THIS IS NOT A TOY! If you drop it on a hard surface, it can be damaged. You wouldn't knock your PC off the table and expect it to work. Therefore, buy a good case. Don't press hard on the screen. Use a light touch or you might find your screen loose--as some users have been complaining about. Another consideration is what you will be using it for. I use mine to keep track of "to-do's" and shopping lists. 2MB is fine. Many people feel they need 8MG. Or, you could go for the 2MG and expand with a cartridge later. Lastly, if you are worried about operating systems, Palm has far more support out there right now. Take good care of it and this little gem will be your best friend.
Rating:
Summary: I LOVE IT!
Review: I just got my Visor as my first PDA and I think its great. All the software worked right out of the box and even though it sometimes freezes I have never lost my data. I love how it can do anyhting, some of the palms I see don't have IR ports or expantion capabilitys but the Visor has it all. Thank-you Handspring!
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