phineaskc's Full Review: Handspring Visor Edge Handheld
I have always liked being the first kid on the block with a new toy and as an adult, nothing has changed. If it's a new digital camera with features never seen before then you can bet I am trying to sell my old one so I can buy the newest model. Because of my addiction to gadgets and gizmos, I have quite a collection of outdated and useless electronics. There have been plenty of PDA products to hit the market but I avoided that area completely. The primary reason being I didn't need another gadget that was outdated the minute it hit the market.
The Handspring Visor Deluxe is not one of those gadgets. I became interested in these products when my small calculator sized Sharp organizer just wasn't keeping up with my needs. In fact, it wasn't even close to meeting my needs and was basically good for nothing but storing phone numbers and contact information but what do you expect for $10.00?
My partner kept insisting that I look into the PDA products and he was even gracious enough to help in the selection since he had more knowledge on the products. I was completely overwhelmed with the different models and brands available and floored at the prices but he assured me that I wouldn't be sorry.
He was right.
The Sleek and Sexy Body
Okay sexy is a bit dramatic but being a female, I was really impressed with the look of this model. The Edge body is sharp looking. The small PDA measures approximately 4.7 inches by 3 inches with a weight of just over 5 ounces if you include the weight of the cover. The size was appealing to me because it would be easily concealed in my briefcase, pocket, or the visor pouch in my truck.
Not only did I like the size and weightlessness of the Edge, I liked the overall design. To me it really looked no different than a small Gameboy with a cover. Unfortunately, this PDA only came in two colors which were a metallic blue or a chrome color. The body of the Edge is made from anodized aluminum. I was drawn to the chrome model because I tend to scratch things up and thought it would be less noticeable on the silver shade.
Also included is the matching metal Stylus. Not being all that familiar with this technology, I just thought it was a really cool looking pen they threw in as a bonus. The Stylus was something that took a little getting used to because I kept accidentally missing my mark and selecting the wrong options.
The Display
Being new to the PDA line, I must admit that I was disappointed in the display screen. I guess I was expecting a full color display similar to a regular monitor but instead it has a grayscale display. I was used to this with my handy cheapo Sharp organizer but expected more for my money in a handheld computer. This has been my one true disappointment with this product. While in the store, the screen display seemed clear but I have had some problems since that time with reflections or shadows on the display screen. I am not sure whether this is because of the backlit feature or because of the limited color display but nonetheless, it is not as crisp a display as advertised.
There is the Visor Prism, which has the color display but my partner quickly changed my mind on that product. He informed me that there were few applications available to support the 16 color display. He had heard that there were problems with fading or flickering with the color display also. I can't say that I know this to be fact but I took his advice and skipped over the Prism.
The Guts
The Visor Edge has a PALM OS 33MHZ DragonBall VZ processor by Motorolla, which was no different than the Visor Platinum that I looked at. The Edge comes with 8MB of memory, which was also less than what I expected but so far it has not been an issue.
The Edge has a detachable Springboard slot that slides onto the back of the device so you can easily insert modules. This is an excellent feature of this product but it does require removing the cover and it does add to the size of the PDA. This also leaves your display unprotected. There are several modules available and more being developed.
One of my favorite features is that the Edge is completely rechargeable so I won't have to worry about stocking up on even more batteries. This was a concern for me because my digital cameras are major battery hogs and it can become pretty costly. The Edge includes an internal lithium ion battery, so it's just a matter of a simple recharge and I am set to go once again. I have only had to recharge my device to a full charge one time but I am obsessive about recharging things so it is continually on the charger when not in use.
The Edge has HotSync ability, which basically means that you can transfer information from your home computer to the PDA and visa versa. Just put the Edge into the USB cradle that you connect to your computer and you are ready to exchange information. I like this feature because I can enter information using my PC and transfer it to the Edge. This is a nice feature especially when working with large contact lists. I might add that if you do not have a USB connection, you will need to purchase a serial port cradle.
The Programs
The Visor operates on the Palm OS (version 3.5.2.). Since the Edge operates on a Palm OS system, that makes it easy to exchange information with other Palm users by 'beaming' the data from one device to another. The other nice thing about this operating system are the tons of applications that are available. I do mean tons including games, project organizers, financial planners, internet functions, calendars, and much much more.
Some of the standard features with the Edge include an address book, memo pad, datebook plus, citytime, and more. There is more storage capacity with most of these features than I will ever use or need. The address book alone will store up to 12,000 addresses. There is a fast lookup feature that allows you to enter a name using the buttons instead of the stylus to easily locate contacts in your address book.
Satisfaction Guaranteed
I am still learning how to use some of the features of the Handspring Visor Edge but so far I have had overall satisfaction with the product and plan to keep up with this technology.
The Edge has made exchanging data with my home PC and my partner's PDA a snap. I am still somewhat overwhelmed by all the applications available for the software and truly enjoying testing different programs out.
If you have a need to be more organized and want to keep your contact lists, dates, to-do lists, and more on hand at all times then I strongly recommend checking into a handheld device like the Visor Edge.
HandSpring Visor Edge Handheld PDA (1015NA) 8MB, Graffiti, Slip it in your pocket. Put it in your purse. You'll barely even notice that you're..More at PDAPreferred
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