My 100th epinion: My Handspring Visor and how it helps me as an M.D.
Written: Mar 04 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fast, lots of memory, keeps me organized, and I got mine free!
Cons: B/W screen
The Bottom Line: An excellent tool with many day to day applications in addition to the medical programs I use it for!
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| scottcolson's Full Review: Handspring Visor Platinum Handheld |
For my one hundredth epinion on this wonderful site, I thought I'd step away from the medical topics and tackle, my new "toy." Although, I'm sure I'll return to medicine in the end!!
OK, Before you think that I have some cool way to get this free, I don't. Mine was given to me at work. As family practice residents, we find it to be very helpful in our day to day work.
Where shall we start?
Technical Specifications
Size: 4.8" x 3.0" x 0.7"
Speed: 33 MHz Processor
Memory: 8 MB installed, you can buy additional 8 MB
modules (but I haven't used mine yet!)
It can store up to 10 years of appointments!!
Operating system: Palm OS operating system
Weight: 5.4 oz
Infrared beaming capabilities
Backlighting for use in the dark
Plastic cover and leather slipcase
Uses 2 "AAA" batteries
Comes with USB cradle for "hot-syncing" to your computer
Software
Palm OS software, version 3.5.2H: This keeps the little thing going!
Enhanced Date Book: This is an incredible tool for keeping yourself organized. I forget how I lived without this!
Address Book: Easy to use and pretty self explanatory
To Do List: Again self explanatory
Memo Pad: For those items you can't remember, but need to have written down somewhere
Mail: I haven't used this but there is supposed to be a way to do email
Expense: Again I haven't used this function, but it seems that it would be useful!
Advanced Calculator: Not just your average calculator, also converts weights automatically (lb to kg, very useful for calculating drug doses!)
World Clock: What time is it in London, anyway?
HotSync Manager: Works with the cradle to "sync" to your computer
There are also games that it comes with, but they are just a waste of time, right? (OK there are a few games and many more available online, but I can't do too much gaming at work!)
System Requirements
MACINTOSH (Now this is my system!!)
Mac OS 8.1 or later
8 MB RAM minimum (16 MB recommended)
25 MB available hard drive space
CD-ROM drive
WINDOWS (or windoze)
Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000
8 MB RAM minimum (16 MB recommended)
25 MB available hard drive space
CD-ROM drive
Accessories
I don't know much about these, but there are phones, extra memory, different cases, and all kinds of fun extras!
check out www.handspring.com for details about these
Medical Implications
OK, now this is my department!
There are 3 major (and free) medical programs I use:
1. Epocrates QRx: free and frequently updatable drug reference. I wrote a separate epinion about this.
2. Epocrates QID: brand new antibiotic and infectious disease database by the Epocrates. This is an excellent tool!
3. Medscape: the electronic version of the Pocket Pharmacopeia, another excellent tool, but only updated once a year.
There are also other programs that can be used for reference and for tracking patients. We are just finding new uses for these.
OK, I guess that's it. My 100th epinion. I hope you enjoyed it. I hope I can continue to write more good medical epinions (in addition to some outside the medical realm, like this one!)
I have listed all of my medical epinions on my profile page for easy access. If you are looking for a specific topic, please look there! Also check out my webring of writers of medical topics!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): MSRP 299
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Epinions.com ID:
scottcolson
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 - Top 1000 |
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Member: Scott Colson, MD
Location: OH to NV, to IA, finally in MN!
Reviews written: 106
Trusted by: 92 members
About Me:
Family Physician practicing in the Twin Cities, MN
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