Introduction

Note: my opinion is geared towards readers who are not familiar with PDAs and what they can do, as I was before getting this product.

I have had my Handspring Visor Graphite for just over 2 months now, and I'm not sure how I ever lived without it. I used to be an organized person. I'm also a little obsessive compulsive (or if you ask my husband he'd tell you I'm way obsessive compulsive… but we won't ask him, will we?) which makes organization essential, even for life's little trivialities. I have an inherent love for all things organizational, especially gadgets, but then I end up using too many methods to organize and ending up with no one complete strategy. I started buying daytimer-type organizers a few years ago, and that was basically the end of me. Using somebody else's strategy designed for a more "normal" user (i.e., not as insane as myself) killed all my own intuitions and sent me spiraling towards complete chaos. So you think I'm over-dramatizing? You obviously have no idea how insane I am.

Oh yea, I was going to write about the Visor, and off I went on a tangent about my sanity (or lack thereof). But I really do want to explain where I'm coming from and how I ended up with this Visor. One's expectations of a product are so very tied into one's satisfaction with it. Most reviews of PDA's that I've read come from people who already knew they wanted a PDA but just didn't know which one to choose. I, on the other hand, had had enough of organizing gadgets and was not in the market for a PDA. Granted, I researched them a little, but had made the decision that they would hurt more than help my organization, and that they were way too expensive to take a chance on.

But then my sister ended up with this visor through her work, and with a gift offer of a new one through some shopping site if she spent over $130 on products she really likes. So I paid half that amount and ended up with a slightly used visor. For $65 I figured it would be a fun toy if nothing else. Nobody has been able to pry this little machine out of my hands since.

Well, if you survived my lengthy introduction, you deserve to hear some details. Since I did not choose this PDA over others after careful market research, but rather ended up with it by mistake, I will concentrate on the general benefits of this product.

* The Visor itself: You can see a picture of it on this page so I don't need to describe its look. It comes with a clip-on cover that protects the front during travel, and can be attached to the back during usage. The cover is also used to clip the visor in place in most carrying cases designed for this PDA (you secure the cover to the case and clip the PDA into it face up for use and face down for travel). The cover not only protects the screen but also keeps the buttons that can turn the PDA on from being pressed.

The visor comes with the following hardware, software, and relevant options:

* The Stylus: In case you have not had occasion to use one before, this is a little metal thingamabob that looks like a thin pencil but has nothing but plastic at its tip. It fits neatly inside a slot on the right side of the visor, towards the back. You can actually use your fingers or just about anything semi-pointy to tap the screen of the visor or write with, but the stylus is probably most convenient.

If you plan to enter data directly into your visor you will need to use the bottom of the screen's designated areas (left for letters and right for numbers). There are specific motions (graffiti) you must use for each character, and a cheatsheet that shows each of these. Some people find it difficult and slow, but I actually think the graffiti is so intuitive that I only had to look at each character once to remember it. Not only that, but I can often guess how to write new characters (that is, ones I hadn't used before). Of course it isn't as fast as typing on a keyboard, but it isn't that much slower than writing by hand (especially if your notes used to be on napkins in restaurants and coasters in bars).

* The Synching cradle: Mine connects to a USB port, but they also come ready for parallel ports. This is a little device that sits on my desk always connected to my computer. I set my visor in this device and with one click synchronize all the updated data between the visor and the desktop. You can get the visor for cheaper without this device, but it is well worth the added $20 or so. If keeping all your important information only in electronic form (for the first time in your life… ok, my life) is a little stressful, at least you can back it up on a regular basis and know that chances of losing all your data are pretty slim (especially if, like me, you back up your hard drive regularly as well).

* The Desktop Software: The visor comes with the Palm OS. The desktop version of the software includes the "hotsync" utility (the one that performs the synching through the cradle) and the key software that comes with your visor (this would be the datebook, memo pad, to-do list, and address book). You can enter information into these databases using your desktop (or laptop) computer and then sync the visor. This is probably the fastest way to enter details.

Other software is available for your visor (and lots of it!). Installing new software is incredibly easy using the desktop Palm application: You download stuff from the web or get it on a disk, you add it to the "install" list on your Palm Desktop (practically a one-click operation) and the new stuff is automatically installed on your visor when you hotsync next. I'll talk a little more about software below.

* 3-rd Party Software: It is amazing just how much software there is out there for the Palm OS, and how much of it is free or cheap. I have maybe 20 games on my visor, databasing utilities, and all sorts of useful and fun stuff that I downloaded all over the place. I'm not going to mention all of it, but one of the most useful programs that I think almost all PDA owners use is Avantgo (avantgo.com). Even if you don't have your PDA attached to a modem you can get updated web content on your device using this program. Just synchronize your device with the desktop while your computer is online, and you will get updated information (e.g., news, weather, maps, movies, etc.) on your palm device. Then, when you're stuck in a borrrrrrrring meeting (ghm, in case my advisor or boss read this, I certainly was not taking about any meeting I've ever had with you… heh heh) you have something to read.

* Infrared Beaming: I think all PDAs come with this feature. There's an infrared light on the side of the Visor, and you can use this to beam or receive information (e.g., your "business card") or even whole applications (e.g., games) to other PDAs that run the same OS. That is, the PDAs don't have to be Handspring Visors only, but I'm guessing they have to be running the Palm software. Cool, huh? You can also use this feature to sync with your computer if it has infrared capabilities (I believe many laptops do).

* Springboard Expansion slot: This is one of the key elements that make the Handspring Visors so special. There is a slot in the back where you can attach all sorts of accessories, but only one at a time. Such accessories range from useful to fluff, and include modems, cell phones, digital cameras, GPS (Global Positioning System), extra memory, backup space, MP3 players, etc.

I only own a flash memory module which gives me an extra 8MB of memory. I will review this module sometime in the near future, but in case you're wondering what "flash memory" entails for the visor, as far as I can tell it is this: memory expansion comes in two basic flavors for visors. There is the 'backup' flavor, which is used to backup data and applications, but you cannot run applications off this space. And then there is 'flash' memory, which you can put applications on (freeing up internal visor memory) and run them from the module. If you are looking to expand your memory so you can get more software then you need the flash memory module.

* Battery Life
This visor runs on 2 AAA batteries (newer Visors can be recharged using their sync cradles and such, but not this one). I've noticed that I can get about 3 weeks of regular use from my visor per pair of batteries if I don't use the backlight. If I use the backlight regularly I can get about 8-10 days out of each pair of batteries. And we're talking constant usage. Battery life does appear to be a little shorter (maybe by a day or less) since I got my flash memory module.

* Anything bad?
Do I have anything bad to say about this product? Am I disappointed with any part of it? To tell the truth, it has exceeded all my expectations, and has become an essential part of my life. But if I didn't already have this one I would consider the following details before buying a device:

1. Recharging: The newer visors in the Handspring line come with rechargeable batteries, that can be recharged on the sync cradle. I actually prefer the version I have that uses regular batteries available anywhere in the world. I like the option to get new batteries when I travel (especially abroad) rather than be tied to my home computer for recharging. However, some new hardware is now coming to the market that makes it possible to recharge the new visors even in different countries. Such a device would make rechargeable visors a lot more attractive to me.

2. Memory & Processor: If I had the money I would go for a more powerful unit. Firstly, 2 MB is definitely too little, but my 8 MB flash memory has taken care of this concern. However, I cannot use any other springboard module at the same time as the flash memory one. And there is one module I am drooling over right now: the visor phone, which is basically a global mobile phone. Yes, global (you can use it in Europe as well as in the US) but it is not recommended with the Graphite visors due to MHZ limitations.

In other words, if you are going for the simpler/cheaper models, I would recommend the Visor Deluxe which contains 8MB of memory. But if you have a little more money to spend you should consider the Visor Platinum, which comes with a faster processor. I don't find the Graphite model slow at all, but the fact remains that some expansion modules just won't work with its slower processor.

Conclusion
This device lets me organize things my way rather than using somebody else's strategy. It has become my primary notepad, to do list, schedule keeper, address book, diary, password keeper, and toy. It was well worth the $65 I forked over to my sister for it, and if I had known how useful it was I would have bought it for full price long ago.

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 65