Red and Shiny
Written: Jun 27 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: very very pretty
Cons: expensive; awkward stylus holder
The Bottom Line: Handspring's pricey but pretty new PDA has everything I need in a slim and convenient package.
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| shadowcat's Full Review: Handspring Visor Edge Handheld |
When my beloved old Palm III died, I decided it was time to look at the more modern PDAs. There were two primary things I wanted from it beyond the basic functionality that my old one had provided: a clear screen and good battery life. I use a PDA chiefly as an organizer and an occasional means to stay awake in meetings; I had no real need for a color display or a built-in modem or any of the other truly top-of-the-line stuff.
I had heard very good things about Handspring products versus Palms (more reliable, screen doesn't break as easily, etc.). When I went to their website (www.handspring.com) what should I see but the PDA I had always dreamed of: the new Visor Edge. Sleek, red, and shiny, with the basic good functionality I looked for and the useful Springboard expansion slot should I decide to do more advanced things in future.
The Edge is essentially the same as last year's Visor Platinum, but in a different casing. The new casing is a little bit thinner (just .44 inches thick), and made of metal, which should be more resistant to cracks and other damage (though I don't intend to sit on it to test this!). It also comes with a flip cover, which the Platinum does not. The last difference between the Edge and the Platinum is that the Platinum runs on AAA batteries whereas the Edge recharges in the cradle.
For all that, the Platinum is a *lot* cheaper: $249 after Handspring's $50 rebate. I got the Edge because at the time Handspring was running a special (over July 1st) where you get $100 cash back if you send in your old handheld, even if it's broken. That turned the effective price of the Edge from a daunting $399 to a feasible $299, only $50 more than the Platinum. I considered that quite worth it for the improved casing (not to mention the metallic red color which I had always wanted). I have not yet sent in for the rebate, so I cannot comment on how reliable or prompt the rebate process is.
So that's why I ordered it. Now that I have it, I'm enormously happy. The screen is as clear as any PalmOS machine I've seen (the WindowsCE iPaq has a clearer, and color, screen - but a $650 price tag). The battery did not appear to dip at all in the four days I've had it away from its cradle, and I've heard that it will last two weeks with normal usage.
There are a few industrial design issues which others on Epinions have complained about. First, the placement of the IR port, low on the left side, where a person holding the PDA with their left hand may find it awkward to shift their grip to clear the port. This is decidedly not a problem if you're left-handed (like me), but even holding it as a righty I don't have much trouble shifting the grip appropriately.
The second issue is the stylus. The way it's attached is awkward to describe, and you should probably go play with one in a store to see if it will annoy you. Essentially putting the stylus away entails simultaneously sliding in a groove at the top of the stylus and fitting the bottom part into a hole. You then have to press a lever to get the stylus out again. It is a bit awkward at first, but it is quite secure and now I am quite used to it.
In a nutshell, I love my new Visor Edge, but would not have paid the price without the rebate. Its advantages over the Platinum are mostly aesthetic, but with some other convenient improvements as well.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 399 ( -$100)
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Epinions.com ID:
shadowcat
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Member: Heather Keith
Location: Chelmsford, MA
Reviews written: 28
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
Human consciousness lies somewhere between Pavlov's dog and Schrodinger's cat.
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