Handspring Visor Deluxe (Orange)

by Handspring

Product Details

Product Manual [3.03mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 4.8 x 3 x 5.4 inches ; 5.3 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00004TDN1
• Item model number: 1005E
• Batteries: 2 AAA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,130 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1973

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

The Handspring Visor Deluxe is the hot new handheld that runs the popular Palm OS, so it's compatible with thousands of existing applications. It's also expandable with Springboard modules that can add extra memory or a modem, or transform your Visor into an MP3 player, video game, GPS receiver, and more. Plus, its fast-synchronizing USB connection is compatible with both the PC and Macintosh.

To set up the Handspring Visor Deluxe, we followed the Getting Started instructions printed on the software CD-ROM case, inserting the batteries, calibrating the touch screen, entering the date and time, connecting the included USB cradle to our PC (an optional serial cradle is available), installing the desktop synchronization software, and synchronizing the Visor with our PC. The entire setup process was straightforward and intuitive, requiring only about five minutes.

Fans of Palm Computing's Palm III line of connected organizers will have no difficulty using the Visor, as it runs on a licensed version of the Palm OS. All the popular Palm personal information management (PIM) applications are included and work exactly the same way as they do on the Palm. The Visor also uses Palm's Graffiti handwriting recognition system for text entry, which takes only a few minutes to learn and a few hours of practice to master. Handspring has added to the Palm OS an advanced date book, calculator, world clock, and support for floating-point math.

The Visor Deluxe comes with 8 MB of RAM, providing plenty of room for thousands of addresses, to-do items, and memos; hundreds of e-mail messages; and several years of appointments. It also includes a USB synchronization cradle, two AAA batteries, a stick-on Graffiti "cheat sheet," a leather slip case, a stylus, a Handspring logo decal, a Quick Reference Guide, inserts describing accessories and cases, and a software CD-ROM. The CD-ROM includes Palm Desktop Software 3.01, a software link to Microsoft Outlook, and the full-length User's Guide. However, the Visor Deluxe does not come with an AC adapter.

Using the Visor was intuitive and fun, just like the Palm III series organizers that it's based on. However, unlike the Palm, the Visor has an easily accessible expansion port that supports Springboard modules. For our tests, we installed a modem module, an 8 MB memory module, the Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf game, and a Physician's Desk Reference module (note that you can install only one module at a time). Installing these modules is very easy, and they can greatly increase the functionality, power, and usefulness of the Visor. (For more information, see the descriptions of the individual Springboard modules.

Overall, we were very impressed with the Visor. It takes the best of the popular Palm platform, and adds memory and expandability--all at a great price. --Mike Brown

Pros:

• Easy to set up and use
• Runs the Palm OS and supports thousands of existing Palm applications
• Expandable with Springboard modules
• Good price

Cons:

• No AC adapter included

Amazon.com Product Description

The Handspring Visor Deluxe connected organizer is all you'll need to store thousands of names, addresses, appointments, memos, to-do items, expense items, and e-mail. Based on the popular Palm OS, the Handspring Visor Deluxe is fully compatible with thousands of Palm Computing platform applications. Plus, Handspring has added features to the Palm OS like an advanced date book, calculator, world clock, and built-in floating-point math support.

The Handspring Visor Deluxe offers a fast USB connection, making synchronizing your PC or Mac simple. Exchange of information between your handheld and PC occurs with the touch of a button. HotSync technology ensures all your data is backed up and enables significantly faster synchronization with USB support than the normal serial connection. (An optional serial cradle is available.)

The Handspring Visor Deluxe with its 8 MB RAM also stores 12,000 addresses, 10 years of appointments, 6,000 to-do items, 6,000 memos, and 400 email messages, plus it has plenty of room for add-on applications. This model includes support for Lotus cc:Mail, Microsoft Outlook, and Qualcomm Eudora. Software to synchronize with AOL, Lotus Notes, Netscape Communicator, and POP3 mail is sold separately.

The Handspring Visor Deluxe is fully expandable with an external expansion slot that lets you add optional software and hardware modules (called Springboard modules) in a snap. Modules like an MP3 player, pager, modem, GPS receiver, or video game can be added to make a new device.

The Handspring Visor Deluxe comes with a HotSync cradle, stylus, snap cover, leather slip case, Palm Desktop software (Windows and Mac), software link to Microsoft Outlook (Windows only), two AAA batteries, and a one-year warranty.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it, live it, love it, July 13, 2000

By 

Mike Freed - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handspring Visor Deluxe (Orange) (Office Product)

What an amazing little piece of technology this Visor Deluxe is. Of course, it works the same way a Palm does, but Handspring gives you more stuff for the same money as a Palm IIIxe. Both machines have 8mb of memory (way too much if all you're using it for is a day planner; the 2mb version will be fine for non email users), and work exactly the same way. But the Visor has the expansion module, and while Palm makes do with a serial hotsync connection, Visor has a quicker USB port.

I also had occasion to try out Handspring's customer service the other day (apparently I loaded a bad app onto my Visor, which kept it from booting up), and I'm pleased to say it was fast, very courteous and effective.

The only thing I'd improve on is the thickness of the product, but then again, that's what makes room for the expansion module. And if you look at one of those ultra-thin Palm V's, you'll find they run off rechargable batteries...which means if you're taking it on a long trip, you'll have to bring the charger with you. With the Visor, the AAA batteries last about a month, and they're easy to pack along when you travel (if you think it'll go dead during the trip).

All in all, I'd heartily recommend the Visor to anyone who needs a little organization in his or her life. Now if only Handspring would make good on their promise to make more expansion-module apps...

52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Handspring Visor Deluxe Vs PamIIIxe, December 7, 2000

By 

"jittos" (Ithaca, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handspring Visor Deluxe (Orange) (Office Product)

I got my Visor Deluxe last month and I love it.
If you are considering buying a Visor Deluxe, I'm sure you are deciding between this Visor and PalmIIIxe, because they have similar feature, spec, and they both have the same price.

AT the same time I bought my Visor, my roommate bought a PalmIIIxe (and he also loves his Palm very much). So i'll give you the differences between these 2 PDAs, and let you decide which one you like better.

I'll start with How Visor is better.
-Visor has expansion module, which means alot, you can add many many feature afterward, you can make your Visor am MP3 player too! And you can also easily add more memory to your Visor, while for PalmIIIxe, you can only add 2MB flashcard.
-Visor is a bit lighter than PalmIIIxe (5.4oz Vs 6.0 Oz, not a lot of difference though)
-When you buy a leather case for your Visor, you dont have to stick a valcro to the back of your PDA like you have to for Palm. (Palm need a Valcro to hold it to the case, while for Visor, there's a plastic holder attach to the back of the leather case, so you can jsut put your Visor securely in there)
-Visor comes with a fast USB cradle while Palm comes with slow serial cradle, so if you buy palm and want a fast synconizing, you'll need to buy a USB cradle separatly for about thirty dollars.
-Visor comes with a good quiality stylus, it has solid feel of metal, and if you open it up, there's a little screw driver and a reset pin inside. Palm comes with a piece of plactic stylus, my roomate had to buy a new stylus for about fifteen dollars.
-And another important nice thing about Visor is, you have 4 cool colors to choose from (5 colors if you include boring graphite color) If you are getting Visor as a gift to a college students or someone young, they'll love the colors.

Ok, now to what's better about PalmIIIxe
-PalmOS on Palm is upgradable, while Visor user will stuck with PalmOS version 3.1 for the rest of the VIsor's life. However, this is not a problem as it may sounds. most version of PalmOS's are essentially the same thing.
-PalmIIIxe has better display than Visor. Palm has 4bits display, while Visor deluxe has only 2bits. This means that, for Palm, u'll be able to display 16 level of grey-scale, while for Visor, you can only display 4 levels of grey-scale.

So, that's about it for the little comparison chart I made. Other tings about these 2 PDAs are the same, they use same processor, and dimension is the same. (Visor is slightly thicker, and Palm is slightly wider)

As a recommendation if you r going to buy Visor Deluxe, get one of the cool color, don't get the graphite one, unless you are a businessman, and want a more sophiticate looking device. Otherwise, other 4 colors are way cooler, (mine's orange)

If you have more cash to burn, then I recommend you getting either PalmVx or Visor Platinum, they are a little bit more expensive. However, I've never used them so I will not write any comments about them.

P.S. DO NOT get a PDA with less then 8MB memory, must have AT LEAST 8MB

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Handspring Visor Deluxe -- A Fantastic System!, September 13, 2000

By 

Tim (New Orleans, LA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handspring Visor Deluxe (Orange) (Office Product)

Handspring's Visor Deluxe is a superior device! It works excellently, and is totally reliable. Beyond that, Handspring-designed Springboard modules like their "back-up" module, the 8MB card, the digital camera module, and others, demonstrated to me the superior vision (no pun intended) of the Handspring company.

Prior to purchasing my Handspring Visor Deluxe, I read & weighed the evaluations of all other Palm devices. For a month, I performed my own "hands-on" evaluations at computer & office stores, computer super-stores, and even my friend's Palm devices to compare operability. As a result of my evaluations, it because clear that Handspring's Visor Deluxe is superior its competition.

Now, after receiving my Orange Handspring Visor Deluxe and putting it "to work", I could not be happier. It operates flawlessly -- as advertised.

However, there are other considerations that I did not find online prior to my purchase. Some may be obvious, others may not. As a current user (and sufferer) of the HP320 CE Handheld/PC, I can tell you that there are several important advantages the Handspring Visor Deluxe has over Windows CE. The most important of which is "instant data retrieval/or input". How so, you ask? When you turn-on the Handspring Visor Deluxe, its programs are waiting for your use -- as in now. Not even remotely so with Handheld PCs. If you operate a CE (like my HP320 LX CE system) you know what I mean. It seems that CE manufacturers believed we needed to "enjoy" wait-times similar to that of a desktop spinning-up. But, if you're like me, you need data on-the-go, and the very last thing you need is to wait for a handheld system to "get ready to operate". Just imagine telling your boss or client, "uh...I should have that info (contact, whatever)...in a while...when my CE spins-up". Ridiculous.

Time is more than money.

On the other hand, Handspring Visor's operating system is ready immediately. No waiting. It's there. There is no wasted time. It is quite impressive. Incidentally, the Handspring Visor Deluxe also seemed quite a bit faster than its Palm competitors during my non-scientific in-store checks.

Another advantage of the Handspring system is its "Palm Desktop Software". I expected a good system, but this software is truely superb. I installed the CD program on my Windows 98 platform without a single glitch. The software displays the easy-to-read calendar, addresses, and other important features, in very logically designed software pages. The main page is my favorite, as it does everything I need. However, if that doesn't work for you, there are other calendar pages available, and you can still easily access your memos, things-to-do, contacts, and addresses. It looks good, it's easy to read, and works perfectly. What more could you ask, I ask?

Synchronizing Handspring Visor's data could not be easier. I purchased the Ice Serial Module to move data between my non-USB equipped PC and my Handspring, and it works great. However, prior to purchasing my Handspring, I did wonder how well this would work. Well, it works perfectly. Just open the Handspring HotSync program on your desktop, and press a single button on your Hansspring Cradle (serial or USB), and your data moves from PC-to-Handspring (or vica versa) in seconds. The desktop and Handspring display the transfer process and indicate completion. Incidentally, this process took only a few seconds even with my Serial Cradle. I would imagine the USB would move even faster, but, I'm quite happy with "a few seconds" for data transfer...to me, transferring data in a matter of seconds is less critical than continually waiting for data retrieval on a Windows CE unit, but that's my opinion. In any event, my data transfers have been perfect in my daily desktop-Handspring Visor "HotSyncs".

The Springboard Modules (and the concept) are the way to go. Again...a Handspring trademark. I purchased the "Springboard Backup Module" which backs-up ALL data on the Handspring Visor...quite amazing. This also works perfectly, and is handy when you're entering data when you want to make sure you don't lose information -- when you're away from your desktop. $40 bucks for this module? Are you kidding? Definitely worth it.

Ah yes, raw data entry. Some may choose to use Graffiti, or "soft" keyboard on the visor, when away from their desktop computer. My thoughts are that Graffiti may work fine for quick entries & numbers...and "short" bursts of input. However, I find myself away from my Sync-Desktop quite frequently, so I purchased the Targus folding keyboard for "remote operation". The Visor quickly snaps onto its contacts, and you're in business. I type quite fast, and I have not complaints with the Targus keeping up. It has excellent feel...actually "feels" like a Compaq laptop keyboard. So, this method of remote operations seems like the way to go for me...when you're on the go, and when you have sufficient time to enter information of any significant quantity (while away from your Sync-desktop). However, I found the competing "Go-Type" keyboard to be too small for my hands, and I wear a size 9.5 glove...so, I'm not sure how most people can stand it. I would recommend purchasing the $99 Targus "folding keyboard" instead. The Targus full-sized folding keyboard is very high quality unit, with tolarances for fit that seem more like a piece spacecraft equipment, rather than mere keyboard design. In short, this is a very impressive unit. Additionally, ALL integrated Handspring Visor Deluxe programs are accessable via the Targus' keys: Addresses, Memo, etc. Both the Visor and Targus will easily fit in your case, bag, or even loose pockets.

My other recommendation is to buy a high quality case for both units -- The leather Sundex (for $8.00) works great for the Visor, and it looks great. There is probably a great case for the Targus, but I haven't fount it yet. However, it is fully protected in its own metalic case.

Bottom line: Don't be in doubt of the Handspring Visor Deluxe system. It works great, and it seems that the possibilities are endless for reference software, organizing software, springboard modules (modems, multi-function modules including memory/modems/wireless modems/etc., and books-on-module), and the quality of this product is excellent. Definitely the best $250 bucks I've spent in many, many years. Go Vols! and buy ORANGE!