Handspring Visor for Dummies (Paperback)

by Bill Dyszel (Author) "Your tiny Handspring Visor is a full-fledged computer..." (more)
Key Phrases: tap the triangle, list reappears, soft button, Edit Categories, Microsoft Outlook, General Preferences (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Running the same Motorola processor that backed up the first Apple Macintosh computers and boasting a wonderfully efficient user interface, the Handspring Visor has lots of capabilities to offer. In Handspring Visor for Dummies, Bill Dyszel takes new Visor users along as he puts the little unit through its fundamental paces. He then helps turn keepers of appointment books and contact lists into something like Visor experts, as he digs into databases, Palm Mail, after-market software, and synchronization with applications that reside on a "mother ship" computer.

Dyszel's approach to the subject is pure Dummies: he combines text about features and what they're good for with clear procedures that show exactly how to use them. Sometimes the commentary seems a bit contrived (a phenomenon that's almost par for the course when you have to write something insightful about, say, changing fonts), but the stepped procedures--which alternate between telling you what to do ("Tap OK") and what happens as a result ("DateBook+ is now your main date book")--make up for it, and it's a clear, effective approach. For newcomers to the Visor and the Palm OS, this book contains important information. --David Wall

Topics covered: Palm OS on the Handspring Visor, along with its built-in applets and popular after-market hardware and software, covered at a level suitable for novices. There's information on the basics of the Visor's user interface, followed by instructions for using all its factory-installed software (like DateBook and Memo Pad), including neat features like infrared beaming. Later sections deal with connecting the Visor to desktop computers for HotSync'ing and to the Internet via a modem. Add-in software also is discussed.

Product Description
This friendly guide offers timesaving techniques for using this Palm OS device effectively, from writing Graffiti to beaming data through the air with infrared technology. You'll also get how-to's on its Springboard Module feature, which allows you to add modules that turn your Visor into an MP3 player, modem, digital camera, and more.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 332 pages
• Publisher: IDG Books (January 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764507249
• ISBN-13: 978-0764507243
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,550,082 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for the Visor, but bad for the Macintosh..., August 30, 2000

By	Renee Hierholzer (Davenport, FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This was a great companion book to my Handspring Visor Deluxe purchase! As a new Handspring user, I found that this book gave me many helpful tips and techniques which have improved my overall efficiency on the Visor. Although some of the information seems a bit repetitive, the author has structured the book so that readers can flip directly to the individual sections that they need. However, as a Macintosh user, I do have one major issue with this book. Be advised that all of the examples are for Windows only. If you are a Mac user, the author suggests also purchasing the Palm Pilot for Dummies book which contains similar examples to those of the Handspring, but with Macintosh information as well. (the author also wrote Palm Pilot for Dummies) Considering that the USB port for the Handspring cradle makes it perfect for Mac users, I found it rather aggravating that the examples in the book were not written for both. But otherwise, this is definitely a must-have if you're jumping into the fabulous world of Handspring!

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for newbies, August 7, 2000

By A Customer

For those of us who acquired a Handspring Visor but hadn't used an electronic organizer before, this book is an excellent resource. The basics are clearly explained and device-specific. The sequence of "lessons" is logical and builds Visor skills step-by-step. The book has enabled me to use my Visor daily and to retire my well-loved but cumbersome paper organizer. Perhaps it's not a helpful book for people who already have experience with handheld computer organizers but for those of us who know the potential of their Visors but don't have the skills to really take advantage of the devices, the book is an excellent companion and teacher.

33 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars You do not "need" this book, December 13, 2000

By	Alan Williams (Milwaukee, WI United States) - See all my reviews

If you have a Visor, you are a step ahead of the game. If you can turn it on by yourself, you can skip the first chapter.

This gives little information to anyone who has done any research into their PDA choice. Most of the info covered in this book is easily found on the 'Net in one form or another. The Handspring/Visor specific information does not add any overwhelming value to this guide.

This book would be a helpful guide to someone who may have gotten a Visor as a gift and is pretty clueless as to how to begin, but to anyone who has an even passing familiarity with a PalmOS device, this book offers little.