Handspring Visor Deluxe (Green)

Other products by Handspring

Product Details

Product Manual [3.03mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 4.8 x 3 x 0.7 inches ; 5.3 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004TDMZ
• Item model number: 1004E
• Batteries: 2 AAA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #64,154 in Electronics (See Bestsellers 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

Product Description

The Handspring Visor Deluxe is the first expandable handheld computer that lets you instantly turn an organizer into a digital camera, music player, or even a phone. It comes with 8 MB of RAM, so you have more than enough room to store all your data, plus a myriad of other programs and information. Plus, it features the amazing Springboard expansion slot, so you can snap in a wide range of hardware and software modules and turn your Visor into whatever you want it to be. Moreover, it is plug-and-play so there are no drivers to load. Just snap in a module and it works! It even comes in five great colors - ice, graphite, blue, orange, and green - so you are sure to find one that suits your style, personality, or mood.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece of mini-computer design, June 2, 2000

By	J. Bannon "stairwaytohevinn" (Portland, Maine United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Let me put it this way: my firm just invested in a large number of PalmVx devices for our attorneys. Most of them are sitting around unused, or are used only as desk calendars.

A few of us more computer-oriented types went for the Handspring Visor. It is just as good as the Palm products for stodgy business uses, but considerably superior in its expansion capacities and general design, even though it uses the standard Palm OS. The Visor fairly begs to be played with, expanded, tweaked with, and pushed to its ultimate potential. It is extremely well-made, as are the Springboard modules that are now coming on the market. Combine a Visor with a Stowaway keyboard, and you will have almost no need for a laptop again. I have not been so impressed with a computer product in many years. I notice that PalmPilot fans tend to dis the Visor, presumably because change is threatening. Palms and Visors are both great machines. But if you really want to put a handheld to work as a computer, and have fun with it in the process, the Visor has the clear advantage.

46 of 47 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

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...

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Handspring Visor Deluxe, September 19, 2000

By A Customer

My first PDA was a Sharp Wizard, an attempt to replace an underused Daytimer. For 3 years or so, I loved the Hell out of that Wizard. It had a calendar, address book, to-do list, memo, storage files, and even an outliner, plus a little keyboard with remarkably good feel from its rubber keys. With considerable effort with an optional accessory, I could back it up on my PC, but it was so difficult I only did it 3-4 times in 3-4 years!

Then I played around with a Visor in my local office supply store. In the space of about 10 minutes at the store, I mastered the graffiti (inputting letters with a stylus), and the Wizard keyboard was suddenly a thing of the past. The Visor could do everything the Wiz could do, only easier, and the back-up...what a pleasure: With a USB port, about 5-10 sec! What I like: cool look (mine's Ice), nice feel, stylus, image clarity, alarm options, versatility, multiplicity of preferences and options, back-up, supporting software and shareware, ease of changing batteries. What I'd like to see: active-matrix display (color Palm is very good). Two suggestions for buyers: get an extended full-replacement warranty, and get the Fellowes WriteRight screen protectors.

I DO miss my Wiz...but only a little bit. It was a pioneer and had its place, just like Daytimer. The Visor is the next generation, and it's better, smaller, [much] more robust, less expensive, and has almost infinite expandability.