Handspring Visor Platinum (Silver)

But the Visor Platinum's selling point is its new processor, which performs faster than other Visors or Palm handhelds (Handspring claims up to a 50 percent increase in speed). While we didn't put a radar gun to the Platinum, it certainly felt speedier than the Visor Deluxe--tapping on an application opened it almost instantaneously.

Using a USB cradle, our desktop synchronizations sped along nicely, usually completed in just a few seconds unless we were adding applications. Additionally, since the Platinum uses the Palm OS, most third-party programs written for Palm handhelds will work for the Platinum.

One difference between the Visor Platinum and the Palm V series that Handspring most likely won't boast about is its size. Where the sleek Palm V series sports a depth of only 0.4 inches, the Platinum retains the standard Visor form factor of 0.7 inches.

But when you've got the expandability that the Handspring's Springboard module slot offers--allowing you to add a digital camera, a cell phone, a Tiger Woods golf game, or an MP3 player--you don't need to quibble over slimness. Also, like other Visors, the Platinum features a built-in microphone (though you'll need to add a module, such as a voice recorder or the phone module, to use it).

If you're already a Palm or Handspring user, there may not be enough about the Platinum to sway you to pick up this new product. But if you're looking for the cutting edge of handheld speed, the Platinum is ready and raring to go. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• Fastest Palm OS processor around
• 8 MB memory
• Expandable using Springboard modules

• Thicker than Palm Vx
• Microphone, but no voice recorder built in

In addition to an address book, to-do list, and memo pad, the Platinum Visor features an enhanced date book, advanced calculator, and world clock. The 8 MB memory stores approximately 12,000 addresses, 10 years of appointments, 6,000 to do items, 6,000 memos, and 400 e-mails. It has usability features like address duplication and improved security and navigation. Since it uses Palm OS, you can beam information with other Palm users or download thousands of existing Palm-compatible applications. With the Springboard expansion slot, you can instantly snap in a digital camera, wireless modem, an MP3 player, and more.

The Platinum's USB connection makes synchronizing with your desktop computer fast and easy. You can quickly back up, update, or exchange information between the Platinum and your computer with the USB charging cradle and HotSync technology.

The Visor Platinum comes with a protective leather case, Palm Desktop software for Windows and Mac, and two AAA batteries. It is backed by one-year limited warranty.

Important note to customers: USB connectivity is compatible with Windows 98/2000/Me and USB-enabled Macintoshes running OS 8.1 and later. If you use Windows 95, Windows NT, or Mac OS 8.0 or lower, or your computer does not have a USB port, you will need to buy a separate serial cradle.

What's in the box

• Visor Platinum
• Graphite HotSync cradle
• 8 MB RAM
• AAA batteries
• Graphite snap cover
• Leather case

I'll list the difference btw Deluxe and Platinum, and let you be the judge to which one to buy.
-First, Visor Platinum is the FASTEST PalmOS PDA with its 33mhz processor. Other PalmOS PDAs have either 16mhz or 20mhz. Visor deluxe has 16mhz. However, the speed of the PDA is a little overrated, since most Palm application do not require high speed processor anyway. but hey, the faster the better, right?
-Second, Visor Platinum has 4 bits display while Visor Deluxe has only 2 bits display. This means that, Platinum can display 16 levels of greyscale, while Deluxe can display only 4 level of greyscale.
-Third, Platinum has PalmOS version 3.5 while Deluxe has version 3.1. This is important because you can not upgrade PalmOS on Handspring's PDA (due to USB problem). So, this means you'll be stuck with which ever PalmOS that comes with your Visor forever. But this is not a big problem as it may sounds, b/c any PalmOS's are essentially the same thing.
-Lastly, Platinum has cool sophisicated silver color, while Deluxe has teenage iMAC style colors.

Another product I recommend if you are considering buying Visor Platinum is PalmIIIxe. PalmIIIxe also has 4 bits display like Platinum, and it also comes with PalmOS version 3.5. I'll make a list of difference btw Visor Platinum and PalmIIIxe for you. (Note that this list also include some of the differences btw Visor Deluxe and PalmIIIxe)
-PalmIIIxe is the same price as Visor Deluxe, which is about fifty bucks cheaper than Platinum
-PalmIIIxe comes with only 16mhz processor like Visor Deluxe
-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.
-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.
-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; buy a new stylus cost about fifteen dollars.

Are these difference worth the more money you pay for Platinum? Let yourself be the judge, see what you need.


More of the same, faster, bad plastic shell.   November 1, 2000
Adam Eberbach
90 out of 98 found this review helpful

As an upgrade to the Visor Deluxe it is obviously the same thing but faster. Noticeably faster than any other Palm device out there, but not really amazing. You will probably only see a big difference in computationally-intensive applications, or those with large databases, like Kanji Hanabi. The speed is the best thing about this product.

The worst thing about this product is the platinum case. Instead of the translucent plastic of the Deluxe model it is a painted gray plastic, and when that paint wears off (and it will) this thing is going to look like a cheap toy that's ready for the trash. The battery compartment cover doesn't fit properly - it rattles. I expect more in a... device.

The clip-on cover is still a problem. Whereas the Palm III series cover flips back on a hinge, leaving a hand free for the stylus, the Handspring cover comes off. You can turn the unit over and clip it on the back, or put it down somewhere, but you have to do something with it before you can write. A clumsy design.

The big thing with Visor is of course Springboard modules. I can forgive the cover for the ability to plug in GPS, Modem, MP3, software, extra memory or even a digital camera or a phone. Palm has nothing to rival this, and now a year after launch some really useful Springboards are appearing, although some are ridiculously priced -... for a 64M MP3 module!

Apart from that... the device is very light (I was surprised to open the shipping container and find it inside, it felt far too light to contain a Visor) and includes batteries, cradle, software CD, brief guide and a few product pamphlets. The feel of the screen is not as smooth or pleasant as that of my Palm IIIe but I expect it will get better with use.

The included software installed and performed a hotsync on my Windows 2000 USB/Office 2000 system without a single problem. USB hotsync is FAST.

Unfortunately Handspring politely declined to help when I asked if I could get a set of translucent plastic for my Platinum. It would be best to see one of these before buying, or be prepared to return it if unhappy. It REALLY feels cheap and nasty.

This will be an excellent travelling email/authoring package with the Targus folding keyboard, RhinoSkin Ti slider case and CardAccess Thinmodem - unless I decide Ihate this plastic so much that I return it for a Visor Deluxe instead.


Best for the money   November 28, 2000
68 out of 70 found this review helpful

I did a lot of shopping when looking for a PDA using the Palm OS. I compared the Palm Vx, VII, IIIc, IIIxe and the visor series.

First off, I don't have a need for lots of color, and if I did, I would definitely have bought the 65,000 color Visor Prism for the resolution and color depth. The Platinum is a little thicker than the Vx, and comparable in size to the III and VII series. The VII has one advantage, a built-in modem (necessary service sign-up although), and the IIIc has color, but moderate color at that. The IIIxe has built-in memory upgrade capacity, but so does every Visor (8mb modules available). The platinum visor has the fastest processor available in Palm OS devices (50% faster than current Palm models, as reported by Handspring), and also uses the most up-to-date Palm OS (version 3.5.2).

For the money ..., there no better deal out there. Unless you need color, this is the best Palm PDA available. Compatible with all Palm applications (those that run on the new OS, at least... I've found that some older app's won't run), and with the built-in Springboard module expansion slot, I'm sure that there's lots more to come from this company, co-founded by the creator of Palm. New innovation and next-generation thinking will put this company and its products ahead of the competition.


A great alternative to Palm.   November 1, 2000
Michael A. Brown (Salt Lake City, UT USA)
65 out of 75 found this review helpful

Utilizing the same software as a Palm PDA, the Handspring provides everything you need and costs less. It has the same user interface. It looks the same. The main difference is that the Handspring costs about half what a comparable Palm Organizer would run. The batteries, 2 AAA, last between 2 and 3 months depending on usage. And, the handset comes with a USB compatible cradle which will dock to any Macintosh (G3/Blue and newer) and many PCs. This is a great alternative to overpaying for a Palm. Plus, Handspring has several plug-ins that help to expand the power even more.

This latest version, the Visor Platinum, runs at a faster speed than the Visor Deluxe. Of course, this really is only important for power users. The rest of us will just look at it as a nifty new color.


Bought one my girlfriend and wish I kept it.   January 9, 2001
Conrad B. Senior (Easton, CT United States)
55 out of 58 found this review helpful

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This is a sharp looking PDA. Looks-wise it blows the doors off the Palm IIIex that I use. It doesn't have the flip lid that I love on my palm, but it is a jewel and perfect for a woman with a purse. The case is reasly sharp looking and very classy. It is thicker than the Palm, which is a valid trade-off given the expansion slots--I see myself buying one or two of these in the future.

You may want to get the flip open leather case which makes it about perfect. Included with the Platinum, is a slide in leather case, which was OK, but I thought it was a slow process to pull the Platinum out to use. The flip open case is fast and more proffessional looking.

I found the Platinum to be noticably faster than my Palm. Admittedly my Palm seemed to have slow down with some of the software I added to it, but my overall impression is that the Platinum is faster than my Palm ever was.

The software included on the Handspring is better than what you find on the Palm. If I could, I would delete some of the software built into my Palm 3xe--but it's built into the firmware--you can't get rid of it. For example: the calculator. On the Platinum, the calculator software is pretty good--It is the same software I loaded on my Palm to replace the calculator built in. The difference is I had to load mine into memory, and had to keep the other calculator because it was built into the firmware--a waste of space. That really bugged me.

The only down side on the Handspring Platinum, is the extra cost of a serial connection. The USB port is faster, but unless you have a computer that has one of these ports, you may find it difficult or impoosible to back it up.

It seems clear to be that unless the folks at Palm get moving, Handspring will leave them in the dust. Handspring's products are better designed, more flexible and about 2 years ahead of the current Palm products.

If you buy a Platinum you won't regret it. Be sure to get a serial cable if your desktop PC does not have a USB port.

Conrad Senior