Handspring Visor Edge (Metallic Silver)

In addition to such standard Palm OS applications as an address book, to-do list, and memo pad, Handspring adds extra features such as an enhanced datebook, advanced calculator, and a world clock. Plus, the Visor Edge has new usability features like Fast Lookup, silent alarms, wireless synchronization, address duplication, improved security, and enhanced navigation. And since it uses the Palm OS, you can download thousands of Palm-compatible applications and beam information to other Palm users.

Using its unique detachable Springboard expansion slot, you can add a wide variety of Springboard modules whenever you want--from digital cameras and MP3 players to wireless modems and modem connectors to cellular phones.

With a fast USB connection, synchronizing the Visor Edge handheld to your PC or Mac is simple and faster than a normal serial connection. (An optional serial cradle also is available.) HotSync technology ensures all your data is backed up to your desktop PC.

The Handspring Visor Edge comes with a metal stylus, metal flip cover, USB recharging cradle, AC power adapter, and detachable Springboard expansion slot. It also includes Palm Desktop software (for Windows and Macintosh) and a link to Microsoft Outlook (Windows only).

Important note to customers: Your Visor comes with a free USB cradle, but not all computers and operating system are USB compatible. If your computer uses Windows 95 or NT or Mac OS 8.0 or below, or if your computer is not equipped with USB ports, you'll need to purchase a serial recharging cradle to synchronize your computer with your new Visor.

What's in the box

• Visor Edge
• USB HotSync cradle
• 8 MB RAM
• Internal rechargeable lithium ion batteries
• Matching metal flip cover
• Weighted metal stylus
• AC power adapter
• Detachable Springboard expansion slot
• Palm Desktop software

About a week after I recieved my edge, I could not have been happier. It was small, quick, just about perfect. I didn't even miss the color of the prism, because I was overwhelmed with the creativity behind the edge. All was going extremely well...until just like "an electronics fan," my touch screen stopped working (it would just pull down the menu...)

That really marred my view of the edge. Because I am so enamored with Handspring, and because their customer service department is incredible (they are rushing me a new edge as I write this--before I sent out the old one!) I will stick this defect out as long as possible. However, I realize that most people are not as patient as I am, and thus I would not recommend the edge to anyone who cannot live without an edge for a few days unless they buy it from a brick-and-mortar retailer where they can get a new one right away.

To close, I will say that with the exception of this defect, this is the best handheld on the market, and everything when it is new has bugs that need to get worked out.


Nice to look at, but has problems...   April 19, 2001
33 out of 38 found this review helpful

I bought my Visor Edge from the Handspring website and all was well until about 3 weeks of use. Like the other reviewers, my Edge completely crashed and would not do anything, even after a "hard reset". The on-off button wouldn't even work! When I called customer service, they told me that these types of 'crashes' sometimes happen. I owned a Palm for two years before 'upgrading' to this Handspring and nothing like this has ever happened. I am a physician who uses my PDA daily for storing reference material and patient data. Needless to say I'm quite disappointed that I have to suffer an inconvenience and wait for 7 business days for a new one to arrive in the mail. In general, it's a nice, sleek PDA but without a whole lot that's new or different from others in its class (the silent alarm's about it, and I'd never use it since you can't see the light blinking very well with the metal lid closed). Until Handspring is willing to address this issue that maybe there is a defect in their new product, I would suggest waiting a month for the Palm M500/505.


A great PDA by Handspring   April 23, 2001
Dave Thomson (Eugene, OR United States)
29 out of 30 found this review helpful

After reading the last 3 reviews, all I can say is how surprised I am that people have had problems with the Visor Edge. My experience with it has been nothing short of stellar.

The Edge is fast, has a clear screen, and feels rock-solid and durable. I have many different programs on it and it's fully Palm compatible. The lid is the best of any PDA I've ever owned, bar none; coupled with the fit and finish, it does a great job of protecting the screen. So far, I haven't felt the need to fold it flat to the back of the Edge, the settings provided by hadspring seem fine to me and well thought out.

I have one complaint about my Edge. The adapter for the springboard modules is basically a kludge. While it's not a bad design, fitting tightly to the unit and locking with a satisfying click, it's not a good one either. It makes the Edge far thicker, and it prevents you from using the lid as the adapter uses the same attachment point. Springboard modules are fairly big but surely a better design was possible.

If you need a solid PDA, buy this one. As for the other reviewers' problems, all I can think of is that I waited a few weeks before I made my purchase. Perhaps an early run of Edges had problems(?).


Perfect for Pockets   April 27, 2001
James R. Guibault (Macomb, IL United States)
28 out of 30 found this review helpful

The Edge solved the one real drawback of the Visor Deluxe: you couldn't carry it in your pocket without looking like a total dweeb. The Edge's size and perfectly designed lid fit nicely into a shirt or jeans pocket without worrying about a case. Probably not the best choice for people who keep Springboard modules in it all the time, since the module holder is kind of clunky, but this isn't a problem since I use only the Backup module and remove it after I'm done. (Don't even think about travelling with a Visor without the Backup module.) I waited a month before writing my review, to see if I would have any of the reliability problems that were reported early on. Maybe the first batch of Edges had some quality problems, but it looks like those were solved before I got mine. I'd highly recommend the Edge to anyone who carries a PDA in their pocket.


Died within 1 week   April 5, 2001
26 out of 37 found this review helpful

Got my visor edge last week, really enjoyed using until it completely crashed. The handspring folks pronounced it DOA. (Cute!) There was no bringing this baby back to life.

Then came the worst customer experience of my life. Handspring customer service was anything but helpful. I was even hung up on by one rep because they did not know how to handle hold. (Beware the Product Support rep hinted that this was a known issue.)

After all of this, I have finally decided that Handspring is not worth it.