Visor Deluxe (Graphite)

I went with the Visor on the recommendation of some friends who have them and because I like the idea of the expansion modules (especially the GPS option). I bought the Deluxe model (w/ 8Mb) because I understand that the expansion modules require some significant amounts of memory -- and so I can download applications without worrying about running out of space.Everything is working as advertised. Setup couldn't have been easier. It comes with some nice extra touches as well: first of all, the standard stylus is now the same as those in the "upgrade pack" of extra stylii.Also, even though I splurged and purchased the slim leather case (also on the advice of a friend) so I can more easily use my Visor on the go, the leather slip case it comes with is very nice, and it seems you can use it just fine in place of the plastic clip-on cover -- and it will keep the screen well protected.Probably my favorite feature is the simple search engine, which enables you to easily find ANYTHING ANYWHERE that you've entered.I really like the fact that all of the names, numbers and addresses (and everything else) I enter is A)backed up on my PC, and B)stored in what is certainly by now an industry standard format.If you have slips of paper and post-it notes all over the place and are wishing that there were a better way to keep track of lots of stuff, I suggest you give this baby a try.

I ordered a Handspring to replace the Visor Prism I have. It got to me in good order, with all the things mentioned. I examed the items and all seemed in order, except I didn't see a receipt in the box. Since I had one online from Amazon I didn't worry too much about it. I wanted to transfer the information from one unit to the other. I have had my Visor for a while and know how to use it. When I tried to do the transfer it didn't work. Thinking I may have not done it correctly, I repeated the process four times, but the new unit said "Beaming not contacting". I have tried to contact the vendor through Amazon with no luck. I would like to return the Visor, but there was no return information included in the package that was sent. So, I have a PDA that won't work for me and the vendor has my forty dollars. A bit of advise, don't buy from tandtmcarthur. The only thing I saw in the box was the PDA, no receipt or return information. If there was a mistake with the packing I could understand. That could be explained in a reply to my message via Amazon. As yet that reply has not been forth coming. Oh Well, live and learn.S.

I got a handheld so that I could do one thing, to conveniently update all my address book and contact info from my work & home computers in one place. The Visor Deluxe performs that task marginally at best.The product's marketers and reviewers will tell of a "seamless interface" with the popular email program Outlook Express, compatibility with all versions of Windows, the convenience of the included USB cable and connecting cradle, and insistences from all sources of its "flexibility" with managing data.Like many people, my work computer is a laptop, networked on Windows NT. It has USB ports. Great, I thought, I can use my handheld's fast USB connector to zip data to and from my laptop. Not so. The USB connector does you no good in Windows NT. So I have to either buy a separate (and slow) serial connector or wait until my work upgrades everyone to Windows 2000. Some compatibility!But, I thought, at least my (W98) home computer's data can be accessed and updated easily. Wrong again. Various documents from Handspring as well as their web site refernce their compatibility with Outlook Express, but it is very well hidden that you can't use OE to update the Handspring's Address Book. There are separate "Mail" and "Address Book" applications, and only the "Mail" application supports OE. (So I can download messages but NOT email addresses?) It took both an email and long distance telephone call to Handspring to get that straightened out; the documentation on it is poor. Now I have to save my address book, import it to Microsoft Outlook, change Outlook to the default emailer, THEN interface with the Visor, then change the default back to Outlook Express. It would be more convenient to print out the address book now and then, and carry around a piece of paper.Feb. 15, 2002 update - new compatibility problems. My home machine is now Windows XP, and the USB cradle apparently is incompatible with the computer's USB controller. Oddly enough, my printer and digicam have no problems at all. Also, my work machine is Windows 2000, and it's mysteriously not synching with the handheld either. THE VISOR IS NOT A FLEXIBLE, VERSATILE PRODUCT as marketed.The Handspring folks will also insist that their products are customizable, "store anything your heart desires." Well, I would like to store multiple email addresses or phone numbers with some people in my address book. With the Handspring, you can only store one automatically. It's possible to create a new field manually and enter the second address manually, but that takes a lot of time, and is unsupported by common email programs. It would probably be easy to inadvertently delete new phone numbers when synching your PC and Visor. Again, paper and pencil's more convenient.The Visor Deluxe can do a good many things, I'm sure, but it ceratinly has been a disappointment to me. I advise reading all compatibility info carefully before buying one, because for many people the Visor won't work out of the box.