Has anyone used both the Palm IIIxe and the Handspring Visor Deluxe? Which is better?

[AndrewR]

I am probably going to buy one of these in the near future, and I'd like to get people's impressions of them. What do you like/dislike about these? I've seen a lot of favorable press about the Visors, but Palm speaks for itself in terms of reputation.

Any constructive notes? Thanks, and Happy Holidays!!!

 

[AndrewR]

What's going on? Is it Christmas or something??

 

[Edfan]

Neither is better. You should wait, check out the Compaq iPaq pocketpc before buying any of these PDA type devices. There's a big shortage but that should be over by February. You can see a demo unit at Circuit City. It has the most readable screen of any of these widgets.

 

[G14]

Click HERE for a side by side comparison of the two. I recently went with the Handspring because it has expansion modules and a USB cradle (win98 and win2k support) where the Palm only has a serial cradle. Keep in mind the inventer of the Palm left Palm and created the Handspring line.

 

[G14]

<< You shuld wait, check out the Compq iPaq pocketpc before buying any of these PDA type devices >>



With out a doubt the Compaq iPaq is the best hand held computer on the market however the iPaq is $500 where as the two he mentioned are only $249.

 

[Edfan]

Yes, quite true, the iPaq is around $459 at Costco (when they have stock). But price is not always the best reason to buy a widget. After all, the cheapest e-machine can get you online. But many Anandtech readers spend WAY more than the minimum to get performance that's much higher than average. I see no reason to change strategies when it comes to a handheld.

The value gains are SO substantial due to readability of the iPaq's unique screen, I was in and out of the market within minutes. There is no competitor and won't be until someone else comes up with a screen that bright. The difference in usability, especially for males (who have MUCH higher incidence of color vision problems than females) is as big a difference as between monochrome TV and color.

 

[Eug]

The best bang for the buck is the Visor Platinum at less than 300 bux.

 

[AndrewR]

I'm on a very limited budget after dropping $800 on my home theater system plus several hundred dollars (5 or so) for Christmas presents and other holiday expenses. So, iPaq is great, I'm sure, but not even close to what I can afford. Ditto for the Visor Platinum though it's a bit more reasonable.

Checking out the link -- thanks, G14.

 

[OS]

If the deal for the palm iiixe for 150 is still going on, that would definitely be worth it.

 

[joeryu]

just pick up the Visor Deluxe at amazon for around 200 with the 50 buck coupon, it is MUCH better than the Palm. I have the visor, and my uncle has the palm, and he's jealous =). the springboard upgradability really sold me.