Metallic Blue Helio PDA = cool!

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
M

MontyBurns

Platinum Member
Feb 29, 2000
2,836
0
0
My advice would be avoid this. Helio doesn't use PalmOS... it uses a special Vtech OS, and the only thing I know about Vtech is that they hawk a bunch of cheap cordless phones.

Plus, not USB... The only bright spot is the 8 megs of RAM, which for the price is pretty good, but I'd go for the handspring visor instead (which, I admit, I own and love.)


Here are some better specs if you want to do more research:

http://www.myhelio.com/cgi-bin/vtechhelio.storefront

Note that they say it's "compatible" with Microsoft Outlook and Palm Desktop, but I'd bet they're talking more about import/export functions, not that you can just hotsync it directly with Palm Desktop.



 
R

randomlinh

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,846
2
0
linh.wordpress.com
Monty, what do you use your handspring for, just curious. I really want to get one, but then I look at it and say "do i really need one?" heh. You know, i could probably say that about half.. or nearly all my computer stuff :)
 
P

psxjunky

Senior member
May 30, 2000
921
0
0
lnguyen: I have been a Palm user since last 3 years and had exactly the same question as you before I started using it. I can't say I had a very clear idea about what can I use it for when I first bought it ... but once I started using it, I got totally hooked and now can't think of going around without my trusty Palm ! Different people use it for different purposes ... Me ? I primarily use it to keep track of addresses, appointments, memos, to-do lists, e-mails and a few web pages that I visit regularly.

Check out the "comp.sys.palmtops.pilot" newsgroup ... the question that you asked have been answered MANY times before in this group.

Let me know if you have any specific questions.
 
M

MontyBurns

Platinum Member
Feb 29, 2000
2,836
0
0
I agree. I wasn't sure I'd use it either, but now I'm hooked. I think it happens that way with most people.

I admit, it is a lot of money for a glorified datebook, but if you get hooked on all the extra (and free) programs, it starts to seem worth it. I'll never use it as a GPS or an MP3 player or all the other things Handspring touts. Still, I couldn't live without it at this point.

And the first time you beam your info to someone, a shiver will run up your spine.

 
4

403Forbidden

Banned
May 4, 2000
2,268
0
0
same here...Palm user for almost a year. Before I bought it I thought it was just gonna be a toy. Now I can;t live w/o it
 
C

Capster

Senior member
Jan 31, 2000
309
0
0
This is beginning to sound like a Palm Users Anonymous convention.

And, yes, I own and use a Palm as well. A Palm IIIx to be exact...and love it. I use the built in functions like many seem to with a few extras. I find the greatest benefit for me is some of the documents off of http://www.memoware.com/. Many of those are quite handy to have available...one being the ethernet wiring scheme. Why memorize it when I've got an electronic cheatsheet?
 
P

psxjunky

Senior member
May 30, 2000
921
0
0
Ok, since this is a Hot Deals forum, here is a hot deal (sort of) for buying a Palm.

If you know someone working for 3Com or Palm Inc, buy it thru them ... they get incredible discounts. I got my Palm Vx recently thru a friend's friend at Palm Inc. and I paid $240 ... whereas Palm Vx retails for $399 !!

Sure the Vx costs more $$, but I think the 8 megs of RAM and OS 3.5 alone justifies the higher price. Plus you get the AvantGo software free with the Vx, which is great if you want to keep track of your favourite webpages offline.
 
S

SuperRob

Golden Member
Oct 11, 1999
1,236
0
0
My Palm V from the Mobshop deal a while back came with OS 3.5. Just wanted to say is all.

Also, anyone who signs up to be a "developer" for Palm can get 20% discounts.

Whoops ... now how the hell am I going to get the cat back in this damn bag? :D
 
N

novon

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,711
0
0
So which one should I get? The Palm IIIxe or Handspring Visor? Or the new $299 Psion Revo?
 
M

MontyBurns

Platinum Member
Feb 29, 2000
2,836
0
0
AvantGo software is always free. You can download it for any PalmOS-enabled PDA.

I highly recommend the Visor Deluxe. Still one of the best deals for an 8 Meg PDA, and unless you plan on shelling out big bucks for cellular service, it's all you'll need.

 
P

psxjunky

Senior member
May 30, 2000
921
0
0
HandSpring is great from what I hear ... but a word of caution. To keep the cost down, HandSpring got rid of the Flash memory in their PDAs and replaced it with a ROM. So HandSpring devices are not OS upgradable and also doesn't allow users to put some of their applications in Flash to survive during a hard reset.

Palm Vx comes with 2Megs of Flash, about 25% of which can be used to store user programs and databases.
 
M

MontyBurns

Platinum Member
Feb 29, 2000
2,836
0
0
While you're completely right psx, it's not a gigantic problem. The only thing that worried me in buying a handspring is that I couldn't upgrade the Palm OS, but there are thousands of programs (most written for OS 2.0, by the way, a looong time ago) that are and will always be useful.

Also, assuming you regularly sync your handspring (which, with a USB port is incredibly fast and easy), you're never going to lose anything. And while there isn't any flash memory, for some reason every time I change batteries and the unit is completely without power for a number of minutes, I never lose anything stored on it. Magic, I can only presume.
 
M

MontyBurns

Platinum Member
Feb 29, 2000
2,836
0
0
Yeah, they tout the crap out of the springboard module. I guess it's a valuable feature, and technically is an advantage over the palm, but I have a hard time believing people who paid $150 or $250 for a PDA are going to shell out a couple hundred more for a GPS that plugs into it. But whatever, people love that springboard. I doubt I'll ever buy any expansion modules.
 
N

novon

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,711
0
0
So basically all the visor deluxe has over the palm IIIxe is USB and availibility

where as the iiixe has flashrom, the latest os, and a better backlight

looks like I'll go with the palm iiixe then
 
R

Rookie

Golden Member
Jan 27, 2000
1,178
0
76
Anyone got some more good sites for the Palm Vx while we are singing it's praises? ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom