Expand Your Mac with PDAs
Review of Handspring Visor Deluxe, Palm m100, and Palm Vx

Reviewed By: Bill Stiteler

Review Date: February 26, 2001

Device: Palm m100

Developer: Palm

Minimum requirements: For hot synching, purchase of USB cradle ($39.99) or Mac serial cradle ($14.95), approximately 20 MB disk space for Palm Desktop software.

Retail Price: $149

Availability: Out now

Device: Palm Vx

Developer: Palm

Minimum requirements: For hot synching, purchase of USB cradle ($39.99) or Mac serial cradle ($14.95), approximately 20 MB disk space for Palm Desktop software.

Retail Price: $399

Availability: Out now

Device: Visor Deluxe

Developer: Handspring

Minimum requirements: For hot synching, USB capable Mac (Pre-USB Mac cradle sold separately ($14.95)), approximately 20 MB disk space for Palm Desktop software.

Retail Price: $249

Availability: Out now

I find myself with a need keep track of a lot of things. My pockets are usually overflowing with pieces of paper: My daily "to dos" from Hiner, Hiner's fan mail to answer, Hiner's dry cleaning receipts, Hiner's gambling slips, and of course, my enemies list. That last one doesn't take up too much space, though. Just one name.

Since a.) I need to keep track of things, and b.) I am a geek, a Personal Data Assistant seemed like a good idea. However, since technology is not yet advanced enough to give me Yuki, I decided to test out three different Palm-based models. Two from Palm itself, one from Palm licensee, Handspring.

The three models span a vast spectrum of power and memory; the utilitarian m100 is the entry level model for those who are really just looking for an organizer, while the Palm Vx's slim shape and high memory is suited for the power businessman who needs a PDA that looks as good as it works...or just wants people to think he needs that much power. The Handspring Visor is somewhere in the middle (now that it's not the top-of-the-line Visor, anyway), leaning towards the more powerful side.

Overview

As I mentioned, all three PDA's are based on the Palm OS, which consists of two parts; the software which exists on the PDA itself, and the Palm Desktop which is installed on your Mac. While you technically don't need to install the Desktop apps on your computer, you'd be insane not to. By using a special "cradle" onto which you set your PDA, you can synch info between it and your Mac. So if your PDA gets ruined, or the batteries die and you lose everything, all your info is still safe.

The basic Palm software includes a calendar, a to-do list, a message pad, a calculator, and an address book. PC users also have the ability to upload/download e-mail to Outlook when they synch, a feature denied to Mac users without the purchase of third-party software, unless they're using the latest Palm OS and Microsoft Entourage. Go fig.

Data is entered via a touch-sensitive screen and a stylus (or a finger, if you're in a hurry). Palm gets around the writing recognition problem rather neatly; it doesn't learn to read the way you write, you learn to write the way it reads. The "Graffiti" system is a series of single, somewhat cursive stokes of the stylus, some of which take time to get used to. Writing "V" in the normal way, left to right, will produce a "u" in the Palm, writing it right to left will produce a "v." Get it? This abbreviated style, once you get used to it, does speed up note taking, though. I find myself using it even when I'm not writing on a PDA. Another nifty feature is the InfraRed use, allowing Palm-based PDAs to communicate and transfer data by lining up their IR ports ("beaming").

What separates a PDA costing a couple hundred dollars from a ten-dollar sparkly-blue "Grrlz Rule!" secret-keeper from the impulse lane at Best Buy, though, is expandability. Palms and Visors are legit minicomputers, with thousands of applications out there which can be downloaded onto them regardless of the personal computer to which they synch. There are applications to give you driving directions, keep track of business spreadsheets, even medical programs to track prescription medicine. It all depends on how much memory you have. And this is where the differences come into play; the arena of expandability.

Palm m100

Techno-lust can be a big part of a purchase of a PDA. But what do you really need one for, if at all? If you're like most people, you're not going to try and trade after-hour stocks in Japan, or beam tax info to Zimbabwe; you just want to keep track of your appointments...and you want to look kind of cool. Enter the Palm m100

The perfect entry-level PDA, the m100 seems to be set up with the college student in mind. Heck the face plate even snaps off like Nokia phones so you can personalize them (at an additional cost). The m100 comes with only 2 Mb of memory, which may not sound like a lot, unless you realize that most Palm apps are about 100k or less in size. Plenty of room to keep track of all your contacts, your calendar for several years, and still have room for a shareware game or two.

The design of the m100 is durable, with a one-piece plastic cover that flips over to protect the touch screen when not in use. In a clever move, there's a small, clear plastic window in the flip cover. Why? If you hit the "up" button (exposed by the cover), the m100 will display the date and time for a few seconds. Neat. Another example of realizing what simple functions the device is supposed to fill.

The handwriting recognition of the m100 seems better than I remember older Palm OS's being, resulting in fewer input errors. The new Notepad feature deserves mention; instead of writing in the Graffiti language, you write/draw freestyle. This is great for short notes, but leaves the m100 without a way of taking lengthy notes (the pages have a set size to work with).

A couple of design aspects seem awkward, also. The power button located on the top must be mashed down to activate/deactivate the device, and the stylus is placed too near the flip cover, making it difficult to get out. Actually, this may be viewed as a feature. As I used the Visor Deluxe and the Palm Vx, I got used to sliding the stylus out with my thumb, whereas the m100 required the deliberate use of my right hand to get the stylus out. If your PDA gets bounced around a lot, this could help keep it from getting lost. Anyway, that sucker took determination to fish out at times.

One big caveat for Mac users; while Palm deserves kudos for it's software being Mac-friendly, it's hardware is decidedly not. The hot synch cradle that comes with Palm PDAs works exclusively with a PC serial port. If you want to back up to your pre-USB Mac, you'll have to pony up about $15 for a special cradle, or if your computer is USB-only (even PCs), that'll cost you even more. Keep in mind that hot synching is required for installing practically all new software (some, but not all software can be beamed across IR ports).

Verdict: The PDA for college students or non-power users. If you're not sure if you need a PDA, or just plain gotta-have-it(!), this is probably the one you're after.

Palm Vx

The Palm Vx, on the other hand, is for people who know what they want and/or need. Slim and sexy with a fold-over leather cover, this PDA screams elegance, success, and expense. And it won't wreck the line of your suit.

One reason it's so ultra-slim is that unlike the other two models in this review, it uses internal, rechargeable batteries. This'll save you on replacing them, but when you're power's down, you can do a quick AA swap and go. Recharging can take several hours.

The Palm Vx comes with 8 MB of memory and a speedy processor. Like the m100, it seems to have better handwriting recognition, though it includes the new Notepad feature, which again, leaves it without a built-in feature for taking extensive notes. Not, I imagine, that anyone who uses a Vx would need to take extensive notes, they have executive assistants to do that. In addition to the expandability that the 8 megs will give you, the high-end image of the Palm Vx has made it the target of several nifty add-ons, like the OmniSky wireless modem (review forthcoming).

Like the m100 (and all Palm devices), the Vx only comes with a hot synch cradle for PC serial ports. Mac users will have to pay extra for a compatible cradle.

Verdict: This is the PDA for people who live by making an impression, and need power to back it up. Get it if your company is buying it for you.

HandSpring Visor Deluxe

As I understand it, part of the group that founded Palm left to form Handspring. They licensed the Palm OS and created something between a clone and a mutation; the Visor.

The big difference; every Visor ships with a USB cradle (non-USB Mac owners get screwed here, too), and the Visor has a built-in expandability slot, called the Springboard. Here you can add hardware to your Visor, in the form of modems, more memory, digital cameras, cell phones, MP3 players... the list goes on and on. All of that'll cost ya, of course.

Subtle differences; the Palm OS that comes with the Visor is not exactly the Palm OS from Palm. Visors, for example, ship with the Calendar program and Calendar Plus, a small mod that sits on top of Calendar and lets you do things like link your To Do list directly to your schedule. Uncompleted items appear right there. Visors also ship with the original Notepad, which requires the use of the Graffiti system, but is much better for taking extensive notes on.

The Visor Deluxe, available in five colors, is a solid, middle choice. At $249, it's not an impulse buy (okay, it shouldn't be an impulse buy), but it will fulfill just about any function you'll need. The Deluxe likewise features 8 MB of memory, allowing you to install any of the programs (and additional data) you could ever need.

Compared to the Palms, the Visor Deluxe is almost as fast with no noticeable lag in running apps, though some slowness in opening and closing large files is noticeable. Fair enough, since the device came out a few years ago, and Visor now features two newer models. Likewise, the Graffiti recognition doesn't seem quite as crisp, resulting in 4 or 5 incorrect letters in an average sentence, as opposed to 1 or 2 on the newer Palms.

Since the Springboard port is on the back (kind of like a GameBoy), the Visor can't feature a flip cover to protect the touch screen like the m100 does. The Visor cover snaps on and off, completely separating from the unit, but can be reattached to the back. The Deluxe also comes with a leather slipcase for extra protection (and fashionability). One physical design element which the Visor does have over the Palm is the stylus. Palm styli are one-piece plastic affairs, whereas the Visor stylus is a Swiss-army affair which separates to reveal a mini-Phillips screwdriver and a small probe for pressing the Visor's reset button. Very cool, Visor.

Verdict: More memory than most people need for more than most are willing to pay, the Handspring Visor Deluxe is a great choice for someone who handles a lot of data away from the office. It's expandability (both in terms of internal memory and the Springboard port) ensure that it won't become useless anytime soon. A worthy tool for a lot of workers. Very Mac-friendly (if you have a USB Mac).

Closing

These devices are so obviously designed for different groups, I hesitate to compare them. But I have no choice, it's right here on my "To Do" list (on all three):

"Review PDAs. Give comparative ratings at the end. Or Else. -H."

So I'm going to chicken out and give them all fours. None of them is perfect for every user, but for the appropriate parties (students, execs, workers) they'll fulfill just about every practical need.

Personally, I'd use the Visor Deluxe, with all the different tasks and lists I have to manage. But if I didn't have to manage forty different things, like say, if something... unfortunate... were to happen to Hiner to free up more of my time, all I'd need would be the m100 for my addresses, phone contacts, and simple daily schedule. Of course, if something were to happen to him, I'd probably get promoted, and then I'd need the ultra-hip Palm Vx for all my power lunches.

Huh.

Oh. I almost forgot; all Palm OS devices have a decent security feature allowing you to keep notes, plans, conspiracies and what not away from prying eyes. Just don't forget that all the data is backed up on the computer. No, don't forget that...

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