Visor or 3com Palm IIIe, both same price but which is better?

[Gurm]

If I had to buy a Palm _TODAY_ I'd be torn between the TRG Pro and the Sony.

The Sony takes memory sticks and supposedly has a better display (is that the "Clie" you mentioned?), but the TRG Pro has a modified sound chip so it can play .wav files, it can also support flash cards.

- Gurm

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Listen up, you primitive screwheads! See this? This is my BOOMSTICK! Etc. etc.

[spoogenet]

Well, I went out and bought the Sony yesterday. Had played with it and the Vx quite a bit last week. Gotta say that I think I really do like the Sony. While it doesn't have quite as many accessories available, since it's not selling well, it's actually a very good unit. Works like a champ, I might even keep it. Got 30 days to test it out and see how I like it.

For anybody interested, here are a couple things that I do/don't like about the Sony and Vx.

Sony:
-Likes: True backlit display, I find it much easier to read in low light. Plug AC adaptor directly to the handheld, don't need the cradle to recharge, excellent for travelling when you have no computer, and hence no need to synch. Memory stick, get some extra memory, and Sony now has an autolauncher that will "run" apps from your memory stick (not really, copies them to the PDA then deletes them when done), but still nice. USB.
-Dislikes: Price. Gotta pay for serial. Slightly smaller display, but really not a big deal (3mm^2 smaller i think).

Vx:
-Likes: Thinner (Sony is deeper, but not as wide). Metal casing, looks nice, and tough. Serial cradle.

-Dislikes: Gotta take the cradle with you, and it aint too small. Gotta pay for USB. No memory stick. Reverse backlit display, found it more difficult to read in low light.

Overally I think they're both pretty nice units. I found the Handspring to be very heavy and rather large, it also just doesn't feel like it has the quality of the Sony and Palm units. The Handspring stylus is really light and feels cheap, while the Sony and Palm styli are heavier and feel nice (for a stylus) in the hand, doesn't feel cheap. Also the Flash ROM for the OS is excellent to have for upgrades, while the Visors aren't upgradeable.

Okay, well, that's just my take on it for now, in case anybody really cares to read any of it. Enjoy.

b

[spoogenet]

I played a bit with the IIIxe. Well, it's a Palm, and it's basically the same internally (as far as I know) as the Vx. Just about the same speed, couldn't tell a difference. Screen's the same size, has reverse backlit display (I don't really like, but some other people swear by them). Just a little bit bigger and heavier than a Vx. One stylus holder, Vx has one on both sides.

It's a good unit, I liked it, I was just looking for something a little smaller to carry around, and true backlit display, hence the Sony.

I actually liked all the Palms I played with, the only ones I don't care for are the Handsprings, which is sad, because they could do so much more with them and their springboard modules. If they'd just make them look and feel higher quality, make 'em a little smaller and lighter, I would maybe buy one.

b

[Gurm]

There are lots of hacks and patches you can download to un-reverse that reversed backlight.

- Gurm

------------------
Listen up, you primitive screwheads! See this? This is my BOOMSTICK! Etc. etc.

[cjolley]

Wow, this must be catching!
I just ordered my wife a Palm IIIxe.
They have a $50 rebate right now.
It hasn't gotten here yet so I can't say
much about likes & dislikes.
chuck

[spoogenet]

Really? Hmm, interesting. So then how do they do it? What exactly makes a reverse backlight a reverse, versus a true? I take it that it's a software implementation rather than a hardware, or is it?

Thanks,
b