Visor
Company: HandSpring
Estimated price: $249.00
http://www.handspring.com

Of all the wonderful sights and new software and hardware I discovered at Macworld San Francisco 2000, I came home with what I think is the best. I purchased, for myself, an orange colored Visor. It took me only minutes to learn and I have been enjoying it ever since. I had never been a hand held computer person until I saw and used the Visor. The Visor is based on the Palm OS, but with some very revolutionary improvements, the greatest of which is the Springboard expansion slot. This little slot has the potential to open the user to many different products.

The Visor is available with just 2MB of memory, but the Visor Deluxe (the one I have) comes with 8MB and a docking cradle. I made the mistake of getting the wrong cradle and my cradle is now being used on my husband's iMac. I am trying to decide if I want to spend the extra $20.00 to have a cradle for my 8100. The thin, hardshell design fits perfectly in my purse or backpack and I take it everywhere. I have even dropped my Visor and cried out in horror. It was unfounded. I did not even scratch it and it still worked perfectly. Handspring also offers a custom made case for the Visor. I am hoping to get the orange one for Mother's Day!

David and I are avid photographers. We use my Visor to keep track of our camera and enlarger/developing settings. It is easy to handle and holds all the information we need on a spreadsheet. We have also downloaded many other useful programs, like the Shopping List and my personal favorite, Rally (a version of Mille Bornes). I play this game in my college class on particularly boring days and my professor thinks I am diligently taking notes.

By running Palm Pilot programs, the Visor makes it more versatile for the both those new to the handheld computer community and the Palm Pilot users. However, the operating system is loaded into ROM and the user is dependent on Handspring for operating system updates.

I am very impatiently waiting to review the newest modules for the Visor. At Macworld, I had a first hand look at the MP3 player, the pager, and the keyboard, and was impressed by each. I will keep you up-to-date about these as they become available.

What is included
The Visor Deluxe comes with a leather slip case, Hot Sync cradle, Stylus, Palm desktop software, and batteries. I have an orange Stylus to match my Visor but they come with a plain one. You can order color matching ones.

Requirements and Installation
A PowerPC processor, System 8.1 or later, USB port or serial port (depending on the cradle bought), and a CD-ROM drive.

Summary

I could not go into great detail in my review about this product as there are so many things to be said. I would direct you to their website to get more information. I really love my Visor. My husband now wants his own (although we're suppose to share... ha!) and so does our 19 year-old son. I think that Handspring has developed such a versatile product that no matter what you're wanting a Visor for, there is (or will be) a module to fit your needs.

Lyn Price
lyn@mymac.com