For years, Palm users screamed for expandability, a better price, and a USB connection. When Palm wouldn't give it to them, Palm's founder left to start a company that would.

Handspring's first product, the Visor, comes equipped with all the functionality of a Palm, a USB connection, several software enhancements, an evolutionary expansion port, and a bargain price that makes Palm's "economically priced" machines blush in embarrassment.

At first glance, the standard Visor bears the same graphite black colour, rugged feel, and size (12.2 by 7.6 by 1.8 cm) of its Palm cousins. But on closer examination, the Visor has been tactfully improved with rugged application buttons and a small microphone (although it currently isn't used), and a 3.8-by-5-cm plastic back door hides the expandable Springboard port. And while Palms come with soft cases, the Visor comes with a hard plastic case that clips securely to either the back or front of the device.

Unfortunately, the Visor does have two items that may throw off some users. First, a cheap and flimsy stylus makes it hard to write. Secondly, the screen appears to be of a slightly lower quality than what you would find on a Palm -- images are still easy to read, but they seem to have less contrast than those on a Palm display. The effect is more noticeable when the Visor's backlighting is used, as images appear slightly grainy. We can forgive the Visor's less than ideal screen and stylus, however, in lieu of the added functionality of its Springboard port.

For basic functionality, the Visor features the standard Palm device applications with a memo list, to-do list, address list, and calendar along with connectivity to the Palm Desktop, Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, and other popular PIMs. You can also download most software built for other Palm devices. New applications premiering on the Visor include Date Book +, which is a program that expands Date Book functionality with a daily journal, floating events, and user-created templates. If you're a frequent time zone skipper, CityTime lets you track times from Adelaide to Zurich.

The Visor's most compelling feature is its Springboard port. While the Palm units require bulky hardware add-ons, the Visor's Springboard port lets you plug optional hardware modules and memory into the back of the device in the same manner that you'd plug a game into a Game Boy. With 8MB memory-expansion modules, several modems, a camera, and an MP3 player already available, you can customise the Visor to your own needs.

Handspring's attention to detail brings you application and power buttons that feel less flimsy than buttons on other Palm devices, and the Visor's screen feels less frail than its counterparts because it has a stronger and thicker plastic coating. (Although Palm users sometimes complain that the Visor's screen requires more pressure to write on it since the upper layer is thicker.)

Unfortunately, like entry-level Palms, the Visor lacks flash upgradable memory. Higher-end handhelds include upgradable memory or ROM (usually 2MB or more) that lets you upgrade the operating system or store additional programs. To balance this potential weakness, Handspring has already delivered several Springboard modules such as the 8MB Flash Module, which gives you extra space to back up your data or store additional applications.

Setting up the Visor to be used with either a Mac or PC is mere child's play. From the time you pull the unit out of its box, it only takes a few steps to get up and running. And because the Visor uses a fast USB connection (instead of the older pokey serial connection), the entire software set up process can be done in a few minutes.

The Visor doesn't prove to be more powerful than a Palm. Powered by the same Dragonball 16MHz processor and 2MB of memory used in other entry-level Palms, Handspring is clearly competing with the Palm IIIxe and Palm m100 models. Since the Visor is based on the same OS as the Palm, inputting text is accomplished in two ways: Graffiti or the onscreen keyboard.

And like other low-end Palms, the Visor draws its energy from two AAA batteries that offer a rated average of 12 weeks of power. However, you can expect that time to be cut down when a Springboard module is being used with the device. We'd like to see a rechargeable battery pack implemented in the future.

With the Visor, you can expand the memory with a Springboard module instead of buying an entirely new unit, the way a Palm owner would. And the Visor's USB connectivity to the PC is faster and less prone to problems than Palm's serial port connection.

There are several choices in the entry-level Palm market, from the ultrasmall Palm m100 to the slightly larger Palm IIIxe, and if you're happy with an older (and slower) serial port connection and no expandability, buy one of those devices. If you're looking for a PDA with a fast USB connection, loads of expandability, and most of the features of a Palm, then we suggest you get yourself a Visor.

Handspring Visor
Company:Handspring Australia
Ph:02 9425 8073
Price: AU$349
Rating

Copyright © 2009 CBS Interactive, a CBS Company. All Rights Reserved.
ZDNET is a registered service mark of CBS Interactive. ZDNET Logo is a service mark of CBS Interactive.