The Handspring Visor Deluxe has the same rugged feel and size (12.2 by 7.6 by 1.8 cm) of its Palm cousins, but it adds a touch of flair with five iMac-like translucent colours: green, clear, blue, yellow, and graphite.

Apart from the new colours, the Visor Deluxe has improved the Palm design with rugged application buttons, a small microphone (although it currently isn't used), and a 3.8-by-5-cm plastic back door that hides the Springboard expansion port.

For basic functionality, the Visor Deluxe 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. Users 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.

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 on which to write, since the upper layer is thicker.)

Unfortunately, the Visor does have two items that may throw off some users. First, a cheap and flimsy stylus makes it hard to write. Second, the screen seems to be slightly lower in 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's display. The effect is more noticeable when you use the Visor's backlighting, as images appear slightly grainy. However, we can forgive the Visor's less-than-ideal screen and stylus because of the added functionality of its Springboard port.

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

Unfortunately, the Visor Deluxe 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, like the 8MB Flash Module, which gives you extra space to back up your data or store additional applications.

Setting up the Visor Deluxe 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 takes only a few steps to get up and running. And because the Visor Deluxe uses a fast USB connection (instead of the older pokey serial connection), the entire software setup process can be done in a few minutes.

Like other low-end Palms, the Visor Deluxe 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 shortened when you use a Springboard module with the device. In the future, we'd like to see the Visor Deluxe ditch the AAA batteries altogether and use a rechargeable battery pack instead.

Users will also love the Visor Deluxe's USB cradle, which has better connectivity to your Mac or PC and is far less prone to serial-port connection problems. The USB cradle offers HotSync sessions that whiz by up to four times faster than serial port. And while Palm now offers a special USB adaptor for all of its serial port-based HotSync cradles for an extra AU$79, the cradle still connects at the slower serial connection speed.

The Visor Deluxe comes with both a hard plastic case and a pocketlike leather case. And like that of the standard Visor, the Visor Deluxe's hard cover clips securely to either the back or front of the device.

At AU$519, the Visor Deluxe is in direct competition with the Palm IIIxe. While the two units share the same OS, price, and 8MB of memory, the Visor Deluxe's immediate expandability, USB cradle, and five colors is the perfect mix of options and technologies for new users and upgraders who desire a machine that will grow with them.

Handspring Visor Deluxe
Company:Handspring Australia
Ph:02 9425 8073
Price: AU$519
Rating

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