Handspring Visor Neo (Red)
By Special to ZDNet, Eric Steinman
The Visor Deluxe filled a certain niche in the handhelds market by being both sophisticated and affordable. Handspring has now updated this popular model with the colourful Visor Neo, which features an updated OS and a faster processor, while sticking with the 8MB of RAM and the affordable price of the Deluxe. All of these improvements are ultimately positive, but they don't represent any significant design or technological leaps forward.
New colours
The Neo is nearly identical to the older Deluxe in shape and size. However, it comes in three translucent, iMac-influenced colours (grey, red, and blue), which allow you to see the guts of the unit. While this new aesthetic is certainly eye-catching, the general feel of the new plastic unit is a bit cheap; in fact, the casing holds fingerprints and smudges like tattoos.
While new styling seems to be the prime focus of the Neo, this device also boasts the updated Palm OS version 3.5.2H3 and a supposedly faster processor. The new processor, which is the same 33MHz DragonBall VZ processor used in the recently released Visor Platinum and Pro, is not noticeably faster then the slower processor on the Visor Deluxe in most tasks. The speed difference is only really evident in applications such as Dreadling, which seriously tax the computing power of the PDA.
The software bundled with the Neo is essentially the same as that of the Visor Platinum and is comparable to that of other recent Palm OS devices. It include a scientific calculator, speedier synching compared to the Deluxe, and a relatively new feature called Fast Lookup, which enables you to search for names and addresses by pressing the six buttons below the screen instead of using the stylus.
The Neo also sports the same Springboard expansion slot that is standard on all previous Handspring models. This enables you to plug in one of the many available Springboard modules. Consistent with previous Visors, the Neo ships with a standard USB HotSync cradle, but this time around, the cradle is fashioned from clear plastic that feels greasy compared to the plastic on previous Visor cradles.
Without a doubt, the Neo is being marketed to a hip, image-conscious demographic and has the flashy colours to prove it. At a cost of less then AU$500, the Neo will certainly be an ideal choice for students and those wanting to pick up a PDA without breaking the bank. Or just pick up the Visor Deluxe, which has plenty of RAM, some colourful cases, a Springboard slot, and a lowered price of AU$399 (and dropping).
The good: Snazzy colours; reasonably priced; updated Palm OS; faster processor speed.
The bad: Cheap, greasy plastic feel; breaks no new ground.
The bottom line: While the Visor Neo looks nice and proves to be a good value, you can expect to be underwhelmed by this update to the Visor Deluxe.
Handspring Visor Neo (Red)
Company:Handsparing Australia
Distributor:Advanced Portable Technologies
Ph: 02 9433 8333
Product Availability: Last week in October
Price: AU$499
ZDNet Rating: 6 out of 10
How we rate products
Handhelds
ZDNet editors rate handhelds on a scale of 1 through 10. Any product achieving an 8 or better can be considered for an Editors' Choice award. To calculate the rating, different criteria are scored on a 1 through 10 scale. These scores are weighted as detailed below, added, and converted to conform to our one through 10 rating system.
Here are the rating criteria, with their weights:
Price(20 percent of the total rating)
The lower the price, the better. A score of 5 represents an average price for the class of handheld under consideration, while a 10 would be exceptionally low and a 1 exceptionally high.
Performance (20 percent of the total rating)
The performance of a handheld is judged in comparison to similar handhelds. A score of 5 represents an average ability of the handheld to quickly execute functions it was designed to perform.
Features (30 percent of the total rating)
The range of features is considered in determining this portion of the rating. From form factor to software bundle, we consider everything this product delivers to the consumer. A product that provides just the basic electronic organizer functions rates a 5. Products with wireless connectivity, color displays, or other features will earn a higher rating.
Usability (20 percent of the total rating)
Usability rates ease-of-use of the keyboard, handwriting recognition, built-in wireless functions (where applicable), clarity of the display under varied lighting conditions, and so on.
Battery life (10 percent of the total rating)
We use the manufacturer's claimed battery life as a starting point to determine a rating. In the course of reviewing the product, we make sure that the claim is reasonably correct, although we do not perform a full-fledged battery drain test. A handheld with a battery life measured in days will warrant a rating of 3 to 7. Battery life measured in weeks will receive a rating of eight or higher.
1%
4%
