Comments on: Full HandEra 330 Information Available

bob

Some of us have more important uses for our PDA's than playing video games while listening to the latest M&M song ripped off from Napster.

When you move out of your parents house and stop popping zits you may start to understand.

As for the 330, just admit that, color aside, it is the best PalmOS PDA released so far. Palm III form factor is not a big deal. Nor is the supposedly "ugly" case or high price. For comparison, I give you the Visor Platinum--possibly the butt-ugliest, cheapest-looking PDA out there, but also the fastest. The HandEra 330 wipes it.

And it's not like this is "just another B&W PDA". This device has some new unique features that are quite practical and compliment the PDA concept nicely.

Just get a PocketPC if you guys are so starved for all these bells and whistles.

2c

Now someone needs to make an adapter for the Palm Portable Keyboard so you plug the HandEra device sideways (in landscape mode).

I think ANY PDA manufacturer would think the better of it just to cater to a small-well-heeled-executive market. They might as well close their doors if that is their concept.

I am not a well-heeled executive (therefore no high-heeled secretary following me around) and I want the expandability it provides me.

And what about color ? I agree with other comments made here, the market for color is not as large as people make it. I have yet to see a program that I would like to have in color mode. OK, I have played a bit with certain games where color would have been nice, but they usually don't stay on my Palm long enough anyway (for space AND time reasons). Datebook in color ? big deal. I can do without it, and most people I know ditto.

I would love to know what most people use their handheld device for. I bet for the large majority, color is a nice add-on but definitely not a must-have. The people that buy color-pda's either need to have the latest gadgets all the time (i used to be one of these) or just have too much money.

What do people put in their datebook that requires color differential anyway?

Monday 8 am: take dog for a walk (BLUE & BOLD)
Monday 9 am: take a pee (YELLOW, FONT 9, BOLD)
Monday 9:15: Go to work (RED, FONT 8, Italic)
Monday 9:30: arrive at work (GREEN, FONT 19, BOLD)
Monday 9:35: Chat with co-workers at coffee-machine
Monday 9:45: finally get the coffee (GREEN)
Monday 9:46: add sugar and milk (GREEN , BOLD) so I dont forget (RED BOLD)
Monday 9:50: arrive at work-station / office (BLUE)
Monday 9:51: turn on PC (RED, BOLD)
Monday 9:51: wait till windows loaded (10 minutes) GREEN
Monday 10:01: surf the net (CYAN)
Monday 11:58: prepare for lunch (RED)
etc, etc, etc.....

Very interesting to have color for these entries....

Handera have made the single biggest improvment for Palm since inception: Portrait/Landscape screen.

This will allow far better access to information. Color would be nice, but that is coming...

I'm curious, what do people think is the best looking handheld? No consideration of function; which just has the best appearance?

from: http://www.palm.com/products/accessories/expansioncards/

What's behind the expansion card slot?
The expansion card slot is a dual-purpose slot that can hold two types of cards: Secure Digital and MultiMediaCard. Both types of cards are small, inexpensive, and easy to plug in. Much like computer diskettes, they hold information for upload or download onto a handheld. With them, you can instantly add software programs, e-books, large databases, graphics, or even video files to your handheld without sacrificing memory space.
Both types of cards are widely supported by hundreds of consumer electronics companies, and are used in many different devices including cameras, video recorders, MP3 players and much more. Palm chose to support both types of cards so Palm handheld users and developers would have multiple expansion options.

What does the future hold?
Right now, there are hundreds of hardware expansion products for Palm handhelds including digital cameras, GPS receivers, wireless modems, scanners and more. In the near future,

Secure Digital Input/Output technology will enable the same functionality to be delivered in an ultra-compact size on an SD card.

Please RTFM!!!!!!!!!

I disagree, i am not shallow, but i recognize that i see a need for where FORM matters over FUNCTION. Only a few percent of all PDA users are the hardcore type where they value Funtionality over all else. If a company can cram as much 'stuff' into one device, regardless of it's looks, then this group will buy it. however, for a company to gear it's Main PDA at such a small group which already is in a niche market, it's suicide.

let me use an analogy to better illustrate my point...

Look are car manufacturers.. functionality of cars is not unlike functionality of PDAs. There's the 'default' set of functions, plus the 'extras'. Handera has built a luxury car and put a Skylark body over top of it (or any other car you find ugly).

That's why I wouldn't want to buy it, and that's why I fear many others won't buy it. No offense to those who do find it attractive. If Handera or any other manufacturer thinks they are high enough that they can get by by ignoring this fact(of needing good looks), well, best of luck to them... You betcha Handera will lose market share(and thank goodness most converts will go to other Palm alternatives).

2. About the looks. I think the m50x line are ugly. I've always hated the V/Vx design, and I think the m50x are more of a bad thing. I kind of like the 330's looks - I definitely like the size/shape. I have always preferred the IIIx/Visor Deluxe form factor to the V/Vx for factor.

3. 'Memory only' - which rock have you been under? I suggest you look at the CF devices on the market, which the 330 (and the older TRG Pro) has wide support for. That's also ignoring future SDIO devices.

4. Greyscale - so what? Everyone keeps yapping about how users want color - yet greyscale devices dominate the sales of PDAs. Sure, if you can offer someone a device for the same price they'll probably pick color, but the fact is color screens cost more, so the device costs more. And a lot of people (myself included, so far) are simply not willing to spend the extra money just for color. I'm not a gamer, I don't need color address book entries, memos, or documents. I would much rather have a higher res screen, soft graffiti, etc, than 160x160 16bit color. And sales figures say the market agrees with me.

-MegaZone, megazone@megazone.org
Personal Homepage http://www.megazone.org/
Eyrie Productions FanFic http://www.eyrie-productions.com/

JK

Also, I think it probably gives them a slightly larger potential customer base. While it is a hassle for Mac users to have to buy an adapter to use the serial connector, I'm not sure it is possible to let WinNT machines use USB for whatever cost, though I'm no expert.

---
Plenipotentiary
Palm Infocenter

The IBM CF Microdrive requires atleast 500 milliamps.

So, 4 x 150 milliamps = 600 milliamps!

So, 600 milliamps > 500 milliamps =

More than enough milliamps to power the CF Microdrive effeciently.

Although, one should probably use the optional Li-ION battery pack when using such a "high drain" device as the IBM CF Microdrive.

You can use a Microdrive in a TRG Pro, which only uses two AAA batteries. It's even listed on their website as being compatable.

IANAEE, but I guess they're using some sort of electronics to move the interface voltages/milampres around, in a similar way to how the Palm generates a +5v Serial connection in a machine that only has 3v of batteries. I think it would be a safe bet to assume that they made those electronics beefy enough to use two slots at once, if they put two slots in it.

Eric

"Sorry, HandEra, but this is 2001."

People have criticized HandEra strongly on these boards over a few pictures--"It's ugly," "It's not color," etc.--as though a few idiots of Homer Simpson-esque IQ developed this handheld in about a month. Talk about rushing to judgement. You should read the articles on pdabuzz or palmstation. Two of HandEra's developers had a chance to address the genesis of the 330. These people know what they're doing, they considered all the possibilities and concerns, and they made rational decisions based on their users' desires and their major priorities. Please give them credit for that.

Watch your hick references to us folks living in flyover country. The innovations (to date) of this midwest company deserves a pat on the back. Forget the form, I'm tickled that the 330 will be cased in "METAL". Moreover, for those folks hung up on color.... wait for the next intro......

While I don't know the circumstances surrounding HandEra's announcement today, Palm and HandEra are not making the same mistake. Palm's "mistake" was they were relying on selling their old models (Vx, IIIc) for several more months at full price, then discount them, thus providing them with much needed revenue. But, having pre-announced the m500 series so early, the market for the older models dried up, and Palm now has a glut of inventory that they can only get rid of through heavy discounts, which will greatly decrease their profit margin on those devices. Plus, Palm's profit margin on the m500 series is much less than the older models, so money will be much tighter at Palm than originally forecast. Adding to this recent stock market trends leaves Palm in a tight spot for several quarters.

HandEra only had one model before, the TRGpro, which they had already discounted twice (now down to $250) before this announcement. The TRGpro hardware has been unchanged since its introduction in late 1999; it was due for a discount and was starting to lose some of its luster. Plus, with all the announcements from Palm, Handspring, and Sony, if HandEra had announced the 330 earlier, it would have gotten lost in the shuffle. This probably was about the best time for HandEra to announce; with everyone looking for a PDA, HandEra announced a new one that greatly improves on their older design, at a price range that will make users that were looking at new m500s and Visor Edges reconsider.

Also, unlike Palm, HandEra is a privately-owned company. The stock market woes Palm and Handspring are experiences won't effect HandEra as directly as the others.

From the article:

One of its most unusual features is that it requires 4 AAA batteries, which the company says gives it double the battery life of the Visor Deluxe or m100.

There you go DOUBLE BATTERY LIFE !!!

9) Because there will be none. Why should this be a problem (unless of course your pc has ONLY USB ports and no serial ports...._

11) Nope, Jogdial is NOT the Sony-one.

Own Handera-internal development, different technology.

From the above article:

The 330 also has a side-mounted jog dial and a select button for one-handed use. It uses a noninverting backlight.
According to HandEra CEO Mike Downey, unlike features developed by Handspring and Sony, which Palm has the right to add back into the OS, HandEra's innovations are its own intellectual property.

I wonder when people will start reading the given information properly prior to asking questions that have already been answered....

Come on! We're not talking solid gold bullion here. It's still mostly just plastic and air inside.

What matters to me is the physical dimensions of the device, and the Handera is the same size as my IIIxe, which usually fits in my front pants pocket just fine. Hell, even with the Humongo Leather wallet-case, it still fits in my cargo pockets (long live this trend).

I need a good lifting regimen, I think the weight of two extra batteries is a good thing. Just think of the muscle mass you'll be adding.

As I get stronger, I may want to tape additional 9 volts to it as well.

cheers.

I laugh at all this emphasis on design. When you are stereo shopping, do you pass on the bad looking ones and just buy one that looks cool, to hell with what it sounds like?

I spit on style over substance.

-RobZombie

They're ALMOST identical in case shape (and that's why cases/accessories from V/Vx work with the m500 - not m505 though as it's 1mm thicker).

Weird!

M.

If you don't know what you are talking about, you should keep quiet instead of posting comments that merely display your ignorance.

Delusional fool…

2c

To person or persons who has simply been repeating the rumor without any evidence, please realize that just because you read a rumor somewhere, doesn't by definition make it true. Repeating it over and over and insulting everyone who won't take you at your unsubstantiated word doesn't make it any more true.

To the people on the other side of the argument, unsubstantiated rumors do sometimes turn out to be correct so insulting the people who posted this one wasn't the best idea either.

The only thing that bothers me more about these discussion groups than people's unwillingness to use a spell-checker is people willingness to immediately begin screaming cuss words and insults at anyone who disagrees with them. Jeez, people, we're adults here. Let's try to act like it.

---
Plenipotentiary
Palm Infocenter

I saw several people asking for screen shots and figured I would try to help out.

Thanks for cleaning up the links Bret, I am not yet accustomed to the PIC forum system.

-Mike

SD/MMC memory cards are significantly slower than CF. For this reason I think most people will be much happier using CF cards.

-Mike

Regarding the release of the 330: PalmGear.com claims they'll have it in stock on 5/7/2001. Does this date sound realistic to you? I only ask because when I initially pre-ordered an m505, the Palm Store claimed it would be available on 4/2/2001 (and we see how that turned out).

I've given up waiting for the m505 because:

a) I've called weekly for updates on a release date, and I've always been quoted a date range at least a month long (but never the same range twice).

b) Palm released some m500 units to retail outlets before releasing units to those who had *already* purchased them.

c) The 330 is just so much cooler.

So... I applaud HandEra's decision to release to retail outlets *before* offering it on their own Web site (If I get angry at a retailer, it won't make me switch away from HandEra like getting mad at Palm has made me switch away from Palm). I just hope that HandEra doesn't make me drool too long.

Thanks for any information you are at liberty to pass along...

Yes. Perhaps not to you, but they do matter to most people.

"I personally don't think so, and I tend to believe that you who place so much emphasis on the two(especially form) are some of the shallowest people alive--but that's beside the point."

Why? Because they disagree with you?

"While I don't necessarily believe the 330 is the prettiest PDA, it's definitely NOT as ugly as people make it out to be. So it's not as cool as a Vx--big deal!"

HandEra could have easily made a better looking device. Last time I checked, black plastic wasn't any more expensive than tacky silver coated plastic.

"As for color--who cares about it when the screen res is only 160x160? I'll take the increased resolution in grayscale."

Anyone who has difficulty reading the blurry monochrome screens on typical Palms cares. a good color screen like the one on the new Sony is easier to read indoors than monochrome screens. Consider yourself lucky (you are probably less than 35 years old) if you don't have any problems with monochrome displays.

"The guy who says most people only use Palms for the built-in applications must be blind, ignorant, or stupid. How do you explain the thousands of downloads PalmGear.com has each day? Yeah, all those PalmOS developers are really wasting their time..."

Your debating skills are apparently somewhat limited. While most people who frequent sites like this (and possibly even most Palm owners you know) use many third party applications, many (and perhaps most) regular users don't venture beyond the installed programs, as they have no need/interest in them. Yes, PalmGear.com has almost 10,000 apps and boast thousands of downloads daily. You fail to realize that a) the vast majority of these programs are utter tripe b) only a relatively small percentage of Palm owners are downloading from there.

"HandEra has a great device. It may not be the best one for EVERYONE, but guess what--THERE'S NO SUCH THING!!!"

The only sensible thing you have posted here.