Rumor: Visor Edge Has New, Smaller Expansion Slot (Updated)

Posted By: Ed Friday, March 9, 2001 8:03:43 AM

Update: Based on new evidence, this rumor appears to be false. Read more.

According to a Cnet article, the Visor Edge "has a new, smaller expansion slot but can also use modules designed for older Visors via an add-on backpack". This seems to be saying that Handspring is going to announce a new Springboard-like standard with a smaller size.

If true, this is good news for those who have complained about having to carry the Springboard sleeve around in order to use any expansion modules. On the other hand, there are questions about when modules will be available for this new standard, and what they will cost.

When Handspring introduced the Springboard standard in September 1999, they hoped modules would be cheap and plentiful. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way. This was mainly caused by the shortage of flash ROM driving up costs. This lead many companies to realize that the Springboard module they were considering developing would be too expensive for its market and scrap their plans. This also meant that the Springboard modules that were released were more expensive that Handspring had hoped they would be.

If Handspring is going to introduce a new, smaller Springboard standard, the new modules may suffer from the same problems, except worse. Making electronics smaller generally drives up development costs, which have to be passed on to consumers.

Handspring is clearly intending for this new Springboard standard to compete with the smaller Secure Digital (SD) peripherals that forthcoming Palm models will be able to use. The SD modules are also going to be very small and likely to be expensive, at least at first, so the competition will probably be fierce.

Along with the original release of the Visor in 1999, Handspring has three Springboards ready: a game, a backup module, and an 8MB Flash module. Hopefully, Handspring will have some modules for the new standard ready on Monday, too.

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The problem with Springboard

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/9/2001 8:39:19 AM #

This article summarizes exactly why I have not, and probably will not, purchase a Visor. The Springboard right now is most adept at making money disappear from my pocket, more for the "coolness" factor than for functionality. There's only one module that's really interested me, and that's Margi's Presenter-to-Go. But I can't justify dropping $500 to get a Visor and that module. I currently use a Palm IIIxe, and it's fine for what I need. I'm a heavy Palm user, but not quite a "power" user, and I think that's where most NEW Palm buyers will fall. That's why the m100 is so successful, and the m105 will probably follow. Criticize those models if you want, but they're right for the market.

Handspring was able to siphon off a lot of hard-core Palm users by offering the expandability of Springboard. In turn, those users have shelled out lots of money for the inflated costs of the modules. But that market is essentially drying up, especially with module costs being what they are. If Handspring switches to a new platform, especially with a monochrome model, they're likely to lose the market share they gained. Lots of users will wait instead for the Palm m505, and the Edge will begin to look "Clie-ish." Why pay $400-$500 for another monochrome device, especially when you have to change peripheral standards? Here's a prediction: if the Springboard sled adapter is more than about $100, the Palm m505 will kill in the market, and the victims will be the Visor Edge and Prism.

But then, in 5 years they'll probably all be relics anyway, so who cares?

Maybe Smart

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/9/2001 8:55:00 AM #

While the question of availabilty of new smaller modules is good this could be a smart move. On a site somewhere (sorry I forget where) I saw a post indicating that maybe the "backpack" old modules use the new module slot as an interface. This means:

1. Immediate availability of modules albeit larger ones that need to be clipped on
2. Commpatibility for those already owning modules but wishing to buy a new Visor (we all know the troubles with the Palm III to V to IIIc accessories)
3. A new smaller expansion option

If we take this a bit farther and ask what type of smaller expansion slot they will be using could it be a SD slot? Now this would be clever as they would immediately be able to match Palm offerings where memory modules are concerned and essentially manufacturers of Palm SD modules (camera, GPS,...) would only have to change the attachment mechanism to make a Visor module.

Could be a smart move.

coundn't be SD (?)

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/9/2001 12:43:52 PM #

SD support needs OS 4.0. Last I heard the Edge was using OS 3.5x or something

Woo hoo! I'm the second to comment!-Will this slot be replac

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/9/2001 9:05:12 AM #

I'm glad that there will be a new springboard slot available - it will help Visor to compete with smaller Palm SD slot. It just makes me wonder though - how long will it take for this NEW slot become dated and another new slot standard to take its place?! Technology changes so quickly!

Technology changes as fast as you let people take your money

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/9/2001 11:43:18 AM #

I learned back in the C64/Atari/Amiga days that you were better off keeping your purchases in the common-hardware market as much as possible. The whole point of making the interface on the back of the Visor propriatory was so that they could get more money for you.
Get an adapter and take advantage of CF Prices/availability(32mb is $75 at Wal*mart, or $50 on PriceWatch.com), or buy a TRGPro now that they're down to $250, and get your choice of sub-$100 CF modems.
It's nice to have a machine that uses common, exsisting standards.

The idea of owning(as in Copyright) a popular connector standard has been the computer industry's holy grail.See: Connector Conspiracy. <http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/jargon/html/entry/connector-conspiracy.html>

Prism buyers rejoice

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/9/2001 9:08:28 AM #

So CNet reports that the m505 will sell for $449. That means Handspring better drop the price of the Prism, and soon. You're probably looking at about $100 drop. This also means that the Palm Vx will decrease in price--my thought is another $100 drop to $299. That means that the Visor Platinum will go to at least $249.

BTW, my thought is that the Visor Edge will sell quite well--for a week. It looks like a real lame model for Handspring.

RE: Prism buyers rejoice

Ed @ 3/9/2001 9:31:46 AM #

I've heard rumors that Handspring is going to offer a rebate on the Prism soon, but the figure I've heard is $30.

I'm expecting the Vx to be discontinued. Palm would basically have to discount them to the point where they are selling them at cost to make them interesting next to the m500. I'll be keeping an eye on the Palm Store next week to see if the Vx gets pulled, like they pulled the IIIxe a week or so before they released the m105.

---
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Palm Infocenter

RE: Prism buyers rejoice

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/9/2001 11:58:11 AM #

Saw a $30 rebate on the Palm IIIc at Office Depot yesterday--according to the sign, that's a flat $30 rebate, no-strings-attached. Haven't heard anything about the Prism, but I agree with the above commentary. If you offer people the Prism or m505, both at $449, then it'll be a marketplace bloodbath for Handspring.

RE: Prism buyers rejoice

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/9/2001 1:32:28 PM #

Not so sure Vx will be discontinued. How much more does a Vx cost to make as compared to a IIIx? My guess 5 or 10 bucks max. Most costs come in the early reasearch to build in all that function into a tiny form. This has been long since paid for. Does Palm today make more money on a 250.00 IIIx than a 299.00 Vx? Seriously doubt it.

There was much worry about the m105 replacing the IIIx. But what if the Vx fell to III level prices?

Something to consider.

shoulda known

Nate @ 3/9/2001 10:39:25 AM #

...maybe the new slot is an SD slot...we should've realized that there was a slot from the pics yesterday - where else would the backpack fit?

If it is an SD slot, that would mean that the new Palms could use the backpack. Interesting.

Syncplicity. Redefining Simple. www.cognitiveroot.com

RE: shoulda known

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/9/2001 12:02:38 PM #

No way it's SD. Think about it--if HS adopts the SD slot, buyers of the new Palm devices can use Springboards. That will actually contribute to the defeat of the Visor Edge. Why buy the Edge at $400 with OS 3.5 when I can get an m500 with OS 4.0 AND Flash ROM for the same price? I'd have the same expandability. It'd be even worse for the Visor Prism. You could get the m505 for the $450 price of the Prism, plus Springboard plus OS 4.0, etc. Handspring won't cut their own throat that way. Which means we'll have another proprietary cash-cow out there.

Ultimately, I think the Visor Edge will be a dud. HS did well developing the Springboard, but it's simply too big for anything but a Palm III-like form factor. Palm is focused on expanding on the success of the V, and SD is geared to that. Sorry, Handspring, but you've lost this battle before it's even started. Pick your battles more carefully.

RE: shoulda known

Nate @ 3/9/2001 1:24:39 PM #

Right. That makes sense. They would be wise, however, to have made the new springboard slot slightler larger in all directions. That way they could make an adapter for the Palm accessories, but Palm couldn't do the reverse. They must be really boiling the brainjuice over at Handspring trying to figure out how to out-think Palm on this one.

Syncplicity. Redefining Simple. www.cognitiveroot.com

RE: shoulda known

bcombee @ 3/10/2001 12:56:35 AM #

It can't be pure SD -- the problem is that SD is a serial memory interface which has a 1 or 4-bit wide memory interface. Springboard, as an extension of the Dragonball CPU bus, has a 16-bit wide interface to memory. I'd expect that this is just Springboard, but with a denser, double-sided card-edge connector. It should be possible to make an SD backpack, but without OS 4.0, SD support would be non-standard and incompatible with the core PalmOS implementation.

Expansion A Flawed Concept

I.M. Anonymous @ 3/9/2001 11:36:37 AM #

What everyone seems to overlook is that more electronics = more power consumption. At the moment we seem to have two camps - have batteries (usually AAA's) in the module, or suck on the hand-held. The former bulks-up the module, the later compromises the "user experience". Power budgeting on Palm OS PDA's is a very fragile balancing act, and every module in my experience tips the balance, either figuratively or literally (such as the GPS modules). A Handspring device with a GPS Springboard is clunky clunky clunky.

Bottom line? Integrated devices running Palm OS (such as the Kyocera phone, the Symbol bar code readers and the far-off Garmin GPS) are going to be the winners as far as function expansion is concerned. Slot-based expansion will be for memory and maybe communications and that will be about it.

Whoa

Eston Bond @ 3/9/2001 1:35:08 PM #

I don't know if i can take this rumor. This small springboard could not be any larger than SD. Maybe this is Handspring's answer to the SD in the palm. I think I'll stick to the Vx for now.