Rumor: Handspring to Announce Two New Models

Posted By: Ed Thursday, August 16, 2001 9:28:47 AM

Handspring is set to announce two new Visors, named the Ace and the Columbia, according to a rumor originally reported by PalmStation last week. It is not clear whether these are the internal codenames for the devices or if these will be their shipping names.

According to the rumor, the Ace will replace the Visor Deluxe and have 8 MB of RAM. The really interesting news is that the Columbia is supposed to have 16 MB of memory and a 45 MHz processor.

Cnet is reporting that they have confirmed the existence of these handhelds and that they will be announced on Monday. They don't give any specifics, not listing any names and saying, "Both of the new handhelds will offer minor improvements to the existing units, such as faster processors and more memory."

It is high time Handspring updated the Visor Deluxe. Though it has been their best selling model, it is still running OS 3.1.

The Visor Platinum is a relatively new product, having been introduced late last year. It runs OS 3.5 and has a 33 MHz processor and 8 MB or memory.

If the rumor about the Columbia is correct, it would be the first Palm OS handheld to ship with a processor faster than 33 MHz and with more than 8 MB of RAM.

Just to be clear, this article is entirely based on information from other sites. I haven't heard a whisper of this. -Ed

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May I be the first to say 'neat'

Tzaar @ 8/16/2001 10:41:00 AM #

neat

And more details on ZDNet ...

Token @ 8/16/2001 10:43:55 AM #

... http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0%2C4586%2C5095771%2C00.html

RE: And more details on ZDNet ...

Ed @ 8/16/2001 11:16:53 AM #

Hmmm, you must have not noticed that for some time now, Cnet and ZDnet have been the same company and run almost exactly the same news stories. For example, this story here is word for word the same as the one on Cnet.

Save your time. Pick one and stick with it. I don't remember the last thing I saw on one that didn't appear on the other.

---
News Editor

RE: And more details on ZDNet ...

mikecane @ 8/16/2001 1:55:01 PM #

CNet and ZDNet have had a news-sharing arrangement for quite some time. However, earlier this year it was announced that this agreement will be terminated, probably at the end of this year.

8 megs or ram?

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/16/2001 10:45:05 AM #

"If the rumor about the Columbia is correct, it would be the first Palm OS handheld to ship with a processor faster than 33 MHz and with more than 8 MB or RAM. "

really? 8 megs or ram? surele you mean of since my palm has both 8 megs and it's ram

RE: surele?

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/16/2001 11:10:36 AM #

It's spelled "surely". Yet another case of the pot calling the kettle black. :-)

Sony N760?

mikecane @ 8/16/2001 1:56:01 PM #

Hmmm... if HS does indeed spring (pun intended!) a faster than 33MHz CPU on us next week, this would give added weight to the rumors of a new Sony CLIE, designated as the N760. (I would expect, at the very least, for Sony to change the N710 designation when they start shipping that with OS4.)

RE: Sony N760?

mikecane @ 8/16/2001 4:49:00 PM #

BTW, there *is* a CLIE N760 coming. http://www.rcseshop.com -- click Handhelds on left, scroll down to Sony and see.

RE: Sony N760?

Moosecat @ 8/16/2001 6:09:33 PM #

Unless mine eyes deceive me, there ain't no n760 on that list. Maybe they've removed whatever you spotted?

RE: Sony N760?

Ed @ 8/16/2001 6:28:08 PM #

Mike wrote to Sony asking them about it and I'm sure the Sony rep got immediately on the horn and with the site and got them to take it off. Now Mike gets the fun job of convincing all of you that it really was there.

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News Editor

RE: Sony N760?

mikecane @ 8/16/2001 6:43:07 PM #

Damn! I have to hand it to Sony for getting it erased so quickly (well, about 3-4 hrs after my email to them!). But Ed, did *you* at least go there and see it?

RE: Sony N760?

rldunn @ 8/16/2001 6:52:56 PM #

I can verify that it was there. Mike made a similar post to the Yahoo Clie Users Group, and I checked it out. No details, except that it was Palm OS, 8MB, and played MP3s, but it was listed, with an option to buy even.

RE: Sony N760?

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/20/2001 4:23:50 PM #

It would be quite a feat if either Handspring or Sony releases something based on a CPU (the 66mhz Super VZ) that isn't supposed to be available even in sample quanitites until "early fourth quarter 2001".

http://www.motorola.com/SPS/WIRELESS/publicity/db010610pr.html

Sigh.....

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/17/2001 6:00:56 PM #

Handspring needed this about 2 years ago.....

RE: Sigh.....

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/17/2001 8:28:35 PM #

Either you're engaging in a bit of satire, or you're quite possibly the biggest dolt ever to post something on this site.

Let's assume the latter...

Do you realize that Handspring only released the first Visors 2 years ago, or are you too stupid to read? Are you ignorant or uninformed? It seems "All of the Above" is the best answer. The Visor Platinum hasn't even been around for 2 years, and you're saying it's replacement should've come about 2 years ago. Do us all a favor and don't reproduce, OK? On second thought, I'll be that's probably not likely to happen.

RE: Sigh.....

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/17/2001 9:48:52 PM #

I have to be honest, I agree with the original poster. It sounds like Handspring is making a last ditch effort at making its' lowest-end PDAs worth buying. I know they have sold OK to the majority of consumers, but my opinion of Handspring has always been low. As soon as their first devices came out with no support for flash OS updates, cheap cases and buttons and cheaply designed Springboard slot, I was convinced they're just out to make a buck. None of their models since has convinced me otherwise. All these two sound like they have is a faster processor and more RAM. Maybe if Handspring had done this two years ago, these devices would have been more interesting than the Palm equivalent.

RE: Sigh.....

Ia3n @ 8/18/2001 1:55:24 AM #

Maybe they only sound that way because we don't have all the details on them. ::Rolls eyes:: Wait until the details are in before you start making judgements. It's just three more days until they're supposed to be announced.
Don't criticize HS for adding nothing new, if you're going to criticize anyone criticize Palm. They're just sitting there scooping up additions to the OS from HS and Sony, like 65k color and VFS.
Furthermore, 2 years ago we had 16 mhz processors and 4 MB of RAM, or at least I did. Are you seriously saying that Handspring was supposed to have a 45 mhz 16 MB model out back then?

RE: Sigh.....

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2001 12:03:25 PM #

For a brief time, Handspring did well early on because the original Visors were cheaper (in more ways than one) than the Palm's available at that time. For a while now, they have had no advantage. Palm has smaller/cheaper devices on the low-end and much more elegant devices on the high-end. They need to do something to stand out. Without something new, say hi-res or an SD slot along with Springboard, there's nothing to make people notice them. Adding a little more RAM probably isn't going to be enough.