Visor Edge Dropping Another $50

Posted By: Ed Saturday, February 9, 2002 7:49:39 AM

Starting tomorrow, Handspring will drop the price of the Visor Edge from $250 to $200. This is the third price drop for the Edge since it was released during spring of last year. The last price drop was in December.

This puts the Edge in the interesting situation of, after starting out as a high-end device, just being reduced into the upper end of the low-end price range. As such, it will be competing against the just announced Sony S360, the Palm m125, and Visor Neo.

Update: The new price is now in effect... finally.

This can't be taken as a sign that Handspring is planning on phasing out the Edge. While Jeff Hawkins did say recently the company would be reducing its number of models, the Edge was one of the three to be kept.

The Visor Edge runs the 33MHz DragonBall VZ with 8 MB of RAM. It has a 4-bit grayscale screen and is powered by a lithium ion battery. It is 4.7 by 3.1 by .43 inches. It is the only Handspring model to depart radically from the design the company has used from the first Visors. It needs a sled that attaches to the back in order to use Springboard modules.

The Edge debuted in March of 2001 for $400. In August it dropped to $300.

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I hear the playing of Taps...

Foo Fighter @ 2/9/2002 8:12:01 AM #
Why doesn't Handspring just put this product out of its misery? It's dead, no one wants it!

RE: I hear the playing of Taps...
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/9/2002 8:53:16 AM #
I disagree. I know it hasn't sold well but for the price its a nice, slim, durable PDA. I have one as a backup PDA and have no complaints about it.

RE: I hear the playing of Taps...
JeepBastard @ 2/9/2002 9:45:45 AM #
A backup PDA? you must be rich.. or just their best friend.

People stack up PDA's like playing cards.

This is smoke and mirrors because they havent been able to release the Treo.



[http://www.mediathreat.net]

RE: I hear the playing of Taps... / Treo
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/9/2002 9:51:36 AM #
It looks like HS will start taking US orders for the Treo 180 on Monday (2/11/02).

RE: I hear the playing of Taps...
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/9/2002 12:36:57 PM #
Yep, I have two backup PDAs in addition to my main day-to-day PDA, a Sony Clie:
* Palm Vx
* Jornada 568 ;-)

RE: I hear the playing of Taps...
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/9/2002 2:13:50 PM #
My sole backup is REX 5000 (price wise).

RE: I hear the playing of Taps...
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/9/2002 3:36:24 PM #
I think that the Edge, especially at this price, is just about the perfect PDA for day to day corporate use (that and the m500, of course). There is a huge market for that form factor, even without color screens and other 'gee-whiz' features. Many people just want to use the basic PIM functions with add-on capability for document handling, spreadsheets, forms, calculators, etc.

The criticism over the Springboard backpack was a little bit of an over-reaction if you ask me. Remember, the Edge was intended as Handspring's answer to the hugely successfull Vx. It was virtually as good as the Vx in terms of 'pocketability' and style, it was faster than the Vx, it had a USB cable and it offered some expansion options. The latter was nice to have, but not considered to be mandatory given the popularity of Vx which offered nothing in terms of expansion. Design considerations demanded sacrifices and the backpack was the only option (other going without Springboard altogether).

I think that the design of the stylus probably lost more sales than the Springboard backpack. I think that better marketing and distribution would have helped too. PDAs are for consumers, not just geeks like us.

RE: I hear the playing of Taps...
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/9/2002 7:27:13 PM #
If it's between the Edge and the Vx, I say go Vx. Handspring apologists like to point to the fact that you "can" use Springboard if you want, but the bottom line is, size matters. Form factor matters. The Edge and the Springboard was a marriage that simply couldn't work. Consider these price drops to be the admittance that they have "irreconcilable differences."

To continue the analogy, I think HS should just divorce the Edge, and be done with it.

RE: I hear the playing of Taps...
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/10/2002 9:05:04 AM #
Personally, the only thing that kept me from wanting one is the stylus on the outside. I thought it was an terrible idea.

RE: I hear the playing of Taps...
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/11/2002 10:11:18 AM #
It is difficult to understand why so many people spend so much time bashing products. If you don't like a product why take the time to post messages which, in the end, fail to make sense?

I have tried a variety of Plam OS PDA's and can honestly say that, with a few exceptions, there is mothing seriously wrong with any of them. Take the Edge for example. I bought one and used it for about six months before moving on to a Palm M500. I found nothing to be poor in the craftmanship, enjoyed it's somewhat unique form factor and for the most part thought it was one of the better PDA's I've used. The M500, on the otherhand, presented me with several problems. Does that make it a flop? Of course not. Ultimately I did not like the form factor or screen and have since moved on.

Today I use a Clie and a Visor Pro. Two totally different units but both with their own unique attributes. I have never found anything bad to say about any of the Palm manufacturers and have used Palm's, Visor's, Clies's and the TRG Pro. Loved them all, for different reasons, and would recommend any of them to anyone that is looking for a PDA. Sony wins for their screens. HandEra wins for their expansion technology. Palm wins for form factor and variety. Handspring wins, easily, for versatility. They are all great units and why anyone would bash them, not simply criticize or comment, is beyond me. HS is not going anywhere, the Edge is a fine product and a value at $199.00 and, hopefully, the Treo will live up to its lofy potential. Finally, the i705 from Palm is a great PDA. An employee of mine bought one over the weekend and we are both impressed!

new model soon?

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/9/2002 11:14:22 AM #
From everything that i have read about the edge, i would place my bets on HS getting ready to make a update to that line of handhelds.

I would bet on them putting some more ram and a color screen in and making a new high end device. Something to compete with the new T415 and T615 models from SONY, and also the newer palm 505's.

I personally like the edge, i have used it and though it was a solid PDA. Only thing i didn't like was the whole sled thing to use springboards. I understand why its needed, but cant HS move on to SD slot or even a Memstick? They where ahead of the curve on expansion, but now they behind the times with a old standard.

RE: new model soon?
sandbuck @ 2/9/2002 11:30:48 AM #
A color Edge makes sense to me. There would be minimal R&D to get it going. But based on th following letter from Hawkins, its wishful thinking.

http://www.visorcentral.com/content/Stories/1376-1.htm

RE: new model soon?
fkclo @ 2/9/2002 1:14:41 PM #
During the recent Treo launch in Hong Kong I heard small talk that a "Colour Edge" will be coming by late 2Q2002. Looks like it may be using a new screen technology which the Colour Treo 270 will also be using, and may be running off 66MHz DragonBalls with the now standard 16 MB RAM. But no one is sure if the Springboard technology will be part of this new offering.

Let's wait and see !



Francis Lo
Hong Kong

RE: new model soon?
Foo @ 2/9/2002 2:51:31 PM #
First poster said: "Something to compete with the new T415 and T615 models from SONY."

Wrong. Handspring has no intention of competing with Sony. Visor fans who keep hoping for a "killer PDA" from Handspring are feeding on false hope. Hawkins strategy is now refocused on wireless devices. It's Treo, or bust.

There may be another updated Visor in the works, but it will most likely offer modest improvements such as color and more RAM. That's about it. No high resolution, no new features, no new functionality.


RE: new model soon?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/9/2002 3:27:53 PM #
"There may be another updated Visor in the works, but it will most likely offer modest improvements such as color and more RAM."

I hardly think that color is just a "modest" improvement! And it sure took long enough for the Palm world to move onto "more RAM" (with Handspring doing it first), so that's a bigger deal than you make it seem too.


RE: new model soon?
Foo @ 2/9/2002 5:27:40 PM #
Quote: "I hardly think that color is just a "modest" improvement! And it sure took long enough for the Palm world to move onto "more RAM" (with Handspring doing it first), so that's a bigger deal than you make it seem too."

Are either of those revolutionary changes? The next Visor upgrade may have color, but it will still be low resolution 160x160. Don't we have enough low res devices on the market already? More RAM? You can get that now in the Pro. And Sony offers it in the Clie T615c, which is more compelling than anything Handspring has produced thus far.


RE: new model soon?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/9/2002 6:06:16 PM #
Ol' Jeff didn't say that there wouldn't be any new Visors in those lines--just that they were consolidating into them. The only recent Visor not included in that list, remember is the Prism--but it'd be suicide in this market not to have any color devices. Especially when Palm, Sony and PPC makers are not just maintaining but increasing the number of color models they put out (i.e. the rumored m130). Handspring's been the only one to have just the one color model.

Plus, when the m500 and 505 came out, they said they were working on a color Edge (and wanted to "get the screen right!"). These things get planned so far in advance that if they'd wanted to scrap a color Edge model, there wouldn't have been any mention at all.

RE: new model soon?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/9/2002 10:45:46 PM #
In HongKong,

We can get the Edge for about usd200 since X'mas.

RE: new model soon?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/10/2002 8:05:43 AM #
"Ol' Jeff didn't say that there wouldn't be any new Visors in those lines"

Well you never know. Jeff also said he should have released a color version of the edge. I have problem believing that would happen as you do. Only reason is because Handspring already announced that they left the PDA market and has entered the "Smart phone" market. Therefore, there is one VERY small chance that Jeff will come out with a PDA, rather than the color version of the Treo as he announced.
http://pdan.has.it

clarifications
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/10/2002 6:25:46 PM #
1) Jeff actually didn't say that they should have made a color Edge--that was Ed Colligan, HS COO. AFAIK, Jeff hasn't made any public comments either way on a color Edge. (If anyone has a link to an interview, go right ahead and post it...)

2) Jeff actually made a point of saying that Handspring was not exiting the handheld market (to focus exclusively on communicators) yet. In a letter to developers, his exact words were "we are consolidating the line into a few key products, Visor Pro, Visor Neo and Visor Edge." For the full story, go here: http://www.visorcentral.com/content/Stories/1376-1.htm

So, if a HS officer has gone on record to say they should have released a color Edge, and they've said they are continuing the Edge line, how is it a stretch to anticipate a color Edge sometime this year? Maybe not yet, because they don't want to steal the Treo's thunder. But I would anticipate color additions to both the Pro and Edge lines; maybe, maybe not for the Neo.

Make way for Treo

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/9/2002 12:08:07 PM #
Sounds to me like Handspring is trying to clear its inventory as much as possible before it starts shipping the Treo -- because, when that happens, the Visor line will become much less attractive. Perhaps that's why Treo hasn't shipped yet after all.


RE: Make way for Treo
fkclo @ 2/9/2002 1:18:20 PM #
I have just switch to my Treo but have decided to use my Pro in parallel. The Treo is a great device and its "communicator" feature is best of class so far, although there are still room for improvements in the native wireless apps.

With MemPlug and a Stowaway keyboard, the Visor Pro remains indispensable tool for me. Also, its bigger screen is still better for reading large documents.

So, the Treo and Visor lines be able to serve different market needs. I guess the Visors still have a long way to go.

Francis Lo
Hong Kong

RE: Make way for Treo
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/10/2002 9:30:41 PM #
The edge has now made way for the treo, which is here.

Price not in effect?

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/9/2002 4:25:33 PM #
Handspring's website still has it shown for $249.
-Scott

RE: Price not in effect?
bradleyboy @ 2/9/2002 5:08:58 PM #
Re-read the first two words of the story above: "Starting tomorrow..."

Peace,

bradleyboy

RE: Price not in effect?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/9/2002 5:12:33 PM #
Saw one on Thursday at the local Super WalMart already marked down to $199.99. They also had a bunch of Platinums there for $99.99, which is not a bad price at all....


RE: Price not in effect?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/9/2002 9:25:47 PM #
$99 !? Oh, my god...

Drops

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/9/2002 7:00:35 PM #
If Handspring drops their trousers, now THAT would be interesting!

Mua! From Russia with Love.

RE: Drops
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/9/2002 7:16:37 PM #
You know they mentioned phazeing out Visor (Traditional Visors) The edge is not like the rest.. It might be the begining..

OrionNE

RE: Drops
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/9/2002 10:36:09 PM #
hehe ............. continue your not dropping visor dreams ....... u say price dropping a beginning ? I think price dropping means they are trying to clean out their inventory, so instead of paying for the warehouse and dust cleaning they can squeeze some cash from some Handspring users.

What Price Drop?

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/10/2002 9:06:51 AM #
I just went to Handsprings site and they still have the Visor listed at $249. I even went through the motions of trying to buy one to see if the price changed. It didn't. If they are going to make this announcement, they need to catch up on their web site because anyone buying one today is going to get screwed out of 50 bucks.

Way to go Handspring

RE: What Price Drop?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/10/2002 9:59:11 AM #
It isn't even 7 o'clock in the morning at Handspring. How much work did you get done today before 7 am?

RE: What Price Drop?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/10/2002 10:31:15 AM #
Go to
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005APZK/002-7532974-1556811 and click on Add to Cart button, and you will see the Edge listed for $199.99

RE: What Price Drop?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/10/2002 11:27:22 AM #
yes...someone has to wake up, drive to HAND HQ, and press the button for web price change and then drive home and go to sleep. yes thats how it works.

RE: What Price Drop?
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/10/2002 12:34:07 PM #
It is reflected in store @ the nearby Best Buy in Virginia!!! Also on sale for 189.99 this week!!!

Of course the dummies dont have 1 in stock??? :(

Edge rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HermondolaISE


What a flop

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/10/2002 10:37:17 AM #
The Edge is dead as a doornail and has been for somtime. When it was released it was too expensive, had quality control problems, its uncomfortable to hold, looks goofy and the stylus on the outside is an especially stupid design mistake. The Springboard "backpack is way too cumbersome. Its not hard to see why it hasn't sold. Handspring must have lost a huge amount of money on this boondoggle. So much for Jeff Hawkins all knowing wisdom about everything Palm. He still believes that a 160X160 screen is all anyone needs as he has been quoted as saying. I think despite the Treo Handpsring will be going away. They still haven't even made a profit.

RE: What a flop
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/10/2002 8:46:38 PM #
Feel better after slamming someone else's hard work? Good, now back to your job at Blockbuster.

And no, I don't want fries with that.

Yo, back off on the Edge

I.M. Anonymous @ 2/10/2002 11:43:32 AM #
The design is fine. The external stylus is fine. Expansion is poor, but the flip lid is just about perfect. All in all, it trounces the Vx, though doesn't hold up against the latest gen of palm devices. 199 is a good price point for it.

RE: Yo, back off on the Edge
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/10/2002 12:29:21 PM #
Kudos buddy, im with ya!!! The Edge can be had @ Best Buy this week for 189.99; this was confirmed in store! Of course they havent any in stock right now!:(

I believe ill try Staples for a price match and get a blue one while im at it!!! (Best Buy only has silver)

So yeah, back off on the edge dude, or better yet, jump off the edge of a nearby cliff! :) lol lol lol

Hermondolaise



RE: Yo, back off on the Edge
I.M. Anonymous @ 2/10/2002 1:15:27 PM #
edge = junk. you get what you pay for. my advice is spend a little extra and get something decent.

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