Mobile Computing Review: Handspring Visor Edge, Pro & Prism
By Neil Schuldiner

With the recent introduction of mandatory Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) for students at the University of South Dakota, mobile devices are finally expected to become obligatory for most institutions of higher learning. To meet the growing demands of the education market, Handspring has recently lowered the prices of their three premium PDAs.

For the scholar on–the–go, the Handspring Visor Edge offers students the pinnacle of portability. Featuring a swift 33 Mhz Motorola Dragonball VZ processor and equipped with 8 megs of memory, the Edge manages to compress its substantial power into a slick metallic casing, measuring less than half an inch thick and weighing a meager 4.8 ounces. To withstand the wear and tear this slim unit is sure to endure, the Edge’s monochrome screen is protected by a metallic “cool slip” which effortlessly slides on and off. The Edge easily connects to most computers (PC/Mac) through a USB port connected cradle, and can both synchronize and recharge simultaneously. The Edge’s stylus has a well designed slot and the unit retains the Fast Lookup feature found in Handspring’s more advanced models.

While the Edge’s portability features are impressive, users will have to sacrifice some conveniences. While most Handspring devices are compatible with Springboard modules (expansion cards containing additional hardware or software which conserve memory), the Edge’s small size prohibits its ability to easily utilize such modules. Users wishing to employ modules must first slip on an expansion slot which renders the “cool slip” cover unusable and significantly increases the weight and size of the Edge. But for most students, these sacrifices will be inconsequential considering that once a module is installed, users can potentially listen to music or connect to the Internet wirelessly.

For educators and administrators who require more power, Handspring’s Visor Pro contains twice as much memory (16 megs) as the Edge, enabling greater storage for larger programs. Its fixed Springboard module slot permits users to transform their device into a digital camera, mobile phone or MP3 player. Especially convenient is the Pro’s LED alarm, which provides visual alerts, rather than most PDAs audible alerts. While its slightly bulky size downgrades its portability factor, power users and Springboard junkies should opt for the Pro.

For users who are not only looking for a full-featured PDA, but also a portable game machine, the Visor Prism is Handspring’s top-of-the-line color PDA. Almost identical to the Visor Pro, the Prism’s stand-out feature is a bright screen yielding 65,000 vibrant colors. To compensate for the added cost of color, the Prism only features half the memory of the Pro and is noticeably heavier and bulkier than other PDAs.

While all three PDA models come equipped with the latest processors, it is slightly disappointing that they come bundled with the older Palm OS 3.5, rather than the newer 4.1. Still, with street prices ranging from $199 to $299, Handspring is providing feature-rich digital assistants within the budget of most scholars and educators.#

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