Both Visor devices are very similar to the Palm III series, except each supports an add-in port called a Springboard expansion slot. The Visor (without a cradle, interestingly) starts at $149 and is, for all intents and purposes, a Palm III clone with 2MB RAM and a Springboard slot. The Visor (with a cradle) is $179. The Visor Deluxe is a bit more interesting, in that it has 8MB RAM, and is available in a series of funky colors including yellow (not as nasty as it sounds), blue, green, white, and gray.

Software for the Visors is similar to what you’d get with a typical Palm device, although Handspring describes an enhanced Date Book (a few better views and better integration), a calculator with business, statistical and scientific functions, and a world clock.

Things begin to get very interesting with the Springboard expansion slot. The downside is the Springboard interface is proprietary (or at least that’s what it looks like on first glance). Therefore, all your PCMCIA cards won’t work with this device and you’re dependent on new developments for add-on devices. The company’s press release claims available or under development modules include phones, pagers, global positioning systems, remote Internet access products, MP3 audio players, voice recorders, digital cameras, smart card readers, bar code scanners, and field data collection probes. Interestingly, the Springboard slot is also being used to delivery software, similar to the game cartridges of old. One such cartridge that’s apparently available at launch is Tiger Woods Golf. Handspring’s Web site lists an 8MB Springboard module (presumably, this would allow you to bring the Visor Deluxe up to 16MB), a modem module, a “backup module” (possibly to aid in backing up Visor’s shipped without cradles), and the Tiger Woods game. Pricing on the modules is quite workable, with the backup module costing $39.95 and the 8MB module costing $79.95.

On the surface, the Handspring offerings are both exciting and a bit underwhelming. Fundamentally, they’re basically Palm III’s (even their shape is Palm III-like). Pricing is a bit less and the colors are more consumer friendly, giving them a possible edge with the rank-and-file consumer. But the inclusion of the Springboard slot with all devices opens very interesting new opportunities. For example, we expect the company to get considerable flack for selling their cheapest model without a cradle. But there are many people who can benefit from a killer organizer without having a PC (the Sharp Wizard was quite successful as a standalone device). Even so, without a way of backing up the data, there’s always a bit of risk. The Springboard backup module solves that problem and for under $200, someone who’s not a PC user can still have access to a Palm OS device.

This also sheds light on the inclusion of games and content on cartridges. Again, someone who can’t install software or isn’t prepared to download goodies from the Internet could add new software by popping in a module. And, of course, the software vendors get added protection from copying.

Overall, we’re quite satisfied with this introduction. Handspring promises unit availability directly from their Web site in October and as long as they can keep support, supply, and quality at the necessary levels, we think they’ve got a good start. Of course, we’d like to see new, interesting form-factors and further departures from the Palm III feel. But hey, that’ll give us something to write about next year. –DG