Richard Baguley

Handspring Visor Neo

Photograph by: John Kuczala A great entry-level PDA, the Visor Neo features 8MB of memory, a funky translucent case that shows the electronics (and is available in three colors: red, blue, and smoke), and Handspring's Springboard expansion slot. The slot can accommodate any one of a range of extra-cost gadgets such as an MP3 player, a wireless modem, or a GPS receiver, though these add-ons tend to cost more than their CompactFlash counterparts.
Some Handspring PDAs come with a leather slip case, but the Neo comes with only an awkward snap-on plastic cover. A detachable flip-over or side-attached cover like the ones on many other models would be far more welcome.
The 16-shade gray-scale screen looked fine both indoors and out, thanks to its high contrast and a strong backlight. The Neo uses two AAA batteries. A new feature, Fast Lookup, mimics the Pocket PC's directional pad by letting you use buttons on the front of the unit instead of the stylus to flip through contacts.
The affordable Visor Neo makes a great entry-level PDA, perfect for keeping your schedule on track, and you can add multimedia extras later as available cash and whimsy dictate.

Buying Information

Handspring Visor Neo Palm OS 3.5.2, 8MB internal memory, 2.2-by-2.2-inch active screen area, 160 by 160 resolution, Springboard expansion slot, two removable AAA batteries; 5.4 ounces; one-year parts and labor warranty, toll-call support for 12 hours on weekdays. Free tech support for 90 days, fee per call thereafter. $ 160 Palm OS 3.5.2, 8MB internal memory, 2.2-by-2.2-inch active screen area, 160 by 160 resolution, Springboard expansion slot, two removable AAA batteries; 5.4 ounces; one-year parts and labor warranty, toll-call support for 12 hours on weekdays. Free tech support for 90 days, fee per call thereafter. http://www.handspring.com 888/565-9393