Amazon.com unveils Handspring Edge early

Tells all about new PDA ahead of official launch

By Tony Smith • Get more from this author

Posted in Business, 12th March 2001 17:54 GMT

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Handspring may be due to launch its high-end PDA, the Visor Edge, later today, but Amazon.com got there first.

The Edge's sales page confirms what previous leaks had revealed and Handspring was expected to admit today. The PDA will come in a metallic silver or metallic blue case, contain 8MB of memory and provide compatibility with Handspring's Springboard add-in system through a "detachable Springboard expansion slot". The screen is a backlit four-bit, 16-greyscale LCD with a 160x160 resolution.

The PDA is based on a 33MHz Dragonball VZ processor and runs Handspring's customised version of PalmOS 3.5.2, which, among in addition to all the standard PalmOS and Handspring stuff, offers "new usability features like Fast Lookup, silent alarms, wireless synchronisation, address duplication, improved security, and enhanced navigation".

The Palm V rival ships with a new, slimline HotSync cradle, which doubles up as a charger for the machine's internal Li-Ion rechargeable battery.

The price of the device is, as expected, $399. Leaks from Handspring and info from its resellers suggest it will ship today, but Amazon.com simply says: "This item is not yet available." ®