Handspring Visor Edge Handheld User Guide

							Chapter 1 Page 3
Chapter 1
Introduction to Your 
Visor™ Edge Handheld
This chapter explains the physical buttons and controls on your 
Visor™ Edge handheld computer, how to use your handheld for the 
first time, and how to use HotSync
® technology to synchronize your 
handheld and Palm™ Desktop software.
Getting to know your handheld
What is a Visor Edge handheld?
With your Visor Edge handheld, you will no longer have trouble 
getting to meetings and appointments on time, remembering people’s 
names and personal details, or keeping track of all the items on your 
to do list. Your handheld can help you improve your track record in 
all these areas, both at work and at home. 
You can enter all your schedule details in Date Book Plus so you can 
view them by the day, week, month, year, or in list format; you can 
even set an alarm to remind you of important meetings. Keep all your 
contact names, addresses, phone numbers, and other details in 
Address, so you can find them as soon as you need them. Add your 
tasks to To Do list, prioritize them so you don’t overlook them, and 
assign them a due date. 
To make sure you don’t lose any of this important information, you 
can synchronize your data with Palm Desktop software on your 
computer so you always have a backup copy. You can set different 
levels of security for your handheld so unauthorized eyes cannot view 
your data.
When you are out of the office, track your expenses for your expense 
reports; then transfer the data to your computer to print it out. You can 
write, edit, and view your e-mail, and then synchronize your e-mail 
with your desktop E-Mail application when you return to your office. 
						

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System requirements
To install and operate Palm Desktop software, your computer system 
must meet the following requirements:
Minimum requirements
nWindows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, (for USB cradle)
--or--
Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, or 
Windows NT 4.0 (for serial cradle)
n8 MB RAM (memory) minimum, 
16 MB recommended
n25 
MB available hard disk space
nVGA monitor or better 
nCD-ROM drive (you can also download Palm Desktop software 
from www.handspring.com)
nMouse
nUSB port (for USB cradle)
Serial port (for serial cradle)
Optional equipment
nModem (such as a Springboard™ modem)
nSpringboard expansion modules
Upgrade information
If you already own a Palm OS® handheld, Handspring recommends 
that you install the version of Palm Desktop software that comes with 
your Visor Edge handheld into the same folder as your current Palm 
Desktop software. When you install the new version in the same 
folder as the previous version, all your data is preserved. If you use 
another personal information manager (PIM), you still need to install 
Palm Desktop software in order to update the HotSync Manager on 
your computer.
You perform HotSync operations in exactly the same way, so you can 
quickly synchronize your old data with your new handheld. 
To upgrade:
1. Synchronize your old handheld with your old Palm Desktop 
software. This ensures that the latest information from your 
handheld is on your desktop computer. 
						

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2. (Optional) To ensure against any data loss, go to the folder that 
stores Palm Desktop software, copy your user name folder, and 
store the copy outside the Palm Desktop software folder.
3. Follow the installation instructions in “Installing Palm Desktop 
software” later in this chapter. Be sure to install the new software 
in the same folder as the old software.
4. Place your new handheld in the cradle and press the HotSync 
button. If the Select User dialog box appears, select your user 
name.
5. Compare the applications on your old and new handhelds.
6. Beam any third party applications that did not transfer from your 
old handheld to your new handheld, or install them from the 
original files.
Each handheld must have a unique name
After you complete the upgrade process described above, you have 
two handhelds with the same name. This is an undesirable situation. 
Each handheld must have a unique name in order to prevent 
unexpected results during HotSync operations and other 
complications.
We strongly recommend that you perform a hard reset on your old    
handheld. See “Performing a hard reset” in Appendix A for details.
A hard reset not only erases all data from the old handheld; it also   
erases the name and makes that handheld a clean slate, ready to 
receive a new name. The next time you perform a HotSync operation 
with this old handheld, you are asked to give it a name. Be sure to give 
it a unique name. 
						

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Visor Edge components
Locating front panel controls
Stylus and 
Stylus 
releaseServes as the writing instrument used to enter data in 
your handheld. To use the stylus, press the stylus 
release, slide the stylus out of the slot, and hold it as you 
would a pen or pencil.
Handheld 
screenDisplays the applications and information stored in your 
handheld. It is touch-sensitive and responds to the 
stylus.
Graffiti
 
writing 
areaThe area where you write letters and numbers using the 
Graffiti alphabet. See Chapter 2 to learn how to write 
Graffiti characters. 
Power 
button and 
backlight 
controlTurns your handheld on or off and controls the backlight 
feature. If your handheld is turned off, pressing the 
power button turns the unit on and returns you to the 
last screen you viewed.
If your handheld is turned on, pressing the power button 
turns the unit off. Holding the power button down for 
about two seconds turns the backlight on or off.
Screen
Graffiti
® writing area
Application 
buttons
Scroll buttonsPower button and 
backlight control
MicrophoneLED
IR port
Contrast control
Stylus 
Stylus 
release 
						

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LED 
indicatorIndicates the status of the battery as it charges. When 
your handheld is in the cradle, the LED blinks while the 
battery charges and stays on after the battery is charged.
When the silent alarm setting is active, the LED blinks as 
an alarm notification. See “Date Book Plus menus” in 
Chapter 6 for details.
IR port
Uses infrared technology to transmit data to and receive 
data from other Palm OS handhelds. See “Beaming 
information” in Chapter 7 for more information. You can 
also use the IR port to update the information between 
your handheld and computer using HotSync 
technology. See “IR HotSync operations” in Chapter 8 
for details.
Contrast 
ControlDisplays the contrast control screen where you can 
adjust the appearance of the screen for the clearest screen 
display. Depending on the lighting conditions or 
temperature of the environment where you use your 
handheld, you may need to adjust the contrast.
To adjust the contrast, drag the slider or tap the arrows 
to increase or decrease the contrast. To fine tune the 
contrast, press the scroll buttons on the front panel of 
your handheld. 
Application 
buttonsActivates the individual applications that correspond to 
the icons on the buttons: Date Book Plus, Address, To Do 
List, and Memo Pad. See “Buttons preferences” in 
Chapter 9 for details on reassigning these buttons to 
activate any application on your handheld.
Tip:
If your handheld is turned off, pressing any 
application button activates your handheld and 
opens the corresponding application.
Scroll 
buttonsDisplays text and other information that extends beyond 
the area of the handheld screen. Pressing the bottom 
scroll button scrolls down to view information below the 
viewing area, and pressing the top scroll button scrolls 
up to view the information above the viewing area.
Microphone
For use with Springboard expansion modules that 
support this feature. 
						

							Page 8  Introduction to Your Visor™ Edge Handheld
Using the backlight
If you have difficulty seeing the information on your handheld, you 
can use the backlight to illuminate your screen. 
To activate the backlight:
nPress the power button and hold it down for about two seconds. 
Release the button when the backlight turns on.
Tip:
In addition, you can assign the full-screen pen stroke to 
activate the backlight. See “Pen preferences” in Chapter 9 for 
more information.
To turn off the backlight:
nPress and hold the power button for about two seconds. The 
backlight also turns off automatically (after a period of inactivity) 
with the Auto-off feature. See “General preferences” in Chapter 9 
for more information. 
						

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Locating back panel components
Protective flip cover
The flip cover protects the handheld screen when it is not in use. Your 
handheld comes with the flip cover already attached, but if you prefer, 
you can remove the flip cover and attach the edge connector door.
To remove the flip cover:
1. Open the flip cover.
2. Gently pull the flip cover out of the edge connector port.Edge connector 
portEnables you to connect the detachable 
Springboard slot. To install the detachable 
Springboard slot and add expansion modules to 
your handheld, you must first remove the flip 
cover or the edge connector door.
Reset button
Under normal use, you should not have to use the 
reset button. See Appendix A for information 
about when and how to use the reset button.
USB and serial 
connectorThe connector that connects your handheld to the 
cradle, which in turn connects to a USB port or 
serial port on your computer. This allows you to 
update the information between your handheld 
and computer using HotSync technology.
Reset 
button
USB and serial 
connector Edge connector 
port 
						

							Page 10  Introduction to Your Visor™ Edge Handheld
To attach the flip cover:
1. Gently press the top of the flip cover onto your handheld until it 
clicks into place.
Tip:
The flip cover opens at two angles (it does not flip all the way 
back). Find the one that works best for the current lighting 
conditions. 
Open from 
this end 
						

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To attach the edge connector port door:
1. Remove the flip cover as described earlier in this section.
2. Insert the tab on the top edge of the edge connector port door into 
the edge connector port.
Charging the battery
To use your handheld, you must connect the cradle and charge the 
battery. See “Battery considerations” in Appendix A for tips on 
extending the life of the battery.
Connecting the cradle
The cradle that comes with your handheld enables you to charge your 
handheld battery and to synchronize the information on your 
handheld using HotSync technology.
Note:
If your computer does not have a USB port, or it uses 
Windows 95 or Windows NT, you need a serial cradle to 
connect to your computer. You can purchase a serial cradle 
from www.handspring.com. 
To connect the cradle:
1. Plug the AC adapter cable into the back of the cradle cable 
connector.
2. Plug the cradle cable connector into the USB port or serial port on 
your computer.
Edge connector 
port door 
						

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Note:
If you are unsure about the exact location of the USB port or 
serial port on your computer, refer to the manual supplied 
with the computer.
3. Plug the AC adapter into a wall outlet.
USB cradle and port
Serial cradle and port