Handspring Visor Handheld User Guide

Chapter 1 Page 3
Chapter 1
Introduction to Your 
Visor Handheld
This chapter explains the physical buttons and controls on your Visor 
handheld computer, how to use your Visor handheld for the first time, 
and how to use HotSync
® technology to synchronize your Visor 
handheld and Palm™ Desktop software.
Getting to know your Visor handheld
What is a Visor handheld?
With your Visor handheld, you will no longer have trouble getting to 
meetings and appointments on time, remembering people’s names 
and...

Page 4  Introduction to Your Visor Handheld
System requirements
To install and operate Palm Desktop software, your computer system 
must meet the following requirements:
Windows minimum requirements
nWindows 98 or later (for USB cradle)
--or--
Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 (for serial cradle)
nIBM-compatible 486 (or higher) computer
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 the Palm Desktop 
software from...

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Upgrade information
If you already own a handheld that is compatible with the Palm 
Computing® platform, Handspring recommends that you install the 
version of Palm Desktop software that comes with your Visor 
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...

Page 6  Introduction to Your Visor Handheld
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...

Chapter 1 Page 7
Application 
buttonsActivates the individual applications that correspond 
to the icons on the buttons: Date Book, Address Book, 
To Do List, and Memo Pad. See “Buttons preferences” 
in Chapter 9 for details on reassigning these buttons 
to activate any application on your Visor handheld.
Tip:If your Visor handheld is turned off, pressing 
any application button activates the handheld 
and opens the corresponding application.
Scroll 
buttonsDisplays text and other information that...

Page 8  Introduction to Your Visor Handheld
Using the backlight
If you have difficulty seeing the information on your Visor 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...

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Locating back panel components
Springboard 
expansion slot 
protectorSlides in and out of the Springboard expansion 
slot. You can replace the slot protector with a 
Springboard expansion module to add features to 
your handheld.
Stylus
Slides in and out of the slot in the back panel of 
the handheld. To use the stylus, remove it from 
the slot and hold it as you would a pen or pencil.
IR port
Uses infrared technology to transmit data to and 
receive data from other Palm Computing
®...

Page 10  Introduction to Your Visor Handheld
Installing the batteries
To use your Visor handheld, you must install two AAA alkaline 
batteries. The batteries fit behind the battery door on the back of the 
handheld. See “Battery considerations” in Appendix A for more 
information.
To install the batteries:
1. Press the latch on the battery door and lift the battery door away 
from your handheld.
2. Install the two AAA alkaline batteries supplied with your 
handheld into the battery compartment.
Note:A...

Chapter 1 Page 11
Tapping and typing
Tap with the stylus to get things done
Like using a mouse to click elements on a computer screen, using the 
stylus to tap elements on your handheld screen is the basic action that 
gets things done on your handheld.
The first time you start your Visor handheld, setup instructions 
appear on the screen. These instructions include a calibration screen, 
or digitizer. Calibration aligns the internal circuitry of your handheld 
with its touch-sensitive screen so that...

Page 12  Introduction to Your Visor Handheld
Elements of the handheld interface
Menu bar
A set of commands that are specific to the application. 
Not all applications have a menu bar.
Command 
buttonsTap a button to perform a command. Command 
buttons appear in dialog boxes and at the bottom of 
application screens.
Icons
Tap the icons to open applications  , menus  , 
Calculator  , and to find text anywhere in your data 
.
abc
With the cursor in an input field, tap the dot to 
activate the alphabetic...