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 personal details, or keeping track of all the items on your to do list. 
The Visor 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 so you can view 
them by the day, week, or month; 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 Book, 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 Visor 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:
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 http://www.handspring.com, or order 3.5 
diskettes from Handspring)
nMouse
nUSB port (for USB cradle)
Serial port (for serial cradle)
Macintosh minimum requirements
nMacOS 8.1 or later (for USB cradle)
--or--
MacOS 7.53 or later (for serial cradle)
nApple Macintosh or compatible computer 
with a PowerPC processor
n8 MB RAM (memory) minimum, 16 MB recommended 
n25 MB available hard disk space
nVGA monitor or better 
nCD-ROM drive 
nMouse
nUSB port (for USB cradle)
Serial port (for serial cradle)
Optional equipment
nModem (such as a Springboard™ modem)
nSpringboard expansion modules 
						

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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 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.
2. (Optional) To ensure against any data loss, go to the folder that 
stores Palm Desktop software, copy your username 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. To prepare for the first HotSync operation that synchronizes your 
new handheld with your new Palm Desktop software, go to the 
HotSync Manager and choose Custom.
Note: Be sure your username appears in the box at the top of the 
Custom dialog box. If not, select your username.
5.  For all conduits, click Change and select the option Desktop 
overwrites handheld. Then click Done. See “Customizing HotSync 
application settings” in Chapter 6 for more information.
6. Place your new handheld in the cradle and press the HotSync 
button. If the Select User dialog box appears, select your username.
7. Compare the applications on your old and new handhelds.
8. Beam any third party applications that did not transfer from your 
old handheld to your Visor handheld, or install them from the 
original files. 
						

							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 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.
Visor components
Locating front panel controls
Visor 
handheld 
screenDisplays the applications and information stored in 
your Visor 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. 
Screen
Graffiti writing area
Application buttons
Scroll buttons
Power button, 
Backlight 
controlContrast 
control
Microphone 
						

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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 extends 
beyond the area of the Visor 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.
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. 
Power 
button/
backlight 
controlTurns your Visor handheld on or off and controls the 
backlight feature. If your Visor handheld is turned 
off, pressing the power button turns the unit on and 
returns you to the last screen you viewed.
If your Visor 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.
Microphone
Records sounds for use with applications that 
support this feature. 
						

							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 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.
Protective cover
The cover protects the Visor handheld screen when it is not in use. 
To remove the cover:
1. Unclip the top of the cover from your handheld.
2. Lift the cover off your handheld. 
To reattach the cover:
1. Insert the pegs on the bottom of the cover into the holes on the 
bottom of your handheld.
2. Gently press the top of the cover onto your handheld until it clicks 
into place.
Unclip top edge to 
remove cover
Align pegs to 
replace cover 
						

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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
® 
platform devices. See “Beaming information” in 
Chapter 7 for more information.
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.
Battery door
Covers the batteries that power your handheld. 
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 StylusIR port
Battery door
Springboard 
expansion slot 
protector 
						

							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 diagram in the interior of the battery compartment 
shows + and - ends of the batteries. When correctly 
installed, the clips in the battery compartment secure the 
batteries in place.
3. Insert the battery door back into place so that it is flush with the 
back of your handheld and “clicks” into position.
Important:Do not force the battery door. When the batteries are 
correctly installed, the battery door clips smoothly into 
place. If you feel resistance when replacing the door, 
make sure the door is aligned with the slots on the back of 
your handheld, and that the batteries are firmly seated in 
the battery compartment. 
						

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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 when you tap an element on the 
screen, the handheld can detect exactly which task you want to 
perform. 
Important:Always use the point of the stylus for tapping or making 
strokes on the handheld screen. Never use an actual pen, 
pencil, or other sharp object to write on the handheld 
screen.
With your handheld turned on, you can tap the handheld screen to 
perform many operations, such as the following:
nOpen applications
nChoose menu commands
nInitiate a global Find operation
nSelect options in dialog boxes
nOpen the onscreen keyboards
Just as you can drag the mouse to select text or move objects on your 
computer, you can also drag the stylus to select text. You can also use 
the stylus to drag the slider of any scroll bar. 
						

							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 keyboard.
123
With the cursor in an input field, tap the dot to 
activate the numeric keyboard.
Check box
When a check mark appears in a check box, the 
corresponding option is active. If a check box is 
empty, tapping it inserts a check mark. If a check box 
is checked, tapping it removes the check mark.
Pick list
Tap the arrow to display a list of choices, and then tap 
an item in the list to select it.
Menu 
bar
Command 
buttons Icons
Pick list
Check 
box