Tactilis Flip-Clip and Screen Cover

Gadgeteer Hands On Review by Don Damiani

January 16, 2001

Product Requirements:
Device:
Handspring Visor, Deluxe, Platinum, and Prism

I have been an enthusiastic Handspring Visor user since they first came out. And although I have lots of praises for the thinking that went into the design of the Visor, and also the idea of the Springboard Modules, I thought they could have done better with the plastic screen cover. I never liked it. In fact, I took it off as soon as I got a case for the Visor and it has been living in the bottom of my junk drawer ever since. One reason I don't like it is that it is loose when removed. Sure, you can flip it to the other side of the Visor, snapping it into the same grooves on top and bottom. But lots of us remember the commotion when the Visor first came out about the top groove breaking off with repeated use of the Visor's plastic cover. Why would they design something great like the Springboard Module, and then make a cover that restricts it's use? And with the change in the Prism's backside, you can't even connect it's cover to the device's back! Not to mention the fact that you need to remove the cover to perform a HotSync. (OK, so I mentioned it :-)

Well now there is a clever alternative to those who like the "flip-lid" style covers on the Palm III style PDA that is designed for the Visor, Visor DX, Platinum, and Prism. The Flip-Clip from Tactilis is a small plastic bracket that clips to the top of the Visor or Prism, (without adhesives or Velcro, etc...), to fit with the Palm III style flip lid. Tactilis offers the covers in an assortment of colors that somewhat match the colors available for the Handspring PDAs.

My first impression of the Flip-Clip & Cover was, "Ah, finally someone made a flip cover for this thing!" But I will have to admit, I think that the covers, while fully functional and fitting, are a bit lacking in the "form" category. This is mostly due to the fact that the covers are "exactly" the same as the ones on the Palm III style PDAs. Tactilis is now designing a Flip-Lid that is specifically shaped for the Handspring PDAs. That's good because the Palm III covers, with their curved shape, are just a bit too awkward for the Visor and Prism. And like the flip cover on a Palm III, it can't be swung completely around to the back of the PDA. But they do cover the screen well, and that may be more important for you.

Tactilis states that the newly designed lids will be in the colors that match the Handspring PDAs, and will be more transparent. This will make the Flip-Clip & Flip-Lid even more attractive as an alternative to the stock cover. Currently the only colors that seemed to match the Visor are the Ice and Black colors. They make a Graphite lid, it's sort of translucent dark gray, and the lid also comes in Blue, Green, Orange, Indigo, Purple, and Yellow. In all colors, you really can't see through them, (yet), so keep that in mind if you are looking for a see-through lid.

My advice would be that if you are looking to have a flip lid for your Handspring PDA, the Flip-Clip & Cover would fit your needs quite nicely. It enables you to HotSync, and access the Springboard modules without removing it, and it covers the screen and buttons without adding much to the overall size of the Visor or Prism. But if the form of the cover is a concern for you, and you want one that exactly matches your Handspring PDA's color, I would suggest waiting for their new lids to come out.

Price:  
$6.00 Flip-Clip (Available in Ice or Black)
$4.00 Coverss (Available in Ice, Black, Graphite, Blue, Green, Orange, Indigo, Purple , and Yellow)
$10.00 Combo Packs (one Flip-Clip and one Cover)

Pros:
Protects the screen and buttons
Doesn't restrict the HotSync port or Springboard module
Comes in a variety of colors

Cons:
Palm III covers are not a perfect fit on the Visor
Can't be swung completely around to the back of the PDA