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Summary: Helio...
Review: I bought the Helio for school because it had just about everything the Handspring and other top of the line pdas had but was at least ... dollars less than them. I think it is very good. I expecially like the sketch and voice recorder. If i need directions to a place im going like a meeting or party I just have one of my friend draw it on the sketch pad. Or if I am in a hurry I press: on, play,-say my message in to the recorder-press stop, and off and im through. It's that easy. And the keyboard isn't as small as I thoght it would be. I don't really use the handwriting I mostly use the stylis. The bad thing is that the keyboard is pretty sensitive and if you press to hard the letter/number goes on 2 or 3 times but thats about it. Also it will tell you that you have a full battery when you have used it alot and you know that s that isn't right. I would recommend it to everybody. I think it is the best pda I have ever had.
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Summary: design problems with VTECH HELIO yields low quality product
Review: I bought the VTECH HELIO PDA based on the comparatively low price for the 8mb storage and the high rating of another AMAZON reviewer. I was terribly disappointed. First, the battery life is 2-3 days with the PDA in the OFF state, i.e. with no use. I tested this by replacing the AAA batteries 3 times with fresh cells. This is unacceptable; I lost data twice when the batteries drained. (This inidcates a poor design in power supply stage of the device.) Secondly, the non-Palm OS is subject to numerous protection fault errors; this plagued me during scheduling operations, causing me to reset the PDA more than a dozen times, losing data each time. This is a case where you get what you pay for; I'm going to get another PalmIIIxe or a Handspring Deluxe to replace the HELIO.
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Summary: Staple Goofed
Review: I got this thing from staples for 50 dollars! i think they were supposed to charge 150 so SHOPPERS - check staples b4 you buy here. you may get lucky as i did. also this thing is awsome. its a lot better than the ones that you pay over 200 for and its a powerful little guy. i easily give it 5 stars. and the batteries last a long time.
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Summary: Better value than most PDA's
Review: I have spent a lot of time researching the PDA market. The choice was between the eBookman (not yet available) and the Helio. The Helio won on price and availibility. It does everything the other PDA's do, just a little differently and much less costly. I caused a few (Helio) problems on my own, yet I must say VTech customer service was 1) Live, 2) Knowledgeble, and 3) Courteous. Things worth noting: There are some games and applications out there for the Helio. The voice recorder is handy for those who can utilize it. You can sync with Microsoft Outlook seamlessly. There is an ebook reader. The apps with the Helio are user friendly and intuitive as is the Jot handwriting recogntion program. I have found only one flaw-when using the Helio in low/no light situations, the backlight is great except the "Exit" button is not lit. Having to dig that deep to find a flaw should speak as to this writer's opinion of the VTech Helio. Give it a try, you'll like it.
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Summary: For the electronicly challenged
Review: I have to admit that I am among those out there who are electronic challanged and have given up hope, until now. I bought the Helio with the hopes of being able to use the phone book and the calculator and have found it easy to use the rest of the applications as well. I was even able to install the needed programs into my computer. The only draw back is that it did not come with a printed manual, just a quick start reference, so I ended up making memos on how to do certain tasks. But if you are like me and alittle overwhelmed by most modern technology you will probably find this helpful, compact and easy to use. It also backs up your files into your PC easily just in case.
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Summary: I am very pleased
Review: I initially bought a Helio because of the price, but I am thrilled with it. One great feature is that three buttons on the front are configurable. You can set the Helio up so that pushing one of these buttons turns on the machine and goes directly to whichever application it was configured for.Another feature which I like is that I can synch it automatically with my Microsoft Outlook program on my desktop. Outlook Notes become Memos, etc. The price makes this product almost a no-brainer, unless there is a specific Palm or Handspring application you want to use. (Basically there are very few add-on apps for the Helio.) A Palm with 8MB costs about $250. A Helio with 8MB costs $150. Best of all, the Helio looks cool. I own the clear model (which is no longer available on Amazon) and a co-worker was raving about how good it looks. The handwriting recognition program is usually easier than Palm's in that the letters such as lowercase 'a' more closely resemble the way one normally writes. There is one problem: I cannot tell from the documentation how I am supposed to write the letter 'k'. The symbol for the 'k' seems complicated and I am doing something wrong. Even so, it was the right choice for me.
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Summary: Great for BUSY high school and college students!
Review: I just wanted to say, in response to Icatal's post, that I got the Helio as a Christmas present, am currently on day 9 of usage, and have not had to change the batteries once. I don't know why his batteries were only lasting for 36 hours, but I have not been having that problem.
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Summary: Response to Icatal
Review: I just wanted to say, in response to Icatal's post, that I got the Helio as a Christmas present, am currently on day 9 of usage, and have not had to change the batteries once. I don't know why his batteries were only lasting for 36 hours, but I have not been having that problem.
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Summary: Wondering about the price
Review: I noticed that a lot of people are happy with their Helio.
They would be even more happy if they had bought it in Europe where the price is aproximately 65 US$.
the only difference is the name: Pocket I by Laser.
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Summary: It is worth the price!
Review: I purcased the vTech Helio for myself in Dec.2000, from Amazon.
Then,I was given a Palm llle for Christmas.
Since then I have used them both extensively, and have decided that even though my Palm was FREE,:>, the Helio is a much better value, with 4x the memory, a voice recorder, available for far less, when purchased, than any other PDA in its' class.
The vTech Helio will perform all the standard PDA functions, PLUS the voice recorder, as well as any other PDA I have tried!
It is easy to use the script input, with little practice needed to learn the JOT shorthand.(I had more trouble learning the GRAFITTI used by the Palm PDA).
With everyday use, including playing several games, the batteries last 5-6 weeks, (Longer when I use the GOOD ones)
The only drawback I have found is the lack of a flip cover being available for it.(BUY A CASE!!-it is cheaper than replacing the PDA if you, or the cat, drop it!)
Since I am shopping for another PDA because the Palm died of a cracked screen, (the cat did it!), for which Palm will charge $100. to exchange for a refurbished unit,(Their form of repair), I can replace it with the more versatile vTech, at a lower cost, here at Amazon.
Now, if vTech will offer a COLOR capable model....
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