Invisible Visor Modem Option
Written: Aug 19 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Best Use Yet For the Visor Springboard Module
Cons: Browser Included Has Problems, Included Email is Great But is Shareware
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| RichBoston's Full Review: Wristband Thincom Modem |
I wasn’t aware of this Visor option and came across it in a dusty display. It seemed too good to be true but what the heck, if it works as advertised maybe I have more of a reason to recommend the Visor. They certainly haven't promoted this very heavily.
First things first. This is NOT a wireless modem – it connects to a standard phone line by way of a 6 foot cable. The module itself fits into the Springboard Module effortlessly and without fuss. By size this is a much better idea than the Handspring modem.
It has a built in internet browser and email. While the “MultiMail Pro” email worked very well it is what amounts to…SHAREWARE! That’s right, if you want to keep using it (and you WILL as it is an excellent program) you will have to pay for it within 10 days. This struck me as very odd but I suppose it gives you a choice and you can use the Palm OS or others for email. Go figure.
The “Browse It” browser, while included, I ended up wishing I’d had the option of paying for it. It froze my system and caused me to have to perform a soft reset numerous times. I don’t know why and frankly don’t care. The problem was caused by the browser with 100% certainty. You CAN use other browsers made for the Palm OS – and I did, so there is hope.
It also has “Online” a VT100 terminal emulator. You can dial into text based servers like BBS’s.
The good news is that you can use your regular ISP and avoid additional costs. The bad news is that it won’t support faxing and it does not interface with cellular phones. The latter is a big drawback for me.
The modem runs at 33.6 kbps which was more than adequate for my needs.
The modem runs off the Visor batteries and the manufacturer claims it does so sparingly. Obviously if you use the internet frequently or check your email a dozen times a day you’ll be contributing big dividends to the battery companies.
My personal experience on the batteries is to use premium batteries in the Visor. Not just for the longer life but for the higher reserve power. When you use the modem you will see the battery meter drop precipitously. This is because you now have the batteries giving up juice to both the Visor and the modem. With “no name” batteries the reserve power is limited and you can crash the system. I had this happen once and I thus learned the hard way. By trial and error I’ve found Duracell Ultra batteries to be the best.
In summary, the size makes this a more viable option than the Handspring modem. While I was disappointed with the shareware idea for the Multi Mail Pro, it WAS worth the additional cost. The Browse It browser was another story and I’d plan on another option. Possibly my experience was unique but I strongly suspect a design flaw with some bugs to work out yet.
I love the miniaturization of things and this is where the Visor can really shine above the Palm – with viable and useful functions for the Springboard Module.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
RichBoston
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Member: Rich
Location: Boston, MA
Reviews written: 92
Trusted by: 134 members
About Me:
I live for the latest gizmos and doo-dads!
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