comparison with 3COM Palms, upgrading
Written: Dec 16 '99 (Updated Dec 18 '99)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: every feature is a pro, much better than 3COM's palm pilot
Cons: none
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| ptiemann's Full Review: Motorola PageWriter 2000X |
I have the PageWriter 2000 since February 1999 and cannot imagine to be without it. At the end of this epinion, I will compare with 3COM's Palms and I will tell you about upgrading to a 2000X (more memory, new operating system version).
Why I like it/ What I do with my pager:
* keep all my email addresses, phone numbers etc
* appointments
* it sends and receives emails - write to any email address you wish
* it actually makes VOICE CALLS!
Send a text email to phone number jim@5678901234 and a computer will generate a voice file from your text, call telephone number (567) 890 1234 and, if someone picks up, it will _SAY_ "This is a message for JIM. Press 1 to accept the message". After pressing 1, it plays the message. And I get notified what exactly happens remotely.
* it has an interface to your PC so you can exchange all your data or just back it up on the PC.
* I have it for 11 months, and never had a problem (like a crashed operating system or so he-he)
* comes with rechargeable batteries which last 10 days. (always switched on)
* if you are a programmer like me, you can write your own programs in a java-like language on your PC, upload them to the pager and run them on your pager. I have built me an interface that allows to retrieve web pages for example. The operating system is Flex, by the way, and the processor is the same as in the Palm pilots, I remember.
* there's a few things that SkyTel (my provider) brought out recently.. cheaper plans, free standard replies such as "Will be home in 10 minutes" and more
It's a perfect product, in my opinion. I'd never trade it for a Palm or regular cell phone (I used to have one.. )
The service runs from $22 to .. depending on how you want to use it.
My bill is usually only $27 / month.
The initial prize is $370 for a new model, I bought a refurbished one from SkyTel for $299. SkyTel is also my provider.
And - no - I am NOT afiliated with skytel. I am just very, very happy with the product.
Comparison with 3COM Palm Pilots
The Palms are very popular. Not always the best product has the highest popularity. I've played with a Palm Pilot. Ever seen someone "writing" something on it? I sure am faster typing on my pager. Someone at work tried to enter my name in the address book but failed to write a "t".
Even after 10 minutes that little thing did not accept the "t".. hehe.
And granted, the latest Palm 7 does have wireless functionality, but not as much as this pager. (Although the monthly rate seems to be lower.)
UPGRADING from 2000 to 2000X
There are 3 differences between the 2000 and the 2000X:
1) the 2000 model does not come with the "productivity software package".
I had to buy that for $20.
2) the 2000X has a newer operating system version. The newer version is more memory effective and has at least one improvement I just LOVE:
after sending a page it will not each time ask you that annoying question "do you want to see the progress of .. ?".
Instead it will go back to the menu and there's a little tray icon showing you the sending progress.
3) More RAM - the 2000 came with 256K RAM, the 2000X has 1MB.
I never had a memory problem but maybe with many applications, and there are quite a few available now...
Ask Skytel for an upgrade - they may make you a VERY GOOD offer!!!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID: ptiemann
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Member: Peter Tiemann
Location: Capitola, CA
Reviews written: 260
Trusted by: 2822 members
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