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Will you buy Xircom's Wireless Ethernet module if it is $299?

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James Hromadka
Old Friend

At $300, these will never sell. Consumers won't shell out that much, and the current economic climate (plus some definite security concerns over 802.11) will chill corporate spending on wireless networks. Xircom made a big mistake by abandoning the wired ethernet module, which could be produced more cheaply, and would have a much larger market considering the huge installed base of wired ethernet in companies.

Hell No. They have got to be kidding at with the $300 price tag. Why is apple able to make Airport cards for $99, but Xircom's Springboard costs $200 more? unbelieveable. I was looking forward to this module too

Yes I would probably Buy one since I allready have a Wireless Ethernet Access Point at my house. I use it for my second floor of my house which i can not get wires up to that floor so in my case it would work fine

I'd rather wait for the pdalight guys to port a pcmcia adapter to the visor

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I swear, she told me she was 16!

No way

Not for $299. I have an Apple PowerBook with an Airport Card, as well as an Airport base station. The Base station was $299 itself, the airport card was only $99.

For a $299 springboard module, I'd expect a lot more than an 802.11(b) card in pretty packaging....

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Blog: http://prwdot.org/

Wireless with a wagon

I think $299 for the 802.11 wireless ethernet is fine. It's the lugging around the 6lb 6 VDC motorcycle battery to run it to still be "wireless" that concerns me. 802.11 sucks power as opposed to bluetooth technology. Can't wait to see the specs on the power consumption of this device.

I'd have to say that I can't afford the base station or anything of that sort. They'd have to sell it with bulk discounts to corporations to get any sales. (not that they won't)

Though as far as waiting for the PCMCIA adapter, well I wonder if it doesn't cost $200 and come hardwired to the module

Wonder how BIG the module might be.

Kg

Price to steep! Maybe if $299 included the access point.

Ethos

I'd love to have a wired one for those times I need to use a client's intranet. A wireless one is pretty cool, but IMHO not $300 worth of cool.

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Now I'm really disappointed. I think that this is way too expensive when compared to prices of PC Cards.

I had high hopes for this module. Being able to access the net, read my mail etc anywhere in the house (often in rooms where there is no PC) was looking like being a really exciting way to use my Prism.

Eric

Cost/benefit analysis doesn't compute

Not for $299 - my VDX only cost me $249!

While it would be extremely useful to have in my house and office (both have 802.11b service) and being able to read e-mail in meetings would be a blessing, I just can't justify it. Now, if it were under $200, we'd have a deal.

Can we haggle?

HMMM ..

spend 75% of the cost of my Prism on wireless access or walk 10 feet and sit down at my PC? I guess I can use the exercise. Seems pretty ridiculous, let's hope for some competition.

i know but i'm that desperate

I totally agree that they're making a big mistake and overcharging for this module.

I just wanted to chime in to say that i'm so desperate for this capability that i'll fork over the cash as soon as it becomes available.

my presumption is that the price will come down eventually but i know i won't be that patient. the network hot sync is just one feature...this module will really unchain me from my desk at work.

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jxh

Maybe

I have been looking forward to the release of this module for a long time. As a network admin this would be a great tool that would allow me to log into a switch or router from anywhere to change VLAN's, search for MAC Addresses or do any number of other administrative duties without having to lug around a laptop or find a free workstation to log into.

This is going to be a tough decision for me since my company will most likely not pay for one. The savings in time and energy might be enough for me to cough up the $300 on my own, though.

quote:

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Originally posted by JHromadka
Will you buy Xircom's Wireless Ethernet module if it is $299?

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why

This is a first apple actually cheaper than the rest?

I will not pay 300 for a nic card. Looking more like Palm or MS will be my next pda. Modules are a great idea, but they havent panned out

$299! I can't even get work to spring for a $79 scanner, let alone this. No way would I pay this for home. Hopefully this "the company will buy it" so it's okay to be overpriced will not take over the handheld market.

Oh, buy the way, did I fail to mention - NO I wouldn't buy it for that.

T

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"If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing." Benjamin Franklin

I have waited too long for this. Each week I am willing to pay less. The right price is now around $149.

Granted, the SWE module is expensive (at the currently suggested price). But, compare it to the other handheld on the market (the iPaq)that permits wireless Ethernet connectivity and what it costs (remember you need to purchase an expansion pack and a card). So, the price is not out-of-line considering the current status of the market.

Consider this. What if you are a college or high school student and there is a wireless network that you can access? You already have a desktop at home/residence hall and cannot afford to purchase a notebook computer to give you computing mobility when at school. Knowing that the SWE module works well with the low-cost Solo, as well as the Prism, maybe the cost isn't too far out-of-line to give the functionality most people want from a handheld while being mobile. Now, if one gets to doing more sophisticated things with the handheld such as document/spreadsheet processing, drawing (Tealpaint), etc. where one needs greater memory capacity and color, the expense becomes more of a factor.

I work in an environment where we have a wonderful wireless Ethernet wireless infrastructure, both internal and external, and the SWE module will be a very useful tool. For example, sitting in "boring" meetings the tool will allow easy access to email, the web, etc. so one does not have to waste time. In fact recently a colleague of mine and I were in a meeting where we both had handheld computers with wireless cards and we were using AIM to comment to each other about the "BS" taking place in the meeting.


In case you have not seen the announcement below, you may find it relative to the the importance of the SWE module to those of us with the Handpring devices as 802.11b becomes more pervasive.

http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-20...ne.dht.nl-sty.0

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D. Watkins
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