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- Article Comments (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=17)
-- Minstrel S announcement (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=8938)

quote:

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Originally posted by chrisfoster
You know what I hate the most about this not supporting the VDX crud is that the Novatel web stie has a picture of a Minstrel S in a Visor !!! Go to the product page, you'll see it!

Plus, on their support pages, there are drivers for OS's below 3.3. Yes, they don't seem to have support for the S yet, but there there, which means that there's there is the possibility that it could work if they wanted it to!!

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__________________
James Hromadka
Old Friend

I have the worst luck

I spent weeks trying to decide which PDA to invest in. I finally decided on Visor Dlx. I purchased one for me and my wife. I like it a lot. I own three springboards and several accessories. I really looked forward, however, to MP3 and the Omnisky. I can not use either. I use a serial hook up to my computer. I can not use MP3s. No one ever said that would be a limitation when I purchased. Now, I can not do omnisky. I am curious, if you "optimised" a VDX for a Novatel s, what service would you use to connect? Omnisky/ATT is the best. We are out of luck. I may do the $100 and $200 deals on the module and Platinum, but I will be pissed. What will I be asked to do next year? They are rewarding the late adopter. I may get a family computer with USB soon, but I do not know.

Come on Handspring, you can do better!

RC

Yeah, my rant was a little too extream. After I posted, I called Novatel, and the guy told be that there are no problems what so ever with the Visor and the Visor Deluxe, and the only reason that OmniSky won't support it is that they need the newer OS version of the "other" Visors. You can buy the modem direct from Novatel (w/ a higher up front cost), then sign up for service with a different provider, which has a cheaper monthly rate, but doesn't have all the nicities like OmniSky. (You can use any std. TCP/IP app w/ Minstrel S, like AIM, AvantGo, ProxiWeb (The guy on the phone confermed this))

Well, their loss. If OmniSky wants to remove themselves from 99.9% of the Handspring market, be my guest. But, Novatel sure dosen't!

Plus, Novatel will hook you up with your local CDPD providor, just like OmniSky does. The only loss I see without OmniSky's support is no OmniSky software. (I'm hurting on the inside, really)

[Edited by chrisfoster on 10-26-2000 at 03:56 PM]

The problems with using @ctiveSync and Minstrel S wireless Springboard modules with the Visor Deluxe are a big disappointment. But I really can't see how Handspring can be expected to do more than offer to replace (at no charge to the customer) the affected Visor Deluxe units with optimized units, as they have stated on their Product Support pages.

As I understand it, this is an advance replacement, meaning you keep your old Visor until the new unit arrives. This is same exchange method used for Visor repair work. I know, because I have "butterfingered" mine twice. In comparison, to get my old Pilot 5000 repaired, the repair depot sent me an empty box to package my damaged unit, and I had to wait several days to get it back. I was satisfied with the service on the Pilot, but the Handspring service provided much quicker turnaround.

I only wish more companies were pulling this type of "crap".

__________________
jpkovar

Omnisky

Just for fun one time I installed the Omnisky software to my Visor (or attempted to) The reason their current software does not install to a Visor is that it writes to the un-used flash of the Palm which Visors don't have. I see no reason why Omnisky can't just make a light version of the software without PQA's and without writing to the flash to support Visor Deluxe users.

heyday

Re: Omnisky

quote:

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Originally posted by heyday
Just for fun one time I installed the Omnisky software to my Visor (or attempted to) The reason their current software does not install to a Visor is that it writes to the un-used flash of the Palm which Visors don't have. I see no reason why Omnisky can't just make a light version of the software without PQA's and without writing to the flash to support Visor Deluxe users.

heyday

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__________________
Push Any Key To Start
"Wheres the Anykey?!"
-Homer Simpson

Brian, I couldn't agree more.

Got an e-mail from Omnisky today that was not particularly responsive to my inquiries. According to Omnisky, they do not support the VDX "at this time" because they believe the Palm OS 3.5 provides the best consumer, wireless experience. They wouldn't say whether this is a hardware or software issue. From reading the Handspring FAQ page, I think what's going on here is that the Minstrel S modem will work with the VDX but that it messes up the network and, therefore, they are not marketing it to VDX owners. I could be wrong, but except for the PQA issue, it's hard to see how this is a software issue. On the $100 rebate, Omnisky also said you can submit the coverpage of the owner's manual to get the rebate on a Platinum or Prism.

I just got the following response from Omnisky's support department:

OmniSky will not be compatible with the Handspring Deluxe because of the operating speed.

The plot thickens.

Trade Up?

Now if Handspring really wanted to make VDX users happy they would let you trade up and get a credit towards the purchase of a Platinum or Prism.

That sounds fair to me. Anyone else???

[Edited by handsprung on 10-27-2000 at 04:09 PM]

Re: Trade Up?

quote:

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Originally posted by handsprung
Now if Handspring really wanted to make VDX users happy they would let you trade up and get a credit towards the purchase of a Platinum or Prism.

That sounds fair to me. Anyone else???

[Edited by handsprung on 10-27-2000 at 04:09 PM]

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__________________
Felipe Garcia
Happy Treo 600 user, so far. Thanx Cingular for having an unlocked phone.

My Treo 600 is my phone, my PDA, my watch, and my MP3 player. Oh yeah, I take a picture once in a while with it. Convergence is such a great thing.

Re: Trade Up?

quote:

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Originally posted by handsprung
Now if Handspring really wanted to make VDX users happy they would let you trade up and get a credit towards the purchase of a Platinum or Prism.

That sounds fair to me. Anyone else???

[Edited by handsprung on 10-27-2000 at 04:09 PM]

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__________________
Push Any Key To Start
"Wheres the Anykey?!"
-Homer Simpson

Re: Trade Up?

quote:

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Originally posted by handsprung
Now if Handspring really wanted to make VDX users happy they would let you trade up and get a credit towards the purchase of a Platinum or Prism.

That sounds fair to me. Anyone else???

[Edited by handsprung on 10-27-2000 at 04:09 PM]

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__________________
James Hromadka
Old Friend

quote:

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Quoted from Omnisky (posted by sniff)
OmniSky will not be compatible with the Handspring Deluxe because of the operating speed.

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__________________
Rev. Peter da Silva, ULC<br>
<a href=http://www.taronga.com/~peter/>Ar rug t� barr�g ar do mhact�re inniu?</a>

Re: Re: Trade Up?

quote:

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Originally posted by JHromadka

quote:

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Originally posted by handsprung
Now if Handspring really wanted to make VDX users happy they would let you trade up and get a credit towards the purchase of a Platinum or Prism.

That sounds fair to me. Anyone else???

[Edited by handsprung on 10-27-2000 at 04:09 PM]

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That's basically what the rebate is letting you do (get $100 back).

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Sell it on ebay

Ok just sell your Visor on ebay for $220 and then Buy the new Visor and Omnisky and get the $100 rebate. You might even make money on the deal.


heyday

"Upset" does not begin to describe how I feel about the Minstrel S not working on the Vdx. And this rebate thing is just adding insult to injury -- so I have to pay $$$ to get the module and $$$ per month to get the service AND pay $150 to get a new Visor that will run it all, even though Handspring touted (at least potential) wireless connectivity for the Visor almost from the start? Nonsense.

OmniSky has basically screwed the VDx owner community -- sure we now have an "excuse to upgrade" but what if you don't want to (or simply cannot) keep spending $100+ every time a new module comes out to upgrade your hardware? Wasn't one of the driving philosophies behind the Visor to eliminate having to buy piece after piece of hardware? To finally come out with a real wireless modem, and then keep it out of the hands of VDx owners and instead require $150+ to upgrade the Visor is ridiculous.

Here's hoping that some other company will come along and make a good wireless modem that WILL work using existing VDx technology -- OmniSky has certainly left the door open to do just that. Meanwhile I will stick with my trusty ThinCom -- I guess I *have* to!

__________________
BertBert
Mark 12:28-31

quote:

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Originally posted by BertBert
OmniSky has basically screwed the VDx owner community
...
Here's hoping that some other company will come along and make a good wireless modem that WILL work using existing VDx technology

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__________________
Rev. Peter da Silva, ULC<br>
<a href=http://www.taronga.com/~peter/>Ar rug t� barr�g ar do mhact�re inniu?</a>

Omnisky vs. Yada Yada

I have been considering a wireless module for my Visor. I own a VDX and Prism. Unfortunately I have been torn between the two services. I can't seem to find coverage areas for the two services either. I did see a map for Yada Yada and it covered some major East Coast cities and that was all. Omnisky seems to cover more area, but are the services the same.

My biggest reason for looking at Yada Yada is that I would be able to view any web page vs. Omnisky which will only allow me to look at optimized web pages. It sounds an awful lot like the AT&T Pocknet services. This is worthless to me. Does anyone know if Omnisky will allow me to view any web page?

__________________
Once you have wrestled, other things in life seem easy.

Yes

I have an Omnisky modem for my Palm Vx and you can load any internet application that is avaiable for the Palm and view web content. You are NOT limited to Omnisky Programs. You get the best of both worlds....You can run Palm VII web clippings and any other internet app.

heyday