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-- 2000 VisorCentral Awards (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=7955)

Please discuss your comments as we progress through this year's awards. (See the front page)

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James Hromadka
Old Friend

I agree

I agree 100% with the Accessory of the year award. Lets see what you come up with for the case. The Rhodiana still got my vote.

I think it should be mentioned you can sync while in the E&B case.

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My Treo has more memory than I do.

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Marcus: James never would let my have his case, so I can't comment on it.

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<IMG WIDTH="200" HEIGHT="50" SRC=http://www.visorcentral.com/images/visorcentral.gif> VisorCentral Discussion Moderator
Do files get embarrassed when they get unzipped?

Hey James, I think you forgot to do "The Stylus of the Year" today. I can't wait to see the review.

Al

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It all started way back in February 2000 with a Blue VDX.

It's up there now. The PDApanache won.
BEN

Springboard Winner

Up to this point, I understood the awards. I might have made some different selections, but I could certainly see the rationale behind your choices. However, I'm more than a little surprised that an MP3 player won the best Springboard award. Are you guys going Hollywood on us? The glitz took the prize over the functional . . . And why should MP3 modules take both awards in this category?!? You're sending the message that Visors are toys; not tools. Don't you think a little balance would have been in order? Me? I would have given the award to the Backup Module; with the runner-up going to one of the modems. Why not an MP3 player?

• MP3 players have limited appeal (not that there is anything wrong those who love them!!). Remember one of your polls? http://www.visorcentral.com/news.php3?id=343 Yes. The MP3 module was the most eagerly anticipated, but that same poll also showed that not even a simple majority were hot for it. At least one person would have picked an ethernet Springboard, if that choice had been offered . . . Certainly one of the Springboard awards should have gone to something other than a MP3 player.
  
  
• They are 100% cool, and 0% practical. Yes. The MiniJam has the promise for some practical applications, but that functionality is still just that - a promise. And at the price that InnoGear is asking, could you really consider it practical? I'm reminded of the wondrous cork extractor that Campagnolo (maker of bicycle components) once offered. It was a work of art. It was a feat of mechanical design. It was also an engineering failure. You see, it cost two hundred (or more) dollars! And speaking of dollars . . .
  
  
• Should a product that costs more than the VDx really qualify as the Springboard of the year?
  
  
• I'm sure the MiniJam works fine when you start the day with a fresh set of batteries, but what do you do after a day or two? These modules would almost make rechargeable batteries mandatory, and they would certainly require folks to carry an extra set of batteries most of the time. Not that carrying extra batteries isn't a good idea, but most days I'm sure that most of us can safely afford to travel without spares. Again, is this really a useful solution?
  
  
• Is a Springboard MP3 player really better than a stand-alone MP3 player? Is it still better when it is more expensive than the stand-alone? At best the answer is maybe or it depends.

i agree with yucca. Nobody has a MiniJam yet. I know, you have one James (and probably you too marcus...you guys ARE giving one away and you seem to be pretty close with the Innogear guys) but let's be logical in these awards and pick a module that has improved the visor in the PAST YEAR. Perhaps next year's module of the year can be the MiniJam (who knows it might be the next best thing!) but this thing isn't shipping yet and I bet the first consumer won't have one of these things in their paws until AFTER your awards are over!

The Backup module would have been a better award (and i don't even OWN one!) just from the standpoint of which module has improved the Visor the most (modems with an honourable mention).

Not impressed.

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Ever feel like the train left while you were busy reading the paper?

Stealth-Mod.

This award was the subject of much debate among the staff. You are right that the Backup module is a brilliant module (I say earlier that if you own one SM it should be the BM), but both MP3 modules are fantastic.

Should a module cost more than the Visor? It can if it is useful. I went to Diamond Multimedia's website and looked at their price for the Rio 500 ($199.95). Yes this is cheaper than the MP3 modules, but they're smaller and one of them (the MiniJam) has additional features that make it attractive.

Over the next few months, wireless modules are going to come out and it seems that they will cost upwords of $300. Is that worth it? Depends on their functionality.

Forget that corkscrew, I want to see a Swiss Army module!

I know that many of you haven't had a chance to try these modules out, but when you do, you will realize how special they are.

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James Hromadka
Old Friend

I have to agree with yucca; although I've ordered a Minijam, I'd give the award to the Backup Module or one of the modems. There's not even clear agreement that any MP3 module is worth it, while nobody would argue against Internet connectivity or external backups.

I have to admit that I was surprised that the Thincom modem did not make it even in the honorable mention category for module of the year. It has all the characteristics that were mentioned in placing the MP3 modules at the top of the list (form factor, "cool" factor, etc.) plus the fact that it has much broader appeal than an MP3 module and costs way less. (There's also the fact that the Thincom is readily available, and let's face it -- there are few things as cool as surfing the web on a handheld.)

What Thincom has -- that I have not seen mentioned for either of the MP3 modules -- is outstanding user support. As I documented in the Springboard discussion page, I had problems getting connected to my ISP at first and Card Access was extremely accomodating in helping me out, even to the point of checking up on me to see if I had gotten things straightened out. That's got to count for something in the awards.

I am coming at this from the vantage point of a person with almost no interest in MP3's and has not tried out either of the MP3 modules, so take it with a grain of salt. Maybe I'll win that MiniJam in the giveaway and change my mind.

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BertBert
Mark 12:28-31

Does VC own stock in Innogear? All I've seen so far is the VC staff bend over backwards to defend Innogear's faults.

I really question the wisdom of giving "top prize" to a product that is still not available to the majority of people who have ordered it. May I suggest that you rescind your award for minijam and re-award it to a product that has "earned" it, like the back up module.

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Originally posted by Marfu
...giving "top prize" to a product that is still not available to the majority of people who have ordered it.

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Both the Thincom and Backup Module were definite candidates for the award. Just because they weren't on the winner's page does not mean they aren't great modules in themselves.

The decision for the module award was very close -- we considered having a tie at one point, but I don't like ties. Once the MP3 modules are freely available, you will agree with our choice.

As to the credibility of the awards, we had a deadline for products to be submitted for them to be considered, and for that deadline products that weren't shipping yet were still under consideration. I'm sorry if you disagree with our choice, but disagreeing is no reason to start accusing us of foul play.

This is our first awards, and because of the limited modules available, we weren't able to have categories for Springboard modules (wireless, music, modem, etc). Next year we will be able to do this, so that all of the great modules will be recognized.

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James Hromadka
Old Friend

And the Product of The Year is. . . . . . . . .?

quote:

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Originally posted by Charo
And the Product of The Year is. . . . . . . . .?

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Ever feel like the train left while you were busy reading the paper?

Stealth-Mod.

quote:

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Originally posted by Hoser_in_USA

quote:

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Originally posted by Charo
And the Product of The Year is. . . . . . . . .?

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THE COLOUR VISOR!!!
oh wait...that's not out yet..
(sorry, cheap shot...but i couldn't resist)

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James Hromadka
Old Friend

The GBA.00 Springboard of the Year

My Springboard of the Year "award" goes to the backup module, because:

• It shipped on time
  
• It's one of the most affordable modules available, while being the most practical
  
• It's reduced my need to HotSynch about 90%
  
• It does exactly what it was intended to do, with no features dropped or delayed
  
• The public, not just selected reviewers, got a chance to evaluate it
  

Re: The GBA.00 Springboard of the Year

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Originally posted by Gameboy70

But maybe I'll feel differently when I win the MiniJam.

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I don't agree with those who believe premature marketing or slipping delivery dates should be considered for the springboard of the year award. The award should be based on the functionality of the product. I haven't received my minijam yet (although it HAS been shipped -- I just checked...order # < 1050 if you're interested), but if James' review is any indication, it has a lot going for it. Both MP3 modules provides a more unique functionality than the backup module (HotSyncing w/ BackupBuddy also works well), and both include more leading-edge technology than either the HS or thincomm modem (neither of which supports 56K yet). Don't get me wrong, I use and love my backup module and modem, but I don't think either really qualifies for best springboard module.