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-- San Jose/San Francisco, Omnisky or YadaYada? (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=10126)

I'm thinking about getting one or the other. Since the prices are pretty comparable, I don't mind spending a little more for yadayada for better service if that's the case.

Anyone here from the bay area that has tried one or the other?

Thanks for any input you can give.

Broken.

"Even a stopped clock gives the right time twice a day."

hello?

Anyone? Even if its something you heard from someone else, I'd like a little feedback please!

Thanks.

Broken

Broken,

Can't speak about YadaYada but I'm an Omnisky user and can state that you shouldn't have any problems with service area. I live in Modesto and cover all of Northern California and Hawaii and have service in all areas where I go. About the only place that I can't specify would be Santa Cruz.

I've been downtown S.F. with no issues and all over S.J. with no issues.

It really boils down to what service you want. I was also a beta tester with a Palm Vx Omnisky Minstrel V modem and must state that I believe that Omnisky will stay on the fast track since they have products for more platforms then the others at the moment.

Content and browsing is really based upon your own preferences. The Omnisky browser coupled with Palm pqa files - you can get just about anything you want. Or you can go with Avantgo or Blazer browser(s). But if you want to really surf graphic based pages then you might want yadayada however be prepared for a slow experience. If your after email and stock quotes and other text based wireless issues then stick with Omnisky.

Hope some of this helps.

__________________
Moose Man
I may be from the LEFT coast but that's not the correct political view in my mind!

Yes! Thank you very much

Thanks for replying mooseman. You answered my questions perfectly.

Looks like I'll be goin with Omnisky, because yeah, email, stocks, and a little bit of shopping is all i'll be needing it for, oh, and some of the messageing programs like AIM and ICQ.

but yeah, thanks a heap, you helped a lot.

Brok3n

Well, I think your mileage will vary.

I have Omnisky with my VPL (got them ~Nov 22) and have had mixed results in the BA. I live in Millbrae and my house is against a hillside. Inside my house there is one (very) small place that I can get not so reliable reception. I go outside (in the cold) and can get better reception, but this is a bit inconvenient. Along my commute on 280, I put my car on cruise control and it works great everywhere between SF and Santa Clara where I work. Inside my office (a corner office with lots of glass on the third floor of a seven floor bldg), I get lousy reception. Outside my bldg, it is great. I have gotten great reception in the City too.

Bottom line, it isn't great, but I'm keeping it. My two main places I'd like to use it (home/office) already have internet access, so it's ok...

RSGMOOSE:

Why is the performance better on the Omnisky than the Yada Yada as far as text goes? Does one have the option to turn off graphics on the Omnisky and not the Yada Yada? Please explain as I am leaning towards Yada Yada.

swendor,

As I stated in my original post - I can't speak for yadayada. I haven't seen a unit. The speed should be the same since the modem is the same and they both run at 19,200kps.

However, in reading the multitude of posts here within VisorCentral YadaYada is more graphic based and I'm certain you could probably turn off the graphics. Omnisky is more text based.

If your leaning toward YadaYada I believe both programs have 30 day money back guarantee so go with it first and if your happy with what you get then don't even try Omnisky.

I have a preference toward Omnisky for the following reasons:

Tech support has been good.
Speed is acceptable to me.
They have been around longer and are servicing more platforms then Yada at the moment. This indicates to me that they will be around.

When I went looking for a wireless service the only options at the time last year were the beta version of Omnisky which I started using or Go America on a Palm Vx. Since then, Omnisky has branched to Visor, HP Jornada and now beta of iPaq's. There have been 3 versions of the Omnisky software for the Palm Vx. I expect that they will continue to enhance their software more rapidly over Yada because of the more user's in their customer base.

I can't speak negatively towards Yada only positively regarding Omnisky. That's my feedback.


Here's a recent post that you should probably look at to help in your decision:

http://discussion.visorcentral.com/...?threadid=10289



[Edited by RSGMOOSE on 12-22-2000 at 07:24 PM]

__________________
Moose Man
I may be from the LEFT coast but that's not the correct political view in my mind!

Los Angeles area?

I do a bit of travelling down south as well.

Anyone have any input on the types of receptions you'll find in the pasadena area? or the downtown los angeles area?

thanks for any input.

Broken

Broken

Well I actually lived in Palmdale and covered LA up until about March while we were still beta testing the Minstrel V. No issues in Pasadena or LA but you'll find pockets of drop out in downtown LA depending upon locations but this is due more to buildings etc.

Orange county is a no coverage area at the time. I don't know if it's improved but once you get below the 91 freeway forget it. Should be good to go in the Long Beach and Santa Monica area's and of course the rest of the San Gabriel and San Fernando areas.

And in case you are wondering even though you didn't ask - Honolulu HI is good coverage but the remainder of the islands are questionable.

__________________
Moose Man
I may be from the LEFT coast but that's not the correct political view in my mind!

Yada offers more features and services

In response to a comparison of the services I offer the following observations as a user and owner of both:

YadaYada's browser can access 90%+ of all web sites regardless of markup language. Omnisky can only access around 50%. YY can also work with frames and graphics.

YY and OS have the same speed, and same coverage area since they are both on Verizon and ATT CDPD networks.

YY has the myyadayada page which is similar to your my yahoo page.

YY has quicksnaps which are similar to what Avantgo offers.
YY's email is superior to OS.

YY will be launching wireless universal sync next month and I hear their are plans for other great services as well in the future releases.

Realize YY has the benefit of fixing problems or short comings or OS since they came afterwards.

I would go with YY over OS any day of the week.

Re: Los Angeles area?

quote:

---

Originally posted by Broken
I do a bit of travelling down south as well.

Anyone have any input on the types of receptions you'll find in the pasadena area? or the downtown los angeles area?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by RSGMOOSE
swendor,

As I stated in my original post - I can't speak for yadayada. I haven't seen a unit. The speed should be the same since the modem is the same and they both run at 19,200kps.

However, in reading the multitude of posts here within VisorCentral YadaYada is more graphic based and I'm certain you could probably turn off the graphics. Omnisky is more text based.

If your leaning toward YadaYada I believe both programs have 30 day money back guarantee so go with it first and if your happy with what you get then don't even try Omnisky.

I have a preference toward Omnisky for the following reasons:

Tech support has been good.
Speed is acceptable to me.
They have been around longer and are servicing more platforms then Yada at the moment. This indicates to me that they will be around.

When I went looking for a wireless service the only options at the time last year were the beta version of Omnisky which I started using or Go America on a Palm Vx. Since then, Omnisky has branched to Visor, HP Jornada and now beta of iPaq's. There have been 3 versions of the Omnisky software for the Palm Vx. I expect that they will continue to enhance their software more rapidly over Yada because of the more user's in their customer base.

I can't speak negatively towards Yada only positively regarding Omnisky. That's my feedback.

---

__________________
...the patron saint of the easily amused...

I never mentioned it before, but I'm a palm Vx user, this is the only place I could find that has a cool forum that talks about wireless and whatnot.

Service should be the same though for a palm user as a visor user.

I found this a bit interesting

...YadaYada's browser can access 90%+ of all web sites regardless of markup language. Omnisky can only access around 50%. YY can also work with frames and graphics.

earlier in the postings, this was said.

I emailed yada yada a while ago, back when I wasn't sure which service to go with, and I made mention that I was leaning towards their service due to its compatibility with frames.

the service rep that emailed me back said (quote)

Thank you for your interest in Yada Yada.
Our web browser does enable you to surf any website that is available. It will display pictures as well as text. It does not support frames at this time.
A coverage map can be found at novatelwireless.com/coverage.index.htm

Now, im not sure if that's meant only for palm users, but to me, that's saying their entire service doesn't support frames.

Just wanted to clear that up. This rep could have made a mistake, but I'm sure they don't go spouting stuff off unless they know what they are talking about.

but yeah, thanks for all of your replies, but for now, I'm prolly gonna be sticking with Omnisky. We'll see, I'll be getting my modem in a day or two, try out the service and I'll post my results.

Broken

---------

"Even a stopped clock gives the right time twice a day."

It's been about three months now since I got my Omnisky modem for my platinum, and I have found that I am able to connect much more easily. I am in the Bay Area, and initially I couldn't connect in my home except for one little cranny in the kitchen. Now anywhere! Has ATT improved their wireless capacities? Or what?

Obviously, not a complaint, but anyone notice imiprovement?

Dale

I don't have either service but I believe YadaYada uses a branded version of browse-it for its web browser. Browse-It supports frames by displaying a link to each seperate frame, so YadaYada should also support frames.

__________________
Matt Nichols
[email protected]

Re: Yada offers more features and services

.

Yes, YY supports frames. But both modems are best used with third party apps like Blazer and Browse-It, which are in color. And you can get clipping support for YY as well through JPS PQA, so there is no difference there.

It's almost a coin toss, and I chose YadaYada because they (Yada Yada) are the first two words of the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient poem from India describing the nature of the soul and it's place in Reality. That is much cooler than "Omnisky." (How about Spiritual Sky?) You can get basically the same results with either service, so go with what feels good.

Also , Yada Yada does have Palm V service, so you know.

__________________
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the light....