Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 5

Hello,

I wanted to share my frustration and disappointment with Xircom for deciding not to release their wired ethernet module for the Visor. I received the news from their "Product Specialist" yesterday afternoon. After about 2 weeks of trying to get an answer from them as to why for this product was missing from their Springport page, I finally got my answer.

I work on a large Univeristy Network and have several friends and colleagues who own Visors and were looking forward to this for system administration, remote logins, etc.

This module was actually one of the reasons why I choose to purchase the Visor 9 months ago. But with Xircom's pushing back of the release date over the past several months I guess I should've seen this coming. Funny though that it was just demoed at Comdex and had a release date of Q1 2001.

Is their anyone else out there that was looking forward to this or was it just us Network Geeks?

Tom

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

---

Originally posted by jeffretr
I wanted to share my frustration and disappointment with Xircom for deciding not to release their wired ethernet module for the Visor.

---

I would say "share away", but I already have enough frustration and disappointment of my own on this issue.

quote:

---

I received the news from their "Product Specialist" yesterday afternoon. After about 2 weeks of trying to get an answer from them as to why for this product was missing from their Springport page, I finally got my answer.

---

I guess that explains why I haven't heard back from them yet. I only asked last week.

quote:

---

I work on a large Univeristy Network and have several friends and colleagues who own Visors and were looking forward to this for system administration, remote logins, etc.

---

As I said in a previous post, it was definitely my killer app.

quote:

---

This module was actually one of the reasons why I choose to purchase the Visor 9 months ago. But with Xircom's pushing back of the release date over the past several months I guess I should've seen this coming. Funny though that it was just demoed at Comdex and had a release date of Q1 2001.

---

Not to mention that the person at the booth claimed a "for sale" date of January 15th.

quote:

---

Is their anyone else out there that was looking forward to this or was it just us Network Geeks?

---

Probably just us network geeks, but who said that we aren't a significant enough market?

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 34

Solution: Minstrel S modem with a telnet client.

It may not be the ideal solution for you, but then I don't want my PDA wired to the network with a cable limiting my mobility.

__________________
Green Vdx
The Mountain Dew of PDA's.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

---

Originally posted by Vegaman Dan
Solution: Minstrel S modem with a telnet client.

It may not be the ideal solution for you, but then I don't want my PDA wired to the network with a cable limiting my mobility.

---

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 13

quote:

---

Originally posted by Toby

Not only is it not ideal, it isn't even an option. The coverage area of the Minstrel is pathetic (i.e. nonexistent) in my area of the country. The wireless ethernet module would be my next choice, but it isn't due out for another few months.

---

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Midwest
Posts: 232

I'd be happy with ANY ethernet!

The building I teach in was recently gutted and remodeled. They installed 10/100 ethernet jacks on every wall of every room, and even hung them from the ceiling in a grid above open studio spaces. No matter where you are (except in a hallway) you can plug into an ethernet connector with only a short cable.

Why in the world can't someone come up with a working 10/100 ethernet springboard module? I'd like to hear from xircom as to why they stopped development. If it was because they don't think there is a market I think they are fools. If it was because it turned out to be technically impossible, then I want to know. If NO-ONE is going to be able to make a springboard ethernet adapter then I may trade my visor in on a laptop with a PCMCIA slot. I already own a 10/100 PCMCIA ethernet card. I paid less than $20 for it, and with a short cable I can be on the internet anywhere in my building.

It also strikes me odd that no one has figured out 802.11 for the springboard slot. I'm suspitious that the specs of the springboard slot leaves out some significant signal that these devices rely on to work in a PCMCIA slot.

Could this be a reason to wait for the Visor '02 models? I'd be royally pi$$ed if the two visors I bought this year end up not working with springboards made for next year's models, because they change the springboard specification.

All I can say is... "they'd better not!"

Dave

__________________
There is nothing yet made by man that cannot be improved upon.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

Re: I'd be happy with ANY ethernet!

quote:

---

Originally posted by DBrown
{...} I'd like to hear from xircom as to why they stopped development. If it was because they don't think there is a market I think they are fools.

---

Registered: May 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1429

WHAT?!?

I saw this topic in VC's weekly e-mail. What do they mean, not enough intrest!?!? I would love that module. I can't afford a minstral S, I just want to plug into my home network! This is rediclous.! What happened to the Jan. 15 ship date? What happened to the working prototype? I would pay up to $120 for it, even though I can easlyil get a 10/100 switch for that cost. Well I'll stop my flaming. BAD JOB XIRCOM!

__________________
-miradu

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: Walkersville, MD
Posts: 24

Count me in, I use a PCMCIA Ethernet card in my laptop at work all the time.
I would LOVE to have one for my Visor.
Who can we e-mail at Xircom?

__________________
Ray
m505

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Davis, CA, USA
Posts: 72

Xircom has definitely blown it. They had better release their wireless module on schedule.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 5

Suggestion?

Hey all,

I've been trying to figure out a way to somehow let Xircom know that they dropped the ball on this one.

As I eluded to in my original post, I talked to 3 different tech support personel over the middle 2 weeks in December who had either no information or had a release date of March 1, 2001. I even spoke to an Aussie dude in early December who they introduced as a "Product Specialist." He claimed it was already released and told me to contact a couple of online vendors to order it! I was an idiot in that I didn't write down his name and wasn't able to get ahold of him again.

What I finally did was fax a letter to their corporate headquaters on December 22. I received an email from them on Jan 2 that they opened a ticket on my problem and after that it was 2 days from my receipt of a ticket to their answer to me via email. I believe it was my direct contact that got something done--not talking to tech reps who probably don't even work for Xircom.

My point is this. The product is done. It's operational. It functional and was going to be released. They probably stopped the process at the manufacturing stage when they "determined" that no one wanted it.

I say we let them know that we want it. Fax Xircom. Call and/or email them. From the response that this thread and the one I posted to Usenet has generated, I think it goes without saying that there is a market for this. I suggest we do something. Either that or do what I have already done, contact a few vendors that produce Springport modules and put a bug in their ear about this.

Tom

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Midwest
Posts: 232

Email Xircom.

I found this email address for the public relations person at Xircom America.

***

I sent her a lengthy plea to get the ethernet springboard on the market. I suggest everyone do the same. Ask her to forward your email to anyone who might be more interested in it at Xircom.

Dave



*** email address removed as per VisorCentral.com Rules - MarkEagle

__________________
There is nothing yet made by man that cannot be improved upon.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Midwest
Posts: 232

Oops!

That'll teach me for skimming rules quickly and clicking "agree", without really knowing what they said.

Of course, I'm going to blame Microsoft in general for getting me into that habit.

For those still interested in emailing Xircom, the link Mark added to my previous post puts you on a page where one more click will get your email up with the right person's name on it.

Dave

__________________
There is nothing yet made by man that cannot be improved upon.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 391

How, pray tell, do I plug a wireless ethernet module into a network port I want to test?

A visor with a wired ethernet springboard module would be the ultimate sniffer tool. If the module cost $300, I could still justify it for work... I just wrote up a PR for $33,000 for a laptop-based sniffer. Sure, the Sniffer does more than I'd expect a Visor to do, but I can't carry it in my pocket!

Everyone reading this thread should contact Xircom and demand a recount!

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

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

---

Originally posted by argent
How, pray tell, do I plug a wireless ethernet module into a network port I want to test?

---

_Exactly!_

quote:

---

A visor with a wired ethernet springboard module would be the ultimate sniffer tool. If the module cost $300, I could still justify it for work... I just wrote up a PR for $33,000 for a laptop-based sniffer. Sure, the Sniffer does more than I'd expect a Visor to do, but I can't carry it in my pocket!

---

This is also true of my instance. Wireless would be of some utility, but wired would be of _more_ utility in my job.

quote:

---

Everyone reading this thread should contact Xircom and demand a recount!

---

Already done.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 434

Well . . . that's 15 minutes of my life that was wasted

I too contacted Xircom, and probably shouldn't have bothered. The situation according to the product manager is that the wired ethernet module is no where near complete. He claimed that they have never demoed the wired ethernet module. I was certain that I had seen reports to the contrary; but, on performing a quick check, I have not been able to find anything concrete. Does anyone have any solid documentation that the module is/was far enough along for a working demo?

Normally I'd take a product manager's word for things, but he was too quick to misinterpret my first e-mail as a "I want wireless" message. However, there was nothing ambiguous about my message - I had three people read the message before I sent it, and they all knew exactly what I was asking!

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 391

Who did you email at Xircom? I've sent two letters with no response.

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

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 434

OK. Here is the contact:

John Merrill
Product Manager, Handheld Communications
[email protected]

But please be civil out there. Calm, reasoned and considerate messages may do us some good. Flame mail will almost certainly not get us anywhere that we want to go.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 64

CompactCard and Intel

I see that Xircom makes an Ethernet card in the form factor of a CompactFlash module. What is the possibility of getting this to work on a Handspring through the use of a CompactFlash Adapter Module?

http://www.xircom.com/cda/page/1,12...1_1-316,00.html

Also, will Xircom be building any more springboard modules for the Visors now that they are in Intel's pocket?

Kamalot

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 391

Supposedly there is a driver for one of the CF ethernet modules for the TRGPro, so it's possible, but I'd still rather have a real Springboard module that's supported by the manufacturer.

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