Registered: Mar 2000
Location: NC, Indiana
Posts: 465

Sorry about the awkard/off topicness of this topic but I'd really like your guys' input here. I am considering getting the ThinModem. I found a $30 off of $100 for Staples which would bring it down to $90. This still seems like a large sum of money so I need you guys to help coax me into getting it .

For those of you that have landline modem springboards:

1)Can you surf the web half decently on the Visor? I'll probably be using Blazer. I don't exactly roam the country side and this will be used mostly in my bedroom during nightime :-). I'd like to be able to read VC, respond, do some other surfing. It's not much--which is another reason I may not go for the ThinModem but I'd just like to hear how practical that is.

2) Do you think it was worth buying it? Should I not bother since I don't travel abroad at all?

Thanks

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-Vincent

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 153

A great use for a modem!

I often use my Handspring modem (33.6 baud) lying in bed surfing through the various forums I frequent. The speed of the Handspring modem and the speed of the browser I use (AvantGo) are great. I move around the different discussion sections without feeling deprived of not having a link to my cable modem.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 434

Depends on how plain text friendly the web sites are that you like to visit. Most sites today are not geared towards plain text browsers (hint: if I site expects you to have a flash plug-in it is probably not going to be text friendly), and most sites are not going to wow you in comparison to your desktop . . . all very disappointing to those of us who like to bathe in the radioactive green glow of an old terminal while cruising the web via lynx (not to mention the blind who depend on plain text for their readers to work).

I respect dtplink's point of view, but I'm going to suggest that your money might be better spent elsewhere. OTOH, if you do alot of e-mail (listservs and all), then I'd say go for it.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 276

Before you commit... I would recommend the SpringPort from Xircom. UNLESS... you have a case that doesn't allow an over-sized module. Now I could spark a debate over which is better... and I don't want to, but if you are going to discuss preacticality, I have at least five issues which could make the choice more worthwhile.

1) No dongle.
2) 56K immediately
3) PCS/GSM capabilities
4) Software storage
5) StarTac battery switching...

I have two modems... YadaYada and the Springport. I usually bring both with me, one for the speed of the landline, the other for the mobility. Checking email on the go is very nice, with the overall capability of responding back and having it sent from my train ride. AOL IM is somewhat fun when I want to pop on. Modem Sync'ing very dynamic channels on AvantGO provide me with up-to-date info... so the possibilities are there it just depends upon how much usage you have with your Visor.

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what?<br>

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

If you're interested in the Thinmodem, I'd hold out a little longer as CardAccess will be releasing the Thinmodem+ in early 2001 (announced at COMDEX). It will be the current Thinmodem along with 8 mb of flash memory. I haven't seen pricing for it yet.

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Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 49

quote:

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Originally posted by timmins
...the overall capability of responding back and having it sent from my train ride...

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Registered: Mar 2000
Location: NC, Indiana
Posts: 465

Thanks for the input guys!

Timmins: Although the batteries do seem to be a definite advantage, along with the 56K capability there are a few detracting factors. I would like to keep the springboard in my Visor most of the time (that plastic spacer is really ticking me off! ). The heaviness and awkward size of that module would get annoying after a while I bet since I'd be keeping it in all the time. It is also $30 more expensive. $90 for the ThinModem is already a stretch for me personally (I'm still in high school...).

After all your guys' advice I believe I'll wait till next year maybe to see what comes out although now I'm leaning towards not getting a modem because for $90 it seems like a lot just so can I look at webpages in my bed. If I were constantly on the go this would be very reasonable though--but as I said I'm just some high school student low on cash :-)

Thanks Again!

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-Vincent

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

Re: Thanks for the input guys!

quote:

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Originally posted by Vinny
for $90 it seems like a lot just so can I look at webpages in my bed.

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You can always get a serial cable and an external modem and do the same thing. I know, it's not as cool, but...

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Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 75

CDMA Support?

Does anybody knows of any modems (preferably wireline w/ wireless capabilities) that support CDMA?

Thanks,
Frank

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 308

the upcoming sixpak, but you know about that one

sam

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Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 75

quote:

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Originally posted by Celchu19
the upcoming sixpak, but you know about that one

sam

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Okay, let me rephrase it then...

Are there any modems (wireline w/ wireless support) that offer CDMA capabilities? Preferably modules that have already been released? (Sam, that one's for you!)

Thanks,
Frank

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 308

quote:

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Originally posted by Shakes

quote:

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Originally posted by Celchu19
the upcoming sixpak, but you know about that one

sam

---

Okay, let me rephrase it then...

Are there any modems (wireline w/ wireless support) that offer CDMA capabilities? Preferably modules that have already been released? (Sam, that one's for you!)

Thanks,
Frank

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Not that i know of.

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Sam Kleinman

PocketPCThoughts.com
CollectiveArts
Free-ePress
Musings of a Teal Artist
CollectiveArts TechMusings

"Everybody don't like something and we all don't like you." -- Richard Thompson, Hard Luck Stories