Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 22

I have had the PDA fever for the last few days looking for a device I could take along with me while I move from Hawaii to Florida, to check my email and do some other online stuff (AIM,IRC,ICQ) without dropping a few grand for a laptop and and ultimatly quite a bit of stress handling it. I saw the 3com PalmPilot but you can't beat how cool the ice Visor and ice usb cradle are. I went to CompUSA and a few other places and asked about my options and the guy said I would be set with the ThinCom Springboard modem module, and a Targus Stowaway Portable Keyboard or a LandWare GoType! Keyboard. Then I could just download PalmAOL, PalmIRC, PalmICQ, and a copy of Eudora Internet Suite to put on my palm before I left and just worry about the local isp when I get where I'm going. I was then talking to one of the guys at work and talking about it, when he informed me he tried to go the same route and was disappointed to find out simultaneous usage of any modem and keyboard is impossible with the PalmPilot or Visor. Is this true? Even the ads on aol show a PalmPilot, connected to a keyboard with the PalmAOL signon screen showing.

I read the FAQ at the LandWare site and they seem to be pretty clear on it not working with the modem, but I'm hoping maybe the FAQ is outdated or there is some hack or technique to enable usage? The Targus or it's suppliers site says nothing about incompatability. I feel it's pretty much a common misconception expecially when one of the features of the LandWare keyboard is room for all types of springboard modules. A definite implication on AOL. I really want a Visor and will probably buy the Eyemodule, Omniremote, and mp3 player in coming months, unless there are odd compatability problems, then I guess it's just a headache. Anyone want to enlighten me? Or are all you people using the realtime messaging palm software without the keyboard some kind of stylus/grafitti ninja's? ;)

Oh yeah, I did search the board and didn't come up with anything more than a convo about the keyboard that strayed off. I might have missed something though so if you recall a post maybe you could give a link?

Thanks in advance,
Lucid

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Kuala Lumpur
Posts: 247

Yes, you can definitely use the Targus keyboard with the modem on the Visor.

I actually use it myself all the time for ICQ and email with the Handspring modem plugged in.

I had a few problems at first but after an email to Targus, I found out that certain apps try to take over the serial port that the keyboard driver uses, causing minor irritations like having to always disable and reenable the keyboard driver everytime I use it.

The solution was to delete the driver and re-install it again, and I've had no problems ever since.

Incidentally, I noticed an issue with ICQ for the Palm/Visor - more a bug actually.

Just like ICQ for the desktop, ICQ for the Palm also has a History page. However, when the message history is full, the Palm/Visor will crash. You'll get a message like "Chunk Overlocked" or something similar.

This is not a problem with the keyboard. It is actually a bug with Palm ICQ. The solution is to go into the menu and clear your history. ICQ should work with no problems after that.

__________________
Tan Kit Hoong,
Star Publications (M) Ltd
<img src="http://thestar.com.my/tech/images/thestar_140x45.gif">

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 22

Tying up a loose end...

I checked my email this morning and did a double take! I just want to say I love the Visor product and community and it's really nice to know the "suits" are watching and taking notes, then following up for our benefit. I figure the least I could do was tie up this loose end in case anyone happened upon it.

quote:

---

From: "Christopher Neff" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: GoType! for Visor and Modem
Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2000 16:48:16 -0400

I spotted your post about whether the GoType! for Visor will work with a Modem. The answer is yes, as long as you are using the Handspring Modem, that is the only one tested at this time. However, you can not HotSync at the same time, you must turn the modem off. Once you HotSync you override the one COM port the Visor has, there is no sharing when it comes to HotSyncing.

Hope this helps,

Regards,

Chris

Director, Sales and Marketing
LandWare, Inc
690 Kinderkamack Road
Oradell NJ, 07649
(201) 261-7944 (201) 261-7949 - Fax
http://www.landware.com
[email protected]

Bringing innovative solutions
to the handheld market

---

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: NY, NY, USA
Posts: 39

Springport & GoType...

Just for the record I been useing the new Springport modem and my Gotype keyboard for about two weeks now. With no problem.

Later,

E

__________________
"No matter where you go... There you are"

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Nazareth, PA
Posts: 99

Same here, and I Love it!

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Greenwood, IN
Posts: 125

Is this to say that the *Thincom* modem and the Targus keyboard cannot be used together at the same time? Or just that this combination hasn't been tested yet? Anybody out there use the Targus with the Thincom?

__________________
BertBert
Mark 12:28-31

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Cincinnati, OH, USA
Posts: 79

I used the ThinCom and the Targus Stowaway last week for email and web browsing through the Eudora Suite. No problems, except remembering commands for sending and receiving mail, etc. Worked great and a lot less heavy than the old laptop.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Texan in Calgary for a while
Posts: 1361

I've used the Sprigport with the Stowaway with no problems.

__________________
James Hromadka
Old Friend

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 2

Visor+Modem+Twiddler = ?

I would like to be able to use my twiddler(one handed ps/2 compabible keyboard) and a modem with Prism. Has anyone done this yet?

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 6

For all those here who are using a modem (Handspring's) or otherwise to check their email, could you give me some idea of how quickly messages download into your Visors? I have a Platinum used with a Xircom Springport, and at 56K each message takes as long as 10 seconds to download. Now some of these are a bit long, but is this normal?

thanks...aa.