Registered: May 2000
Location: Cleveland, OH
Posts: 15

I currently have DSL on my PC at home, but want to be able to use my visor deluxe when I travel (domestic and Europe). Which modem is best for someone who uses it infrequently for travel several times/year? Just to sync (is that possible??) and check e-mails.

Thanks.
Lisa

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

My vote would be for the Thinmodem or Thinmodem+. They're both small (standard size modules), require no external power (so it can sit idle for months without having to worry about batteries), and work just fine for email retrieval and short surfing sessions.

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God bless America, my home sweet home...

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Bonn, Germany
Posts: 55

$50 handspring

Staples is closing out the original handspring 33.6 modem at their stores, they are going for 49.99, I got mine for exactly your reasons and think it merits saving the $80.

If you feel you need support for it though, go with the thinmodem+, it's the 'nicest'.

Kg

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: New York City
Posts: 158

Actually, there's no choice. If you want to use it outside of North America, the Xircom modem is the only modem that has international approvals.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 70

As bulky as it is, the Xircom Springport is one of the few modems that supports fax & is the only one I know of that has a digital line detector which keeps you from damaging your modem. They also have a mail-in rebate

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tuffy

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 152

quote:

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Originally posted by tuffy
a digital line detector which keeps you from damaging your modem.

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Howard

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 19

It's something like this (though someone will need to correct me where i get it wrong)


Basically, digital lines use a different voltage than standard analog phone lines. If you plug a modem into a digital line, and the modem can't handle it, it will fry, or something.

Thus, if you plan on travelling a lot, you need a digital line protection and/or detector in your modem to keep it from frying. It doesn't mean you can use the line. It just means the line wont hurt your stuff.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: NJ, USA
Posts: 17

ThinModem

I use the ThinModem, I know someone else who uses the Xircom, and I like the Thinmodem (TM) better.

The TM is the size of a standard Springboard, and includes plenty of application support. It now includes Browse-It and One-Touch E-Mail as well as a really nifty application that allows you to send files to and from your Visor **Live** over the USB Port. Finally, while the TM uses the Visor's batteries, it does not draw much power, even when online. Your battery meter will dip alarmingly while online, and on long calls you may get a warning to change batteries, but once you hang up, the battery meter goes right back up.

The Xircom has a few problems. First, there is the large size to accomodate the batteries. Second, there is no battery meter, and if the Xircom's batteries run out during a call, it's Reset-city ... The only really good thing is that it includes a registered version of MultiMail which is the best E-mail client.

BTW, about digital line protection in the Xircom: Many office buildings use a digital "PBX" Phone System. Plugging a normal phone or modem into these systems can often kill these devices. Your home phone and most other phones (hotels, etc.) will not be a problem.

About international use, I know someone who used a TM-Plus in Europe without problems. The TM is not approved by the EU Governments, but with proper adaptors it is supposed to work...

--Alan--

Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 594

quote:

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Originally posted by tuffy
As bulky as it is, the Xircom Springport is one of the few modems that supports fax & is the only one I know of that has a digital line detector which keeps you from damaging your modem. They also have a mail-in rebate

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1) "...one of the few modems that supports fax..."
Really? Isn't this a SW function? The orig. HS modem, for ex., won't send to a fax, even w/3rd pty. SW?
2) "...that has a digital line detector..."
I only quickly paged thru the orig. HS modem I got at discount the other day (and am at work now, w/out it, or the manual), but I could swear it said it could detect this.

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"Great Spirits Have Always Encountered Violent Opposition From Mediocre Minds." -- Albert Einstein

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 447

quote:

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Originally posted by bkbk

1) "...one of the few modems that supports fax..."
Really? Isn't this a SW function? The orig. HS modem, for ex., won't send to a fax, even w/3rd pty. SW?

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Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 152

$60 modems at Staples! (No, not the Handspring)

Yesterday I went to Staples and two original Thinmodems and a Xircom GlobalAccess Springport modem were sitting on the clearance table, selling for $60. IMHO, these two modems are superior to the $50-and-less Handspring modems previously mentioned in this forum, and they are well worth the price difference.

Registered: May 2000
Location: Cleveland, OH
Posts: 15

which staples

What Staples did you visit with the clearance?

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 152

Re: which staples

quote:

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Originally posted by L
What Staples did you visit with the clearance?

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Registered: May 2000
Location: Cleveland, OH
Posts: 15

Hey dvIceT,

do you think you can use the Xircom rebate too???

Check this out
http://www.rebatecatcher.com/rebate...ufacturer_id=63

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 152

$30 Xircom Springport GlobalAccess modem!!!!!!!!

quote:

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Originally posted by L
Hey dvIceT,

do you think you can use the Xircom rebate too???

Check this out
http://www.rebatecatcher.com/rebate...ufacturer_id=63

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That's incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much!

I've read through the rebate PDF and I see no reason why I wouldn't be able to get it!

$30 for a Visor modem! Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

I just hope others can find the same deal I did before the purchase window of the rebate expires(May 31).

Registered: May 2000
Location: Cleveland, OH
Posts: 15

Oh man...

It would be sweet if they were having the same clearance in NE Ohio! They are still listing them at $119.98. Can you believe that?