Slashdot Mirror

Xircom makes an 802.11b module for the m5XX and M125 handhelds. They also have an 802.11b module for your Visor.

Xircom makes an 802.11b module for the m5XX and M125 handhelds. They also have an 802.11b module for your Visor.

Funny, everyone else has been using Xircom Realport cards for ages, and many of the corporate-aimed laptops nowadays have a 10/100baseT port built in.

Sorry, not a reason to buy a Powerbook at all...

Xircom is rolling out both 802.11 and Bluetooth Springboard modules next year.

The most important questions to me are:

Did Handspring fork off their version from the Palm OS code tree by moving to their 3.1H3 for the module support?

If so, is Palm OS 4 going to reincorporate the code for modules to work with the Handspring? Springboard developers like Xircom are already working on modular Bluetooth solutions. It would seem silly to not consider that.

--

As soon as this comes out in 802.11 format, I would seriously consider buying it -- and a Handspring Visor to go with it. It's expected this fall.

Much easier to hold onto (not that it was a problem before, but I can be much lazier now)

With the 8M flash Springboard module, I now have *16M* of storage space

The GPS/GSM/WAP/SMS module comes out in 18 days

Since there's so much Unix software out for Palm, I didn't have to bother with installing Windows anywhere when I got the Visor

The Visor, IMnsHO, looks way cooler

Bad

Other Springboard stuff, like the 802.11 wireless module, keeps getting delayed :(

IR port is on the side instead of on the top (ridiculous)

The non-graphite Visor Deluxes look weird with a color on the top and clear on the bottom. I would have purchased a color one in a heartbeat had it been color front and back.

Springboard modules have been promised for months now with no indication as to when and if they will actually show up. I wouldn't hold your breath.

That is true, but eventually someone will release something. They are working on it. Xircom has some pretty cool Springboard products that are expected for release during the summer or fall of this year. I'm sure they will be a little late, but eventaully the Springboard modules will hit the market. The other thing is that this is the first generation of Springboard modules so the development time will be slightly longer. Once they get the bugs worked out, I think there will be a influx of similar devices hitting the market and lowing prices.

I realize that this is going to illicit a strong response from the readers but here goes:
Ever consider a WindowsCE product? I bought a Casio E100 8 months ago and have feel it was the best purchase Ive ever made.
When I saw my first PDA, I knew I had to have one, but recognizing how limited the hardware was, I resolved that I would resist my horrible 'first adopter' tendencies and wait for the 'next gen' products. When the E100 became available I thought it was sufficiently spec'd to be useful. 8/8 ROM/RAM, Industry Standard Compact Flash (none of this springboard stuff), Stereo Output (portable MP3), Excellent 65k colour TFT Screen (was showing StarWars Trailer on this guy 4 hours after release). It is still the best specs available in a PDA. I have a 96MB CF(for MP3s), a 56k CF (bought @ less than $80 through a promotion), and an Ether CF (onto the network I go).
I purchased a Nokia 56xx(forget exact model #) and use the adapter ($150!!!!) to dialup my ISP.

No hassle internet - no 'services', or 'content products'

This setup set me back a bit (600+80+600+150 $CDN(subsidized by the odd 'deal' and my employer))but I feel it is the only VIABLE portable/wireless computing solution available (presently).

Sure its WinCE - but it really does perform its duty. The OS is not the only reason I bought the device. Please be objective about my decision to buy this setup - Im as much a lover of GNU/Linux and free(dom) software as you are, but what were my choices to match this performance?

I realize that this is going to illicit a strong response from the readers but here goes:
Ever consider a WindowsCE product? I bought a Casio E100 8 months ago and have feel it was the best purchase Ive ever made.
When I saw my first PDA, I knew I had to have one, but recognizing how limited the hardware was, I resolved that I would resist my horrible 'first adopter' tendencies and wait for the 'next gen' products. When the E100 became available I thought it was sufficiently spec'd to be useful. 8/8 ROM/RAM, Industry Standard Compact Flash (none of this springboard stuff), Stereo Output (portable MP3), Excellent 65k colour TFT Screen (was showing StarWars Trailer on this guy 4 hours after release). It is still the best specs available in a PDA. I have a 96MB CF(for MP3s), a 56k CF (bought @ less than $80 through a promotion), and an Ether CF (onto the network I go).
I purchased a Nokia 56xx(forget exact model #) and use the adapter ($150!!!!) to dialup my ISP.

No hassle internet - no 'services', or 'content products'

This setup set me back a bit (600+80+600+150 $CDN(subsidized by the odd 'deal' and my employer))but I feel it is the only VIABLE portable/wireless computing solution available (presently).

Sure its WinCE - but it really does perform its duty. The OS is not the only reason I bought the device. Please be objective about my decision to buy this setup - Im as much a lover of GNU/Linux and free(dom) software as you are, but what were my choices to match this performance?

What about a Handspring Visor? I have one and love it, it's cheap (relitively speaking) and it has the Springboard port. Right now there are a number of companies working on wireless Springboard modules. For instance there is Xircom, who is in the process of building a wireless modem, bluetooth modem and an ethernet module. According to their site, they should be released later this summer. Innogear also has some cool products for the Springboard available and under development.

In the meantime if you want movie times and maps there are some apps for Palm OS that you can install. For movie times there is a little program called Showtimes that allows you to download movie times for you favorite theaters from Yahoo! and stores them in a database, on your Visor or Palm, that you can access very easily. It's an awesome program and it is free!! As far as maps go, there is software available from Mapblast.com, called PocketBlast, that allows you to import maps to your handheld device of choice.

This actually goes quite nicely with the announcement that Xircom will be producing an Airport Springboard for the Visor. CNN article - Xircom Press Release. I wonder if the first batch, or so, of Apple-brand PalmOS devices will have Airport support, possibly built in, possibly with a simple add-on...