Amazon.com
On-the-go business professionals are constantly looking for more ways to stay connected to e-mail, incoming stock quotes, and other online information using their handhelds. But many connectivity options have had limitations, such as e-mail that's received only through a proprietary service, or access to the Web confined to partner sites. If you're a Handspring user, the OmniSky Minstrel S wireless modem Springboard module is cause for rejoicing. You'll first need to charge the Minstrel S, which takes only about two hours (an AC adapter is included). The charge will typically last about 10 to 12 hours, and we found this was worth several days of usage during lunch and on bus commutes. While the unit charged, we set up our OmniSky service, which features unlimited usage time and is priced at $39.95 monthly or $399.95 for a 12-month subscription. We then simply slipped the Minstrel S into the Springboard expansion slot, installed the OmniSky software onto our Visor (you'll need 1.5 MB free on your Visor), and were connected almost immediately.
It's important to note that the Minstrel S requires either a Handspring Visor Platinum or Prism. It won't work with the Visor Deluxe or the regular 2 MB version of the Visor because the Minstrel S requires Palm OS 3.3 or above (the older Visors run version 3.1, and you can't upgrade the OS with anything more than patch files).
To get to the OmniSky home page, you just tap the icon in the Handspring home section or press the lone button on the Minstrel S modem. Connection was seamless, and downloading content from the CDPD wireless network seemed plenty fast at 19.2 Kpbs (since we were viewing mainly just text). The OmniSky home page provided a list of information subjects with links to partners who provide content that has been optimized for the Palm OS (they currently boast nearly 1,000 sites). For instance, choosing Variety.com under Entertainment brought us a neatly organized list of the day's headlines.
It can get a little dicey when you visit sites outside of the partner list. Site layouts can get quite jumbled or awkwardly spread out, and you'll even see normally hidden information, such as search meta tags. Despite the visual funkiness, we were able to catch up on the latest UK soccer news via BBC just fine.
The strength of the OmniSky is its e-mail support, which provides connection to POP3, AOL, and Yahoo! e-mail accounts. We easily configured the OmniSky to pick up our EarthLink and Yahoo! e-mail accounts, and we were able to set up separate in-box folders. OmniSky downloads just the first 1,000 characters of each e-mail, and that's typically enough, though you also have the option of downloading the full text. (Unless you choose to delete mail from a server, the e-mail you view via OmniSky will also be downloaded by your desktop PC.)
If you're a road warrior, the OmniSky Minstrel S will send you into battle with the necessary communication tools. You'll be able to keep up with what's happening back in the office, as well as check in on stocks and airline schedules quickly and without any connection headache. --Agen G.N. Schmitz
Pros:
- E-mail support for wide range of services, including AOL
- Good list of optimized partner content
- Long-lasting power supply from rechargeable battery
Cons: - Viewing Web content outside of partner list isn't perfect
