OmniSky Minstrel S Wireless Modem Springboard Module for Handspring

Not that this "was" a bad product, back in 1999, but there truly is not any support for it and OmniSky is no more. So the modem is truly a paperweight. So unless you are a museum or looking for a prop, there is no reason at all to buy it.

[Note: This review does not cover the question of whether or not one needs a wireless PDA.]I owned a Palm VII for about 15 months before I decided to upgrade. Or rather, needed to upgrade...2MB and wireless connectivity don't exactly go well together. It was tough decision, but with all of the rebates, I thought I'd try a Visor (Platinum) with the Omnisky modem.First thing I noticed, the VII has better penetration in buildings...at conferences and seminars, the VII worked great in just about every room I was in. The OmniSky seems to only work if I'm in a room near the outside part of the building, sitting as close as possible to the outside within the room. Second item of notice, the Omnisky software utilizes lots and lots of graphical icons and a very GUI-y email client. The VII was definitely more "content" oriented. I didn't scroll as much when reading email or news articles. And I don't know why, but articles do seem more concatenated with the Omnisky than they do with the VII. Fourth, the Palm network has better coverage than Omnisky's (see palm.net vs omnisky.com's coverage maps). Fifth, I miss just popping up the antenna and tapping to connect; it must take a good 5-10 seconds to connect with the Omnisky.So why stick with the Omnisky? I prepaid for a year (rebates). So far, I can indeed do a little bit more, such as telnetting to machines and being able to browse sites without waiting for someone to write a web clipping app. Surprise, surprise, the darn thing works in Vancouver, BC, Canada and at Whistler (yes, the ski resort)! Absolutely zero Palm.net coverage in BC, Canada. This was very handy when I wanted to do some currency conversion.Yes, my OmniSky did crash my Visor a number of times when I first got it. Then I read someone's review suggesting to close the modem apps before pulling out the module. My Visor hasn't crashed since (knock on wood ;) ).If you think you'll only be using or needing this device in major cities, it's worth considering. If you drive around a bit or tend to find yourself outside major cities, consider a Palm VIIx. Keep in mind, the VIIx is more suited to folks who prefer their wireless PDA use to be more content-oriented.

I have found the coverage in the Denver area excellent! Installation was a pain ... because the included CD was for the wrong device. Since I received it late on Friday (and tech support closes at 1800 ET) I had to root around the OmniSky web site looking for information on how to activate the unit. I found it, and it activated so no harm done. Documentation could be better!!!!The big problem is that it crashes the visor every now and again. When this happens, you just have to do a soft reset. Okay so that's a pain. No hard resets yet.OmniSky says it's working on a color version to be released in January 2002. Until then, the OmniSky browser is B&W. If you need color, use the Handspring Blazer browser.All in all, I like the modem. It does have a few problems, but I'm hoping most will be fixed in upcoming software updates. Really, the only big problem is the resets.If you're a gadget person like I am, you'll love it.

To all looking at this pruduct. It is very good. I was concerned with the other reviews. Omnisky is a reseller of ATT Wireless. The people who were unhappy do not have the ATT network. They should have Verizon. I work in this industry nationwide and coverage in NYC and Illinois can be spotty. I have had no problems with this modem I am in South Florida, which is ATT. The support is great with both Omnisky and Handspring. The Visor Platinum is faster than my Palm V. The modem and Omnisky filtering allows a much faster connection. I use another CDPD modem for my laptop and the 19.2 speed is slow. This is from the photos and ads. There is good news on the horizon though ATT is launching 128k connection over the CDPD network. This should be by the end of the year. Bottom line is if you like "toys" you will love it. If you use it for work, you will not ever be without it. Also you will be the envy of all of those traveling business people toting around a 10lb laptop. One last thing Omnisky software. Put the CD in your comp. enter your chosen user name and activation code. click add for your multiple mail accounts. You are wireless in ten minutes. Very easy.

I just purchased this item and it arrived today (2/2/2004). I called in to activate, and according to the operator (omnisky no longer exists, it's now Earthlink which should have told me it wasn't worth the hassle to begin with) no one supports the omnisky wireless modem any longer. Just a warning to those who purchase this item... think you're getting a hot deal?? nah... just a useless paperweight worth 80 bucks...