Re: Vario II

["David Gumbrell" <david.gumbrell@xxxxxxxxx>]

To answer Chris' original question some emails back and catch up the
conversation (I'm a bit behind, been rendering some almighty holes in the
plaster) ...

I went for the cheapest voice tariff plus web'n'walk. Being a
billy-no-mates, I don't talk on the phone much, in fact I had been planning
to dump my Vodafone contract for PAYG when Mark's email came along, and
that
led me to discover the TMO tariff. I had kept Voda for a year or so hoping
for decreased data charges, but they've lost that chance now.

I agonised over Web'n'Walk vs Web'n'Walk Pro. What swung it was the small
print, Pro threatens dire consequences if they detect VOIP or MOIP - ie
contract cancellation (ie could have 18months to pay with nothing to show
for it), whereas the Web'n'Walk just threatens "network protection
measures". I'd be unlikely to use it that much as a modem in any case
- but
would have liked the video streaming once the cameras are networked.

I have successfully browsed to the Cortex web screen on the device, but
I've
just changed my firewall/router and so haven't got access set up again yet.
I think Cortex supports a web layout specifically for PDAs (I remember
Vivian demoing it via WiFi at the last UKHA) so should be even better once
I
get that swapped over.

I used to be a Palm user, but got fed up with the aggro of syncing to
Outlook. The Dell Axim was OK, but I got fed up with the lack of the update
the latest WM so that the VGA would work properly. So far the MDA is
working
out really well for my purposes, I'm accepting being Borgified 'cos it just
works. I don't think there's really much to choose between Palm and latest
WM on a decent processor. Perhaps battery life would be the only thing in
it.

Ian is spot on about the tariff being generous enough for you to use
without
worrying. I'm just a little disappointed about the "Messaging over
IP" ban,
presumably done to protect SMS revenue. I'm not a great SMS-er either, but
would like IM. In my life they wouldn't clash, but I guess an IM-SMS
gateway
probably exists somewhere. What is strange is that the TMO-branded install
program links you to a download for MSN Live - which includes an IM client
(although with a small print get-out)

As for the network branding, I think it unobtrusive and includes some
sensible setup. The TMO home page is nicer than the default Windows one I
reckon. The branding/add-ons is installed after first power-on and I
believe
there is a method to abort it via a hard reset if you don't like it -
search
the www.modaco.com forums for more info on that.

Cheers,

David

Mandatory Disclaimer: The above is my personal opinion solely and in no way
represents the opinion of my employer or anyone else for that matter.


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