PocketSurfer2: Unlimited Internet for life!

Stuart_W

The PocketSurfer2 is a small handheld device that allows full web-surfing (not WAP). It is not a laptop so downloads and other software cannot be run on it.

It comes on a non-subscription non-contract basis, with the cost of buying the equipment covering surfing costs. This includes 20 hours per month for life. However, for a one-off payment of £59.99 this extends to being unlimited...for life!

Total cost of the PocketSurfer2 and unlimited access comes in at around the £200 mark.

The repackaged bundle became available from 30th September.

It uses the Vodafone GPRS signal and compression technology so speed up downloads (so it doesn't compare favourably to mobile broadband in areas of performance and speed) - but for very basic browsing and emailing surely £200 one-off for life is reasonable.

...or will this company go bust by next year?

www.pocketsurfer.co.uk

DatabaseError

why does this read like spam? not reported, as 317 post count suggests genuine

tghe-retford

Hmm... unlimited usage and mobile - sounds like an oxymoron to me. Nonetheless, unlimited usage on a mobile network does sound too good to be true, particularly when doing things like downloading video or streaming audio for more than an hour or two can cost someone hundreds, if not thousands in fees. Considering the connection for the PocketSurfer, its likely to only be occasional light users who will use it.

Shame, I could do with something that would allow me to listen to Jazz FM at decent quality (no chance of it ever appearing on DAB in our area) out and about to and from work without the huge cost of going over a small allowance that I couldn't afford, however hell is more likely to freeze over than the mobile companies giving unlimited usage to those who want to do more than check the odd email now and again.

Stageshoot

You wont be doing any streaming or downloading files with this

Basically when you type a web address is sends it to a server when sends a jpg compressed image of the webpage to the unit, with a bit of fancy software so it still sees text boxes and buttons. Thats all it does, basic web pages, no java no plug ins no embedded video. so no youtube etc. the bandwidth it uses is minimal beacuase of this and for most users its totally impractical.

Stuart_W

Does anyone have any experience of this device?

Would, for example, .pdf files or .doc files from websites be viewable?

I get downloads etc are not possible. I'm predominantly thinking about email on the move. Not sure of any other options that don't involve any kind of subscription fees or per minute/KB fees - but I could be wrong.

The Asus mini-laptop that espresso refers to is by far superior as a piece of equipment - but can I use it to check my email for free? I'd much rather have the Asus if I could - but from looking at the PocketSurfer website, it seems that Datawind are absorbing the cost of paying vodafone - so I guess they must know that there will not be many heavy data users of the device due to it's limitations, otherwise their business model would fail.

hansi

I had a look at this product as I wanted broadband "on the go" and it really is rubbish. It is a very flimsy build and a very cluttered small screeen which you would need a magnifying glass if you have less than perfect sight. In the end I bought the Acer Aspire One netbook complete with XP and it has three USB sockets, sound, and lots of other features. Granted is is more expensive at £299 but worth it!

Stuart_W

OK, so we have established this little device will not cook eggs, fry chips or stonebake a pizza. It cannot stream video, it does not play music, it does not have sound of any sort in fact. It can view .doc .pdf and .xls files along with most websites and most plug-ins (customer services confirmed this for me today).

For very basic email and web access it offers something no one else does - completely FREE web access FOR LIFE.

So, is this too good to be true? I don't see a cheaper option myself. I'm just very dubious of any of these "for life..." deals. I think it is just what I'm after - as long as it will do what it claims to.

The unlimited for life deal is new, I don't quite know how it will be sustained. I nearly got done by Euro1Net (thankfully they rejected my phone number), and very nearly applied for a RedTen "free" laptop - so I don't want to back a turkey here, but this product does seem tempting.

Anyone using it, and successfully got the unlimited for life deal?

hansi

With reference to your "sarky" reply, I was just pointing out the negatives with this product. Yes, you get free internet, but the design and build quality is very poor. There have been reports of the paint flaking and I can't see the lid hinges lasting very long if it is continually being open and closed. If "free " internet is your reason for buying it, then go ahead, but there are much better products out there, and mobile internet dongles have never been cheaper ie 3 mobile payg from £2 per day plus the cost of the dongle.

Stuart_W

Sorry for the sarcasm. Of course it's a very fair point that if this thing is rather cheaply built that the exact wording of the "for life" deal is "...for the life OF THE DEVICE". Now it could be that they expect anyone who is using it heavily to quite literally use it to it's death within a couple of years. I think I'd overlooked that point. The hinges might fall apart, the keyboard give up, the mouse pointer pack in, the screen crack, someone sit one it etc. If the device packs up, so does the "for life" deal. At least if I buy it from John Lewis I get 2 years warranty included - but if we're not guaranteeing to last longer than that then the whole point behind considering this - the FREE element -kind of falls into the mist with, as you say, mobile broadband being so cheap on the right deal.I'm really not sure on this one....

hansi

Well, you're certainly right about the John Lewis bit. I bought my Aspire One from them and the two year guarantee is good. Go and have a look at the PS2 and the Aspire One ( I have the XP model) and compare. Ok, there is a price difference, but you do get an awful lot more for your money.

Stuart_W

Well, I had an afternoon off so I went into town to check out these devices at John Lewis and Maplin.

Well, PocketSurfers are not going to fly off the shelf fast if my experience is anything to go by.

First of all, asking in Maplins, the first guy had to ability to get the device out of the cabinet (hidden away at the very bottom of a large display cabinet with PDAs and various other things). I just wanted to see it in action and type in a web address to see it "do it's thing". After a few minutes, he realised he didn't know what he was doing, passed it over to someone else who sent me to the technical desk and then he said the product wasn't registered and that he'd get one from the office he could demonstrate with. 5 mins later he returned saying he couldn't do that. I could at least use the pointer to navigate the cursor across the screen, but was unable to get past the registration page to then type in a web address. He could confirm the 20 hours of surf time per month for 1 year and £40 year 2 fee, or a £5.99/month unlimited option but no £59.99 unlimited for life deal was available.

Then in John Lewis, usually wonderful, the PocketSurfer is exempt from their 2 year cover and only comes with the 1 year manufacturers warranty (worrying sign to start with). When I asked to see it in action, the battery had gone on the one on display, and the assistant said that they couldn't charge the battery (?eh?). I asked about the internet connection, and very surprisingly for John Lewis was told a load of total rubbish, I was told I need to top up around £5 for 1000 minutes and then top up again when I've used it up - this is cobblers. Needless to say I didn't buy the device because out of principle neither of these two shops deserved the custom.

This product is quite clearly not being heavily promoted - hardly anywhere sells it and places that do seem to wish they didn't. But I have at least seen it. It does look cheap and flimsy. The only reason I may possibly consider such a device is from a moneysaving email-on-the-move point of view, not because of the functions or design. It seems odd that no one could confirm the £59.99 unlimited for life option which seems to me the ONLY thing this device has going for it - and that's if the device keeps going for long enough.
Still undecided.