PocketSurfer2: Unlimited Internet for life!

hansi

Like I said. it's rubbish:rolleyes:

Samanthas_2

Stuart_W wrote: »

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.

>>>>
Yes they are flogging this as a Special Offer on IdealWorld TV https://www.idealworld.tv Steer well clear of this Company if you want Customer Service of ANY Kind I have had dealings with them and they are appauling when anything goes wrong.

Heres the link it will expire soon its a weekend offer.

http://www.idealworld.tv/PocketSurfer_2_Lite_141712.aspx?

Besides the things you mentioned about this product if you want to use it abroad in Ireland etc the roaming charges are astronomical. too

Samanthas_2

hansi wrote: »

Like I said. it's rubbish:rolleyes:

>>>>>
PocketSurfer is there a Better Alternative? or is there any particular mini notebook you would recommend?

hansi

Well, I bought an Acer Aspire One with XP installed. Ok, you need a usb dongle, and you' can't put it in your pocket, but it's only £100 more and you do get a lot more like usb sockets, media card sockets, and an excellent keyboard. On the minus side, the mouse is a little tricky, but I bought a mini wireless mouse and it works great.

oldagetraveller

Samanthas wrote: »

>>>>>
PocketSurfer is there a Better Alternative? or is there any particular mini notebook you would recommend?

Of course there is, see post number 4 (espresso).They are out of stock but a search might find more.
I agree about Ideal World, wouldn't touch them again with a 5ft sterilised, antiseptic bargepole. Absolutely useless CS and their delivery takes up to 17 days if you're lucky! They debit payment immediately and obtaining a refund for non delivered and/or faulty goods is harder than pulling teeth from a hen.

Stuart_W

hansi wrote: »

Well, I bought an Acer Aspire One with XP installed. Ok, you need a usb dongle, and you' can't put it in your pocket, but it's only £100 more and you do get a lot more like usb sockets, media card sockets, and an excellent keyboard. On the minus side, the mouse is a little tricky, but I bought a mini wireless mouse and it works great.

It was the navigation across the screen (or lack of it) that most put me off the pocket surfer.
What's the cheapest way to get a dongle connection then?

Working my way through all the free laptop gimmicks, I think that the Three 24GB prepaid starter pack from TheLink (£179) seems the best light user option at the equivalent £7.50 per month without any unexpected charges or high run-on rates. Three's mobile broadband lite tariff at £10/month seems to charge 10p per MB (£100 per GB) after the first GB.

Whilst I wouldn't expect to go past 1 GB in one month, that tariff would prevent me from wanting to use it at all after 1GB. The starter pack allows 24GB over a 24 month period which seems like it will be more flexible - and cheaper - than the monthly tariff.
http://www.thelink.co.uk/mobile-store/161718-8312/three-24gb-mobile-broadband-starter-kit-3-pay-as-you-go-broadband.html

hansi

I bought the T-Mobile PAYG dongle for £50 as I have broadband at home but wanted it on the move. It's £2 per day, but if you buy a week or longer it's cheaper. The Aspire One is being advertised on the telly this week, I see.