The Peek unlimited email PDA does one thing... hopefully really, really well
The Peek is a remedial little PDA with one and only one function: it does email. It's practically a Gameboy for email. For $19.95 a month and $99.95 down, the Peek will give you unlimited, always-on access to email no matter where you are.
That seems like a rather gimped feature set, but I like the purity of devices that do only one thing, and do it well. The Peek could be the perfect solution to give to that elderly grandparent so they can stay in touch.
But even more promising: what if the Peek is hackable? What if someone figures out how to get a browser working on its OS? That could make the Peek very attractive to those who don't need a Smartphone but want remedial, always-on internet access no matter where they go.
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Elderly Grandparent?
Combine the intuitive ease of use of an email client with the screen size of a cellphone - ever watch older people use email or a cellphone?
You're either drunk, or you're believing someone's marketing BS.
As for hackability, you can already install Debian on the $300 Nokia N810. That has email, web browser, wifi and bluetooth cell modem connection built in with a bigger screen and keyboard in a similar form factor.
I'd bet a brazililon dollars this thing is running on top of the cheezy old two-way paging network that Blackberry used to use. Solution in search of a problem.
Thanks for your thoughtful and polite counterpoint. I have to admit that as I floating pickling in a whiskey filled brainwashing tank, these points somehow eluded me.
The CEO of our large health system is pushing 70 and he _hates_ his blackberry 'cause of the tiny buttons and screen. He needs easy email access, but doesn't want any other features. This sort of thing could be perfect for him if it's slightly larger and easier to use than a smartphone.
>I like the purity of devices that do
>only one thing, and do it well.
While I'm not sure about this particular device, I agree with the above sentiment. While it's nice to have a multitool on your belt, no one builds a home or a birdhouse with one.
I want to say thank you for going against what everyone else thinks is "conventional". You're absolutely right, the geeks won't think too much of this device, but I can think of a dozen people that would love to have your Peek(r). I mean seriously, what did people think when Apple thought up the iPod device years ago? There were already many music players on the market...but what they did is incredibly simplify the experience...and made it available to the "rest" of the folks...and the rest is history.
Just last night I was talking to a friend who does full time evangelizing work during the day...and has about 400 emails waiting for him every couple of days when he checks his email account. And I thought it would be great to get him an "email only" device that was cheap and had full qwerty. And today I find this device.
I hope this works out for you guys...I just wish the email plan was more like $10.
- Sam De La Garza
I totally agree with the two previous comments. An easy to use portable device offering an 'email only' purpose, I think, would be a popular device. We all access email, some to a much greater extent than others and sometimes the 'all singing,all dancing gadgets' really complicate matters, when all you want to do is access and send emails. I like the sound of it!
Psst jonathanpeterson, it doesn't run on mobitext/paging network. Now pay up that brazilion dollars.
You can paypal it to me from your N810 to amol at getpeek dot com.
We'll use the money to make the Peek 40% thicker, 100% heavier, 75% worse battery life, 200% more expensive, add a 2-year contract, and an annoying cellular carrier store to buy it from...like virtually all other smartphones
(While you're at it please show us where to get a N810 for $300!! Everyone is selling them for 400-600$ http://is.gd/1QPd )
The BOM cost of N810 has to be over $150. The high end devices usually have higher than 65%profit margin (or BOM/ASP ratio less than 35%) from the manufactures for wholesale. So what will be the wholesale price, and retail price be?
Well, no doubt the device has its beauty in its simplicity and purity. I have just one question bugging my mind, which network does it use? It it GSM / CDMA or any other WiMAX based sort of thing. Please share if anyone has any idea about this.
Thanks,
Danish