Hi,
I know that Pocketmail has been discussed in other threads, but I am curious to know from people who have used Pocketmail (or not used it), whether it is worth it for the money? Or is it just as easy to write your journal and have someone type it in? From my understanding you still need a transcriber with the Pocketmail, correct?
Just mulling over the options in my end… If anyone has a suggestion/comment, it would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Danielle
Much easier, if we can’t read your hand. Just copy and paste to Word, spell check, copy and paste to journal. BLAMBO, done. Also nice for keeping up with supplies, talking to your family doctor which we did, school kids if you do that. One guy had a Palm 7 with the fold up keyboard so he could work and hike at the same time. Uploaded his e-work thru his talking paper cups device. We also ordered round flat bread with tomato sauce with his talking cups device too. Still need a transcriber but that’s not hard. Anyone with some computer skill can do it. It’s easy.
Bushwhack
I like mine. No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers dirty looks! I can type it in, go back and change it if I want to, keep everyone’s info (and email them at the same time), keep up with writing down my schedule, and then post it directly online to my yahoo group when I’m in town and I don’t even need a transcriber! Works great. It’s more compact than a journal (though perhaps slightly heavier than some) but much more versitile. Yeah, it’s worth the $ to me.
-Howie
Hungry Howie
I really enjoyed using my pocketmail until it quit working. I’ve had to return it twice and the folks out there are really slow as far as customer service is concerned. I’ve prepaid for 6 months and haven’t had the use of it for about 2 months so far. Liteshoe (2003) also had the same problems. They promised to send me a new one but I’ve been waiting 2 weeks since I returned it the second time and so far nothing. If you don’t have to send it back for repairs or replacement its a great tool.
Chief
I have to agree with Chief. We’re using Pocketmail now on the trail and it’s worked without a hitch. We heard that Chief’s and also LiteShoe’s had problems, but (knock on wood),ours has been wonderful. It’s easy for my daughter to cut and paste and the advantage over snail mail entries is their speed at getting posted online.
Scamp
Now if I could just get Fox on the thing. Or be DVD compatable we could watch Deliverance in the shelter or Blair Witch. Whereza popcorn?
BW
Please excuse my ignorance but how does pocketmail connect one to the Internet? Is there a modem within? Is there telephone capability? Is the battery life consistent with the amount of time between Hotel/Motel/Inn/Places to stay where re-charging is available? AND, how heavy is it?
Jack
1/2#, audio modem, hopld it like Maxwell Shmart’s shoe phone and hit the go button, months on the battery if you lay off the backlite. Sprint won’t support it, or at least they didn’t in '01. Use with a Sam’s Card.
Bushwhack
The device has a flip up receiver and a microphone. You line each up to the appropriate portion of a telephone handset and press the button. It interfaces as a modem. Now this device only supports email. But through your subscription with pocketmail you can associate other email accounts with your pocketmail address. The email will be forwarded to your address. As far as telephone usage, they provide toll free numbers for a regular telephone and one that only works with a payphone. Remember that one. I had a fellow pocketmail user last year not realize what the other number was for. I had no problems last year getting connected using any telephone. It did not support cell phones last year although I think they were working on that one. It uses two AA batteries that hold up for over a month if you do not use the backlight. That is what your headlamp is for anyway. It does not have recharging capability. How heavy? I would suggest you go to pocketmail.com.
Two Scoops
Thanks for the info everyone. I appreciate it. Sounds like a handy device to me! 
Danielle
Does anyone have a Composer pocketmail or cell phone compatible device that they wish to sell? I may be interested for the right price.
I have heard that the latest pocketmail composer works with cell phones. but the previous version TM20 does not. I’m not sure when the composer went on the market. If no one has one to sell, I’ll resort to buying it online. Sounds like a great way to keep journals.
gumwood
Check ebay. quite a few around on ebay. avoid the JVC units, they have quality control problems. the TM20, PM32 and PM33 (aka composer) are good. PM33/Composer is the newest incarnation of the device. (its either silver or purple).
Bloody Cactus