Customer Reviews

K-Byte Zipit Wireless Instant Messenger - Blue

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The ZipIt Wireless Messenger is the best instant messaging device I have ever used. The ability to connect to any open access point is one of its strongest strengths - I can use it out in the park, at many local resturants, and at school. The software is very easy to use. On the device's first boot, it walks you through a simple setup proceedure that involves entering your IM names and passwords. Afterwards, every time the unit is turned on it automatically looks for an open access point, connects to it, and logs on your IM services. If it does not find an open one, or only finds one with WAP, a dialogue appears asking for the ESSID of the base station you want to connect to or for the WAP key, respectively.

Your buddy list can be shown or hidden by the big "Z" logo key just below the screen's hinge. Messaging someone on your list is as simple as selecting their name with the arrow keys and hitting enter. If you have a large list of friends, you can begin typing their name, and it will automatically select the closesst match.

Chatting itself is very intuitive. If you recieve a message when you have no other conversations going, that message is displayed, along with the familliar bottom text field for you to type. If another message is recieved while you are chatting, a non-intrusive popup is displayed for a few seconds informing you of the new message. You can switch conversations by hittting the previous and next keys, or by hitting P1, P2, or P3 for the first three conversations. You can have up to 99 conversations going at once - if that's not enough for you, then you need to seek the services of a professional. And of course, all the expected sound notifications are here - buddies logging on and off, sending and recieving messages, etc.

Battery life is solid, with 4-6 hours in my experience depending on the power saving options. The power save option works with most newer access points, but some older ones won't let you connect with this option enabled so you will have to resort to turning that off.

Physically, the device is lightweight yet has a solid feel to its construction. The display lid has a latch on it to keep it closed, and the power button will not turn the unit on if the screen is down. The battery door is secured with a single phillips screw to ensure it is not accidentally released.

Nothing is perfect, however, and the ZipIt is no exception. My only gripe is relitively minor - the keyboard has a bit of a learning curve for those who type very quickly. Essentially, the keyboard cannot handle more than one keypress at a time. If, for instance, you are typing the word "if", and your right thumb hasn't completely released the 'i' key before your left thumb hits the 'f' key, the 'f' key will not register. This may have been intentional, as it does allow for people with large thumbs to type (since key in the center of the thumb is depressed before the others, only the intended one registers), but if that was the case I would have liked to have an option to turn it off. At this point, it is not much of a concern to me as I have adjusted my thumb typing methods to compensate. Typing speed now feels acceptable.

Finally, a note to anyone who is interested in embedded Linux applications - this device is a must! If you are willing to void the warantee, there are instructions on the net to replace the default firmware with an open Linux one, which can make the device infinately more useful. After playing with it using the original firmware for a week, I myself installed the OpenZipit firmware on the device. Now, in addition to instant messaging, I can use SSH to connect to my server at home and adminster it remotely, browse the web, compile applications, or even play Infocom games, wherever I have a WiFi connection. Multiple virtual terminals are supported as well, so you can effectively multitask. There is plenty of development interest in the device amoung the open source community as well, ensuring that adventurous geeks like myself will often find new ways to use our Zipits =)

Overall, this device should appeal to three primary crowds:
-Parents who want the family computer back after their teens constantly hog it to chat with friends
-Teens, who are tired of sharing the family computer just to chat
-Geeks interested in Embedded Linux who are looking for an inexpensive device to experament on.

If you fall into any of the above crowds, I cannot reccomend this product enough.

Bought this unit for my oldest daughter, turned it on and in less 2 minutes she was sending IM's through our wireless network. Unit is small and very transportable. Battery life is excellent, and its rechargeable! Keypad is responsive and in QWERTY format. Already got 2 more for my other children before the holiday crunch hits. I also looked at the Motorola IM Free (left a review there too), but you are "tethered" to a base station - which may be acceptable for the home, but its no good away from a router/modem with an open port - ie. McCafe, coffee shops , etc, plus Zipit is smaller than the IM Free. So far, Zipit quickly connects to any wireless network without additional software/hardware and seems hassle free, plus there is no monthly fee I have to pay. While wireless isn't in every place you go, it's heading that way pretty fast. Plus, many schools and colleges are wi-fi now so it can be used on campus as well.

<Gadgetster> - normally your reviews hit the mark but I think you need a new wireless router this time or maybe you just got a bad unit because none of my units (3) are having the problems you describe. The range restrictions/connection issues you describe (you also had the same problems with the IM Free as far as range) are nonexistant in my units, and the unit does have a built in firewall contrary to your feedback. And for $50 you can get a portable wireless router to plug into your laptop or the hi-speed connection for on the road usage where no wireless network is readily available.

Zipit will also have an online firmware upgrade lets you downstream mp3 music right through Zipit, I'll be checking that out when it is available. Only downside I see is no backlit LCD display, but for the price/performance this is a steal. The two clinchers to me are true wireless capability and no additional service fee - I don't have to choose either/or.

This thing is great. I use it at night when i am lying in bed or when i am just hanging around my house. it is great for when you want to talk to your friends but someone else is on the computer. the only thing i dont like is how there is not a light built or attached so if you are not near a lamp you can not see what is on the screen

Okay, on the plus sides:
Sturdy feel, lightweight, long battery life, long wifi range, good encryption compatability, lots of IM options, good keyboard.

It would have been a great gadget 100% except for the fact it has no backlight and it broke in less than a week. It probably would have lasted longer except for a drop off a table onto hard floor. Glass screen (should be using plastic by now) shattered in lower right corner leaving entire right side of screen unusuable. Lid switch also engadges for no reason, causing it to go into standby at random times. Had potential but durability and reliability are a bit of an issue. If you're careful, it's a great product.

I opened the package, read the two page instructions and hooked it up in about 4 minutes. Just getting this far was a an accomplishment for me! But the best part was that it actually works! The sound clarity and bass boost provides a noticeable difference in sound output. I recommend this product.

These are good for chatting on aim, but with some hacking they can have so many other uses. The zipit is basically an ultra-portable text-only Linux laptop. Versions of the zipit with the old firmware let you install a version of Linux with shell access and useful tools like an ssh client. Unfortunately the manufacture broke this ability in the new firmwares and if you want to play with Linux, you need to get out a soldering iron and modify the hardware. Since the makers of zipit chose to use the free software community's software for the zipit, they should let us hack it! That is the true spirit of the GPL.

my sister got one for christmas i love she gets off the computer and it even works at our grandparents house. my cuzs get zipits too i can't wait to get mine.

Bought 4 as Christmas gifts. Too bad ALL of them freeze after a couple of minutes of use. I am returning them as soon as possible and wait for the product to mature.

ENSURE MAKERS OF THE DEVICE SEE THIS...

To: Zipitwireless technical support, Creators/Developers(all those responsible for making of this product), Kbyte technical support.
The price of your product in Canadian dollars after tax works out to be around $173 Canadian at Best Buy. This is a major rip off, especially if updates are not made.
Note that this review will be sent to the makers of Zipit, technical support kbytememory, and zipitwireless.com, Technical support will likely be contacted before you receive this, perhaps in future once the freezing problem is solved, your technical support will mail free products(as others do) if the executives finally are unable to solve the problem, for example, a user gives their serial number etc., and technical support tries to solve the problem, technical support either receives the current product by mail and fixes it, or another product is sent (with all updates). Please respond immediately within 24 hours, as this review may soon be posted on all known information sites of this product, due to lack of reply.
*It is strongly suggested that you pull this product off shelves, perhaps, as this product is with too many flaws.
Zipit wireless Instant Messenger
Full REVIEW *Msn messenger only however probably true with others, anyways msn is most massively used in my view. You should thank me for this advanced review.
*An update needs to be made, or users will continue to return their products. using a silver/gray zipit.
Software version 1.00, I have heard there is a new software upgrade is this true? Mine has not-automatically upgraded if this is the case.
I have excluded other information for safety reasons, as I am not sure what I should not give out.
· I am not completely satisfied with your product. Your website http://www.zipitwireless.com is incomplete. It should have a forum added for users to add suggestions and problems.
· Problem 1: Zipit freezes when viewing friends nicknames, friends nicknames are long, and as it scrolls and nickname letter by letter, it freezes sometimes. A possible solution to this is to get closer to the connection. NOTE THAT FREEZING HAS BEEN REPORTED BY ONE OTHER USER IN REVIEWS, Making a total of 2 so far. A way to prevent freezing I've found it to quickly close the myfriendz list. I just had to windows open, I said hey who is this, and it froze, not responding to any keys(except the power button, therefore a reset or restart button would be very helpful).
· Problem 2: Zipit friends list doesn't refresh. I see nobody online, and yet on msn by computer shows 7 contacts online, while Zipit shows 1 or 2. Friendz list needs better refreshing. This is caused by signal strength I believe, because one place it doesn't show full list, one place it does, perhaps under information you would consider adding SIGNAL STRENGTH OR SPEED. SO THERE IS SOMETHING TO ADD TO THE GUIDEBOOK OR WHATEVER: IF CONTACTS DON'T SHOW ONLINE AS MANY AS THERE SHOULD BE, THEN YOU NEED TO MOVE CLOSER TO THE NETWORK RANGE. It is extremely displeasing to see a BLANK FRIENDZ LIST, ESPECIALLY AFTER YOU TURN OFF YOUR CELLPHONE(PREVENTING INTERFERENCE) and MOVE CLOSER. If you had any doubts, I AM using HIGH SPEED INTERNET.
To fully determine if this is a connectivity issue. Information such as if wireless can go through walls would be useful.
· Suggestion 1: add manual update.... Create update with a fix for the freezing by perhaps slowing down the software.
· Suggestion 2: Since the product is NOT in color, this makes it difficult to read messages, for example a long nickname such as: Hi I am bored I can't believe this.... Or whatever, can fill up the screen making it difficult to read messages, in addition scrolling up only goes so far to the history. IDEA*: make nicknames take up just a few characters, or just displayed as e-mail addresses. This is a bad problem, I just wanted to find out who someone is, and I either have to ask them or wait for their e-mail to show at the end of their nickname, which if long takes 10-15 seconds before freezing. Does the delete list show their e-mail?
· A more comprehensive (complete) help guide, preventing calls to technical support, would include instructions on how once connected to prevent problems like freezing (although freezing does not seem to be prevented easily: mine barely lasted 15 minutes the longest without freezing). FREEZING HAS BEEN A BURDEN TO ME AS PEOPLE BLOCKED ME, BECAUSE I HAD TO KEEP SIGNING IN AGAIN. (restarting the Zipit by pressing and holding the power button), and then reconnecting to the network, and then logging into msn)
· Also hints such as getting closer to the router if connection seems to cut off, or not refresh.
· Problem 3: Users can block me and still message me, or message me when my window where I normally type chat says, "Your ZipitFriendz is offline." While I still receive messages from them.
· Suggestion 3: Allow users to open a chat window with an e-mail address regardless if on my friendz list. This is because my list rarely showed everyone online only on 4 out of 12 times it showed a full listing.
· Question 1: When do you plan to make your next update? And... will you continue to make necessary hardware and software updates?
· Question 2: Do you plan to release a new zipit hardware upgrade of some sort, or a whole new zipit?.
· Problem 4: reported by another user is that the battery is a non-standard type, thus making difficulty in replacement.
· Suggestion 4: allow current models to receive microphone conversation, if possible.
· Suggestion 5: compare you product's msn to the current msn, and consider speeding up the machine so it does not freeze, as this of all problems, seems to be a major one, possibly fixed by stronger broadcast receiving of 802.11.
· Problem 5: Screen goes blank, with two lights on, when lid is closed, and then re-opened.
· Problem 6(not a definite problem but VERY useful ESPECIALLY SINCE THE DEVICE FREEZES): User status in msn messenger ESPECIALLY: APPEAR OFFLINE, SO I DON'T HAVE TO BOTHER MY CONTACTS, GOING ONLINE AND OFFLINE AGAIN, EVERY TIME I LOGIN.
· Suggestion 6: Perhaps a maximum(although I hate to say this), would be necessary if the product cannot keep up with speed, then a maximum as far as contacts shown etc. would be necessary.
· Problem 7: another problem is a popup or whatever, tells me a contact is online, and they are, but they ARE NOT on myfriendzlist, even though they were added, and normally shown on the list. Then it freezes.

This product has supposedly been released too soon. I would expect a free software upgrade to fix these problems, which make Zipit a burden. You should be aware that cell phones are capable of using msn, perhaps consider a more compact version of msn, or allowing WAP internet access, somewhat like a labtop with intel centrino technology the 802.11g. This product has a long way to go, once established fully, it will be good. I have been unable to see the screen when you press the power button giving options such as ignore this and continue chatting.