Though I walked away with positive feelings about the DataWind PocketSurfer2 during CES, the clamshell internet device never seemed to make the same impression on the mainstream market. Or did it? A 640 x 240 resolution screen, GPRS connectivity, and lack of audio/video support certainly wouldn’t skyrocket anything into the stratosphere of success, but the features were obviously good enough for PocketSurfer2 users. Why else would they have made it into the brand new PocketSurfer2R?
The new model, released on September 30th, has been updated with a touchpad, embedded GPS receiver, improved screen, better Vodafone network coverage, and impressively priced data plan options . . . yet the rest of the specs remain unchanged.
The PocketSurfer2′s US counterpart, the PC Edge, hasn’t been updated but it has been reduced by $100. But while Americans now pay $200 for the old unit and $24.99/month for a year of service, those in the UK pay £200 for the new PocketSurfer2R and receive 20 hours of free surfing each month for a year. Unlimited surfing costs £6/month.
After the first year is up, UK owners can choose between paying a £40 annual fee or what sounds like a one-time £60 fee for the Immortality Plan, which provides unlimited surfing (in the UK) for the lifetime of the device! In addition, the PocketSurfer2R offers affordable roaming rates across Europe and the US: just £30 for 600 minutes of use.
The original £180 PocketSurfer2 will be replaced by the touchpad- and GPS-less £150 PocketSurfer2L, which is ineligible for the Immortality Plan.
For a video demo and my hands-on experience with the PocketSurfer2, check out this report from CES 2008.
I can see the appeal of something like this after knowing about the data plans. For a lifetime of web access on this device, who cares about the low res? Pages load faster than the 3g iPhone, something like under 7 seconds for most sites–and that’s not even on 3g. I can see why it would be popular to a certain segment of users like businesspeople who want something small and light that shows the web better than their Blackberries. Actually the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. I think I almost want to try one out.
try http://www.pocketsurfermobile.com for more info and where to buy
Can I use it (maybe even unlocked) with russian gsm carriers?
I had the surfer2 and it was crap, do not belive the 7 seconds it GPRS! Need I say more? U might think the low res doesn’t matter but that screen is very poor often very liney and unable to see alot does not display any moving images constant need to zoom in and out and move view which makes it need to totally reload. Buttons awful to use and general slow user interface.