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PRODUCT REVIEW
Go online, go mobile, GoAmerica
By Greg McKinney
Is your addiction to the Internet keeping you chained to the office? Are you afraid to leave the house, lest you cut yourself off from the umbilical cord of Internet access? When someone asks you out to dinner, do you respond with, "But what if I get an email? What if I win a Web contest? Or worse, what if my stock-pick-of-the-day reaches my predefined sell point?"
"What you need is a way to surf the Internet without trapping yourself behind your desk."
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Well, at the moment there's no simple 12-step cure for Internet addiction. On the other hand, do you really want one? But it's summertime! What you need is a way to surf the Internet without trapping yourself behind your desk. That way you can actually get out and live your life while still nurturing and supporting your addiction.
The solution
The solution, of course, is mobile Internet access. What you need is GoAmerica along with the Novatel wireless Minstrel III modem. You can find the GoAmerica Web site at http://www.goamerica.com.
GoAmerica has billed itself as America's wireless ISP (Internet Service Provider), and it really comes through on that claim. In areas where CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Delivery) is available, you're assured constant connection to the Internet. If you own a Palm III, you can now take the Internet with you wherever you go by simply attaching the Minstrel III modem.
The hardware
The initial setup is really very easy. I was up and running within minutes of receiving my package. The software, the modem, the documentation, and the number for technical support were all in the box. Almost immediately upon opening it, I was ready to surf!
If you have seen the Minstrel III, then you know how cool it looks. It really seems less bulky than the typical wired modem that clips to the bottom of the Palm device. The Minstrel III attaches to the Palm III so well that together they look like one device, as you can see in Figure A.
FIGURE A
 
The Minstrel III and Palm III combine so well, they look like one device. Roll over picture for a larger image.
The Minstrel III has its own software that must be loaded on the Palm device. It requires 47K of memory. Once it's installed and the modem is attached, the modem makes a connection. Simple as that! No dialing, no waiting, just connected!
The software
The modem's speed is 19.2 kbps. Sound slow? Not with GoAmerica's service and start page. I was really impressed with the speed at which their start page loaded. All of the links to other sites on their start page are designed for handheld devices as well. That means every site you access from the start page seems to load very fast.
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