Reviewer: thezoed| Date:2009-12-06

Very poor interface and there are many hidden costs in the product to keep it functioning. Used it a few times then discarded it.

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Reviewer: Michael Cumbie| Date:2009-06-16

I purchased this device for 49.99, which is about 109 dollars from working. Somehow, this was not clear enough. It took a painful 20 minutes to find out the details around whether or not simple IM capability really required me to pay a full year's worth of service... it did. Basically the real price of the hardware is 160. The only hardware setup issues I had were when I went to install the updates required before the device would work. It started out of box OK, found my network, asked for my network password, and then said it had to restart. When it restarted, it forgot my network password, and would not function until I unrestricted access to my network. After all install updates were done, it worked beautifully though.

No compliants with the hardware once setup, works great. Only real annoyance is that the keys don't always take input when trying to type fast. Great interface though!

I would recommend this as an option for those of you who don't already own a phone with the same capability or want to just do texting in an area with a Wi-Fi hook-up.

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Reviewer: H. Werner| Date:2009-06-06

I purchased this for fun, period. Will run Linux in terminal mode fairly easy. Is great at detecting WiFi hot spots. Many WiFi detection units with similar capability cost about twice as much. Plays your mp3's in a nice list with different options in listing. What I use it for mostly is mp3's and WiFi detection. This unit could easily do alot more. Why did the company tie it down and not allow a full GUI OS system on it? That is my only complaint. Please check out CorkyMoo dot com.

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Reviewer: F. Bungert| Date:2009-03-13

WARNING - RIP-OFF These guys have the nerve to rig this thing so that you have to pay them $9.99 a month to use free service at wifi locations. What a Rip-Off!

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Reviewer: Corbin Lounsbury| Date:2009-02-07

While everyone under me likes to gripe and complain about the monthly fee, i actually enjoy it. first off, you have the option of paying monthly, or in one lump some. this to me sounds like the device was originally going to be $150 anyway and Zipit came up with the monthly fee as a sort of payment plan. After the first 12 months, you can continue IM'ing without a plan, but if you need a texting number, you must continue to pay. For a college student like me, a small down payment and small monthly premiums for only a year is HEAVEN.

As for the device itself, it IS great. when you first start up, it takes a bit to get all the updates, but once you have it running it's lightning fast. from the time when i first push the power button to the time i send my first IM is maybe around 20-30 seconds. the response time for the IM's are fast too. If you've ever used your phone for IM'ing, you might notice that responses may be a little late. With the Zipit, they come in real time. Now, the "Wi-Fi only" usage may turn some people off, but i live on a college campus that has Wi-Fi everywhere, so for me it's great. The only thing i can say bad about it is that the keyboard is made to type slow. while that has fixed my spelling, it was a little annoying at first. I would reccommend this device to anyone on a college campus.

and if you're a linux freak then this is for you. It's made for people who think open source is sexy... yadda yadda yadda... you get the picture

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Reviewer: Carlos Garcia| Date:2010-03-24

Great PDA until the battery die, you can not replace it, is very costly for me to send it to the dealership an change the battery pack, now I have a dead pda.

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Reviewer: Juan Maselli| Date:2006-04-02

I can not be able to use my Diamond Mako 16M because of poor batteries. They are not replaceable. How about that?

Juan Maselli

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Reviewer: | Date:2002-12-27

Well OK, there are some nice things about this gadget. I find it very compact and I like the keyboard and the fact that it has a word processor and spread sheet. However, after endless amount of time writing to Sonic Blue (the staff were incredibly unhelpful and didn't seem to care about my problem at all), consulting with friends etc, my Diamond Mako still does not talk to my computer (my operating system is Windows 98). BIG PROBLEM!

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Reviewer: Janos| Date:2002-11-27

I agree with all the features what the others are saying. I agree with the drowbacks as well. What disturbed me the most is the battery is not replaceable and the voltage monitoring circuit is not very strong eather.
I went to Europe for four weeks and recharged the battery using voltage converter recomended for turists. The chager died and my Mako doesn't work since. You can send it back for a flat repair rate of US$100 plus shipping.
This is a nice little machine until you have battery problem. It can happen in one year or later, but no battery lasts forever.

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Reviewer: Wild_River_Rat| Date:2002-09-28

I got my Psion Diamond Mako in January 2002 and have been happily using with it ever since. Closed, it is the size of an eyeglass case. I wanted a handheld which did word processing and spreadsheets and the this one does both. I use it to write on and re-read portions of my novel-in-progress during my child's gymnastics class. The Psion operating system offers everything a desktop computer should offer, but does not. I programmed my Mako to turn off when I close it, and guess what? When you turn it back on, one tap of the stylus takes you back to where you were when you turned it off. I can pull my Mako out and do something on it while I'm waiting for my desktop to boot up. Mine came with an old-fashioned serial port interface, so I didn't have to upgrade to USB to use it. It doesn't play music or have an expansion card slot. Yes, it is true there is no back light for the black and white screen, and the screen is not the state of the art, but it one tap can enlarge the size of the typeface on the screen to make it larger and more readable. The screen is wider than most PDA's, which increases readability. I move word processing documents between the Mako and Microsoft Word 6 for Windows 95 and Word for Office 97. I sometimes have to re-boot my desktop computer after moving files between Mako and the desktop, but then my Windows 98 system seems to looks for excuses to crash. My Mako never crashes. This week, at lunch, without the benefit of the manual, I learned how to use the IR port to exchange contacts information with a friend's new Palm MC505. Nine months of use and still my favorite toy. The Information Technology Corporate Gestapo at my place of work have not allowed me to try to interface it with Windows XP, so I can not report on XP compatibility. I use Windows XP at work, Windows 98 at my home desktop, and I watch my husband suffer with the arcane artistry of Linux. This little computer seems so much easier to use than the big machines with their big and hardware intensive operating systems. If you think computers should make word-processing and spreadsheet use truly portable, this is the hand-held to try.

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Reviewer: Failsafefabrication| Date:2010-05-21

The Clarion Mind is an interesting device as it doesn't have much in the way of competition from others in it's category. It handles mobile Email, text documents, PDF viewing and media playback all while also providing navigation services and WiFi access to the internet.
Audio Playback: It should be noted very clearly that the Real player is mostly for show, it lacks a good deal of functionality and if it is going to be used for the primary audio playback source in a vehicle installation it should be considered as an interface only. It has no playlist or organizational ability other than the basics of Artist, Track and Album as well as it is very limited in it's video playback capabilities. That being said, the device does work well to multitask with a browser, navigation and audio playback with minimal interruption to any of the three processes.
File Management; there is a very intuitive file manager program embedded in the linux OS of the device which allows for file management on the internal as well as external storage. It should be noted that the USB A plug on the unit will support flash drives up to 8GB-at least that is as far as it has been tested.
Navigation: The Navigation system is very intuitive and easy to configure, it allows for a good deal of options/flexibility in preferences. POI's are limited so if there is a long trip ahead; plan ahead and utilize one of the more powerful options of this device and link google maps POI's to the clarion portal site-you will need WIFI to the device to do this-the Bluetooth tether feature does not work with all phones. Specifically it will not work with a Samsung 837-A (Rugby) which tether's to most PC's with ease.
Process Management: A very versatile feature has been worked into the device; the program manager key (center of the three hard keys on the right hand of the unit) will call up active processes into a window and give you shutdown options for each. This is a key feature to keep productivity at a maximum with an Atom processor and limited RAM.

Overall Impressions: For the price it is available for; this is a stellar deal. You will not find a device which has all of the features that this unit does for less than $5-800. A tablet PC can do what this unit does, however the Boot Time, stand alone options and power management tie-ins make this an excellent value for those looking to check their email via WIFI once in a while on the road, but primarily use the GPS and Browser based news/weather services. Navigation is good, not excellent; it will get you where you need to go but don't expect it to know where every business in the continental US is located by name. For what it does the MIND is an excellent value at $150.00 shipped, a niche market, but a good product nonetheless.

Failsafefabrication

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Reviewer: RICHARD H HOOK| Date:2010-04-03

I AM ONE WHO DOES MY RESEARCH BEFORE BUYING. THIS PRODUCT IS JUST WHAT I EXPECTED. IF YOU WANT A GPS AND PORTABLE WEB BROWSER THEN THIS IS THE ONE. BUT DO BUY THE EXTENDED BATTERY, YOU WILL NEED IT. AND BY THE WAY CLARION DOES HAVE A SOFTWARE UPDATE ON THEIR WEB SITE. GOOD PRODUCT.

Review from Review from Amazon

Reviewer: Raymond A. Grosswirth| Date:2010-02-06

I purchased this item due to its reasonable price and functionality. While the GPS feature is generally good, most of the other applications require web accessibility. When in a Hot Spot, the web can be easily accessed, but the capabilities of this device are weak at best. So, my recommendation is to purchase a stand-alone GPS device and simply use a netbook for other features.

Review from Review from Amazon

Reviewer: Dawn Miller| Date:2010-01-31

This piece of equipment is handy to have on a road trip. I love the USB connectivity to play music from my flash drive. I have it set up to work through the car stereo speakers and was surprised when the turn by turn directions were audible even though music was playing. We enjoy most of the features on the Mind and people who have seen it at my house all want one too. I would recommend the Clarion Mind over the Garmin anyday.

Review from Review from Amazon

Reviewer: Victor M. Garcia| Date:2010-01-30

It is not worth the money. I purchased because of the supposed possability to use Internet on the Road using a Link with My Mobile Phone, as it states via blue toot. the system is slow, locks up and has maps that are defenitly not up to date.
and I purchased this for 160 dollars, and three days later it went to 120. In my opinion it is not worth 50 if You are looking for a GPS get the Tom Tom. don't waste your money with this model.

Review from Review from Amazon

Reviewer: Failsafefabrication| Date:2010-05-21

The Clarion Mind is an interesting device as it doesn't have much in the way of competition from others in it's category. It handles mobile Email, text documents, PDF viewing and media playback all while also providing navigation services and WiFi access to the internet.
Audio Playback: It should be noted very clearly that the Real player is mostly for show, it lacks a good deal of functionality and if it is going to be used for the primary audio playback source in a vehicle installation it should be considered as an interface only. It has no playlist or organizational ability other than the basics of Artist, Track and Album as well as it is very limited in it's video playback capabilities. That being said, the device does work well to multitask with a browser, navigation and audio playback with minimal interruption to any of the three processes.
File Management; there is a very intuitive file manager program embedded in the linux OS of the device which allows for file management on the internal as well as external storage. It should be noted that the USB A plug on the unit will support flash drives up to 8GB-at least that is as far as it has been tested.
Navigation: The Navigation system is very intuitive and easy to configure, it allows for a good deal of options/flexibility in preferences. POI's are limited so if there is a long trip ahead; plan ahead and utilize one of the more powerful options of this device and link google maps POI's to the clarion portal site-you will need WIFI to the device to do this-the Bluetooth tether feature does not work with all phones. Specifically it will not work with a Samsung 837-A (Rugby) which tether's to most PC's with ease.
Process Management: A very versatile feature has been worked into the device; the program manager key (center of the three hard keys on the right hand of the unit) will call up active processes into a window and give you shutdown options for each. This is a key feature to keep productivity at a maximum with an Atom processor and limited RAM.

Overall Impressions: For the price it is available for; this is a stellar deal. You will not find a device which has all of the features that this unit does for less than $5-800. A tablet PC can do what this unit does, however the Boot Time, stand alone options and power management tie-ins make this an excellent value for those looking to check their email via WIFI once in a while on the road, but primarily use the GPS and Browser based news/weather services. Navigation is good, not excellent; it will get you where you need to go but don't expect it to know where every business in the continental US is located by name. For what it does the MIND is an excellent value at $150.00 shipped, a niche market, but a good product nonetheless.

Failsafefabrication

Review from Review from Amazon

Reviewer: RICHARD H HOOK| Date:2010-04-03

I AM ONE WHO DOES MY RESEARCH BEFORE BUYING. THIS PRODUCT IS JUST WHAT I EXPECTED. IF YOU WANT A GPS AND PORTABLE WEB BROWSER THEN THIS IS THE ONE. BUT DO BUY THE EXTENDED BATTERY, YOU WILL NEED IT. AND BY THE WAY CLARION DOES HAVE A SOFTWARE UPDATE ON THEIR WEB SITE. GOOD PRODUCT.

Review from Review from Amazon

Reviewer: Raymond A. Grosswirth| Date:2010-02-06

I purchased this item due to its reasonable price and functionality. While the GPS feature is generally good, most of the other applications require web accessibility. When in a Hot Spot, the web can be easily accessed, but the capabilities of this device are weak at best. So, my recommendation is to purchase a stand-alone GPS device and simply use a netbook for other features.

Review from Review from Amazon

Reviewer: Dawn Miller| Date:2010-01-31

This piece of equipment is handy to have on a road trip. I love the USB connectivity to play music from my flash drive. I have it set up to work through the car stereo speakers and was surprised when the turn by turn directions were audible even though music was playing. We enjoy most of the features on the Mind and people who have seen it at my house all want one too. I would recommend the Clarion Mind over the Garmin anyday.

Review from Review from Amazon

Reviewer: Victor M. Garcia| Date:2010-01-30

It is not worth the money. I purchased because of the supposed possability to use Internet on the Road using a Link with My Mobile Phone, as it states via blue toot. the system is slow, locks up and has maps that are defenitly not up to date.
and I purchased this for 160 dollars, and three days later it went to 120. In my opinion it is not worth 50 if You are looking for a GPS get the Tom Tom. don't waste your money with this model.

Review from Review from Amazon

Reviewer: Failsafefabrication| Date:2010-05-21

The Clarion Mind is an interesting device as it doesn't have much in the way of competition from others in it's category. It handles mobile Email, text documents, PDF viewing and media playback all while also providing navigation services and WiFi access to the internet.
Audio Playback: It should be noted very clearly that the Real player is mostly for show, it lacks a good deal of functionality and if it is going to be used for the primary audio playback source in a vehicle installation it should be considered as an interface only. It has no playlist or organizational ability other than the basics of Artist, Track and Album as well as it is very limited in it's video playback capabilities. That being said, the device does work well to multitask with a browser, navigation and audio playback with minimal interruption to any of the three processes.
File Management; there is a very intuitive file manager program embedded in the linux OS of the device which allows for file management on the internal as well as external storage. It should be noted that the USB A plug on the unit will support flash drives up to 8GB-at least that is as far as it has been tested.
Navigation: The Navigation system is very intuitive and easy to configure, it allows for a good deal of options/flexibility in preferences. POI's are limited so if there is a long trip ahead; plan ahead and utilize one of the more powerful options of this device and link google maps POI's to the clarion portal site-you will need WIFI to the device to do this-the Bluetooth tether feature does not work with all phones. Specifically it will not work with a Samsung 837-A (Rugby) which tether's to most PC's with ease.
Process Management: A very versatile feature has been worked into the device; the program manager key (center of the three hard keys on the right hand of the unit) will call up active processes into a window and give you shutdown options for each. This is a key feature to keep productivity at a maximum with an Atom processor and limited RAM.

Overall Impressions: For the price it is available for; this is a stellar deal. You will not find a device which has all of the features that this unit does for less than $5-800. A tablet PC can do what this unit does, however the Boot Time, stand alone options and power management tie-ins make this an excellent value for those looking to check their email via WIFI once in a while on the road, but primarily use the GPS and Browser based news/weather services. Navigation is good, not excellent; it will get you where you need to go but don't expect it to know where every business in the continental US is located by name. For what it does the MIND is an excellent value at $150.00 shipped, a niche market, but a good product nonetheless.

Failsafefabrication

Review from Review from Amazon

Reviewer: RICHARD H HOOK| Date:2010-04-03

I AM ONE WHO DOES MY RESEARCH BEFORE BUYING. THIS PRODUCT IS JUST WHAT I EXPECTED. IF YOU WANT A GPS AND PORTABLE WEB BROWSER THEN THIS IS THE ONE. BUT DO BUY THE EXTENDED BATTERY, YOU WILL NEED IT. AND BY THE WAY CLARION DOES HAVE A SOFTWARE UPDATE ON THEIR WEB SITE. GOOD PRODUCT.

Review from Review from Amazon

Reviewer: Raymond A. Grosswirth| Date:2010-02-06

I purchased this item due to its reasonable price and functionality. While the GPS feature is generally good, most of the other applications require web accessibility. When in a Hot Spot, the web can be easily accessed, but the capabilities of this device are weak at best. So, my recommendation is to purchase a stand-alone GPS device and simply use a netbook for other features.

Review from Review from Amazon

Reviewer: Dawn Miller| Date:2010-01-31

This piece of equipment is handy to have on a road trip. I love the USB connectivity to play music from my flash drive. I have it set up to work through the car stereo speakers and was surprised when the turn by turn directions were audible even though music was playing. We enjoy most of the features on the Mind and people who have seen it at my house all want one too. I would recommend the Clarion Mind over the Garmin anyday.

Review from Review from Amazon

Reviewer: Victor M. Garcia| Date:2010-01-30

It is not worth the money. I purchased because of the supposed possability to use Internet on the Road using a Link with My Mobile Phone, as it states via blue toot. the system is slow, locks up and has maps that are defenitly not up to date.
and I purchased this for 160 dollars, and three days later it went to 120. In my opinion it is not worth 50 if You are looking for a GPS get the Tom Tom. don't waste your money with this model.

Review from Review from Amazon