[missing-sync-hiptop-talk] (sigh)

Fri Jun 4 16:13:32 PDT 2004

Well, you know the worst part of all of this is...

We as Mac users are often passed over by software developers and companies
for things that are seemingly trivial. My most recent example? I warn you...
it's trivial...

Command & Conquer : Generals / MAC by Aspyr.

It -finally- comes out, two months late. I'm ready to purchase it, but it
doesn't network play with Windows clients. That's what we get for the choice
of DirectPlay for a network stack (which consistently desynchronizes during
games and causes problems).

But as a Mac lover, and a PC user... and a hard-core tech who understands
the underlying reasons for things... it's a killer, but I'm used to it.

But we aren't the only ones being hit by Danger / T-Mobile's inability to
either release the sync solution or open their servers up for someone to
sync to. It's -everyone- who has invested in a Hiptop. Except those over at
C&W that is... 

It's so frustrating. I enter all this data into the Hiptop because it's
easy, and it's backed up in case something happens. But I can't see it on a
computer in any regular calendaring application. 

So I have three different calendars; Hiptop, GroupWise, and Exchange. 
For me, all I need is T-Mobile to approve synching, and it -all- goes away,
on the Mac and the PC platforms. I get one calendar, things work, and about
fifty people I personally know and work with will purchase the third
generation Hiptop when it comes out. They're drooling over it. They've seen
my second generation Hiptop, they've seen me absolutely love it... and
they've seen me swear when I have to manually translate calendar entries
from one to another.

Everything I've said above has been said before by PC and Mac users alike.
T-Mobile and Danger are shooting themselves in the foot, etc...

But we aren't the only ones being shut down. Missing Sync is ready,
Markspace has stated that they're ready. So... why not attach ourselves to
some other forums and boards and get something -significant- going? On the
scale of... 10,000 requests to T-mobile from CURRENT subscribers stating
that we -need- this. That we -want- this. That each of us know tens of
people that want a SideKick for business, but will love it for home use.

We must appeal to their business interests. I'm not posing that we threaten
to drop service. There are contracts, and for me... the Hiptop kicks too
much ass.

But there is SO MUCH BUSINESS out there they could have. Nextel's killer app
was their direct connect. Now there's Push To Talk by Verizon. Businesses
are beginning to realize there's competition, and managers are beginning to
realize that having a loud and obnoxious walkie talkie may not be the best
way to go about communicating. It's much less annoying (and more
informative) to receive an e-mail silently during a meeting than get a
direct connect request. We all know e-mail on any other cell phone just
doesn't cut it either. Scrolling 50 times to read 5 sentences is
unacceptable. Businesses want this. My particular business wants this.

I only speak for myself. But how the Danger / T-mobile situation plays out
may decide whether an entire business decides to go T-Mobile... or not.

--Dave

Well, you know the worst part of all of this is...

We as Mac users are often passed over by software developers and companies
for things that are seemingly trivial. My most recent example? I warn you...
it's trivial...

Command & Conquer : Generals / MAC by Aspyr.