ABC12.com: Zipit Wireless Messenger
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`Zipit Wireless Messenger
`Use your WIFI network to chat on the Net
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` By Kirk Yuhnke
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`(08/22/05) The Zipit wireless messenger promises to free your computer from that chatty
`teenager.
`Are your teens tying up the home P-C... Chatting on AOL... MSN or YAHOO! It's time to get them
`off your computer without having to drop 500 bucks for a separate computer. Today's gadget of
`the week is called the ZIP-IT wireless messenger. It's like a mini laptop, just open it up and it is
`an instant messaging computer to go! The Zipit has a full qwerty keyboard and a 320 x 240
`greyscale screen. It will log-in to AOL, MSN messenger and Yahoo! messenger using any available
`WIFI network. You must be using either an open WIFI network or you must have a security key.
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`Setup was simple and took just a minute or two. Getting your buddy
`list into the device was as simple as plugging in your username and
`password for each service. Once my buddy list was loaded up, was
`chatting away. The interface is self explanatory for the most part. It
`will take some time to get use to the differant keys you have to use
`to access features of the device. The "alt" key is used for a variety of
`fuctions, I had to get use to that.
`
`There is a speaker built into the Zipit, which helps you know when
`you have a new message. This is also a sign of what's to come, the Zipit people tell us in a few
`months you'll be able to stream internet radio on the device. There is also a headphone port on
`the side as well.
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`The rechargable battery lets you chat away for 8 hours - it'll last for 24 hours when closed in
`standby mode. The Zipit comes in 5 different colors; red, pink, white, blue and silver. The Zipit
`wireless messenger sells for about 100 bucks. Not a bad price, especially for parents looking for a
`way to pull that teenager away from the computer for more than 5 minutes.
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`Two things I noticed that could be improved. First of all the screen does not have a light, which
`makes it impossible to use unless you are in a lit room. I think teens would love to chat away in
`the dark if the screen had a light or indiglo technology. Also the keyboard was a bit "squishy." It
`would be nice if there was more of a "click" to the keys when you pressed them. A few times I
`found myself pressing the keys more than once because I wasn't sure if I got it or not.
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`Despite those minor things - I really like the Zipit messenger. It's a great idea at the right price. I
`love the fact that it works using a normal WIFI 802.11b or g network. Students at colleges with
`wireless internet could chat all over campus! If marketed right the Zipit wireless messenger could
`become a huge hit - I hope it does.
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`WJRT-TV Inc.
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`http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=sci_tech&id=3372730&ft=print
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`9/5/2006
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`ZIPIT EX. 2027, pg.1
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