Parachute III Finally Ships

Posted By: Ed Tuesday, October 30, 2001 9:06:34 AM

What is probably the most delayed product in handheld history is finally shipping. The Parachute III is a PC card adapter for the Palm III series that has been held up for one reason or another for about two years. It is on sale now for $150.

There a version for the HandEra 330 planned for next month. Parachute V for the Palm V series is scheduled for late December and one for the Palm m505 is expected in the first quarter of 2002. Versions for other Palm OS handhelds are in development.

Parachute III is compatible with the Novatel Wireless Merlin CDPD PC Card modem and Sierra Wireless CDMA 510 AirCard (for Sprint).

It also works with the Viking 56k dial-up PC Card modem, Cardinal fax modem, Apex analog cellular modem, Megahertz modem and Hi Val modem. The list is growing as new drivers are written. Software developers can request an API and create a driver to fit their specific PC Card application. Additional PC Cards supported by Parachute III will be posted on the Parachute Technologies website.

Scottie Jack, President and CEO of Parachute Technologies said, "We're fulfilling our initial orders and the feedback is incredible. Interest is very strong for the Parachute III all over the world. We have been actively seeking distributors for the international market and are very close to signing several agreements."

This adapter was developed at UniLinear Corp., who sat on it for years, but Parachute Technologies LLC recently made a licensing deal to put it into production.

Related Information:

PIC: PC Card Adapter for III Series Ready for Release

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Too little, too late

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/30/2001 10:10:51 AM #

The III series? The III series? Someone better inform them that this series has been wholly discontinued, regardless of the "worldwide interest' they claim. The Parachute V might have a bit more viability, given that there are so many Palm V/Vx's out there. But I can't imagine that the Palm III owners remaining will jump at the chance to buy a $150 brick so they can use a PC card. Maybe I need to be more imaginitive...

RE: Too little, too late

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/30/2001 11:05:39 AM #

And why no support for the Palm IIIc? I can't imagine paying to upgrade a monochrone PalmIII when there are better options on the market. A color IIIc is a different matter.

RE: Too little, too late

Coyote67 @ 10/30/2001 11:06:10 AM #

Thats so stupid to say its too little too late. Palm 3s probably constitute a large portion of Palm's market share. Think how many models of the Palm3 were released. They are still used at many corporations too. This is a great product, I hope they come out with a Visor version too. Finally this lets the PalmOS handle all corners of connectivity. PCMCIA, CF, SD,Memory Stick, Springboard, its all there. How great is that, not even WhineCE can compare.

---------------------------------------
When you find yourself in the company of a halfling and an ill-tempered Dragon, remember, you do not have to outrun the Dragon...you just have to outrun the halfling.

RE: Too little, too late

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/30/2001 11:32:01 AM #

While I agree this should have come out long ago, it's myopic to say the III series is dead. There are many III's, IIIe's, IIIx's, and IIIxe's still in the field. That said, if you don't already have a compatible full PC Card device that you'd like to employ, I expect it would be cheaper to get a refurbished TrgPro (currently $99), and use a CF version of the card. There's a wider selection of cards supported, the native CF is much faster (not going through the serial port), and doesn't tie up the serial port. Plus the advantages of VFS, and a 35 second Backup to CF.
If the price of Parachute drops by another $50-$75, it would seem more in line and should sell well.

Who.......K......Airs

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/30/2001 12:43:00 PM #

For Palm III ??!! Hello , anybody home ?? Now is year 2001, not 1998 or 1999 ....

Nice, but...

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/30/2001 1:00:08 PM #

...I don't HAVE my palm IIIxe anymore. Wait a minute, I don't have my IIIc anymore, either! Hey, where'd my Visor Prism go???? Oh, yeah, I now have a Kyocera QCP6035...AND IT'S ALREADY OUTDATED!!!!!!!!!

The industry is moving entirely too fast for accessory manufacturers to keep up. And it doesn't help that these companies to sit through delays trying to bring a product to market.

But market speed also causes other problems. It's why we don't have a standard screen resolution, standard memory module type (SD, MS, CF), can't decide between Bluetooth or 802.11, and why it'll still be years before we have any kind of high-speed Internet access available to handhelds with national coverage. And it's why there are almost no (killer) handspring modules, SD modules, MS modules, or CF modules...no company wants to tool up for a product unless EVERYONE wants to buy it.

Except, maybe, to those companies selling late-to-market products to users with outdated devices, such as the one that started this thread.

Easy Does It...

Quik_Fix @ 10/30/2001 1:08:45 PM #

C'mon nowguys.

The device was invented two years ago. They finally got it out to us. They didn't do it intentionally.

I feel ya....it's a little dated. But its the first step and its better than nuttin.' Its siblings will be along soon and then it'll be useful to the rest of the masses.... if they have a need for it.

...In accordance with the prophecy...

Quik_Fix
quikfix@hotmail.com

Palm III is FAR from dead...

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/30/2001 1:28:21 PM #

Now my IIIx is superior to PPC 2002.

RE: Too little, too late

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/30/2001 3:43:53 PM #

I agree with the earilier post. This is a two years ago product, but they are catching up really fast. PalmV next month, more models coming up next quarter, and other Palm models are already in development.

Hey, isn't this much faster than other company?

Palm III RULES!

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/30/2001 9:43:20 PM #

You know, I upgraded to a palm IIIxe just about a mont ago! Bought it brand new for only around 80$ to replace my PalmIII, wich costed three times more when I bought it many years ago.

And I love it. Always have, always will.

Also, all my Palm-owning friends have palms from the III-series.

PalmIIIs rule!
PalmIIIs do the job!
PalmIIIs are fast enough to do most anything!
PalmIIIs are still small enough to be easy to carry around!

When I upgrade next time, however, I will go Handera330. Hey! See! It's the PalmIII formfactor and connector again! :-)

You got to love it!

There a version for the HandEra 330 planned ....

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/30/2001 1:06:53 PM #

Ummm. Is it a joke? Doesn't Handera already have faster CF and SD slot?

RE: There a version for the HandEra 330 planned ....

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/30/2001 1:35:02 PM #

Are there any CF wireless modems? I know there are tons of PC card ones.

RE: There a version for the HandEra 330 planned ....

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/30/2001 2:23:39 PM #

Umm, yeah, there are a healthy number or connectivity options in CF format that work on the Handear.

The Pocket Spider is a wireless modem that works on it. Also 802.11 and Bluetooth CF's are available. Got the Symbol WiFi lan card on the way :) can't wait either....

This Parachute thing really is outdated. I'm sorry, but as small as Hanhelds are getting, a PCMCIA card is just too bit when you factor in the adaptor needed to use it.

Sony also came in too late with their wireless MYLO thing, which is a PC card adapter. Just too clunky of an option these days. But I do agree with the above post that said companies making periphials can't keep up. I wish everyone would just pick a standard and STICK TO IT..

CF really would be a great opiton especially since many add ons are made for the Pocket PC that could be used in Palm's and visa versa.

RE: There a version for the HandEra 330 planned ....

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/30/2001 9:51:29 PM #

Yes, there are wireless IEEE802.11b CF-cards out there.
And yes, there are drivers for some of them to the He330.
And yes, they work rather well, but, what if I:

a) Want to use a CF-memory and a network card at the same time?
(I guess that is what SD is for, but still...)

b) I want to take one of the WLAN-cards at the office, wich are all PCMCIA?

RE: There a version for the HandEra 330 planned ....

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/31/2001 5:40:24 PM #

> b) I want to take one of the WLAN-cards at the office, wich are all PCMCIA?

Welp, for the same price that you would pay for the Parachute III to use one of the companies PCMCIA cards, you could simply buy a CF Wireless lAN card. For an additional $12 you could get a CF to PC Card adatper and use that CF card in any PCMCIA port ;)

Its all good brother.

Comments from a former user

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/30/2001 4:22:48 PM #

I bought one from Unilinear (Hi Jocelyn!) ages ago for $150 as part of their beta program. It was kinda cool. I got a, then aging, Motorola PM-100D working in it without too much hassle - only had to write a driver for it. But it did work! If they can get the V and 50x series out within a few months they might be able to get back to where they shoulda been in the market, but if it takes another 2 years to get them out forget it.

Anyone want to buy a couple of PM-100D's and a DataTac driver? :-)

'... and the plucky American is bringing up the rear.'

leadingexpert @ 10/30/2001 10:19:03 PM #

Hi,

In Japan you have so many options it's incredible. I have a PC card phone for my Powerbook G4 that has unlimited 32k packet net access for $42 a month. I have a portable phone with built in CF interface that I can use with my Handera 330 at 64k. I have had this phone for 2 years and beta tested TRGpro's Japanese language model. I could get a CF card phone for the Handera if I chose.

RE: '... and the plucky American is bringing up the rear.'

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/30/2001 10:59:49 PM #

Except there's a lot of rice in Japan. We don't like that. I'll take my steak and potatoes. No, this has nothing to do with electronics, but Japan isn't the best in everything :-)

RE: '... and the plucky American is bringing up the rear.'

leadingexpert @ 11/1/2001 9:05:32 PM #

Rice? You're kidding right? Japanese eat more beef than they eat rice. It isn't 1985. Lots of American and Australian beef here too silly. The mad cow disease scare of September 10, 2001 has destroyed the market for beef however.

Japan beats U.S. wireless technology hands down.

excuse me, but why...

mj6798 @ 10/31/2001 3:47:34 AM #

do you need a CF adapter for a Handera 330? It already has a CF slot built-in.

RE: excuse me, but why...

bradleyboy @ 10/31/2001 6:53:26 AM #

This article is about a PC card adapter, not a CF card adapter. Perhaps you misread it.

Peace,

bradleyboy

Too late, too little

I.M. Anonymous @ 10/31/2001 1:40:25 PM #

Last time I checked the only III-series device Palm is still selling is the IIIc, which the Parachute III won't fit.

Hopefully, they'll catch up, but until then, it's more than a tad frustrating....

RE: Too late, too little

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/1/2001 2:15:04 AM #

Damn straight. Lots of them about too, now that the price has come down a bit. Can't see me upgrading for while... esp not if I can buy OS 4.1 :)
Can't they make an 'extendable' parachute that fits the longer iiic *and* the iii series?