Peek handheld: $49.95 for "today only"
By Darren Murph 
posted December 3rd 2008 3:25PM
posted December 3rd 2008 3:25PM
Peek's kinda-sorta email-only handheld is one of the more polarizing devices to hit this year. On one hand, anyone who cares that much about email in their pocket probably already owns an email-capable handset; on the other, those satisfied with their pay-as-you-go phone may seriously be interested in adding this to their arsenal. Regardless of your take on things, we figured you should know that it's available for "today only" at $49.95, clearly setting the bar for a Cyber Wednesday in years to come. 'Course, that $19.95 per month data requirement isn't going anywhere, but half a Benjamin might be worth it just to crack this sucker open and test your hacking skills.
Hey, the Peek does what it says it does. No more, no less. It's missing most of the refinements that we've come to expect from current-generation Blackberries--like offline access, for example--but it's also cheap and has no long-term contract issues. I second the idea that I'll save gobs of money using this device when my phone goes into roaming data mode, which happens a bit more often than I'd like.
My Target, by the way, didn't discount Peeks at all. They advertised them for $79.95 and had a whole display rack of Peeks, Peek cases, and chargers of various ilk. I was back in there yesterday (after the promotion ended) and saw that the entire Peek display was simply...gone. Nothing in closeout, not moved elsewhere in the store. Simply...gone. I find it very hard to believe that they sold out.
While I'm not sure this is a great device or that the service is worth $20/month there is something everyone is missing when saying that one ought to just use a blackberry/iphone/KRIF iphone knock off. For devices like those you a) generally pay at least $30/month (unless you're on t-mobile, but who really wants to use the web on edge? .... oh wait iphone buyers love edge) and b) you are often contractually obligated to keep your data package. There is no contract for the peek, there's the rub...
The only way this would work even if they raise the price of the gadget is if the monthly is $5.00 or less, it's pinching hard at $9.99 and a gut punch at $19.99
Until this thing gets some kind of hackability, I'd rather outlay the $ upfront and get a Kindle and get FREE email service plus a kick ass ebook reader for a one time price.
I'd pay the $100 original price if it could just pick up my mail from scavenged wifi on unsecured (or presecured) WAPs as I walk down the street. For free.
When will Peek become a beg of crap item in woot.com? I say soon.
Target in Fort Smith AR has the Peek on the clearance shelf for 24.98 as of 10:00 PM today.
If this thing had a good web browser, and faster data service than cell providers then it might almost be worth $20 a month. Almost.
But with just e-mail they're smoking some serious crack if they think anybody is going to pay $20 a month for e-mail and have to carry around 2 devices instead of one and not have internet. Seriously, which geniuses decided to go and ressurect the Blackberry circa 2000?
Email only just doesn't cut it, it needs pda functionality
$5-10/month, with a stripped down pda OS (stripped of it's phone features) like Access Linux or Palm OS (probably couldn't handle the Android os), would increase the appeal of the device.
Specifically, if you could cache your calender/contacts/notes on a service provider server then they wouldn't have to upgrade the hardware or memory spec.
At $25, I just wanna buy one just to see if it is ever hacked for more functionality.
What would also work is if you could pop in your own sim card, but then their revenue model wouldn't work, I reckon.
Why is everybody whining about $20? They are on T Mobile and have to have fees, plus this has went from an email only to full text messaging to. They are getting push email, then IM is being added. Soon, this thing will do like 4 or 5 things, and for $20 a month. People don't mind paying Verizon, AT&T, etc large amounts to JUST text message, so why gripe? $20 isn't much, take away twice times eating out and you have that. Plus many like no credit checks, no deposits and no contracts. Everybody loves the big cell companies till they want to jump ship and then SMACKED with that ETF. *sigh*
Peak teardown:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8728129@N05/2854419637/in/set-72157607274454694/