Peek for Life: $299.95 one-day sale means no monthly fees
By Darren Murph 
posted January 16th 2009 7:05AM
posted January 16th 2009 7:05AM
posted January 16th 2009 7:05AM
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I'm not jumping on this deal. I would hazard that the length of this "lifetime" is one year, the length of the warranty of the product. I love how the website says "Unlimited email & texting - for the rest of your life!" and then you go inside the link and it says "* Unlimited texting and email for as long as you use this device"
Didn't Tivo do something similar? Where the "lifetime" was only for the dvr you purchased? Not really lifetime, for people. But lifetime, for the piece of hardware. And hardware tends to live just a bit shorter than people.
I'm a little worried that they say "Buy Peek for just $299.95 and we'll give you unlimited email and texting - forever! *", but that little asterisk at the end isn't qualified anywhere on the page. I'm assuming the * means the same thing as the lifetime service for Tivo. Anyone have any guesses?
you just need to look a little harder: * Unlimited texting and email for as long as you use this device
So it's normally $20 a month plus the device at $99? So that first year is $240 for service, plus the device, for a first year total of $340? OR you could buy this for $300 and not worry about the service ever again? People are talking here about if the device or company go under in a few years it's worthless but if you wanted this, isn't it a bargain (of sorts) if it lasts just one year?
Am I missing something or is this actually a pretty good deal for anyone who has been considering this (as a gift or otherwise)?
I'm not falling for this, seems to me like a last ditch effort to sell the devices before they go out of business. In the current economic climate I would not expect any new company like this to be around longer than a year. I hope they prove me wrong.
I just called Peek.
You can buy it and you have 30 days to return it.
I am thinking of trying one. Are there any actual Peek users on here or
are all engadget addicts tekno-snobs?
Yes, if you are looking at buying one, and expect they may go belly-up in a few years, this is a good deal. If you expect they may go belly-up in a few _months_, then... not so solid. _That's_ what people are thinking.
Sensationalism about the economy may be biasing people somewhat, but things don't really look all that bright for Peek to me.
I wish RIM would have a similar deal, sucks to be paying 10, 20, 30 bucks a month depending on what plan you have...
look! target has it for $79.95 i just bought one in rockville, md. my mom needs her email, but believes a phone is a phone. so this is perfect for her.
FYI...THEY OFFER PUSH TEXTING! the email refresh every 2-3 min. they are working on push email, avail. in a couple of months. & international TEXT AT NO EXTRA CHARGE! (avail. in a couple of months).
hey, Iphone-ers! (& i use to own one) text:$20 unlimited; data:$30...annual: $600! its all about saving in 2009!
i just hope the company is around 2 year & im happy!
HUMMM...seems like an act of desperation to me. So what happens when they cash my $300 check then go out of business in 3 months? Be careful folks!
Hm, all these people noticing that their cell-phone can also do web/email.
One thing that I think is important to note that on a Peek, email is PUSHED to your Peek. So when a mail shows up, you know right away. You don't have to start-up a browser or separate app. (Yes, on iPod/iPhone/Blackberry it doesn't work this way, but that's apples and oranges).
This thing is cheap and affordable, and there are a few minor differences that I think gadgeters should keep in mind when comparing cell-phone email to this thing:
- Not a Pull app. When you get email, you know without having to pay attention!
- Full QWERTY!
Anyways, enough preaching. I think the email on this thing could be pretty dynamite but we probably have to use one to really get it. Who has actually tried one?
never understood push i just set my email to forward to my cell phone so when i get a new email i get notified may not be instanly but i dont mind waiting an extra second to know I have email (which buy the way 90% of all email is spam anyway)
to each they own
zipit seem like a better device you can im so i would assume u could check email on it never really checked my cell phone does all of the above and i already have to pay for that
Can someone explain how texting works on this device?
is it like texting on any phone, or do the people have to use or e-mail or somthing
and second, cant you just buy 4 of these at target for 25 dollars, so that when the "lifetime" one breaks, you just swap the sim card?
I just bought 2.
I have two girls who are just getting to the age of texting and using email all the time. It seems like a good deal if they don't break the device and the company stays in business.
We'll see how it works.
Life of the device? Or life of the company, which is probably another 6 months.
I'm not sure I would give this to my girlfriend or mom as a gift. Sure it would be pretty sweet to unwrap and then learn you didn't have a monthly fee associated with it. But how foolish and ripped off would I feel when Peek goes belly up in a few months and the device become a paperweight?
so many comments on this...
I think the 'spirit' of the promotion is to have 1 day where they can sell these to people who WANT them... Minus the pesky monthly fee... and HOPEFULLY generate some word of mouth advertising and buzz on the service for those who would find the device handy!
Yea, it is a single use device... But my company will spring for my cellphone - but not a blackberry. or someone who doesn't NEED a cellphone but would like the convenience of portable email without the cost of a Phone, 3 year contract and services they wouldn't use.
I say all the power to them... it is a NICHE market device... for the few... the proud... the technically challenged... Peek is not trying to get EVERYBODY...
Example... I could give one of these to my mother and she would use it all the time... give her an iphone... it would go in a drawer.
My mother-in-law (a lawyer) kept telling me she wanted a BB storm to get her gmail when she is out.
I said OK but a BB might be overly complicated for you and even thought the storm looks cool you might get upset with no keyboard.
So we went back and forth between a Peek a BB. She finally went for the Peek today when I sent her this promo.
But she has decided on the monthly plan as the 300 plan is for **the life of the device only** if it breaks or is lost you are screwed.
So a simple and compact email device with a full keyboard is good for a lot of non-gadget people.
I think only a BB does push email besides the Peek. Even my PPC phone has to dial in to d/l my email or I have to get on the web.
Single purpose devices do have their place....even though my phone, ipod, and Cowon D2 can record voice notes, I still had to get Olympus DS-50 as it is the only thing that at a press of a button will start recording.
Of course as digital voice recorders go this one is pretty geeky (plays audible, WMA, and MP3, can be used as a USB mic or speaker...and more)
They are not going under, in fact they are going to release their new dedicated AIM messaging device (the Poke) for $299 (plus TMobile monthly fee) in the summer.
I am waiting til it is $40 at Target, then I am going buy one for kicks. Who knows, maybe someone will hack this to run PDA functionality.
Calendar, notes, email, contacts. Peek already has 2 of 4 covered. If a version 2 comes out, hand writing recognition with touch screen would be the icing on the cake.
This thing is a pda and they don't even know it. A lot of people would want then in deference to a smart phone.
The chip set in the Peek doesn't appear to support the full range of PDA functionality. I saw talk today of offering a "to do" app, but I don't think calendaring is in the near future with the current hardware. Too bad, although it would seem odd to re-invent the Palm Pilot in 2009--and in a less ergonomic form factor, too.
So he's going to rip his customers off without even trying? I definitely see him getting hired as a _real_ bigwig after Peek flops; he's obviously got The Right Stuff.
I like all the comments on here. I am thinking about getting one today b/c the one time fee turns me on to it. I hope that it's just a gimmick to get the word out and also to see if people like that idea better than a pay-as-you-go scheme. Check out this site to see all the "email as a gateway" functions you can use the peek for http://www.geekypeek.com/?p=11. I want one simply b/c I pay $10/mo for texting on my phone and I want data features but don't want to pay the outrageous carrier fees for them. Only thing that is lacking that I would want is a way to do basic web browsing on the Peek. Threaded emails and text messages is also a MUST that I don't think it covers quite yet.
Also, another thing I forgot to mention is the "lifetime" unlimited eml + txt. I hope as another person inquired that you will be able to buy another cheap Peek device and switch the SIM card out if it breaks. Also that would lead to the question "will you be able to insert the SIM card into future iterations of the Peek and keep your lifetime unlimited contract"?
Why not a simple WiFi version or a BT tether to a cell phone?
Lifetime of the device is an INSTANT turn off for me. I hate that. That means its NEVER lifetime since NO DEVICE will last as long as I will with a battery inside.
Change that to Lifetime of ME AND the promise that you will release a flash rom to let it work WITHOUT PEEK if you happen to go under and we have a deal.
Peek for Life: $299.95 one-day sale ... Uh Look out for that * near the "Peek for Life" claim. Peek for Life* maybe for the life of the company, however short that may be. Buyer beware.
Then the company couldn't charge you 20 a month for something thats already FREE.
I work with the devices and have met some of the people near the top of Peek (a great company with an unusual business model), they are very serious about keeping the device stylish, intuitive and easy to use. Targeted at consumers who might be intimidated by, or just not have any use for a PC or even an iPhone. I wish them the best of luck!
not so sure paying for a 'service' for life ever makes sense....
look at tivo... do they even still do that anymore?