Rating: 
Summary: IMFree is really cool!
Review: (...)I just recieved my IMFree in the mail and I'm loving it! IMFree is a really neat idea, and so far it works great. The keyboard is different from a regular one, but isn't too hard to type on (unless you have really big fingers). It's nice to be able to still chat with more than one person at a time, in an organized way. The color is blue (not purple) and is very pretty. The black and white screen is easy to adjust, the only problem is that it doesn't have a light. I really think IMFree is a good idea so parents can be on the computer, while the kids/teens can be chatting away with their friends, in privacy, without bothering their parents. Thank you Motorola, this was an awesome idea!
Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely satisfied.
Review: As for people who say the MX240a has terrible range, it must be interference with your area. I have an IMfree base station connected on top of an entertainment center (about a foot and a half away from the ceiling) in my basement, at about a foot away from the absolute front of my house. My room is at the back of my house, on the opposite side, upstairs. I can easily lay in bed and watch TV while talking on the MX240a. There is a tiny lag. TINY. I know this because I've left my AIM running on the PC downstairs and speakers on just to see when the sound cued downstairs, and compared it to when I got the message. Miniscule.
For those who say the keyboard sucks and screen sucks and all of this; try thinking of it compared to a phone. They keyboard on this thing is obviously designed so you're NOT typing traditional keyboarding style, but instead... thumb talk. Text messaging. This thing is a dream as compared to AIM's use of IM Forwarding to text messages on a cell phone. I'm an avid thumb typer with this, and I've had no problems.
The only thing missing is the use of a Timex Indiglo style backlight. That's absolutely it. Maybe a higher resolution LCD screen, but I see no purpose in having a full color backlit LCD screen, as this thing is to supplement for convenience, not replace your PC.
Although the common person to buy this is to get their teen off the computer, I bought it so I didn't have to sit in my basement studio, away from home theater, couches, bed, etc. to simply chat online without using a cell phone. May I stress, although aimed at, this product is NOT strictly for teenagers or preteens that you want off of the "family PC" ...it's for anyone who's tired of being stuck in the room with the PC just to talk online.
I paid approx. $45 for this thing at Circuit City, and it came with the base station. For a while (I haven't seen them since I bought this), they also sold the MX240a alone for about $15 less than the "starter kit"
I am very pleased, and could only ask for a simple backlight.
Rating: 
Summary: This thing sucks
Review: Dear Lord, first of all for the record this thing sucks. It takes over 16 hours to charge the battery. It took twice as long for me because the charger for mine was irregular and did not fit correctly so it would occasionaly stop charging all together. (Way to go Motorola)Second, after using it a grand total of 2 times it stopped working all together. It simply did not turn on. Even during those two times it was a poor substitute for a computer. The lighting is poor and frankly the black and gray graphics are crappy. I didn't expect this to be perfect but I did expect it to be functional. I was going to return it for a new one but after this experience I am going to get a refund instead. Also as teenager this device is marketed towards me. However if this is what Motorola thinks I and my peers want they are sorely mistaken. First of all, this handheld needs a backlight and color screen. Also it is extremely annoying that u have to have the computer on the whole time. I have DSL so the computer just sits there the whole time. I would not mind paying extra for these features.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Buy for the Im'er in your house
Review: I bought one and love it. I haven't had any trouble with it at all. My only two complaints are that the battery takes 16 hours to charge the first time (10 hours to charge after first charging and use) and only works about 4 hours, and that it only uses Aol Instant Messanger. It has the option to select service at the splash screen, but for the time being, only has AIM. I recomend this product highly. Also, numerous reviews have stated that the computer can be off. It MUST be on while using this product. It communicates through a program that must be running on the computer. If anyone can figure out how to run a program while the computer is off, then maybe you can use it...but untill that miracle discovery, sorry, but the computer must be on.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Buy for the Im'er in your house
Review: I bought one and love it. I haven't had any trouble with it at all. My only two complaints are that the battery takes 16 hours to charge the first time (10 hours to charge after first charging and use) and only works about 4 hours, and that it only uses Aol Instant Messanger. It has the option to select service at the splash screen, but for the time being, only has AIM. I recomend this product highly. Also, numerous reviews have stated that the computer can be off. It MUST be on while using this product. It communicates through a program that must be running on the computer. If anyone can figure out how to run a program while the computer is off, then maybe you can use it...but untill that miracle discovery, sorry, but the computer must be on.
Rating:
Summary: wonderful product
Review: I got an IMFree at Wal-Mart and I use it all the time. One thing that I don't like is that it has to charge for 16 hours before you can use it. However, the signal strength is exactly what they said it would be. Set up is very easy, but if you don't use a Motorola modem (cable) then signal strength isn't very strong and it can fail on you in the middle of a conversation. It works excellent with the SB5100 Motorola modem, and will not slow down your internet.
And if you want another IMFree in addition to the one you already have, you DO NOT have to buy a new starter kit, you can buy a companion. A companion contains just the IMFree and no base, and it is easily registered to the existing base.
Rating: 
Summary: SO close to what you NEED
Review: I got to try the thing at a freinds house. It was really really cool, cept for the fact you need to be 150 feet from the comp.This was dissapointing. I was really hoping for a go-anywhere sorta thing. I liike how its a one-payment for life thing, but i think a go-anywhere thing with no monthly payments would be awesome
Rating: 
Summary: Choose Zipit over IM Free
Review: I have been waiting for products like these to come out for a while. I have 3 kids that are always fighting for time on the computer so they can chat with friends. I read the reviews on this and think that several of the other reviewers see similar things and would be intersted in what else is out there. I did not buy this unit but I think others may be interested why. I looked very closely at the IM Free and decided against it for the following reasons:
1. Tetherred connection due to required base station - What good is this unit when you take it out of the house and don't have a computer with an available port (that must be powered up) to connect it to? Wouldn't a better name be "IM Tethered" or "Nearly Free"? ;-)
2. AOL IM exclusive.
3. Charge time as seen in other reviews.
4. Range - up to 150' is not sufficient.
5. Why would 5 kids in the same house want to IM eachother instead of talking??? I understand that siblings may not want to talk to eachother ;-), but if my kids have their friends over they aren't going to all plug in and chat with eachother.
I wanted a truly wireless IM device that my kids could use not just at home, but everywhere we go that has wireless available. I also won't pay a monthly service fee - ie. Ogo! A unit was just released recently at Target.com does exactly this! It's called Zipit by K-Byte and is featured on their (Target) electronics page, it's also here on Amazon but Target has an exclusive on it so they are the ones that ship it - search for "Zipit Wireless". Same price as the IM Free, but in my opinion way better. I just recently got a Zipit and it performs as advertised. True wireless and no fee! It's smaller and clearly more portable; plus it has a built in firewall. Only down side is no backlit LCD but that is no different than the IM Free. It's the same price too - $99 and there are 5 or 6 colors to choose from so my kids won't be fighting over which unit is theirs! Before you buy an IM device, I'd give a long hard look at the Zipit, all you need is a wireless internet connection. I love it already and will be ordering more for my other 2 kids. I have also heard that the Zipit will have an online upgrade available that will add mp3 downstreaming. I left a review for the Zipit on that page in Amazon.
Rating:
Summary: Overstated range - lousy support
Review: I purchased a couple of these for my kids for Christmas, 2003. According to the tech specs, the transmission range for these things is 120 to 150 feet. The units we received indicate 'out of range' when taken upstairs in our house, which is about 50 feet from the base unit. I used Motorola's web support site and asked if it was possible that my units were defective. They sent me the URL to an FAQ, which told me that the working range for these things is 150 feet. Very frustrating. It seems they did not even read my question. To add insult to injury, their automated customer satisfaction followup email was emblazoned with the motto 'intelligence everywhere'. I beg to differ. In summary, I do not recommend the IMfree.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting little gadget--could use some work
Review: Many people say that you should get this device if you don't have enough computers for everybody to use AIM. However, when I saw this gadget, a different use came into mind. For you see, I am a gamer with a social life. Maybe a rare breed, but I have found this is perfect for playing games in full screen and being able to use AIM at the same time without having two computers. It used to involve the person IMing me, pulling down my game, and we talk for a few seconds, and I realize I am dead when I bring back the game. However, with this I can chat and play my game at the same time.
Some have complained about device range, while I live in a fairly large house with walls, and even on the other side, I was able to make a connection and send and recieve IMs. The problem may lie in construction material of the house I am guessing.
However, I do wish that there were a few improvements to this. One is to move the send key and push all the bottom buttons over. Because the bottom row of keys is one over from a normal keyboard and I always find myself typing "thimg" instead of "thing." As well, a larger typing surface would be nice.
The sounds on the system are kind of annoying, and I thought there would be no way to turn off all of the "going to sleep" and "sign on/off" sounds without turning off the "IM sound", however, I was pleasently suprised when I found I could not only do that on the program on the computer, but you can customize the rings down to making your own sounds or even making it play Greensleeves.
But a major part that would greatly improve this product is a backlight, as many have said. That would allow you to IM in the dark. Not sure why some people demand this, but they must have their reasons.
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