@bigmak - You CAN purchase any Peek right now and upgrade to Pronto at no additional cost.

If you have a Peek with any software version PREVIOUS to 1.09. such as 1.04, 1.06, 1.07 or 1.08, we will grandfather you into Peek Pronto.

However, if you buy a Peek Classic with 1.09 on it, the upgrade fee will be 30 dollars.

@gabe and Tom: thanks for the clarification!

@dkg: If I had to hazard a guess, I'm assuming they will both have the same firmware update (Pronto and Classic). However, the driver will recognize the version of the unit it's installed on and act accordingly. That's the way it usually happens in industry, it's easier than having separate drivers.

Software will be different on Peek Classic 1.09 and Peek Pronto 1.09. Peek Classic will connect to whatever server it is connecting to now. Peek Pronto will use the turbo charged Pronto server.

Clear as mud right? :-)

@whoa - think of service plans and software versions as two different animals. So yes, if you get the lifetime-of-device Costco deal and you end up with 1.08 (likely)... you can upgrade to 1.09 Pronto for nada.

New keyboard - I'll have to defer to Gabe on that. I would guess not yet in the current Costco peeks.

@rufwork: The final 1.09 software is not completely finished yet. It's still being tested by a small group of peeksters, and likely still has bugs that need to be resolved.

Gabe - Can you elaborate more on #2? IE, there's likely a *date* after which, no matter where the purchase, the softer keyboard would be available. If I've got that right, what's that date? April 6?

@rortt - As much as everyone wants to stalk Kevin, sadly that feature will not be available directly within the Peek's software.

I LIKE A TACTILE KEYBOARD WHICH HAS A REAL CLICKETY FEEL!!!!

I am shocked that people are complaining about the keyboard. One of the things I hate about the iPhone is that I cannot do fact thumb typing on it, and I spend half the time correcting typing errors. One of the best thiings about the Peek is the solid feel keyboard.

auto-correct feature? awesome :D I had that on my blackberry pearl and I miss that :D can't wait till I see how it performs.

frank - you're right it is crunch time at Peek HQ, but we've got good news. You'll only need to wait another week for Peek Pronto.

You'll see communications later in the week regarding your upgrade options and since you have an upgrade cable it will be a snap.

I got my cable cable today and upgraded the 1.04 PEEK that I got for my wife to 1.08. Now she really believes that I'm Superman.

Can't wait to upgrade us both to 1.09 very soon, according to Gabe.

Gabe went over some of the features with me. The bold text really does make the device more usable for me.

Um, a wiki would be fabulous!

tempted to open this device... wondering... keyboard? which one does it have? Hmm...

@Hallster - to answer your questions...

Hardware - no significant difference. None at all if you want to upgrade from pre-1.09 versions to 1.09 Pronto.

Service - no customer service difference at all, and no difference in monthly service charges. Did you mean something else by "service"?

Software - see this post
http://boards.getpeek.com/comments.php?DiscussionID=439&page=1#Item_15
for a good rundown of 1.04 vs later versions.

See this
http://www.amazon.com/Peek-Pronto-Mobile-Messaging-Device/dp/B001VN2KBM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1239198187&sr=8-1
for a good description of Pronto's features.

As to your 1.04.. upgrading to Peek Pronto will be *free*. No need for you to pay for anything except shipping cost to Peek's New York City office, after Peek Pronto is released to the general public in a week or two.

Upgrades...Peek replaces all of the firmware on the device, rather than installing patches, when upgrades occur. Given that, my understanding is that the "update by email" technique would be problematic. The cable method was created by Peek earlier this year in response to their customer base saying "we can't live without our Peeks for the x days it'll take to ship our devices to/from New York". The cable upgrade process is still being worked through - Peek is great at involving its user community in development like that.

In any case, the primary way to do the upgrades (which are optional for you) is to send in your Peek. Given the anticipated demand for upgrades to Peek Pronto, Peek is also thinking about local "upgrade parties" ... so be on the lookout for those to be announced on these boards!

Keyboard ... not sure what your question is there?

Wiki ... Peek started one, but the level of participation in the wiki is much less than here at these boards.

Hope all of that helps. Let us know if there are more questions!

@pambudgie & @crc

Thank you for the informative response!

I'm reading the links now... and of course, I have a few more questions. :-)

txting.
Prolly unlike most of you, I bought this phone to txt with. heh, girls... they like to txt. :-) for me, email is an added bonus.

How does this device present itself to the the recipient/sender for SMS messages? gmail's SMS come's through as a unique 10 digit number. How do other carriers deal with emai/txt integration? Tmo and/or blackberry went to great lengths to make it *impossible* to txt to an email address. I know. I tried last night. It is Impossible. Did i mention it is impossible? I tried to shoe horn an SMS msg to an email address and Blackberry/TMO has roadblocks at every corner. Bleh. The only solution i see, the user would have to install an applet to get around TMO's Blackberry implementation. Anyway, I'm interested in your thoughts on that. In other words, SMS from Peek to Cell, ease of use.
(And lemme tell ya, my affinity for Tmo was not goin up las night! Grr... the carriers, their so dumb - marketing dweebs, really). Anyway, i digress...

I have yet to open the package... So, I guess the question is, what is the best path towards a pronto. Is Amazon shipping the pronto now?(If i read between the lines on pambudgie's response, it sounds like they are not)

I want to start with a pronto device/software. So i need to figure out shortest path to that. When is Peek going to release the freshmeat?

Technical limitations? Hmm... Not enough onboard non volatile memory?

Are there any "parties" planned in Orange County, CA? Fullerton? That's where I'm at. If you send me the cable, I could host one. if you send me a few cables, i could set up a few PCs to act as a upgrade station. That is, of course, if you ask nicely. :-) haha

Thanks! Look forward to your replies...

Sean

@pambudgie
thanks for your help.

do you work at Peek?

Option 2 is cheapest and least hassle. though, you do make a good point re future upgrades. the cable becomes more interesting in perspective of that.

Im highly technical.

my profession is marketing tech products.

Sean

Amazon said my Peek Pronto should be shipping shortly! :)

Excerpt:

Hello from Amazon.com.

We are writing about the order you placed on March 24 2009 20:08 PDT (Order# xxx-xxxxxxx-xxxxxxx). The item(s) listed below will actually ship sooner than we originally expected:

"Peek Pronto Mobile Messaging Device (Grey)" [Electronics]
Estimated arrival date: 04/10/2009 - 04/13/2009

Sweet!

- Jesse

Quick note...if you receive your Peek Pronto PRIOR to 4/13/09, you will not be able to activate it until 4/12 - 4/13 when Pronto officially launches. :-)

But reality! And perhaps a way to head off a few customer service calls.

@hallster - if you want do-it-yourself upgrades in the future, you'll be wanting that $15 cable.. so I think the math is more like $50 + tax (at target, assuming you pick it up so no shipping) + $15 cable vs Amazon's $79 + tax + $15 cable.

Yes, to get any of the money-saving service plans, you need to call Peek Cust Care. They're open during weekdays (in spite of anything else you might read elsewhere).

Eric,

Peek's are in trucks on the way to Radio Shack's throughout the US. Things got a little behind but rest assured they will be there.

If you want to be really old school, you swing by Peek HQ in NYC (39th and Madison so 4/5 to Grand Central) and you can chat with us about the product, get your hands on one and check it out for yourself. E-mail me at gabe @ getpeek.com if want to arrange a personal Peek tour and sure, if you want to take one off our hands we can do that too.

If you decide to go a Target and get a Peek your options to upgrade are simple :
1) Schedule a walk-in visit for an upgrade
2) Call our customer care at 1877-766-7335 and arrange a mail-in upgrade. We typically get your Peek back to you in a couple of days.
3) Purchase an upgrade cable at Peek boutique http://boutique.getpeek.com/upgrade-cable-for-your-peek.html and do the upgrade yourself. You'll also be able to perform future updates. You can get that in person if you'd like too.

Hope to see you soon.

To Gabe & Pam!

Pure awesomeness!

Please post the upgrade link. I'm trying to be patient...

how are the waves setup? is peek keeping track of who has upgrade cables and who is going to send their peeks in? or is it just arbitrary.

* gabe
* CommentTime1 hour ago


We're going to release the updater later today. No ominous silence here!

Thanks!

If we buy a peek Pronto off of getpeek.com today when will it ship?

Thanks
Rusty