http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/arkon-cup-holder-pda-mount-review.html

Just click the POST REPLY button on this page.

If your comment was directed to me - you don't have to worry - I have been convinced of the error of my ways - by both my husband & Julie - and I don't read while driving anymore. I still use my (almost) hands-free phone, though...

Here it the e-mail in it's entirety:

Julie,

I thought the review was extremely well written and that the images were perhaps some of the best that have ever been
included in a review. However, Judie's final soapbox conclusion is partially inaccurate. I emphasize partially because yes...
after reading her review, I realized that the user manual on the CM223 is the only one within our category of car mounts that
does not included our safety precautions. The CM223 happens to be the only user manual that I didn't create, and therefore,
the oversight. The reverse side of this argument is that Arkon Resources, Inc. does make a sincere effort to warn consumers
about the dangers of using handheld computers while operating a vehicle.

Judie wrote, "That leads me to a simple conclusion: there is simply no way around it - this product was made to be used while
the vehicle is moving." Her assumption could not be any farther from the truth. Our mounts are simply a mechanism in which to
hold the Handheld computer. In reality, it is the Handheld computer (or product) that needs to be warned against use in a
vehicle while driving, not the mount.

We specifically note in all other user manuals (CM226, CM228, CM229, etc)

"I agree with you about the liability aspect of this product.
I work for a major national insurance company as a manager of casualty
claims handlers, so I should know. In a day where just about everybody and
their uncle gets named in a lawsuit, you would think these people would have
more common sense (or at least their corporate attys).

Anyway - nice review. I enjoy reading all of the reviews on this web site
as they all always appear very balanced and fair.

thanks for your time.

Darrin Carver
Nashville, TN"

"Please feel free to post it for me with my blessing. I think you were
thinking very "big picture" to mention it in your review.
Regards...."

I have the VisorPhone and am interested in the mount, but am not convinced that it will fit even though the mount is adjustable. My gadget would need more head room, not leg room where other PDAs attach their serial accessories.

Fully extended, the Arkon mount will accept a PDA with a total height of 6".

Because the top section consists of the two adjustable arms; you ahould be able to spread them wide enough that they would properly hold your visor...as long as it's not any taller than the points holding it in, on it's two sides.

Unfortunately, I don't have a Visor with phone module to test for you in the mount...
I'd be happy to test yours out for you! :0)

That was a great review. I do have a quick question, you mentioned that you tested it thoroughly with various Palms and Pocket PCs. Is there a chance that this Arkon cup holder device could hold a RIM 957 unit?

The RIM 957 is approximately the size and thickness of a Palm V unit and weighs a little less.

Any help would be great because I'd like to get one of these cup holder devices, but I'd rather not find out it won't hold the unit and have to return it.

This should hold a RIM unit just fine; if the unit is the same size (roughly) as a Palm V.

For Gadgeteer reviews, we try to assess how good a product does what it was designed to do. After that we look at the features and flaws. I think that the review was fair in that respect. But while the Cup-holder PDA Mount was obviously designed to go in a vehicle, (in the cup holder), it was not obvious to me that this product "was made to be used while the vehicle is moving".

I think Arkon clarified their position that they are concerned about the safety issues regarding the use of all of their products. That is what this comment page is for.

Nowhere in the review does Judie say "don't buy this product". But the inference is that if you are going to use this product in a vehicle that is not moving, then do you really need it since your hands are free? I have to agree with her.

On occasion, we review something that we think is not going to be of use to anyone. And after the review, folks start to post reasons why the product is useful to them.

Again, that's what the comment page is for.

Don

My only other comments about the products are:
1/. It fits my Ipaq perfectly and into the cupholder in my Dodge Grand Caravan (which is the cupholder they picture in the literature they send with the product) very comfortably. I consider it one of my better buys.

2/. The guys at Arkon are making money hand over fist on this on. The materials used are very cheap and the 50 dollar price tag is boarderline highway robbery.

Regards,
Michael Shawver

The Postit Note/Battery foam holder pocket and Ink Pen/Stylus that we incorporated into our cradle was on the market a good year before you added it to your product.

The suction cup, window mount adaption of the plastic pedestal that we developed, is also part of your product line now.(Fortunately, we provide the highest quality suction cups available on the market-specifically designed for windsheild use-not homemade cups)

Arkon met with Revolve on several occasions, claiming to want to be a distributor of our products. We sent several samples of our cradles (which were never returned by the way) with no resulting distributorship ever materializing. In retrospect, this is a good thing actually.

The basic embodiment of your cradle looks *incredibly* similar to the concepts and sketches that Revolve disclosed to Arkon, under the assumption that Revolve and Arkon would co-develop this product. Arkon just dissapeared, and 3 months later the product, including the above features, shows up on the retail shelves under Arkon's name.

Arkon's retail packaging, including a teal blue signature color, in-vehicle promo shots, text explaining the product specifications, and the name "Universal Mount" - all very similar, if not identical to Revolve's UniMount line, are also used by Arkon.

It appears that our hard work and innovative prowress used to develop our cradles over a year long cycle has saved you folks a lot of time and money. We will surely now be keeping all information dealing with our upcoming products to ourselves.

It's interesting you mention that you had meetings with the people at Arkon, and that they had desired to work with you in development of a product. I was wondering about this product.

When you look at the UniMount that I reviewed for you back in February of 1999, (over 2 years ago!) the resemblance is remarkable! In fact, I haven't personally reviewed this product, but the UniMount appears to be a much better product. (Provided you can fit you PDA in it). UniMount seemed to be a very versatile device that could be mounted in numerous ways, and even used with the stand on a desk.

It may be that Arkon copied your idea, and made some modifications to it. Or it may be that you both came up with the same idea, in slightly different packaging, without any knowledge of each other's work, and that Revolve Design had their product to market first. (Although if you met with them, I would find that hard to believe).

In any case, there are now 2 products out there, and I guess that's just tough luck for both of you.

Stuff like this happens all the time. We designed a PDA product, (The Bridge). We took it to market in 3 months, and were selling it internationally for a year and a half when the guys at PalmDock came out with their product. Right away, they started making claims we stole their idea. We had our product out in January of 1999, and a year and a half later, someone, who obviously had the same idea that we had, came out with a different, but functionally similar product.

With so many people using PDAs and the field so wide, there are going to be people out there with the same ideas.

I guess there is no legal recourse for you since the products are different in a number of ways, but at this point, there is not much you can do about it except get working on the next great design and patent it.

Good luck to you in the future.

If you'll take a look at http://www.arkon.com/pdauserguide.html ,you'll find a list of the models that will work with the iPAQ & dual sleeve.

The CM223 is not among them. You should look instead at the CM 155, 156, & 158 models.

Good Luck,
Judie :0)