05-31-2002, 05:53 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 135
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ThunderHawk Browser for Pocket PC Review
http://www.pdabuyersguide.com/software/internet_thunderhawk.htm
I've been watching the development of ThunderHawk since the first email concerning it landed in my inbox. This looks like a really great program, and I'm glad that it's finally available.
I was first introduced to the idea of proxy browsing when I used a Palm, and it made perfect sense. Mobile devices simply don't have the capacity to process all of the things that big computers can and their Internet connections don't have the same broadband speeds that many of us have at home. Proxy browsing makes surfing quicker and easier, allowing for a much more enjoyable experience.
This review just reinforces what I already suspected about this program. It's great. It's revolutionary. It's really annoying that I don't have any kind of connection to use it with.
By the way, here's something that always makes me happy: "ThunderHawk actually supports more web standards than Pocket IE, including HTML 4.0, SSL, XML 1.0, CSS 1 and some of CSS 2, JavaScript 1.5 and more. Not bad!"
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05-31-2002, 08:50 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 20
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Not the killer app yet
I disagree with the review that Thunderhawk is a killer app for the Pocket PC. After having used a trial copy on my device for a week now, I find it has some good points, but unfortunately, it also has too many drawbacks to make it a must-have app or even a might-have app.
The good points include:
- excellent antialiased small fonts, very legible (wish these fonts were available for use in other apps besides Thunderhawk)
- graphics load faster than in pocketie, because the images are shrunk down on their servers and then sent to you
- supports more standards than pocketie, and thus you can view more web sites accurately than in pocketie
The drawbacks include:
- no cache! (pages are always reloaded on their servers and 'pushed' to your ppc).
- the whole page is not loaded in at once, just the part that is visible on your pocket pc; if you scroll down the web page, you have to wait for the thunderhawk servers to send you the next part of the webpage (this makes browsing a long website with Thunderhawk a major pain)
- no favorites/bookmarks
- you cannot use any of your installed/favorite input panels like calligrapher, wordlogic, fitaly, etc to input text; only their built-in keyboard is available
- cannot use it to display html files stored locally on your ppc device (because thunderhawk isn't really an html browser, its just a local display program which simply displays the compressed web site 'image' from the thunderhawk servers).
I personally had high hopes for the Thunderhawk application, because I really would like to be able to surf the net on the go without having to resort to lugging a laptop around and the preview pictures looked impressive. Unfortunately, my experiences with Thunderhawk were not that positive. Its definitely a good start, and perhaps with a bit more tweaking and the addition of some sorely needed features (bookmarks, cache) it might become the killer app described in the review.
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05-31-2002, 11:35 AM
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Theorist
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 262
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All i can say is that 50USD a year is a madness. I use virtual desktop manager (to change resolution) and a landscape tool for browsing the web, maybe this Thunderhawk has more readable but fonts, but I cannot justify the cost of 50 USD a year. Okay, I now it works through a proxy server based system and they need to invest in lots of bandwith and servers, but still, I cannot justify this cost, and I'm sore lots of people are with me on this.
Ivan
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05-31-2002, 02:04 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
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Sorry Sam I have to give this at least 1 1/2 thumbs down, maybe the full 2
NO cache that is a very big ooops, geeez if you scroll just a line or two you have to wait for the page to reload. Overall that is not faster surfing, it's a PITA. No bookmarks follows along not far behind in the PITA department. $50.00 a year when I can get a free proxy, no thanks.
With Internet Explorer 5.0 supposedly in Windows CE .NET, and 3G networks poping up allowing for faster services, and the availability of free proxy servers I see Thunderhawk joining it buddies, Bluekite, and Zadiel, in the recycle bin.
Now after being so critical I give Bitsteam a half a thumb for innovating. They have put considerable effort into making this happen. Maybe something very good will spin off of this. You never progress if you don't try.
Dave
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05-31-2002, 06:46 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 327
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Thumbs Down Here Too
I have to side with the naysayers as well on this issue. Although the font and general page rendering is quite nice, the fact that it does no caching makes it quite unpleasant, even over my 802.11 network. I was hoping this would solve the issue of my online banking, which it does seem to do, at least in the security issues, but scrolling down my online statement takes so long, it is actually faster to just run the hack through RegKing. I also have to give up all the cool stuff MultiIE allows me to do, such as multiple windows, tap and hold menu functionality, button mappings, save as functions, and, of course, the ability to build my own locally stored portal page, and Avantgo (the last two are Pocket IE functions). I would probably keep Thunderhawk for those few occassions when I want to do stuff that is a complete pain in the butt with Pocket IE (like viewing THIS :!: discussion board), but at $49 per year, they are SOL with this unsatisfied customer. :cry:
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05-31-2002, 07:16 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
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Re: Thumbs Down Here Too
Quote:
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Originally Posted by dma1965
I was hoping this would solve the issue of my online banking, :
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Are you aware there ia a reg hack that usually sovle that ?
Dave
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05-31-2002, 07:44 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 327
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If you read my post again, you will see that I mentioned using RegKing, which does perform the reg hack you mention, so, yes, I am aware, and I appreciate your assistance anyway. 
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05-31-2002, 08:36 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by dma1965
If you read my post again, you will see that I mentioned using RegKing, which does perform the reg hack you mention, so, yes, I am aware, and I appreciate your assistance anyway. |
Duh! Some days my lights are on but no one's home.
Dave
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05-31-2002, 08:39 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 327
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Quote:
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Duh! Some days my lights are on but no one's home.
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At least your lights turn on when they are supposed to. Wish I could say the same for my iPaq 3870 :evil:
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05-31-2002, 08:41 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
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Shoulda bought a Jornada
Dave
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Linear Mode
