Just in case Eric sees this -- We're an Apple household, but I have to use a PC for work. Beeper has allowed me to extend iMessage elegantly to my work computers and works MUCH better than the alternatives. Their new solution works well for me as we have a Mac Mini always on at home. Using the registration code with Beeper's servers makes the whole thing more performant than any other alternative. I'd gladly pay them for the service.
I only mean to say we have a boatload of Apple products. All started with parents having iPhones. Eventually Apple Watches and AirPods because they work well with iPhones. Got smaller kids Apple Watches so we could track/contact them Eventually gave them our old iPhones, allowing us to control them with Screentime. Several Apple TVs and HomePods so we can all elegantly control them with our iPhones, and of course an Apple One subscription for shared iCloud storage, Apple Music and Arcade. Family controls smarthome through HomeKit.
Believe it or not, I’m not an Apple fanboy. It’s just that once you have an iPhone, the system really works well together. If I had an Android, I could not approve app requests or downtime extensions from the kids. I couldn’t instantly control the Apple TV. I’d have to use hacky workarounds for the HomePods. And, yes, absent Beeper the family would have to start using a different messaging app, which neither my wife nor girls would want to do.
I wouldn’t say we’re brand loyal. If other products worked as well, we’d buy them. I’ve tried several Samsung phones over the years, but I always come back given the friction above. Apple makes nice products that work well together. We’re an Apple household.
I've been waiting for the dust to settle, but i imagine i'll do the same. Are you able to automate that registration process? Does it require anything manual?
I'm also curious to find out how it works for multiple users on a single computer.
edit: I also wonder what the cheapest mini i can get is. Probably some used market? Hmm
I don’t know if there are any minis up on the site, but Apple has a refurb store that is usually pretty solid on price (or was last time I looked). Pawn shops aren’t a bad idea either - typically heavily marked down electronics, and if you find little ones tucked in next to bodegas you can find some unexpectedly good electronics.
Windows 11 only, and no chat history. Also, Beeper integrates full functionality like reactions and typing indicators. It also does neat things like auto-copy approval codes. They really have put together some nice software.
