Scientifically Oriented PDAs? 43
Froze asks: "This is the beginning of my seventh year in school (yes, I am a grad student) and I am looking for the most cost effective solution in a scientifically oriented PDA. A strong compatibility with Linux is a must. My background is in Physics and Mathematics, so it would be nice to have some way of handling mathematical input (like the Zaurus). An on-board language would be a plus as well, something along the lines of bash, Perl, or Java would do."
"I have looked at some of the Linux PDA's out there like Sharps Zaurus and Agenda's VR3 (which is discontinued, I think) and generally liked what I saw. Ultimately, I would like to have the following features:
- Software that can handle math input
- The ability to compile code for it
- An attachable keyboard (close to full size)
- Full Linux compatibility
- Vibrating alarm (things that beep annoy me)
- Pricing that a student can afford
TI-92 (Score:4, Informative)
Re:TI-92 (Score:1)
Re:TI-92 (Score:2, Informative)
If you want to look at calcualors, the HP-49G might be worth a look. It has a clock and a beeper, a formidable CAS, an on board or 3rd party support for ASM, SYS-RPL, Reverse Polish Lisp and HP-BASIC. It also has a wealth of high quality scientific/mathmatical applications. There are a few computer linking programs avalable (Kermit and a few others).
None of the calc platforms will fill vary many of the compatiblity requiremints as far as I know.
FYI:
http://www.hpcalc.org/
http://www.ticalc
comp.sys.hp48
Re:TI-92 (Score:1)
Re:TI-92 (Score:2, Informative)
Re:TI-92 (Score:1)
I have a friend that has a Ti-92, its a sweet device, except for one thing. I am an RPN junkie, infix just hurts after using postfix for so long. I don't know if there any ways to make the Ti talk RPN, but if there were then I might have to reconsider them.
Easy (Score:1, Informative)
I have the TI-89 and it handles math and physics beautifully, including pretty-print output, "spreadsheets", function/parametric/3d/polar graphing and the greek alphabet. It is programmable (in a BASIC type language) right on the device. You can buy a keyboard to make this simpler (though the 92, which is functionally identical to the 89, is more PDA-shaped and won't need one). If you buy the GraphLink cable you can upload and download files (including programs in ASM). People have written games and PDA-like functions for things like address books. The only feature missing on your list is an alarm.
Price: $100 (+$15 for the cable from WalMart).
PocketPCs with Linux? (Score:2, Informative)
Why not look at the PocketPC machines? Quite a few people have gotten them working with serial chording keyboards (link [iptel-now.de]), you can install Linux on them, and you have many input options, PCMCIA, serial, compactflash, smart cards, etc.
Of course, the Zaurus is a very similar device, and it comes with Linux, but you mention it in the article, so I assume you've already looked into it.
So why not the Zaurus ??? (Score:4, Insightful)
The Ti calculators are good as well. Even the TI-83 if I remember right has scientific probes and anaylzing software that you can get. It's pretty cheap too.
well... (Score:1, Insightful)
Recommend paper & pencil, TI-96 graphing calculator, and a watch with an alarm. Total costs: about $130. Perfect pricing that a student can afford
budget of students.. (Score:2)
Then again, some students eat ramen noodles for every meal, walk everywhere, use pencils because pens are too costly, and don't have a computer because all their money is going to tutition, and their parents won't help them a bit so they work for every dime they have.
I think he should have given a better number than "pricing that a student can afford". It's hard to tell how much money he has.
Re:budget of students.. (Score:2)
Yes, I still work a lot to pay for rent, the loans don't cover tution, but I live comfortably enough! No car, thank god tho.
Re:budget of students.. (Score:1)
Re:budget of students.. (Score:1)
even in boston.
You live well, alone, for $1100; sharing should be cheaper - high end shares right downtown will not go much higher than $1000, all included. Accept a 10 minute commute and you're easily at the $800 mark.
Vibrates? (Score:5, Funny)
Imagine: Pouring NitroGlycerine into a vessel, the scientist deciedes to measure the temperature, putting the probe, someone IMs him, or he has an appointment alarm, BUZZ, BUZZ, it hits the Pyrex glass, and disturbs the liquid, and it falls to the floor, boom!
Not too pretty, I think that should be the last thing that you want. I can see why you would want it, but I see it as being annoying in a lab.
Use your science PDA for science, and your day to day PDA/phone for elsewhere, but that's just my opinion.
Re:Vibrates? (Score:1)
Although it might be more appropriately aimed at a Chemist
Other Vibrating uses? (Score:2)
Thank god you aren't an English major (Score:4, Funny)
You mean complement, of course. In fact, that's a mathematical word and you got it wrong, so you should certainly fail your course.
Re:Thank god you aren't an English major (Score:2)
A good chunk of professors and lecturers get this wrong, along with discreet vs discrete. I'm not sure whether they do this out of true bad spelling or to watch those of us in the classroom familiar with inside jokes do our snickering :-).
There's already a good amount of snickering in a physics or math class already, what with phrases like angle of deviation and barrier penetration getting tossed around :-)
You really want a calculator (Score:2)
Re:You really want a calculator (Score:1)
For in-depth programming, get Matlab (my favorite), Maple, or Mathematica for a desktop/laptop PC. A PDA wouldn't be able to handle the power/speed requirements of any serious lenghty calculations. I have Matlab simulations constantly running in the background on this PC. (Yes, I'm in grad school too)
Re:You really want a calculator (Score:1)
You don't want a PDA (Score:3, Insightful)
If you want a portable scientific computing appliance, your only choice is a Linux-based laptop. (I guess Sparc or PowerPC is preferable to Pentium for this kind of computing, but it probably doesn't matter that much.) Yes, a cheap laptop is pretty heavy, but no worse than some of your heavier textbooks.
If I were in your shoes, I'd really, really want to get a copy of Mathematica. But if I were in your shoes, I couldn't afford it: $900 for an academic license! Sigh.
Where are you getting your license? (Score:1)
Nice bargain (Score:2)
Zaurus -- ehh.. (Score:1)
Re:Zaurus -- ehh.. (Score:2)
The ROM upgrade has fixed it, and porting apps to the Z (at least console apps) is dead easy. I'm not a developer, but I ported LPRng and a2ps to the Z in about 2 hours, and most of the time was spent figuring out what files I needed for the packages.
The base apps that come with the Z do need some work, but there are plenty of replacements that work pretty well.
HP48. (Score:2)
Re:HP48. (Score:3)
You can program it; RPN rocks and it is easy to do symbolic computations (even more easy on the HP49.) I even wrote a tar like program in RPN that uses the BZ compression program. Once your familiar with RPN, it becomes very easy and quick to preform calculations.
I can not stress enough that the HP48/49 are serious engineering tools.
The Freehand Formula Entry System and DRACULAE (Score:3, Informative)
To the people who are suggesting some kind of calculator, please realize that mathematics does NOT equal +-*/=[0-9].
seven years? newbie! ha!
t.
Re:The Freehand Formula Entry System and DRACULAE (Score:2)
It would work well in an IBM Transnote or simalar I think
Re:The Freehand Formula Entry System and DRACULAE (Score:1)
This is exactly the kind of info I was hoping to find by posting to slashdot, thanks. And yes, I consider myself a newbie in the academic world, and will continue to do so until I stop taking classes and start teaching them
Palm (Score:1)
LyME (Score:2)
Re:LyME (Score:1)
If you don't need "digital" (Score:2)
If you drop the "digital" requirement, every mad scientist needs a personal assistant. Preferably named Igor [imdb.com]. Slavish, sniveling obedience required. Humpback optional.
www.handhelds.org (Score:1)
Check out http://www.handhelds.org
I've played with this for about 6 months and can't for the life of me figure out why anyone is still running PalmOS or PocketPC...