Palmtop Nirvana? 564
cakefool asks: "There seems to be a Slashdot article every day about a new palmtop/subnotebook/digitalwhoojerammy, and without fail people complain it doesn't have what they want. Let's do this the other way around - what do you need in a handheld computing device, seriously? I ummed and ahhed for ages before finally ordering a Psion 5mx, and it does everything I need it to, other than play Doom(1), and is a hell of a lot cheaper than the JVC micronotebook, and smaller than a budget laptop, with a much longer battery life than both." What features do you look for in a handheld/palmtop computing device?
Palm Zire 72 (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Palm Zire 72 (Score:2)
Re:Palm Zire 72 (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Palm Zire 72 (Score:2)
Maybe he knows someone who has one...
(LOSER!
Axim X30H (Score:3, Interesting)
624mhz, 64 internal. one 256mb SD card.
Plays quake 1, quake 2 (finished quake 1 on the ferry, shareware... awaiting doom 3 port
WiFi and bluetooth - handy for transferring photos from a camera phone.
SD is compatible with my 3.2 mp Optio33LF (99 squids from amazon)
I also have a 400mhz iPaq, which is sexy, and has lush chrome finished and a keyboard.
It reads ebooks and does ogg. Want a reliable linux port and SWT port
I guess is SWT runs on qt, an
Interface (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Interface (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm not sure what problems you've had with battery life, but on a recent PDA with a rechargeable battery and a color screen, you don't have to worry about data loss because the color screen takes so much power compared to the RAM that when the screen won't turn on the RAM may last for as long as a few weeks.
Re:Interface (Score:3, Insightful)
I really hope you meant frontlight, since the sun as a backlight would mean that you're staring into the sun while trying to read your PDA...
All I need is a great sub-notebook (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:All I need is a great sub-notebook (Score:3, Insightful)
1. No larger than 12", no heavier than 5.5 lbs.
2. 1024x768ish resolution.
3. Integrated 802.11g, ethernet, modem, USB, and DVD-Rom.
4. A decent, 3D accelerated graphics card.
5. Linux compatible for 99% of the hardware.
Bonus points if it has a keyboard that has Insert/Delete/Pageup/Pagedown/Home/End in a reasonable place, a serial port, and a CF/SD reader.
So far, I've found only one laptop that even comes close to what I want, and that's the Vaio
Re:All I need is a great sub-notebook (Score:2)
Not much (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Not much (Score:2)
Instead some of the new models dont even have backlight (yet they are speedy and the new graphitti is amazing)
To add to your USB interface idea would be to have a rechargeable battery. Best of all would be to use some compatible battery type with a mega-popular cellphone. Even if it requires a small ridge down the back of the phone i wouldnt mind having the ability to swap a spare Nokia battery to or from my pa
Re:Not much (Score:2)
I think that would be a nifty invention, an adapter capable of using your cell phone battery to extend the life of the battery in the pda. You could attach it when needed and maybe keep one or two extra's around incase your phone or pda goes low.
Yet another lame joke... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Yet another lame joke... (Score:2)
You think that's a horrible joke, the radio station where I lived at the time of Kurt Cobain's death played two Nirvana songs in a row all weekend long to "mourn" his death. They called it the "Nirvana Double-Shot Weekend."
I love my (Score:3, Informative)
Re:I love my (Score:2)
Easy (Score:5, Interesting)
Any takers?
Re:Easy (Score:5, Interesting)
I like the idea of external modules. Why build a camera into a PDA, when you can build Bluetooth into the PDA, and Bluetooth into a camera? The two will then be able to talk. Why build a phone into a PDA, when again, you could just talk remotely? And of course, we're already seeing the beginnings of this. Phone to PDA is pretty common, Bluetooth GPS systems are starting to emerge. How long for Bluetooth storage, I wonder?
The only thing which doesn't really fit into this ideal is the wifi, due to the bandwidth difference between the two. Who knows, maybe there will be a Bluetooth2 one day which fixes this relatively minor issue.
Re:Easy (Score:4, Insightful)
As for the bluetooth comment, if you think it's competing with wifi, you've misunderstood bluetooth's purpose. It's low-cost, low-power, low-bandwidth. That's why it's so good, as you can integrate it into a device for pennies, whereas wifi costs tens of dollars. It's never ever competed with wifi (do you see any bluetooth network routers around?), as that's not what it does. The only similarities are they're both wireless. Bluetooth's low-bandwidth means it's ideal for control IO, not actual data streaming (even though it can handle streaming voice fine).
Re:Easy (Score:2)
Subnotebooks? Where? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Subnotebooks? Where? (Score:2, Interesting)
That said, Fry's does sell both the Sony and Fujitsu subbies...but they certainly don't have the selection you see overseas like in Japan. Wow, there is some killer gear over there... Check out www.dynamism.com, they retro-fit alot of the Japan only models with English OS's.
Re:Subnotebooks? Where? (Score:2)
In a handheld I want:
*Bluetooth
*A "proper" (readable color) screen, with the ability to drive an external monitor to at least 1024x768 (1280x1024 preferred) for presentations (w/o the notebook)
*A compact flash slot (specifically CF so I have wide storage choices like microdrives)
*And finally I want sick power efficency (so I can eit
Re:Subnotebooks? Where? (Score:3, Informative)
This isn't trolling, but a serious observation made by me (a Brit who lived in LA for 6/7 months or so).
In the UK, subnotebooks are very popular. I'm not sure why, but they've really caught on with the public over here. They're incredibly convenient (most are smaller/lighter than a hardback book, and 1ghz+ fast), and now boast features that re
Re:Subnotebooks? Where? (Score:3, Interesting)
all in one. (Score:5, Interesting)
screen big enough with high enough res to watch video
processor that can playback smooth divx at decent framerate
GPS
bluetooth
acts as cellphone with bluetooth headset
wi-fi
rugged, can take a beating including static from my pant
SDIO
Re:all in one. (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:all in one. (Score:2)
Stick a non waterproof device in a waterproof container, with some extra air so it floats, and enjoy the damned river. Look - it's not heavier, isn't uglier and bulkier - and still serves the same purpose!
You love kayaking with a PDA? (Score:3, Funny)
I've got it. Hire some Sherpas. Have them lug your microwave, curling iron, hair dryer, refrigerator, and your PDA to your next stop.
Re:all in one. (Score:3, Interesting)
Decent handwriting recognition - similar to the Newton 2100 (still my fav handheld ever).
Fast response time.
Excellent battery life
Excellent synchronization capabilities with MacOS X, Linux, and Windows. Should be able to sync with multiple machines without screwing up my address book and calendar.
Navigation software that uses the GPS well.
Lots of third party software.
Good free development tools that I can use under MacOS X.
Sho
Re:all in one. (Score:5, Funny)
Also, (but not necessary) if it could cure AIDS I'd probably pay an extra $50.
Re:all in one. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:What about (Score:3, Interesting)
I've noticed that all the PDAs in recent sci-fi movies have extensible screens. The ones that spring to mind are from Minority Report and The One.
Obviously, extensible screens are the way to go. How close is the technology? I'm thinking either a roll-up screen made out of active paper, overlapping or collapsed panels, or a "display string" that spins, displaying the image as it goes.
Re:What about (Score:4, Informative)
You mean, like this [palmone.com]??? The T3's been around for almost a year now, it's not like it's new technology!
I've owned most of them... (Score:2, Interesting)
It *brings* me my e-mail, lets me respond from practically anywhere, carries my contacts, calendar and notes, is very lightweight, and plays a good game of Texas Hold'em. And I can usually go a few days without a recharge.
And being a phone doesn't hurt either.
All I want... (Score:5, Funny)
Newton (Score:3, Interesting)
Need & Want (Score:5, Insightful)
I would like a no-moving parts (or rarely moving parts, e.g. the iPod hard drive) portable that is:
my requirements (Score:3, Interesting)
2. Built-in Wi-Fi. Don't care about Bluetooth.
3. Ability to display all types of document formats. PDF, HTML, CHM, and all the rest I forgot. Ability to view in portrait and landscape mode.No document conversion. Document conversion is a pain. Are you LISTENING Palm?
4. NOT a phone. If I wanted to pay per month for the priviledge of using the device I bought, I would buy a phone.
5. Lots of developers churning out neat programs that can download and play with.
6. Tangentially related, I want to be able to right-click on a file and say "Send to handheld", and have it appear there.
7. I don't care about viewing movies on a handheld. I makes no sense to view movies on a screen a couple of square inches.
8. CHEAP I'm talking $200 CDN max.
Well, I can dream, can't I?
A slightly different perspective. (Score:2)
I'm mostly in agreement with you on everything except this one. I'm the opposite in that I want built in Bluetooth and don't care so much about Wi-Fi. Bluetooth lets my phone and PDA work as a single device which is important to me but not really practical with Wi-Fi. (not to mention more power draining) I'm sure that's mostly due to you having different needs than me, but I think having the choice of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (or both or neither) is the best thi
Re:my requirements (Score:2, Informative)
built in wifi
bundled with documents to go, it opens native office documents.
built in 640*480 camera
built in voice recorder
The Clie Organizer is the best integrated PIM of the entire palm arena.
Is not a phone, but if someone develops the app, it could be used as a voip phone
Integrated flash player, pdf viewer etc.
Memory Stick pro
price around $320 new
battery
two words (Score:4, Funny)
The device isn't usually the issue for me (Score:5, Interesting)
No, the problem I have with most PDAs is the software on the computer side of things. I use Mozilla/Thunderbird for my email but syncing to anything but Outlook/Notes is a painful exercise if it is possible at all. (Yes I've used the Palm sync in Mozilla and it is barely adequate at best, and no I'm not switching email apps as Outlook/Evolution/Eudora/Pine/whatever don't fit my needs) Even when you can sync to a third party app, forget syncing applications besides an address book and maybe calendar. Sunbird still doesn't support any mobile devices and isn't likely to anytime soon. None of the address book applications can talk to each other in any meaningful way. Would it really be so hard to sync to Palm Desktop AND Thunderbird at the same time? And forget trying to keep my palm and phone syncronized along with my address book, (Mobile Master does an ok job but not perfect) I've tried every application out there to do this (Oxygen, Mobile Master, etc) and none of them are more than band-aid fixes.
What I want is for these applications (particularly address books and calendars) to be able to speak to one another. There is no reason I shouldn't be able to sync to 5 different address books, palm desktop, nokia phone editor and my cell phone at the same time.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:The device isn't usually the issue for me (Score:5, Informative)
Yes, in fact, it is. Three-way synchronization is exceedingly difficult to manage and get right. It's much better to simply have a single host-side database to synchronize against, and simply have each application use it for their data storage. Having three different calendar applications each with their own unique databases and ways to correlate their records with the records on the other PIMs and then trying to synchronize the three is often disasterous.
If all of the synchronizations are two-way, for N applications you need to run through N! synchronizations. And with each application having its own data format, and then having to correlate each record with its matching record (IF it's present) in the other application -- well, we're talking about quite a lot of complexity.
A simple two-way synchronization is difficult enough -- just take a look at how many existing conduits regularily get things wrong (it doesn't help that most calendars also have different mechanisms for handling repeating entries, but don't get me started on THAT subject...).
If anyone is interested in writing some decent Mozilla PalmOS sync code, go and take a look at the jSyncManager [jsyncmanager.org]. It's an Open Source, pure Java PalmOS data synchronization solution which, as it has its own protocol stacks, runs on any Java-enabled platform, and has its own Java-based jConduit plug-in specification. A Mozilla jConduit set could run the same on Windows, MacOS, Linux, OS/2, and every other Mozilla supported environment with little (or no) code modification.
(We do have an outstanding RFE to add Mozilla sync facilities, but we don't have the developer resources to do this. The project has two developers who regularily work on the code base, and most of our time is spent working on the jSyncManager itself. So if there are any Open Source Java developers out there who want to tackle this problem, let me know -- we'd love to have you aboard).
Brad BARCLAY
Lead Developer & Project Administrator,
The jSyncManager Project
What I want (Score:2)
20+ hours battery life.
640x240 screen. (b/w screen, 16 shades of grey)
Mostly full qwerty keyboard (yes, chicklet sized).
Compact Flash slot (seperate from pcmcia).
Pcmcia.
Runs on 2 AAs.
256 Megs ram or better.
133mhz or better. (low cpu power to save power)
Runs linux.
Nuff said. Note that since it would be a 3 volt system 5 volt pcmcia cards would drain it pretty quick. That's ok really as most of the time when I'm using a modem or NIC I'd be plugged into power anyway.
That's all I really wa
Far off, but going to happen (Score:4, Interesting)
They're inconvenient. I want a wristwatch with:
A cell phone
A fast two-way data connection
A computer with at least 1GB of storage
A GPS
Altimeter, Thermometer, barometer
Being a watch, the interface would be verbal from me to the watch, and a high-resolution screen built into (and superimposed inside the lenses of) a pair of glasses for the interface from the watch to me.
ie, "Watch- what time is my appointment with Bill?"
"Where do I turn to get to the nearest Wendy's, and how far is it?"
"Read me the headlines from Slashdot," etc.
Thus, I will be waiting for several (many?) years.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Far off, but going to happen (Score:2)
Oh, and you forgot the standard Bond remote detonator and high-power laser.
So do I... (Score:2)
Somehow, Phat Tony's watch sounds like Knight Rider with KITT. Heh. "KITT, read me the headlines from Slashdot!"
However, I wouldn't want a voice activated watch since I have a speech impediment. Buttons are fine. Not sure how a pen to access the screen would work due to lack of space.
WiFi and streaming media (Score:2)
Need a Microsoft Treo 655+ (Score:5, Interesting)
Pocket outlook would be great for the exchange server my company uses
Terminal Services would be great for administrating my company's exchange server
Pocket Internet explorer is great for those spur of the moment wikipedia lookups, not to mention slashdot and company.
Pocket Streets would be great if the device had GPS, and even better if I can plot a waypoint when GeoCaching
Windows Media player would be great for MP3s on the SD card, however I think there is a winamp port which would be even cooler but to save memory I'm sure WMP would work just fine.
AIM, Yahoo, ICQ, etc...
Oh yeah, and a phone, that would rock.
Pocket word and excel arent that important, if I recieve an attached document I'm probably not going to edit it on a 2" screen but its nice that its there.
Sure, I've got an eTrex for GPS / GeoCaching, and an iPod for music, and a cellphone for calls, and a pocket pc for email, web, and term svc when needed, but put all those in my pockets, including th cables to link ipaq to phone, and gps to ipaq, not to mention the spiffy white earbuds that are always tangled, and I've completely run out of pocket space.
Basically, what I want to do is have all my toys with me but not need a scott-e-vest (OT: Live long and prosper scotty:)
Now if my company was using open-xchange and I needed VNC not terminal services and any imap client would work fine then forget the MS platform and just give me a Treo 650 with GPS.
PS: My next toy is going to be a Treo 650 anyway, I'll live just fine an imap client and cross my fingers using VNC on a 144kbps sprint pcs data connection. Hows the battery life treo users?
Re:Need a Microsoft Treo 655+ (Score:3, Informative)
palmVNC works great at 150kbs. Certainly not what you could call "fast" but combined with UltraVNC on the server side you can scale the resolution (again, server-side) and it's usable.
http://palmvnc2.free.fr/ [palmvnc2.free.fr]
VeriChat does AIM, Y!, MSN, and ICQ. Works great and by using SMS you appear always online. The phone vibrates (or plays a sound) when you get an IM, even if you aren't in VeriChat, or even if it's turned off.
http: [pdaapps.com]
Have it do something worthwhile (Score:5, Insightful)
I used to carry around a PDA. I used it to keep track of phone numbers and my calendar. I now have a cell phone which is ideal for the first task, and is passably useful for the second. So why would I carry around another device?
Name me one thing that I can do with a PDA I cannot do with a simple cell phone that makes it worth carrying around. Surf the web? Well it's not really that easy to do it effectively on either device. Watch videos? The displays suck for that, they don't have enough memory, and frankly I can't imagine needing this "on the go".
PDA's are the bad middle ground. They are not as compact as cellphone and they are not as useful as full size laptop. Until somebody comes up with a good reason for people to lug around yet another device, there's not much left to say about it.
Re:Have it do something worthwhile (Score:2)
Then I can use it for note taking, web surfing, music, playing games, etc.
Re:Have it do something worthwhile (Score:3, Interesting)
Couldn't agree more, sterno. I worked for 3 years at a WindowsCE/Linux shop writing drivers for SA1110 and Cotulla chips (mostly) in PDAs. My impression of them all is that they're pretty much useless. Even when working correctly. ;^)
They all sort of struck me as PHB toys. You know, if you're a wink-and-a-gun suit guy you have to have one, to show the other guy you were....well....you know...out there, on the cutting edge, yada yada yada.
As for me, after spending 3 years around these devices, never
What makes my Clie worthwhile for me... (Score:2, Interesting)
Apps like these are great because they're simple and get the job done. You're right, though, stuff like watching videos on this thing, or even looking at photographs, just ain't worth it. Features like that are just novelties. They wear out quick.
Maybe the problem is too many companies figured they could make these things beefier and add
Re:Have it do something worthwhile (Score:3, Informative)
a phone (small, interface poor, low power)
palm (slightly larger, interface ok, lowish power)
Laptop (Large, interface good, medium power)
desktop (Huge, interface great, high power).
I don't see myself changing this general configuration any time soon, althouth I may change the individual devices.
Re:Have it do something worthwhile (Score:3, Interesting)
I can take it out of my pocket, instantly turn it on, read a chapter of a book/look up a drug or dosage/check my shopping list, insta
Re:Have it do something worthwhile (Score:3, Funny)
QED. Cellphones are useless.
Handtop links for everyone! (Score:5, Informative)
Yeah and they're all ads for handtops.com from CaptainJam. Check out his profile [slashdot.org]. He's had three handtop submissions accepted in the last two weeks. The Captain has authored all the articles on the main page of handtops.com as well. It's clear to me that handtops.com belongs to the recently registered (UID 802805 and his first post came the day after his first submission.) CaptainJam of Slashdot.org and that his submissions are a way to drive traffic to his new site. Come clean CaptainJam.
Handwriting recognition. (Score:3, Insightful)
I'd be happy just getting the electronic equivalent of a notepad and pencil so long as the handwriting recognition's good, and it could sync to computer. In a pretty quick period of time, they'd probably be dirt cheap and I could have a few to use at home and work.
Yes, I could just use a notepad and pencil. But I've seen what happens with prolonged use. My dad's done that for years. And now he's got loose collection of paper and business cards, 3 inches thick, sitting in his breast pocket everyday. Every morning, he transfers this block of paper from yesterdays shirt into today's shirt. He's found stuff in that block that info over 6 years old and completely useless.
I guess really just want digital paper and I'll have to wait 10+ years for it.
I have always been very happy with PalmOS Devices (Score:2)
reqs (Score:2)
- syncs with Linux
- 80 character width
- source code / text editor
I'm pretty happy... (Score:2)
You can get a GPS module for it which some people rave about, say it's very nice. The only other thing missing is wi-fi, which I admit would be nice for higher speed transmission and surfing in hotspots. And a higher res (320x320) scre
Pretty simple, really (Score:2)
Something a little more sturdy (Score:2)
I've got one that's close to idea for me... (Score:2)
It's my Palm Zire 72. What it has: bluetooth, decent screen, built in camera, mp3 player, SDIO, takes notes, takes voice memos, runs Java, great contact app, great todo app, great calendar app, small enough for pocket.
To make it perfectly ideal: 802.11g, runs linux, slightly larger screen, at least 3x the resolution (from 320x320 to 480x640), built-in microdrive of at least 2GB size, software to act as network storage over wireless, a slightly better camera (2Mpixels), speech recognition, thumbprint secur
not much (Score:2)
color display
sound
a USB host port
linux (or some other open environment where I can write my own drivers/apps for any external USB device I want to attach)
cheap :) (~$200 is cool)
They can keep all the other non-standard connectors/ports. There's no point in having a 200+mhz computer and depend on some company to build whatever the device I want that uses whatever propietary connector the PDA has.
Alas, the only options I've seen that come close to this are from indian companies,
Well... (Score:2)
Held off for years (Score:2)
That device is almost here with the Treo 600. Just got mine a week ago from Verizon. I can actually browse the web with a decent browser. I've downloaded an SSH client, and can now manage my servers remotely. I've downloaded an RSS reader, so I can read Slashdot stories (and browse the comments too), access my daily blog diet.
I was in New York city over the weekend, and could easily b
Voice of experience? (Score:2)
However, the truth is that the color and photo and movie capabilities and all that fancy stuff has never been particularly useful for me. Same with the sound capability, though this
from experience... (Score:2)
Here's my wishlist (Score:2)
2. 1G of flash memory at least
3. At least 8 hours of battery life at 100% processor utilization.
4. Tablet behind the screen, mouse pointer, touchless pointer positioning, REAL writeability, like on Tablet PC. Working character recognition.
5. Seamless interoperability with Windows AND Mac.
Cooperation (Score:2)
To go along with the PDA, I want a cell phone with Bluetooth. The cell phone will be clipped in a holster on my belt, just like my
Replacement for a (paper) notebook! (Score:2)
- Have a 5x7 or larger screen
- Be less than 0.5" thick
- Recognize all handwriting perfectly
- without needing a "cursor"
- Have a chronologica/subject-based interface
- store data automatically, rather than in "files"
In short, it should be a thinner Newton 2100.
Down-to-business truly rugged Palm (Score:2)
Well, it's about the size of Palm's M500 series, but instead of a board with all those chips soldered on, it would be a screen with ONE chip on the back of it with all the integrated components. The 'functional' part would then be molded (not placed) inside a sealed plastic casing (not an openable shell). Interface should be low-end wireless like bluetooth, and the charging adapter (which ONLY charges, as data interface is wireless) would be in a deep hole in the case with a rubber plug
What I want (Score:2)
- takes CF cards up to (say) 512Mb
- builtin 802.11x, maybe Bluetooth
- runs Debian (I want to be easily able to download languages/tools to do my own stuff, not be stuck with a set of tools that one vendor decides is a good fit for my needs. It also has to have a decent OS under it, so I can e.g. create scripts to download data overnight and read it on the train a la SiteScooper)
- Excel compatibility + PDF r
I don't ask for much... (Score:2)
It should have addresses and appointments, and text messaging.
Oh, and a spreadsheet program, word processing, with full e-mail, and attachment support. But I don't want something that runs a variation on Windows, bleh.
Don't forget the obvious calculator mode. With hex conversion, trig, business calculation and graphing.
And for the subway ride, maybe some games, with full joystick support, 1280x1024 color graphics and hardware accelerated 3D
My thoughts (Score:2)
There's two categories I'd consider. The semi-PC would need to have:
- option for a full-size usb keyboard
- something unixish or Beish
- wireless networking
- non wir
Developers choice... (Score:2)
PADD! (Score:2)
Still haven't found what I'm looking for (Score:2)
PocketPC- It's a relatively big and clunky Dell Axim X5. Good but overpowered for calendar, phone book (except it only syncs with Outlook, grr.), ebooks and quicken (actually SPB Finance, a great app). Good for heavier processing tasks like street maps with Mapopolis (unfortunately no GPS so not as useful as it could be) and small videos (wi
Comment removed (Score:3, Funny)
pretty close to a Zire 72 (Score:2)
I don't understand you, people... (Score:3, Insightful)
PDAs are Personal Digital Assistants. They're not meant to be personal video players, there are dedicated devices that'll do that, so keep your video-on-the-go wishes, which are anyway far from useful, away from PDAs and let a PDA be what it is!
Here's what I'd like to see in a PDA, and I am a person who depends on them - for my schedule, tasklist, to note down my ideas on them (it is clear from reading the wishes so far that people have no idea or use for a PDA, so please, shut up and let us speak).
1. Data reliability so data is never lost. 2. Hardware reliability and durabiltity so it never crashes and dropping it from a reasonable height does not cause damage. 3. A fast and forgiving data entry interface for those notes. 4. instantly responsive. 5. System and data search capability that'd find the data i need in an instant. 6. Long battery life, I mean long battery life.
Since you asked - (Score:3, Insightful)
I can dream, can't I?
You want a Zaurus SL-C860. (Score:5, Informative)
No really. If you need a PDA, and you're a Linux geek like me, get one of these [dynamism.com].
Yes, the default half-translated rom sucks. It'll at least let you boot the system and see the beautiful 640x480 screen though. An amazing sight to behold at over 200dpi. After you're done drooling, go get pdaXrom [pdaxrom.org], follow the instructions, and get yourself a real desktop. Here's what mine looks like [mephle.org], using ROX as the desktop manager (with a nice .hack//SIGN wallpaper I found someplace). You have a number of choices, but I use (prepackaged) gvim as my editor, and sylpheed for mail (pretty much the same as my actual desktop!). You can use FireFox and Thunderbird for web/email if you really want (check the screenshots [pdaxrom.org] for more drooling material). I use the little Dillo browser personally, because it's ultra fast, but the choice is yours.
No, it doesn't have builtin wifi. It does have a CF slot so you can stick your own card in there, and doing so hasn't annoyed me yet. The biggest benefit (besides the amazing screen, keyboard, ability to use X, and general design) is the battery lasts quite awhile. I charged it last Friday (before PAX [penny-arcade.com]... where were you?), and it's only just down to 50% with "regular use". (On my old 5500, I'd have to charge it every day or so with the same use, and that's without wifi.)
This makes a killer PDA. It does most things a small Linux laptop would, and it fits in your pocket. If that's what you need, this delivers.
Re:You want a Zaurus SL-C860. (Score:3, Interesting)
Backlit color screens are very hard on the eyes, and, in addition, they are completely unreadable in even indirect sunlight. Even though it seems nicer to have a color screen, from experience, I know it's much better to go with a B&W LCD that doesn't need a backlight (such as the Psion Revo, or the 5mx to a slightly lesser extent).
Re:Cheap (Score:2)
You're looking for a novel PDA. How about a PDA novel [z4ck.org] instead?
Re:Cheap but kickass: eMate revisited (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Cheap but kickass: eMate revisited (Score:3, Insightful)
Reefer. Lots of it.
Well, he asked!
Seriously though, a gig wouldn't be necessary, if I could plug in an ipod or other usb/firewire device. Maybe 128M? Either way I would want to be able to access about a gig or so of data with it; text files, Word files, PDFs. If it had a color screen I'd want to be able to look at photos too. Preferably a tool that would let me easily search a large pile of textfiles, code html in some kind of basic text editor, ssh to wherever, have a ba
Re:Cheap (Score:3, Funny)
If you get lost, just start playing and wait for someone to come and give hints on what card goes where over your shoulder.
Then you can ask him for directions.
Re:Cheap (Score:3, Interesting)
NOTE: This is what I WANT...
Demensions: 3" wide x 6" long x 1" deep.
1. Clamshell design where when it was closed it could be used as a cell phone.
2. Upon opening it, it would reveal a querty keyboard and a 6" x 3" color screen. Possibly with a nipple type mouse in the middle of it or a touch screen with a stylus.
3. Some StrongARM type processor.
4. minimum of 64mb of ram.
5. The following features
a. GPS
b. Tuner capable of AM/FM/Shortwave/Aviation/UHF/
Re: But a small request for the PDAfairy. (Score:2, Funny)
Re: But a small request for the PDAfairy. (Score:2)
WTF?! That's only what... 36 hours worth? I saw to you, wah.
Re:3G (Score:2)
I know that when my phone connects via Bluetooth to a PC, it has no idea that it's a PC, but thinks it's a modem. In theory, the same PDA could talk to a 3G phone, having no idea that it's a 3G phone.
Yet this can't be done.
Why the fuck?
Re:3G (Score:2)