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Handhelds Hardware

Thoughts on the Palm-Size PC Compaq Aero 2130LA? 13

Posted by Cliff from the looking=for-opinions dept.
Hernan Ochoa asks: "Hi. I'm in the process of buying a palm-size computer. I was all set and ready to buy a palm III/IIIx, but I've just seen the Palm-Size PC Aero 2130LA from Compaq. It costs about $400USD and it has a color screen, 16MB RAM, RISC, WinCE (ugh), audio, infrared, serial port, hotsync, voice recording, etc. So any comments about this? I'm very tempted to buy this one!" Looks good. Has anyone taken one of these for a spin yet?
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Thoughts on the Palm-Size PC Compaq Aero 2130LA? More

Thoughts on the Palm-Size PC Compaq Aero 2130LA?

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  • Everex has pledged to provide HW info to help port Linux to their WinCE tablets. (Can't find the link, tho) Also, IIRC there's a low-end B&W model going for $100 at one of the big computer chain-stores.

  • If you're looking for a CE device, make sure you look carefully at the competition. The Compaq isn't the best one on the market: Both the HP Jornada 420 and the Casio E-100 are better devices, IMHO.

    The Casio is the fastest of the current lot and has a simplified user interface on top of CE. Trust me, that makes a big difference and brings the Casio close to the usability of the PalmPilot.

    The HP is a touch smaller and comes with some very useful software (such as an explorer, so you can navigate compact flash cards).

    Just becasue they all run CE doesn't mean they are the same - it's well worth checking out the competitive specs to make sure you buy the right device.
  • Pilots are running "the same OS" since the beginning and is slow, poor in memory and is very pricey, but do the basics very well and has lots of apps.
    Depends on what you want. The best cost/capacity point to the CEs machines. Everex really has good ones.
    If you want it for hacking, you can check the LinuxCE.org project.

  • I just saw the new Aero recently myself and I must say that I was impressed. I used to own not one, but two, of the 486 sub-notebook breed of Aero's. Even ran Linux on them for a time. Alas, I finally sold them after years of hard work and I thought Compaq had retired this glorious machine. I was hence pleasantly surprised to see the new CE based version. If it pays any tribute to its parentage, it should prove to be a fine machine (any OS considerations aside).


    However, I got a Palm III last year and I must say, the Aero can't hold a candle to its form factor (like half the size and weight) or simplicity of function (maybe that's just because someone messed up the demo in the store). I don't think that I'd want to lug the new Aero around with me everywhere, like I do my Palm. I would consider getting one to suppliment my Palm though (and replace my Toshiba Libretto).


    In summary: The Aeros in my experience have been great machines, but I would still choose my Palm for a basic PDA that I take everywhere.


  • Wince devices may have more ram than their PalmOS equivelents, but then, they need it. I've got a Palm IIIx which I use heavily, and I rarely dip into more than 1.5 of its four megs. Consider what you're getting this for -- if you want a PDA, a PalmOS device is perfect. If you want a tiny PC, look at a Libretto or Sony's supersmall vaio.

    The Wince machines are a compromise which manage to have the flaws of both and not enough of the benefits.

    --

  • Oh, if they DID end up having Linux, perhaps with a small X Server for it, that'd put me over the edge, and I'd simply HAVE to buy one..
  • Personally I think the Aero is far to much the "name" of Compaq rather than a good product. The Philips Nino color palm seems a much better product or even a Palm Pilot IIIx. Keep looking - especially on E-Bay. I just got a Uniden PC-100 off there for about $140. It's not color but it'll do for what I need it to do. Anybody know a good place to get Linux for the Philips CPU Palms? ;-)
  • How long do the batteries last on an Aero? One of my favorite things about Pilots is that I can basically forget about power consumption for weeks at a time without fear. Also, even when the batteries are too drained to turn on and use, there's still enough juice left for keeping my data alive for about a month. Unfortunately, I just smashed the screen on my pilot so I'm in the market for a replacement. Must fit in my pocket, not need constant replacement of batteries, and still be useful (mostly for reference and for reminders). Sounds like I'll be buying a Palm IIIx.
  • As long as we're dreaming :) make it able to access local wireless networks such as can be created with Apple's Airport.
  • They're up to Palm OS version 3.3, and it's far from the same as Palm OS 1.0.

    It's true that the processor is slow, but due to intelligent design, they feel faster than most WinCE devices. And since apps require very little memory to run (40K = a huge program), the small amount of ram isn't a problem either.

    --

  • I think you can get Linux to run on them thou. I had read that somewhere ....

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