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PDA possibilities
I've been using an iPaq for about three months now and I am getting nowhere with handwriting recognition - I still have to enter some letters three or four times before it will work, and it doesn't seem to be showing an sign of improving. This may be because I'm left handed, but I've tried drawing letters lots of different ways and none of it seems to help.
I've tried an external keyboard, but while it worked it was just another thing to carry and / or lose, and it was so wobbly that it would be impractical on a train journey or anywhere crowded, the sort of places where I'd want to use a PDA rather than a laptop.
So I think I'm going to have to look at PDAs with proper keyboards again.
What I had before was a Psion Revo, which was never particularly reliable and died on me completely in the end. Also had way too little storage, and no easy route to Mac compatibility. I might consider Psion again but it would take some convincing.
What I think I want this time is something with enough memory and speed to run a decent software suite, e.g. Pocket Windows CE with its word processor etc., plus a reasonable amount of additional software available including the odd game or two, ebook reader, etc.. Good battery life is essential, colour isn't but would be nice. USB file transfer, PC and Mac compatibility, non-proprietary storage e.g. SD card or similar, not memory cards that only one company makes and cost a fortune. WiFi and Bluetooth are possibly useful but again not essential, especially if they can be added as a card or something, and I DON'T want a mobile phone.
The big thing is that the keyboard and screen need to be at least Psion sized - I can't see writing seriously on a Blackberry or similar. I also don't want to spend a fortune.
What I've looked at a few times is the HP Jornada 720 - they come up on eBay fairly often, usually selling around £70-80. I could just about afford that if it's OK, but I don't want an expensive mistake, and I don't know a huge amount about them.
So... Any suggestions, or any alternatives I should look at? Anyone used the Jornada?
I've tried an external keyboard, but while it worked it was just another thing to carry and / or lose, and it was so wobbly that it would be impractical on a train journey or anywhere crowded, the sort of places where I'd want to use a PDA rather than a laptop.
So I think I'm going to have to look at PDAs with proper keyboards again.
What I had before was a Psion Revo, which was never particularly reliable and died on me completely in the end. Also had way too little storage, and no easy route to Mac compatibility. I might consider Psion again but it would take some convincing.
What I think I want this time is something with enough memory and speed to run a decent software suite, e.g. Pocket Windows CE with its word processor etc., plus a reasonable amount of additional software available including the odd game or two, ebook reader, etc.. Good battery life is essential, colour isn't but would be nice. USB file transfer, PC and Mac compatibility, non-proprietary storage e.g. SD card or similar, not memory cards that only one company makes and cost a fortune. WiFi and Bluetooth are possibly useful but again not essential, especially if they can be added as a card or something, and I DON'T want a mobile phone.
The big thing is that the keyboard and screen need to be at least Psion sized - I can't see writing seriously on a Blackberry or similar. I also don't want to spend a fortune.
What I've looked at a few times is the HP Jornada 720 - they come up on eBay fairly often, usually selling around £70-80. I could just about afford that if it's OK, but I don't want an expensive mistake, and I don't know a huge amount about them.
So... Any suggestions, or any alternatives I should look at? Anyone used the Jornada?
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Because what you're really asking for is a machine suitable for writing on. And what's coming soon includes ...
Asus Eee
Palm Foleo
Kohjinsha SA1 (Warning: overpriced rip-off vendor -- they're a lot cheaper elsewhere if you look around)
...
What all these gizmos have in common is that they weigh less than 1Kg, are designed to be used primarily with a keyboard, have wifi and bluetooth ... and real operating systems. The Palm Foleo is like a Linux-based Psion Netbook, only at half the price (probably 300 quid when they launch in the UK). The Asus Eee is pitched at an entry-level price around US $300 (i.e. 150 quid), although its keyboard and screen are worse. The Kohjinsha is available now, although an improved model is on the way, and starts at £340 (plus import fees) for one with a 40Gb hard drive, Windows XP, and no touch sensor on the screen.
All of these have better screens and much more storage than Psion ever did (except on the high end Netbook), the keyboards are bigger, but they nevertheless weigh less than 1Kg and are about the size of a hardback, i.e. at the really-tiny end of laptopdom, rather than the bloated-biggest end of PDA dom. If you think of the old Toshiba Libretto, only done right, these are the successors. And the most expensive one (the Kohjinsha) can be had new for 400 quid including VAT and shipping from Japan; the others are threatening to undercut the bottom end of the laptop market.
Wait a bit longer and Quanta will eventually begin shipping the commercial version of the XO1 OLPC, but it probably won't be any cheaper than the Eee.
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I know mR was seriously considering the Acer N311 a couple of of weeks ago, but while it has the largest PDA screen, it doesn't have an attached keyboard (there's a bluetooth one available as an accessory though).
Incidentally, a left-handed friend of mR's bought a Tapwave Zodiac 2, (only available second hand now) and has had no problems with the Graffiti handwriting input.
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I DON'T want a mobile phone.
I used a Jornada when it first came out (which we pronounced "Hor-nada") but that was like a million years ago. It was the one with the keyboard. It didn't suck (I could use the keyboard with my stubby fingers) but I wasn't inspired to buy one... and this was back when I didn't have any spending brakes. While battery life was originally good, but I imagine after almost ten years the battery life is nearly nil in the surviving units.
Re: I DON'T want a mobile phone.
There seem to be little cottage industries that specialise in weird battery replacements, so I don't see that as an insuperable problem.
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It probably wouldn't work for what you're looking for, but I ended up replacing it with a Fujitsu Lifebook P1000 (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1829739,00.asp), which is possibly the world's tiniest laptop... and has a touch-screen (an absolute must for me). Not the sort of thing you can fit into a pocket (although the Jornada is a bit bulky for that, as well), but I can stick it in my purse without difficulty (um, although that probably wouldn't be as good a solution for you. ;-) It's getting a bit ancient now, too, so I'm saving my pennies for the Fujitsu Lifebook P1610 (http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P1610), which is the modern successor to my old laptop.
At any rate, if you don't mind it being a bit older and a bit slower, then the Jornada would probably work really well for you. Oh, but the other thing to keep in mind is that the Jornada does not have a USB connection, it uses a serial cable to talk to your computer.
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The biggest issue for you would probably be the price, since they're not exactly cheap... but I think they're well worth the money, if you're looking for a small, easily transportable fully-functioning laptop.
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But more seriously, I've always assumed the Euro phone market was way better than ours, but there are plenty of phones available that have full keyboards and run productivity software. Even if you don't use the phone part, you've still got fast network connectivity where-ever you go.
The Nokia E90 is nice: http://www.nokia.co.uk/A4353377
It folds open to reveal a bigger screen and full keyboard. It is vaguely Jornada-like.
The Nokia E70 has a nifty fold open split keyboard (half on one side, screen in middle, half on the other), so it is handy and compact, but the screen is smaller than the E90's.
I have a friend that works at Nokia, so that's why those are both of my examples. I dunno what rates/etc are like over there, but in the US the cos of the phone is subsidized by the plan.
Again, it is hard to walk through any shopping area without being assaulted by cell phone salesmen, but even if that isn't so over there it should be easy to find places where you can try out these devices.
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With the keyboard you are able to clatter out a reasonable rate of letters, while they are no laptop, its easier to whip out a large phone than a bulky laptop.
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Have worst handwriting in world, but have trained recopgniser to be about 75% accurate. Would almost like to recommend perseverance, but respect you too much to be so blunt. Do not think left-handedness an issue, based on my attempts -- possibly you need a bigger whip to keep the PDA obedient.
Otherwise, all the best in seeking an alternative.
Soren the Lurker
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