PDA possibilities

[ffutures]

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?

Comments

[autopope.livejournal.com]

I have a strong suggestion for you: WAIT.

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.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

All of those unfortunately sound a lot bigger than what I want - bear in mind that I mostly travel around on a motorbike, something like that is going to end up in the side bags or not carried at all. I'm really after something useful enough and small enough to carry everywhere I go every day, which so far the iPaq isn't.

[raygungothic.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting this! It may not suit ffutures but that Foleo sounds like what I've been looking for. Can't wait to see if it lives up to its promises.