Yoz Grahame's Cheerleader: No, smaller than that

January 17, 2003

No, smaller than that

The first substantial blog entry after yet another big absence was meant to be about the excuse this time and all the technical challenges it brought. However, I have been distracted by small shiny things. (Again.)

A week ago I was chatting to James Wallis, who's looking for a PDA-type-thing with a decent keyboard to replace his Psion 5, which has easily the best keyboard of any PDA. I, too, would love something like this, especially as my beloved Vaio C1 PictureBook has been out of action for the past year due to failure to replace the HD properly.

So the candidates are:

The new Apple 12" PowerB... No. Way too big. We're talking pocket-size.
The Sony Vaio U3 - even smaller than the PictureBook, with 20GB HD, 933MHz Transmeta, 256MB RAM and a decent keyboard yet small enough to hold in both hands and thumb-type. It's currently only available outside of Japan through the excellent Dynamism, specialists in bringing Japanese miniaturism to the rest of the world ahead of time. (They also do the bizarre-looking Vaio GT3) However, it's not the smallest thing running Windows XP...
The Vulcan Mini-PC, an itsy-bitsy thing that's a Proper PC running Windows XP Proper Edition, for all those still missing the original Tosh Libretto. Look at it! It's tiny! It looks like one of those fake laptop fridge magnets that yell "You've got mail!" when you press a button and you never wanted it but your flatmate got it for some reason and now he won't get rid of it and IT DRIVES YOU SLOWLY INSANE. (Ahem. Sorry.) Trouble is, (a) it's way expensive for a PDA (b) it doesn't have useful PDA aspects like touch/stylus-driven screen and a keyboard you can get rid of, along with other little things like power-on -> usable in less than 5 seconds (c) the keyboard looks a bit pants (though this is just a prototype - the design is being licensed to multiple manufacturers, so hopefully one of them will get it right) and (d) it won't appear for a good few months yet.
The Sharp Zaurus SL-C700. Previous Zaurus models were similar to Palm/Pocket PC vertical-orientation PDAs, with a nice slide-down thumb keyboard that was still too small for proper typing. This, however, has a far more substantial keyboard (which still looks a bit nasty, to be honest), and can be used in both landscape and portrait modes; in fact, it's quite similar to the new MS Tablet PCs in that way. But this thing is small, it's meant to be a PDA, it runs Linux & Java and it takes both Secure Digital and Compact Flash cards, meaning that it's easily equipped with 802.11x and Bluetooth. Plus, it's the first computer with a Continuous Grain Silicon display, which is brighter, sharper and uses less power than previous colour LCDs. Although Sharp are still a couple of months away from an official English version (price: $500), Dynamism are already selling their own port - if you're thinking of going for that, you should read this first.
Oh, and someone on Slashdot mentioned the ancient (but still worthwhile, apparently) Sharp Wizard OZ-770PC. Not quite what I'm looking for, but still...

This is all in the name of a dream that I have, that I can carry something in my pocket that I can not only browse the web with (via pervasive wireless access, so it's quite a far-off dream at present) but also get a properly-viewable VT100 window that I can type into. My chum Richard has an iPaq with Linux on it and a wireless card, but he has to scribble onto that, and Unix isn't really made for scribbling. Of course, since I'm completely penniless at the moment anyway, it'll have to remain a dream for a while longer. But now you know what I'm dribbling over.

Posted by Yoz at January 17, 2003 02:33 AM | TrackBack

Comments

What about an HP Jornada 600/700-series? The clamshell design, not the Palmheld model - OK, so you have to put up with wince-making WinCE, but it's easy-peasily Wifi-enabled - with TextMaker in place of the repugnant PocketWord, it's got a keyboard that doesn't require a hand like Jeremy Beadle's freak one to type, and makes a darn cheap, colourful, similar-sized alternative to the Series 5. Instant power-on usability, seems pretty crash-proof, you can save stuff on CF cards for easy PC transfer... I heartily recommend. And you should be able to pick up a 710 series for about 200 smackers on Totty Court Road.

I really, really want one of those fridge magnets now though. To go with my Internet-enabled fridge (which, just like my internet-enabled computer, freezes up at least once a day...)

Posted by: Deb on January 17, 2003 06:26 AM

What about the Dana?

http://www.alphasmart.com/products/dana_overview.html

Runs Palm OS, so you can get terminals and ssh and stuff like that working on it. Maybe. Keyboard looks great. Screen's a bit naff though.

Posted by: Giles on January 17, 2003 10:29 AM

Hmmm...I saw 'Deb' and a suspicion entered my mind - then I saw a comment about Jeremy Beadle's 'freak' hand, and thought "It *must* be that Deb" so I mouse over the email link to have my suspicions confirmed :)

I don't actually have anything useful to say on this PDA/PC subject though. Except to say that I had a Jornada 700-mumble thingy for a while, and it was quite good. Are they really that cheap now then? Cor.

I should also once again moan at Yoz to sort this page layout out for God's sake.

Put a horizontal rule or something in between the comments, Yoz!

<hr> is your friend.

Tim

Posted by: Tim on January 19, 2003 12:58 AM

I'm with Tim.
Go for heaven's sake, Yoz.

Posted by: She on January 20, 2003 01:41 PM

err... I meant go with the rule....

Posted by: She on January 20, 2003 01:43 PM

I have to say, I'm quite pleased with my new Palm Tungsten/T. Does everything I want out of a PDA, but then, I carry a Powerbook everywhere I go so always have access to full size keyboard and unix tools.

I've been tempted to see what the new ultra-thin keyboard is like, but Palm seem to be sealing all of their accessories these days which means you have to buy on spec. Great for the retailers, lousy for the consumer.

My iPaq sits unused. I've been toying with putting Linux on it, but as you say, linux without a keyboard is not ideal and attaching a keyboard starts to take me into the territory that made me abandon the Newton (even if the keyboard was nice).

What I'd really like to see is Apple make a tablet device running OS X and Inkwell with a bluetooth keyboard (actually a small bluetooth keyboard might make the linux iPaq practical) and a docking station that housed all the usual devices (DVD drive, extra HD, additional USB and firewire ports, video out, etc.). Obviously it would have built in wireless, ethernet and modem for all your connectivity needs, and a stand so that it could be propped up on the desk like a laptop screen to use with the keyboard. That is something I would pay good money for.

BTW - I have a Libretto sitting idle if it's of interest :-)

- Neil.

Posted by: Neil on January 24, 2003 09:47 AM

Go on its really good

Posted by: cargo insurance on March 5, 2005 05:23 AM

nylons garters panty galleries pantyhose men pictures of women in pantyhose panty gallery pantyhose tgp free panty pics pics of men in pantyhose pics of men in pantyhose teens in stockings pantyhose videos pantyhose galleries wet panties free pantyhose pictures ff stockings teen panties free galleries legs pantyhose pantyhose pics pantyhose movies nylon feet

Posted by: nylon stocking pics on March 22, 2005 07:27 PM

clip sexual pantyhose sex strippers
http://www.sexuallyexplicit.net/

Posted by: clip sexual on January 29, 2006 01:41 AM

aventureux femme masturbation @x@ resolu femme masturbation @x@ audacieux femme masturbation @x@ chauve femme masturbation @x@ viril femme masturbation @x@ emotionnel femme masturbation @x@ intense femme masturbation @x@ sentimental femme masturbation @x@ pupille femme masturbation @x@ ecoliere femme masturbation @x@ sensation femme masturbation @x@ sentiment femme masturbation @x@ affection femme masturbation @x@ emotion femme masturbation @x@ entaille femme masturbation @x@ fantastiquement femme masturbation @x@ extravagamment femme masturbation @x@ prodigieusement femme masturbation @x@ fantastique femme masturbation @x@ fabuleux femme masturbation @x@ ahurissant femme masturbation @x@ sauvage femme masturbation @x@ extravagant femme masturbation @x@ excellent femme masturbation @x@ immense femme masturbation @x@ dechirer femme masturbation @x@ chouette femme masturbation @x@ dandy femme masturbation @x@ defonce femme masturbation @x@ patron femme masturbation @x@ epatant femme masturbation @x@ celebre femme masturbation @x@ parfait femme masturbation @x@ formidable femme masturbation @x@ peu commun femme masturbation @x@ etrange femme masturbation @x@ extraterrestre femme masturbation @x@ surnaturel femme masturbation @x@ sensationnel femme masturbation @x@ indescreptible femme masturbation @x@ mysterieux femme masturbation @x@ divine femme masturbation @x@ divin femme masturbation @x@ paradisiaque femme masturbation @x@ suprnal femme masturbation @x@ chaude fille masturbation @x@ la plus chaude fille masturbation @x@ plus chaude fille masturbation @x@ froid fille masturbation @x@ plus froid fille masturbation @x@ le plus froid fille masturbation @x@ frais fille masturbation @x@ plus frais fille masturbation @x@ le plus frais fille masturbation @x@ chaud fille masturbation

Posted by: ginger on February 1, 2006 08:23 AM