[luau] pda question

[Jeff Mings]

 Hi Charles,
    I am now on my 6th PDA, so I can testify with some experience.  I 
would recommend one of the PalmOS organizers with the Targa folding 
keyboard.  The Targa kb really does fold up to the outline of most of 
the medium sized PDAs, but about 1.5 times as thick.  The prospect of 
scribbling notes for an extended period of time is unrealistic - you'll 
be sitting at a desk, so just drop the pda in the keyboard.  For the 
times when you are using the stylus, however, the PalmOS's graffiti is 
still much more accurate and precise than the handwriting recognition of 
the Pocket PC (WinCE) devices.  I am currently on a Compaq Ipaq that the 
boss from my previous job bought me because he wanted me to be able to 
support his Compaq Ipaq.  While the hardware is great, everything takes 
1 to 3 steps more than what is required in PalmOS.  E.g., to edit a 
daily appointment in PalmOS, you tap the entry and start typing.  In the 
aptly named WinCE, you tap the entry, then you select between the entry 
text and room for attaching a note.  Then you tap where you want to type 
( or everything will be overwritten).  After all of that , you have to 
deal with a HWR engine that is TRULY sucky.  My old 1 MB Palm III was 
much more accurate and easy to write with than my 64MB 220 Mhz Palm 
Ipaq.   If I ever have the time, I'll convert my Ipaq to one of the 
pocket distros.

-Jeff


Charles Lockhart wrote:

>Sorry, this isn't necesarily a straight-up linux question.
>
>I've been trying to find a good pda/handheld computer for a long time, and
>having no luck finding one that would meet my requirements.  
>
>The requirements are that it can be used for taking notes and writing
>papers.  
>I'm not talking little notes to self either, but have enough
>wordprocessing power to take notes for a 3-4 hour class, be able to draw
>simple graphics and embed them in text.  Something that'll let me work on
>a paper pretty much anywhere.  AND have a good enough input interface that
>I can write fast enough to take notes, as fast as I would write if I was
>using paper and pen.  I'm looking for something that'll let me WRITE data
>in, not some mini-keyboard.  AND, while I would prefer it to run linux, I
>would like it to at least be able to interface and transfer files with
>linux.
>
>I remember that the Apple Newton met or came close enough to meeting those
>requirements.  Is there anything comparable around now?  I don't need a
>color screen, I would prefer it to have a bigger screen.  I don't need it
>to connect to the net, or play music or movies or any crap like that, I
>just need it to work in a classroom/student environment.
>
>Any reccomendations?
>
>-Charles
>
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