On Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:48:07 -0400, Gabriel Knight
<someone@who.hates.junkmail> wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>I have owned several PDAs and now I'm on a Samsung Omnia which is my
>cellphone as well.
>
>However I've found that I would really like to have a PDA for reading
>eBooks and PDF documents, and also for the occasional web browsing.
>Therefore I decided it might be a nice thing to have something
>separate from my Omnia something with a much larger screen that I can
>use for reading mostly.
>
>So I need a recommendation because it has been years since I owned a
>PDA that was not also my cellphone.
>

Another tack to at least consider: a second cell phone. You might find
a used one that is good and inexpensive enough. And it should work
fine with the radio disabled. Unfortunately, Verizon doesn't use SIM
cards, so you couldn't easily use the new phone as a spare. Although
it is possible to activate a phone without going to Verizon using a
tool on their web site.

-----------------------------------------
To reply to me, remove the underscores (_) from my email address (and please indicate which newsgroup and message).

Robert E. Zaret, eMVP
PenFact, Inc.
20 Park Plaza, Suite 400
Boston, MA 02116
www.penfact.com

At 10 Jun 2009 09:59:24 -0400 Gabriel Knight wrote:
> On Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:11:43 -0600, "" wrote:
>
>
> >
> >Kindle?
>
> Ewww! Waaaaay too expensive and too limited in capabilities.

Sorry. Your OP said big screen, long battery life, 80% reading, 20%
browsing, and no mention of cost. I think the Kindle matches those specs
quite well. I haven't used one, but if my needs were like yours, I'd be
looking at the Kindle . For my wishes, I think I'd like a Nokia N810 like
Todd suggested.

--
Dave

Yup, the TC1100 is "only" XGA, but, for e-book reading (assuming you do want
to keep the original text flow), the difference between 1024 and 800 (or,
even worse, 640) is HUGE.

I've tried to read technical PDF's on my 640-pixel-wide Pocket PC's using
the original text layout - I think it's prerty much useless. 800 is better,
but 1024 is the way I'd go.

BTW, Windows 7 RC1 runs just great on the TC1100 and is a dream operating
system with great handwriting recognition.

As far as higher-res tablets are concerned, they start at 12" (see the SXGA+
(1400*1050) models of the IBM Thinkpad x60t / x61t's) and are very
expensive, even second-hand. I don't think they have as good a
price/performance ratio as the TC1100, particularly if ou take the Windows 7
support into account, where the TC1100 shines.

--


--
Werner "Menneisyys" Ruotsalainen - Microsoft MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices
Please see the Pocket PC Mag Expert Blog (including mine) at
http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/ - you will definitely like it.


"Roger 2008" <rwpcs@att.net> wrote in message
news:ls2dnftwdtKH47PXnZ2dnUVZ_sednZ2d@giganews.com ...
>
> "Werner "Menneisyys" Ruotsalainen [MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices]"
> <!ei.maileja@kiitos!> wrote in message
> news:O7lQuER6JHA.2656@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>
>> Are you sure you don't want to go for a tablet instead - for example, a
>> TC1100? It only weighs in 1.4kg and is far-far better suited for PDF
>> reading. In addition, it's dirt cheap nowadays; so are brand new
>> batteries
>> for it off eBay.
>
> Very good idea Werner.
>
> FYI the TC1100 is a Tablet Computer but with a detachable keyboard so it
> can
> be treated as if it were a laptop too and if a TC1100 from ebay doesn't
> come
> with Recovery CDs you can order Recovery CDs from HP for $12.00 but you
> will
> need a USB CD/DVD to install the software.
>
> BTW the best resolution the TC1100 can do internal or external is only
> 1024x768 so that is sort of a drawback. But the TC1100 has a PCMCIA slot
> that can be used for better resolution on an external monitor.
>
> Plus there are smaller Tablet computers out there like:
> http://blogs.zdnet.com/gadgetreviews...90&tag=nl.e539
>
> One more item about the TC1100. If you get a TC1100 there is one registry
> edit that I would suggest and it is at:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893056/
>
> but even after that registry edit you won't see the "Hibernate" button
> when
> you shutdown until you upgrade XP to SP3.
>
>

Well, the TC1100 isn't really pocketable, but it only weighs in 1.4 kgs (w/o
the keyboard) - considerably less than 14"+ notebooks (or even 12" ones
except for some high-end, overpriced models like the IBM Thinkpad X series).

The problem with PDF reading is that if you do need to read original docs
(e.g. tech docs) without reflowing the text, a 800-pixel-wide screen is
plain insufficient. That is, you either get a PDA with a 800-wide screen or
go for a full x86 device - either a pocket-sized one like the OQO 2 (IIRC,
it too has an 1024-wide screen) or a tablet, if you don't want to have a
keyboard when you read books. As far as real tablets are concerned, however,
they all start at 9".

Another choice is Apple's rumoured? announced? tablet, which is stated to
have a 7" (?), but still high-res (read: XGA at least) screen.

--


--
Werner "Menneisyys" Ruotsalainen - Microsoft MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices
Please see the Pocket PC Mag Expert Blog (including mine) at
http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/ - you will definitely like it.


"Gabriel Knight" <someone@who.hates.junkmail> wrote in message
news:8nht25tu7o7dqi5o4n3aca0851ptva8fmt@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 9 Jun 2009 16:47:12 +0200, "Werner \"Menneisyys\" Ruotsalainen
> [MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices]" <!ei.maileja@kiitos!> wrote:
>
>>A quick note: the highest resolution you can have is 800*480 (and the
>>iPhone
>>210 is "only" VGA). In addition, PDA rendering can be pretty slow on WinMo
>>(particularly if the doc you read has a lot of highly complicated compound
>>images).
>>
>>Are you sure you don't want to go for a tablet instead - for example, a
>>TC1100? It only weighs in 1.4kg and is far-far better suited for PDF
>>reading. In addition, it's dirt cheap nowadays; so are brand new batteries
>>for it off eBay.
>>
>>--
>
> Tablet looks quite nice I will consider that actually. Only thing is
> I'd have to do a really slim nLite install build, not a problem. One
> big issue is I want to be able to pick it up and start using quickly.
> I'd also really prefer it be pocketable but I will see what's
> available in the tablet pc market.
>
> TY

I ordered a Nokia 810 I'm going to see how it goes, because it also
has GPS and I'm gonna need another GPS soon for my second car anyway,
and it has a keyboard for emails when I'm on wifi. Also the OS seems
to have some nice open source support community so I'll see how it
goes. Only $200 so not a disastrous investment if it ain't that great.

Thanks for all your input everyone.

"Werner "Menneisyys" Ruotsalainen [MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices]"
<!ei.maileja@kiitos!> wrote in message
news:eapd4pn6JHA.5180@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Yup, the TC1100 is "only" XGA, but, for e-book reading (assuming you do
want
> to keep the original text flow), the difference between 1024 and 800 (or,
> even worse, 640) is HUGE.

The 1024x768 is acceptable for the internal montor, but the fact that
1024x768 is the best it can do on an external monitor is a bit of a let down
especially when you connect it to a monitor that can do 1920x1080.

> BTW, Windows 7 RC1 runs just great on the TC1100 and is a dream operating
> system with great handwriting recognition.

I only have Windows 7 RC and I couldn't get it to network with a WINDOWS
2000 computer so I put Vista back on that laptop. But I'd be willing to try
Windows 7 RC on my TC1100 just to see how well the bluetooth works.

> As far as higher-res tablets are concerned, they start at 12" (see the
SXGA+
> (1400*1050) models of the IBM Thinkpad x60t / x61t's) and are very
> expensive, even second-hand. I don't think they have as good a
> price/performance ratio as the TC1100, particularly if ou take the Windows
7
> support into account, where the TC1100 shines.

I've seen a pretty neat tablet and maybe you have too:
http://www.motioncomputing.com/produ...let_pc_J34.asp

But, I was upset to see that it didn't have any bluetooth hardware on it all
it had was the bluetooth software. But even that wouldn't be so bad if they
gave you one internal USB port so you didn't have to advertise that it needs
a bluetooth dongle.

"Gabriel Knight" <someone@who.hates.junkmail> wrote in message
news:ki523551ilirge5n9t10h4vgn9fn5g1a5j@4ax.com...
> I ordered a Nokia 810 I'm going to see how it goes, because it also
> has GPS and I'm gonna need another GPS soon for my second car anyway,
> and it has a keyboard for emails when I'm on wifi. Also the OS seems
> to have some nice open source support community so I'll see how it
> goes. Only $200 so not a disastrous investment if it ain't that great.
>
> Thanks for all your input everyone.

From what I've heard about the Nokia 810 is it can get it's internet via BT
DUN also so you wouldn't need wifi.

What I'd like to know is if the Nokia 810 can run Apache or Sendmail. If it
could run either one then it would really be neat and especially for that
price.

At 11 Jun 2009 22:19:28 -0600 Roger 2008 wrote:
>
> "Gabriel Knight" <someone@who.hates.junkmail> wrote in message
> news:ki523551ilirge5n9t10h4vgn9fn5g1a5j@4ax.com...
> > I ordered a Nokia 810 I'm going to see how it goes, because it also
> > has GPS and I'm gonna need another GPS soon for my second car anyway,
> > and it has a keyboard for emails when I'm on wifi. Also the OS seems
> > to have some nice open source support community so I'll see how it
> > goes. Only $200 so not a disastrous investment if it ain't that great.
> >
> > Thanks for all your input everyone.
>
> From what I've heard about the Nokia 810 is it can get it's internet via
BT
> DUN also so you wouldn't need wifi.
>
> What I'd like to know is if the Nokia 810 can run Apache or Sendmail. If
it
> could run either one then it would really be neat and especially for that
> price.


You could probably find out at maemo.org- it's both a Nokia Tablet software
repository and a forum from what I understand.

> The 1024x768 is acceptable for the internal montor, but the fact that
> 1024x768 is the best it can do on an external monitor is a bit of a let
> down
> especially when you connect it to a monitor that can do 1920x1080.

I've quickly tested this on my TC1100 running W7 with a 1280*1024 external
monitor. See my remarks in the just-posted update at
http://www.smartphonemag.com/cms/blo...ublished-hacks

In a nutshell: use the hacked VGA driver to gain access to higher
resolutions. They work (I've tested) under Win7; I think they should work
under WinXP too (havent tested this, though).

--


--
Werner "Menneisyys" Ruotsalainen - Microsoft MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices
Please see the Pocket PC Mag Expert Blog (including mine) at
http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/ - you will definitely like it.


"Roger 2008" <rwpcs@att.net> wrote in message
news:EKmdnRlyUKXfI6zXnZ2dnUVZ_oSdnZ2d@giganews.com ...
>
> "Werner "Menneisyys" Ruotsalainen [MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices]"
> <!ei.maileja@kiitos!> wrote in message
> news:eapd4pn6JHA.5180@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> Yup, the TC1100 is "only" XGA, but, for e-book reading (assuming you do
> want
>> to keep the original text flow), the difference between 1024 and 800 (or,
>> even worse, 640) is HUGE.
>
> The 1024x768 is acceptable for the internal montor, but the fact that
> 1024x768 is the best it can do on an external monitor is a bit of a let
> down
> especially when you connect it to a monitor that can do 1920x1080.
>
>> BTW, Windows 7 RC1 runs just great on the TC1100 and is a dream operating
>> system with great handwriting recognition.
>
> I only have Windows 7 RC and I couldn't get it to network with a WINDOWS
> 2000 computer so I put Vista back on that laptop. But I'd be willing to
> try
> Windows 7 RC on my TC1100 just to see how well the bluetooth works.
>
>> As far as higher-res tablets are concerned, they start at 12" (see the
> SXGA+
>> (1400*1050) models of the IBM Thinkpad x60t / x61t's) and are very
>> expensive, even second-hand. I don't think they have as good a
>> price/performance ratio as the TC1100, particularly if ou take the
>> Windows
> 7
>> support into account, where the TC1100 shines.
>
> I've seen a pretty neat tablet and maybe you have too:
> http://www.motioncomputing.com/produ...let_pc_J34.asp
>
> But, I was upset to see that it didn't have any bluetooth hardware on it
> all
> it had was the bluetooth software. But even that wouldn't be so bad if
> they
> gave you one internal USB port so you didn't have to advertise that it
> needs
> a bluetooth dongle.
>
>

"Werner "Menneisyys" Ruotsalainen [MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices]"
<!ei.maileja@kiitos!> wrote in message
news:%23om66226JHA.728@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> > The 1024x768 is acceptable for the internal montor, but the fact that
> > 1024x768 is the best it can do on an external monitor is a bit of a let
> > down
> > especially when you connect it to a monitor that can do 1920x1080.
>
> I've quickly tested this on my TC1100 running W7 with a 1280*1024 external
> monitor. See my remarks in the just-posted update at
>
http://www.smartphonemag.com/cms/blo...ublished-hacks
>
> In a nutshell: use the hacked VGA driver to gain access to higher
> resolutions. They work (I've tested) under Win7; I think they should work
> under WinXP too (havent tested this, though).

Yes, the driver you mentioned gave my TC1100 1600x1200 on an external
monitor but I have to set the resolution and then click where it says
"Extend my Windows desktop..." That could have something to do with my
1920x1080 monitor.

I have version F.0F of the BIOS and I wonder if W7RC will let me use a HD
over 120GB. I'll mess with that when I have more time to do a HD swap and
many thanks for posting a link to:
http://mobilepcwiki.com/mpc/index.ph...allation_Notes

So, if I have W7RC will I have any trouble updating it to W7RC1? I hope
not. BTW I have read when Windows 7 finally goes up for sale it will be
expensive and maybe to expensive for people to change.

BTW after using the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool I can boot my TC1100
from my Touch Pro. I don't know if I'll ever need to do that but it is
doable.

Question about your TC1100. Did yours come with BT? From your photo I
can't see a BT icon in the System Tray. FYI the only reason I bought my
TC1100 was because it had BT built in.

1, to my knowledge, it's in no way possible to access anything over 120
Gbytes. Some people state that, with multiple partitions, you can - IMHO,
this is not true (I've tried it very hard to partition it this way). I have
the latets BIOS.

2, yup, I have BT too.

3, you mean migrating from RC1 to the final version (in around October or,
at least, next June(?) when RC stops working?) MS, IIRC, stated you'll need
to completely reinstall the OS; that is, simply upgrading won't work.

--


--
Werner "Menneisyys" Ruotsalainen - Microsoft MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices
Please see the Pocket PC Mag Expert Blog (including mine) at
http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/ - you will definitely like it.


"Roger 2008" <rwpcs@att.net> wrote in message
news:h7mdnU0x0_zeC6_XnZ2dnUVZ_jydnZ2d@giganews.com ...
>
> "Werner "Menneisyys" Ruotsalainen [MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices]"
> <!ei.maileja@kiitos!> wrote in message
> news:%23om66226JHA.728@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> > The 1024x768 is acceptable for the internal montor, but the fact that
>> > 1024x768 is the best it can do on an external monitor is a bit of a let
>> > down
>> > especially when you connect it to a monitor that can do 1920x1080.
>>
>> I've quickly tested this on my TC1100 running W7 with a 1280*1024
>> external
>> monitor. See my remarks in the just-posted update at
>>
> http://www.smartphonemag.com/cms/blo...ublished-hacks
>>
>> In a nutshell: use the hacked VGA driver to gain access to higher
>> resolutions. They work (I've tested) under Win7; I think they should work
>> under WinXP too (havent tested this, though).
>
> Yes, the driver you mentioned gave my TC1100 1600x1200 on an external
> monitor but I have to set the resolution and then click where it says
> "Extend my Windows desktop..." That could have something to do with my
> 1920x1080 monitor.
>
> I have version F.0F of the BIOS and I wonder if W7RC will let me use a HD
> over 120GB. I'll mess with that when I have more time to do a HD swap and
> many thanks for posting a link to:
> http://mobilepcwiki.com/mpc/index.ph...allation_Notes
>
> So, if I have W7RC will I have any trouble updating it to W7RC1? I hope
> not. BTW I have read when Windows 7 finally goes up for sale it will be
> expensive and maybe to expensive for people to change.
>
> BTW after using the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool I can boot my TC1100
> from my Touch Pro. I don't know if I'll ever need to do that but it is
> doable.
>
> Question about your TC1100. Did yours come with BT? From your photo I
> can't see a BT icon in the System Tray. FYI the only reason I bought my
> TC1100 was because it had BT built in.
>
>

"Werner "Menneisyys" Ruotsalainen [MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices]"
<!ei.maileja@kiitos!> wrote in message
news:%23om66226JHA.728@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> > The 1024x768 is acceptable for the internal montor, but the fact that
> > 1024x768 is the best it can do on an external monitor is a bit of a let
> > down
> > especially when you connect it to a monitor that can do 1920x1080.
>
> I've quickly tested this on my TC1100 running W7 with a 1280*1024 external
> monitor. See my remarks in the just-posted update at
>
http://www.smartphonemag.com/cms/blo...ublished-hacks
>
> In a nutshell: use the hacked VGA driver to gain access to higher
> resolutions. They work (I've tested) under Win7; I think they should work
> under WinXP too (havent tested this, though).

You talked me into it. I tried W7RC on my TC1100 and after running the
Windows Update with a network cable the Wireless Internet started working
too.

The Qmenu worked just fine.

BT DUN worked just fine but there is no way to use the TC1100 as a BT
headset under W7RC.

I tried to get an old ATI PVR to work with it wouldn't work.

But I still had problems networking with Windows 2000 so W7RC is history one
more time.

> BT DUN worked just fine but there is no way to use the TC1100 as a BT
> headset under W7RC.

You mean you want to use your W7 notebook as a headset for anotehr audio
source?

--


--
Werner "Menneisyys" Ruotsalainen - Microsoft MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices
Please see the Pocket PC Mag Expert Blog (including mine) at
http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/ - you will definitely like it.


"Roger 2008" <rwpcs@att.net> wrote in message
news:mcqdnXgWL6zggqjXnZ2dnUVZ_sqdnZ2d@giganews.com ...
>
> "Werner "Menneisyys" Ruotsalainen [MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices]"
> <!ei.maileja@kiitos!> wrote in message
> news:%23om66226JHA.728@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> > The 1024x768 is acceptable for the internal montor, but the fact that
>> > 1024x768 is the best it can do on an external monitor is a bit of a let
>> > down
>> > especially when you connect it to a monitor that can do 1920x1080.
>>
>> I've quickly tested this on my TC1100 running W7 with a 1280*1024
>> external
>> monitor. See my remarks in the just-posted update at
>>
> http://www.smartphonemag.com/cms/blo...ublished-hacks
>>
>> In a nutshell: use the hacked VGA driver to gain access to higher
>> resolutions. They work (I've tested) under Win7; I think they should work
>> under WinXP too (havent tested this, though).
>
> You talked me into it. I tried W7RC on my TC1100 and after running the
> Windows Update with a network cable the Wireless Internet started working
> too.
>
> The Qmenu worked just fine.
>
> BT DUN worked just fine but there is no way to use the TC1100 as a BT
> headset under W7RC.
>
> I tried to get an old ATI PVR to work with it wouldn't work.
>
> But I still had problems networking with Windows 2000 so W7RC is history
> one
> more time.
>
>

Werner Menneisyys Ruotsalainen [MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices] wrote:
> > BT DUN worked just fine but there is no way to use the TC1100 as a BT
> > headset under W7RC.
>
> You mean you want to use your W7 notebook as a headset for anotehr audio
> source?

Let me put it this way. If you pair your PPC/phone to a laptop that
gives the phone the option to use the laptop as a "headset" then you
can easily turn your laptop into a bluetooth speaker phone.

I don't know if I want to use my TC1100 as a bluetooth speaker phone
that much but if I could I'd certainly use it for BT stereo speakers.
And yes I have seen four laptops that could be used as BT stereo
speakers where one of those four laptops was using a USB BT dongle and
BT was built into the other laptops.

Thanks for this; I'll look into the problem as soon as I have some free
time.

--


--
Werner "Menneisyys" Ruotsalainen - Microsoft MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices
Please see the Pocket PC Mag Expert Blog (including mine) at
http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/ - you will definitely like it.


"Roger 2008" <rwpcs@att.net> wrote in message
news:c1bc3e54-a52c-4aca-a220-c598626fac11@p21g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
> Werner Menneisyys Ruotsalainen [MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices] wrote:
>> > BT DUN worked just fine but there is no way to use the TC1100 as a BT
>> > headset under W7RC.
>>
>> You mean you want to use your W7 notebook as a headset for anotehr audio
>> source?
>
> Let me put it this way. If you pair your PPC/phone to a laptop that
> gives the phone the option to use the laptop as a "headset" then you
> can easily turn your laptop into a bluetooth speaker phone.
>
> I don't know if I want to use my TC1100 as a bluetooth speaker phone
> that much but if I could I'd certainly use it for BT stereo speakers.
> And yes I have seen four laptops that could be used as BT stereo
> speakers where one of those four laptops was using a USB BT dongle and
> BT was built into the other laptops.