Thinking About A Sl-c3100 Options

[BarrySamuels]

I am thinking of getting a Zaurus SL-C3100 and I've been reading as much information as I can find but I'd like to double check.

It seems the best buy is probably from PriceJapan and people seem to give them a good recommendation.

Is the mains charger supplied with the C3100 useable in the UK?

Is the English conversion really as simple as changing a setting, with a text editor, from =ja to =en or is more complicated than that? Will I be able to understand what I'm doing if everything is in Japanese to start with? I have seen mention of a script called mcconvert but surely if it's as simple as mentioned above a script might seem a little 'over the top'? I don't want or need any Japanese based software so I don't need to keep any Japanese stuff.

If I need to do any of the conversion outside the Zaurus will I be able to do it with my current Debian desktop? I understand that the Zaurus accepts USB Mini A and Mini B connectors, whatever they are, so will I need special lead(s)?

One of the primary things I want to use it for is to look at digital camera images in the field. These will be 10MB Tiff images. Is there software available which can display these images?

I shall probably come back with more questions later so brace yourselves.

[gds]

I am thinking of getting a Zaurus SL-C3100 and I've been reading as much information as I can find but I'd like to double check.

Hi Barry, I've just received an SL-C3100 from PriceJapan, so I'll try to answer some of your questions.

It seems the best buy is probably from PriceJapan and people seem to give them a good recommendation.

I had no problem with their service at all. I ordered on a Wednesday evening, they shipped on Thursday morning and I received it on Monday morning.

Is the mains charger supplied with the C3100 useable in the UK?

No, not directly. The charger I received claims to take 100-220V, so it should work. The plug does not fit into a standard UK socket (I'm actually in Ireland, but we use the same sockets as the UK). You will need an adapter to convert the Japanese standard plug to a British one (I have been using the charger from my 5500 instead). I can supply a picture of the charger that comes with the Z if you want to see the connection you'll need to make.

Is the English conversion really as simple as changing a setting, with a text editor, from =ja to =en or is more complicated than that?

Changing the locale setting will convert most things in the UI, but not everything. There are various things you could do to finish the job, but the simplest might be to restore the "backup image" trisoft.de offers (I did this after the locale change above, and it took care of almost everything). You just need the backup image, not the NAND image. It's very easy if you just follow the instructions trisoft have.

If I need to do any of the conversion outside the Zaurus will I be able to do it with my current Debian desktop? I understand that the Zaurus accepts USB Mini A and Mini B connectors, whatever they are, so will I need special lead(s)?

I've not (yet) been able to connect my SL-C3100 to my debian machine, even though my 5500 works fine. I'm not sure yet what the problem is. In theory this should just work, however. The device comes with a standard A-mini-b connector (to connect to your desktop machine). If you want to connect the Z to a camera, etc. you'll need to purchase a "usb host" cable (mini-a to whatever).

One of the primary things I want to use it for is to look at digital camera images in the field. These will be 10MB Tiff images. Is there software available which can display these images?

I think the presupplied software can only view jpeg images. I'm sure there is something you can install.

If you will need to purchase a UK compatible power brick and a host cable then it might be worth looking at trisoft, since I believe they supply both as standard (as well as converting the device to english for you).

[BarrySamuels]

I had no problem with their service at all. I ordered on a Wednesday evening, they shipped on Thursday morning and I received it on Monday morning.

Thanks gds that sounds reassuring.

No, not directly. The charger I received claims to take 100-220V, so it should work. The plug does not fit into a standard UK socket (I'm actually in Ireland, but we use the same sockets as the UK). You will need an adapter to convert the Japanese standard plug to a British one (I have been using the charger from my 5500 instead). I can supply a picture of the charger that comes with the Z if you want to see the connection you'll need to make.

That would be really useful.

Changing the locale setting will convert most things in the UI, but not everything. There are various things you could do to finish the job, but the simplest might be to restore the "backup image" trisoft.de offers (I did this after the locale change above, and it took care of almost everything). You just need the backup image, not the NAND image. It's very easy if you just follow the instructions trisoft have.

That seems to answer all my English conversion questions.

I've not (yet) been able to connect my SL-C3100 to my debian machine, even though my 5500 works fine. I'm not sure yet what the problem is. In theory this should just work, however. The device comes with a standard A-mini-b connector (to connect to your desktop machine). If you want to connect the Z to a camera, etc. you'll need to purchase a "usb host" cable (mini-a to whatever).

I don't plan to connect my camera to the Zaurus. I just want to remove the CompactFlash card from the camera and put it in the Zaurus to view the images.

I think the presupplied software can only view jpeg images.

It looks that way.

Many thanks for the help.

[scheck.r]

For viewing or manipulating large files you can check these threads:
http://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=10105
http://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=10787&st=30#
http://www.robfisher.net/zaurus/
http://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showt...&hl=large+files

[gds]

No, not directly. The charger I received claims to take 100-220V, so it should work. The plug does not fit into a standard UK socket (I'm actually in Ireland, but we use the same sockets as the UK). You will need an adapter to convert the Japanese standard plug to a British one (I have been using the charger from my 5500 instead). I can supply a picture of the charger that comes with the Z if you want to see the connection you'll need to make.

That would be really useful.

Sure, I'll add one tomorrow (left the japanese power supply at work).

[BarrySamuels]

For viewing or manipulating large files you can check these threads:
http://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=10105
http://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=10787&st=30#
http://www.robfisher.net/zaurus/
http://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showt...&hl=large+files

I have already investigated much of that software. On one of those threads somebody says that Visual Q can handle Tiff files but the Visual Q site quotes 'JPEG, PNG, BMP, XBM, and XPM' only.

My problem is not the file size so much as the Tiff format.

I don't need to manipulate the images in any way - just view them.

[icruise]

I just tried opening a large TIFF file in Visual Q. It was 11.1MB. It worked, but you can't shrink the image down to see the whole image at once. You can just see a small portion of the image at a time, although you can scroll around to see the rest relatively easily.

[BarrySamuels]

I just tried opening a large TIFF file in Visual Q. It was 11.1MB. It worked, but you can't shrink the image down to see the whole image at once. You can just see a small portion of the image at a time, although you can scroll around to see the rest relatively easily.

Did you do that especially for me? How nice!

That is very useful to know. Thanks.

[chiark]

Barry, if you want more hand holding then you might want to check out Trisoft .de and figlabs.co.uk. I've also used pulster.de for other things in the past, and they're cheap for the 3100 in Europe.

I ended up getting a used SL-C1000 from ebay for a great price: with a 1gb CF card, there's not a lot missing compared to a 3100...

[rob_figlabs]

might want to check out Trisoft .de and figlabs.co.uk.

That's www.figlabs.com, not .co.uk

[gds]

The promised photo of the power adapter I received in my order from pricejapan. I see that I misremembered the power rating -- it's actually a more generous 100-240V in.

[BarrySamuels]

Barry, if you want more hand holding then you might want to check out Trisoft .de and figlabs.co.uk.  I've also used pulster.de for other things in the past, and they're cheap for the 3100 in Europe.

Thanks chiark but I don't really need hand holding as I've used Linux for years. I'm just doing research on an unknown, to me, machine.

Many thanks also to gds for that picture - good picture too! Trouble is we don't have Japanese electricty in our house.

[chiark]

Excellent stuff . At €669, pulster are bloomin' cheap especially as that includes VAT and a few other bits, too...

Whoever you choose, if you're into Linux you'll love the Zaurus and I fully expect that you'll have tried Cacko and PdaXRom within a week of it turning up. If you're a hardened Linux nut then my hunch is you'll go for PdaXrom - hey, you ought to run a sweepstake

For charging, I use a Logic3 PSP adaptor or you can use the official Sony PSP adaptor available from Virgin or HMV for 20 quid. Rob@Figlabs went through CE testing of the 3100 with the sony device.

You can also use a Logic3 PSP USB/Charger retracting cable, again available from Virgin or HMV for a penny under 6 quid. This works excellently, and reduces the bulk you need to carry. I can't see using a charger in the near future now I've got one of these.

[BarrySamuels]

For charging, I use a Logic3 PSP adaptor or you can use the official Sony PSP adaptor available from Virgin or HMV for 20 quid.  Rob@Figlabs went through CE testing of the 3100 with the sony device.

You can also use a Logic3 PSP USB/Charger retracting cable, again available from Virgin or HMV for a penny under 6 quid.  This works excellently, and reduces the bulk you need to carry.  I can't see using a charger in the near future now I've got one of these.

If the charging unit that comes with the C3100 is adequate why would you want a different one?

[Meanie]

For charging, I use a Logic3 PSP adaptor or you can use the official Sony PSP adaptor available from Virgin or HMV for 20 quid.  Rob@Figlabs went through CE testing of the 3100 with the sony device.

You can also use a Logic3 PSP USB/Charger retracting cable, again available from Virgin or HMV for a penny under 6 quid.  This works excellently, and reduces the bulk you need to carry.  I can't see using a charger in the near future now I've got one of these.

If the charging unit that comes with the C3100 is adequate why would you want a different one?

Size. It is a matter of size and convennience. The charger does a great job sitting at home, but while on the road, you want something smaller that fits in your pocket

PS: you might want to read my zbook to get some more ideas about the Z