C3200: Should I Flash The Rom Myself?, Pre-purchase decision... Options

[chazzz]

Greetings -

<BACKGROUND INFO>
So I have a 6000L that is ok, but I'm not terribly keen on the size, especially compared to my "daily driver" iPaq hx4700. But I've had my iPaq since Oct. 2004, and I think I'm ready to try something else again. (21 months is an eternity for me... I used to upgrade my PDAs literally every nine months)
</BACKGROUND INFO>

Enter the C3200. It might be a little thick, but I figured it may be an interesting deal. Obviously, I can buy one with a ROM updated for me, but I think the best price I've found is at pricejapan - currently US$543. Other places that have an English ROM already flashed are more expensive. So my main question is: how difficult is it really to flash the ROM properly (considering I haven't had to do that at all in previous machines)? And second: being a relative novice, should I even consider changing the ROM?

I apologize if the veterans here are sick of this type of question. I don't want to end up with an expensive brick because I was inexperienced or ignorant. So I appreciate any constructive help/feedback.

Thanks -
- Chazzz

[McChubby]

Greetings -

<BACKGROUND INFO>
So I have a 6000L that is ok, but I'm not terribly keen on the size, especially compared to my "daily driver" iPaq hx4700. But I've had my iPaq since Oct. 2004, and I think I'm ready to try something else again. (21 months is an eternity for me... I used to upgrade my PDAs literally every nine months)
</BACKGROUND INFO>

Enter the C3200. It might be a little thick, but I figured it may be an interesting deal. Obviously, I can buy one with a ROM updated for me, but I think the best price I've found is at pricejapan - currently US$543. Other places that have an English ROM already flashed are more expensive. So my main question is: how difficult is it really to flash the ROM properly (considering I haven't had to do that at all in previous machines)? And second: being a relative novice, should I even consider changing the ROM?

I apologize if the veterans here are sick of this type of question. I don't want to end up with an expensive brick because I was inexperienced or ignorant. So I appreciate any constructive help/feedback.

Thanks -
- Chazzz

Within a few hours of getting my C1000 I flashed Cacko ROM onto it, with the safe knowledge that even if my NAND backup was crap, that the Trisoft one would save the day! You just need to have a >128MB CF card to hand (for the NAND backup/restore).

It's really easy; I'd never messed with a PDA before, let alone flashed it. Soon after a gave the C1000 to my girlfriend and bought a C3200 - I think they're great.

[BarryW]

Just flash it yourself. You already have a Z so you know roughly how to flash most likely. The process is pretty much the same, the menus are in Japanese, but there's nothing we can do about that.

[nilch]

Just do a search on flashing steps and its really pretty easy as long as you follow the steps.

If you do decide to go for the Cacko ROM (most people flash to Cacko as a first step, since it most resembles the Sharp ROM and is stable), it comes with step-by-step instructions for flashing and which options to select (number wise) from the japanese menu. So maybe you can download the ROM package and read the install/flash instructions just to make you feel at ease.

And best of all, with a Linux PDA under your belt, don't be afraid of experimenting. This thing (Sharp PDA) has held up to some pretty wild hacking and experimenting by some guys here and it has still survided, so a mere ROM flash is just peanuts for this machine.

[Meanie]

you can give me $200 and i will flash it for you
or you follow the simple instructions and do it yourself

[Cresho]

DIDO!