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Messages - kahm

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1
Hardware Mods / C3000 Dis/reassembly
« on: November 11, 2008, 04:37:27 pm »
Bugger. Wish I'd seen this last night. I just opened a 3000 last night to swap the CF card.  Ended up de-soldering the strip...

2
Well, it definitely looks worth watching. Plus, either that guy has massive hands, or that thing is really, really tiny...

3
General Discussion / Forget The Zaurus - Itś Fujitsu Time!
« on: February 21, 2008, 06:21:33 pm »
I haven't been back here for weeks, so I think it's funny that you're asking this now.

Sorry - haven't been back here in a while.

I'm increasingly fond of the Fuji. Battery life with the large battery is good (~5hrs). The keyboard layout on the Japanese model is easier to remap than the American one, but the Japanese one lacks BT and the Camera. The Zaurus is more comfortable for long sessions of typing, but I have no trouble writing anything short of a novel on the Fuji. It has plenty of power for pretty much anything I'd want to do, but I do recommend XP over Vista. Browsing is great as well. It isn't pocketable, but I find it large enough for general tasks, and small enough that it's easy to pack. I'm definitely going to be keeping it going forward.

Hope that helps...

4
New products and alternatives / Lg Xnote B831
« on: January 10, 2008, 04:25:00 pm »
Quote from: netog
This is a UMPC with Vista OS.

I don't consider this kind of device can replace a linux PDA. I think many people are expecting a new linux PDA to replace our zaurus.

just my opinion.

Neto

Isn't that a little short sighted? It runs Vista, which makes it an X86 PC.  Is it that important to be able to buy it with Linux on it from the factory?

Yes, I realize that it isn't necessarily that easy, but still...

This device has the best form factor/keyboard of the new devices - at least when you're comparing to the Z. Give it a chance - I'm willing to buy one if it lives up to that promise...

5
General Discussion / Wireless Which Doesn't Stick Out
« on: January 09, 2008, 01:33:58 am »
Quote from: speculatrix
the only choice you have is how MUCH they stick out. My mercury zonet zcf 1100 sticks out by, er, about five mm... but some are much much bigger. I think there's a wiki entry somewhere.

Only 5mm!?

Damn - I want one!

Oh well. I'll be replacing my Z with an x86 MID sometime this year anyway...

6
New products and alternatives / Lg Xnote B831
« on: January 09, 2008, 01:31:27 am »
http://www.umpcportal.com/products/product.php?id=161

I was wondering how long it was going to take to show up here. 148mmx87mmx29mm. The displayed device is 1gb ram, 40gb hd, wifi, bt, hspda, 800x480 touchscreen. They keyboard has a touchpad.

This one is running Vista.

Looks *extremely* interesting. It may indeed work quite well as a replacement for the Z. The keyboard especially looks interesting. I'll be keeping my eye on this one.

Interestingly enough, LG says it's for release in Asia, the UK, and Canada, but hasn't mentioned US distribution. I'm in Canada so I don't care

7
General Discussion / Forget The Zaurus - Itś Fujitsu Time!
« on: September 25, 2007, 03:44:12 pm »
Quote
-- edit --
hmmm, I didn't realise the keyboard how much the keyboard was crippled - in an effort to keep the keys large they cut their number down - even the tab is shared. the one thing we keep coming back to is having a full layout. so, the kohjinsha here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/silicondepend...57594417554369/
whilst somewhat bigger does seem so much better for that. sigh. now I can't make my mind up any more. I really wanted to sell my Sony TX2 and trade for a Fujitsu but now...
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=167452\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

I just noticed that that was my photo you linked to   My friend with the Kohjinsha is coming over today so Ill retake that one with the Fujitsu added in.

And, for the record, the Fuji's keyboard is much nicer to thumbtype on than the Kohjinsha's

8
General Discussion / Forget The Zaurus - Itś Fujitsu Time!
« on: September 25, 2007, 03:39:24 pm »
Quote
a nice review with pictures and size comparisons:

http://www.geardiary.com/2007/09/13/quick-...lifebook-u1010/

I think I definitely one want... so long as it's the full version with bluetooth and wifi, and webcam if possible, and even the 3G data option!

Oh yeah, and wimax, and DVB-T, and an espresso machine

-- edit --
hmmm, I didn't realise the keyboard how much the keyboard was crippled - in an effort to keep the keys large they cut their number down - even the tab is shared. the one thing we keep coming back to is having a full layout. so, the kohjinsha here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/silicondepend...57594417554369/
whilst somewhat bigger does seem so much better for that. sigh. now I can't make my mind up any more. I really wanted to sell my Sony TX2 and trade for a Fujitsu but now...
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=167452\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

The way I solved the key problem was easy. I usd a key remapping program to swap the fn+(.[]\) for the arrow keys. Because I didn't want to lose the dedicated period key I also remapped the Japanese key to the right of the spacebar to (.), an:d the key to the left of the spacebar to tab. Combine that with sticky keys. and suddenly the keyboard works quite well. Fortunately the US "Darth Vader" model still has those two keys, but I don't know what they do. (I have't seen a. high res pictur of the keyboard yet)

A friend of mine might purchase the Vader, so I'll get to compare them.

I still use the Z for my mobile data entry, but everything more complex than typing in a text file gets done on the Fuji. (In fact, I'm posing this off the fuji right now. I'm. still being thrown by the fact that my 3000 with pdaXii13 needs to shift to get a comma, but the Fuji doesn't  I'm not yet very practiced at typing on this thing yet, but it is coming along. I may eventually be able to drop the Z completely. If the Fuji were pocketable I would in a flash, but I'll have to wait .for next year's MID devices for that. )

9
General Discussion / Forget The Zaurus - Itś Fujitsu Time!
« on: September 05, 2007, 10:10:43 am »
Quote
I still have one major question-
don't know if you can answer it though

<blink>
"is it pocketable???"
</blink>

From mockups I've made, it appears that with the standard battery
its just a little too big to fit in my pocket;
however my mockups have hard square edges,
while the real device has rounded and softer ones.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who makes scale mockups of these devices  I"ve got a cardboard U8240, Sony UX, and Raon Digital Everrun sitting around here...

Quote
I'm fairly sure it *won't* be a comfortable fit (not nearly so nice as the Z)
but I'm still hanging out a measure of hope that it might barely work.

Can you (dare you?) try fitting it in any of your largest available pockets
to check out the prospects? (maybe after the STD battery arrives...)

OTOH, I should remember that when I've tried pocketable devices larger than a Z
I've been much more reluctant to carry them about- from encumberance.

I'm on the verge of buying a FlipStart
Seems.... rather inferior to a Fujitsu, but more pocket shaped by far.

Logic suggests that one wait for the "next generation" ultra-mobiles
but there seems no real guarantee that "next generation" will be
any more pocket friendly.

The Flipstart is *way* overpriced for what you get.

The Fujitsu is built on Intel's mobile platform 2007. The Mobile Platform 2008 is supposed to produce pocketable devices - they'll be slower, and most will be running a linux distribution, but definitely pocketable. I'd hold off dropping a couple grand on a flipstart until then. Or get a Raon.

The Fuji doesn't lend itself well to pockets. I don't have any jacket pockets big enough for one, and it isn't as sturdy as the Z, either.

10
General Discussion / Forget The Zaurus - Itś Fujitsu Time!
« on: September 05, 2007, 09:59:26 am »
Quote
yes, thanks for that. perhaps you can simply boot the Fujitsu from a live linux CD and see what devices it finds?

also, very useful to note that the Japanese version is lacking the mini pcie slot, I didn't know that.

so far, apart from the keyboard, I definitely want one! I am hoping they'll be on sale in the USA in time for my trip there end of this month so I can see what they're like and abuse my credit card if they're really as nice as I'd hope!
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=166999\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Linux installation is definitely high on the list of things to do. There will be major issues, though.

For example, all of the extra buttons on this thing seem to be proprietary - they have their own driver and do absolutely nothing without the button utility loaded. (In contrast,  most of the special buttons on my IBM work just fine without drivers). Screen rotation and fixing of the glidepoint's orientation is also software.

Video is intel 945 based, so it should work. Wireless is Atheros - also should be okay.

I use a linux live CD of sorts (Clonezilla) to back up the HD so I know USB and ethernet do work. I'll get a crack at a real live cd later this week.

11
General Discussion / Forget The Zaurus - Itś Fujitsu Time!
« on: September 03, 2007, 10:29:11 pm »
Well, I've finally got some photos online of the Fujitsu. Full set here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/silicondepend...57601843755726/

I've shown it beside some SL3x00 Zaurii, a Toshiba Libretto U100, and a Macbook Core 2 Duo. And one bad shot in London Drugs beside a Sony UX380.

The keyboard is pretty good. The Z is still better at thumb typing, but the Fuji is loads better than any other Intel device I've tried. The screen is almost exactly the same DPI as the Z's, so reading it isn't any problem. It seems quite bright, with good colour as well.

Ergonmically it's pretty good. I have the extended battery (they haven't shipped my standard battery yet), so it feels a bit top heavy.

Performance is *very* good. Full screen DIVX video at HD resolutions runs without a hitch, as does full screen flash video. I'm running under XP Tablet edition and it feels very snappy.

Doesn't generate much heat, and the fan is quiet when it's running.

Battery life on the extended battery is a solid 5 hrs, even with wifi. (Sitting idle I saw a time of 7h 18m reported by the battery tool)

The SD card slot appears to only be SD, and not SDHC compatible. I haven't tested it  yet, but a friend of mine does have an 8gb card will soon be able to shove in there. The CF card lets me use my Z's CF accessories (like bluetooth) as well as memory cards.

Downsides? Construction feels a bit soft and plasticy. The back of the screen is plastic compared to the Z's Aluminum. The hinge mechanism is metal, thankfully, but does give the impression of being a weak link. In practice it's been more solid than expected, but we'll see. It's also too big to put in my pocket, which I know but is still annoying.

The keyboard is a little...wonky. No page up/down, and you have to press FN to get the arrow keys. I"ve fixed this by remapping the keys so the arrows work straight out and the other keys require FN. It's okay for everything except the "." key, which I remapped to use one of the now useless Kanji keys. There are also 2 special buttons beside the trackstick that were mapped to arrow up and down. I've replaced that with pge up/down, which will make using it as an ebook reader a little nicer.

I haven't had much time to do much with it yet. Getting an English version of WinXP Tablet working was a bit of an experience. I expect to really put it through it's paces this week

I've got the docking station, hooked up to an external 500gb HD, DVD-RW, ethernet, 17" LCD, and Mouse/Keyboard. I suspect that you really could use this setup as your desktop computer without too much worry, given the surprising grunt of the A110 processor.

I've imaged it using clonezilla, onto the 500gb drive. It's easy and fast enough that I suspect I can swap HD images with no more fuss than on the Z. I'll eventually try out Vista and Linux on here, but I suspect XP tablet (with possibly Linux in a vmware image) will be the day-to-day OS.

So, I can't be rid of my 3000 yet. I've bought a new battery for it and will continue to carry it as my writing and database tool. I'm going to set up Unison to keep the Z, the Fuji, and my Desktop synchronized so it won't matter where I am or what I'm doing - I'll always have access to my latest documents and work  Looking forward to it.

If anyone is still reading this, I'll gladly answer any questions you might have about it

12
General Discussion / Coffee Vs Zaurus
« on: August 28, 2007, 04:44:20 pm »
On the subject of condolences, a friend of mine is currently in Moscow. Apparently he had his Z (3200) and his passport pick-pocketed off of him on the subway. He's now Z-less for the first time since the SL-5000D

Unfortunately, he'll probably be replacing it with something other than a Zaurus.

13
General Discussion / Forget The Zaurus - Itś Fujitsu Time!
« on: August 28, 2007, 04:35:01 pm »
Well, I've had it for a few days now, but I'm just managing to get an English copy of Windows on it. I'm generally positive on it, but there a few disappointments.

Hopefully I'll have pics up later this week.

14
General Discussion / Forget The Zaurus - Itś Fujitsu Time!
« on: August 17, 2007, 07:43:41 am »
Quote
Quote
Things have changed a little with the announcement of the availability of the U810 "Darth Vader" (all (Mine is is the U8240 "Stormtrooper" (Black and white) Japanese model. It lacks bluetooth (grrr) and [div align=\"right\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

hmmm, U810? ah...
[a href=\"http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/14/fujitsus-lifebook-u810-hits-the-fcc/]http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/14/fujitsu...0-hits-the-fcc/[/url]
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=166360\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

It seems to go like this:

U8240 - Japanese Model, no bluetooh. Black and white, standard battery.
U1010 - International Model. Includes Bluetooth. Black and white, standard battery.
U810 - US model. Includes bluetooth, all black, extended battery.

The US model seems cheaper and better spec'd (not to mention all black) than other versions.

15
Zaurus - pdaXrom / Panasonic Toughbook Cf-08
« on: August 17, 2007, 07:14:24 am »
Quote
Yikes! at the price of the toughbooks one could nearly afford to buy eeepcs and use them as frisbees
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=166096\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Ah, but there's nothing quite like a fully armoured Toughbook. I've got a CF-M34 mkI - celeron 300a, 192mb ram, 40gb HD, 800x600 touchscreen. This thing is *astonishing*! I've read several stories about these things saving lives by blocking bullets - and I can believe it

Needless to say, when I took my trip to Japan, the Toughbook was the machine I brought with me.

Unfortunately, the last time I tried to get linux on it there was no way to calibrate the touchscreen. (There are *drivers*, but compiling the calibration tool required recompiling X! All of it! No can do...)

The other downsides to my old model are lack of any sort of built in networking and an inability to boot from USB. I've got the (relatively rare and expensive) docking station - but that's just got a floppy disc  OS installation is a matter of tearing it apart and throwing the drive in another machine. Always very annoying.

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